7th King of Israel
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Established In The Faith · Vengeance Upon The House Of Ahab (Part 2) Romans 12:19 (KJV) 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto God's wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. • The Prophet Elisha has just sent a young prophet to the house of Jehu, to anoint him as King over Israel, and he said… 2 Kings 9:7 7 …smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel.
Morning: Psalm 119:32; Isaiah 26:13; Matthew 6:24; Matthew 11:29–30; John 12:26; Romans 6:18; Romans 6:20–22; Romans 10:4 Having been set free from sin, [you] have become slaves of righteousness. “You cannot serve God and money.”—When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.—Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”—“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” “O Lord our God, other lords besides you have ruled over us, but your name alone we bring to remembrance.”—I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart! Psalm 119:32 (Listen) 32 I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!1 Footnotes [1] 119:32 Or for you set my heart free (ESV) Isaiah 26:13 (Listen) 13 O LORD our God, other lords besides you have ruled over us, but your name alone we bring to remembrance. (ESV) Matthew 6:24 (Listen) 24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.1 Footnotes [1] 6:24 Greek mammon, a Semitic word for money or possessions (ESV) Matthew 11:29–30 (Listen) 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (ESV) John 12:26 (Listen) 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (ESV) Romans 6:18 (Listen) 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. (ESV) Romans 6:20–22 (Listen) 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. (ESV) Romans 10:4 (Listen) 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.1 Footnotes [1] 10:4 Or end of the law, that everyone who believes may be justified (ESV) Evening: 2 Kings 21:1–3; 2 Kings 21:5–6; 2 Chronicles 33:12–13; Isaiah 1:18; Acts 2:21; 2 Peter 3:9 “Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Manasseh… did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the despicable practices of the nations…. He erected altars for Baal…. And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. And he burned his son as an offering and used fortune-telling and omens and dealt with mediums and with wizards. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger.—And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea. “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”—The Lord is… patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish. 2 Kings 21:1–3 (Listen) Manasseh Reigns in Judah 21 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah. 2 And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel. 3 For he rebuilt the high places that Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. (ESV) 2 Kings 21:5–6 (Listen) 5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. 6 And he burned his son as an offering1 and used fortune-telling and omens and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger. Footnotes [1] 21:6 Hebrew made his son pass through the fire (ESV) 2 Chronicles 33:12–13 (Listen) 12 And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. 13 He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God. (ESV) Isaiah 1:18 (Listen) 18 “Come now, let us reason1 together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. Footnotes [1] 1:18 Or dispute (ESV) Acts 2:21 (Listen) 21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.' (ESV) 2 Peter 3:9 (Listen) 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,1 not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. Footnotes [1] 3:9 Some manuscripts on your account (ESV)
Apostate Church Witchcraft (1) (audio) David Eells - 11/26/23 Merchants of Babylon David Eells In the book of Revelation, only those that have the mark of the beast can buy and sell. (Rev. 13:17) No man should be able to buy or to sell, save he that hath the mark, [even] the name of the beast or the number of his name. But they will not escape God's wrath in the near future. (Isa. 24:1) Behold, Jehovah maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof. (2) And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the creditor, so with the debtor; as with the taker of interest, so with the giver of interest to him. (3) The earth shall be utterly emptied, and utterly laid waste; for Jehovah hath spoken this word. For the true meaning in this parable of buying and selling we must look for the hidden manna. (Rev. 2:17) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it. See also (Lk. 10:21). In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes: yea, Father; for so it was well-pleasing in thy sight. The letter kills but the spirit gives life. (2 Cor. 3:6) who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. Jesus spoke spirit during his ministry to the disciples. (Jn. 6:53) Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have not life in yourselves; (63) It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, are life. The Book of Revelation is called the testimony of Jesus. (Rev. 1:2) who bare witness of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, [even] of all things that he saw; (9) I John, your brother and partaker with you in tribulation and kingdom and patience [which are] in Jesus, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (19:10) And I fell down before his feet to worship him. And he saith unto me, See thou do it not: I am a fellow-servant with thee and with thy brethren that hold the testimony of Jesus: worship God; for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy for which the saints are killed by the false prophets who only see the letter. (20:4) And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as worshipped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years. "Revelation" means an uncovering or unveiling and it is the spirit, not the letter, that does this! It is a sign (Rev. 1:1) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, [even] the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified [it] by his angel unto his servant John; (2) who bare witness of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, [even] of all things that he saw. The ones who "bought and sold" were destroyed by the fire in Lot's day. (Lk. 17:28) Likewise even as it came to pass in the days of Lot; they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; (29) but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Paul taught that those who do evil are "sold under sin". (Rom. 7:14) For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. (15) For that which I do I know not: for not what I would, that do I practice; but what I hate, that I do. Ahab, a type of the beast, sold his soul to do evil at the instigation of the Harlot Jezebel. (1 Ki. 21:25) But there was none like unto Ahab, who did sell himself to do that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, Jezebel his wife stirred up. (20) And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee, because thou hast sold thyself to do that which is evil in the sight of Jehovah. In 2 Kings 17:17 those that worshiped the Image of the beast sold themselves and caused their children to go through fire. And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger. (18) Therefore Jehovah was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only. Many in these days are like "Esau, who for one mess of meat (following after flesh) sold his own birthright" (Heb. 12:16) and was rejected. (17) For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected (Greek: reprobate); for he found no place for a change of mind [in his father,] though he sought it diligently with tears. Jesus rejected those in the temple (Christians in the New Testament) who bought and sold. (Mk. 11:15) And they come to Jerusalem: and he entered into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and them that bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold the doves. The foolish virgins missed the Lord because they went to buy from them that sold. (Mt. 25:10) And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast: and the door was shut. They obviously were used to dealing with the hirelings, the "merchants of Babylon". Jesus told his ministers "freely you have received, freely give. Get you no gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses" (Mt. 10:8-9). They had to walk by faith, with no salaries, no corruption. You can't hire God's ministers but then you can't fire them either. Some will say "Buy the truth and sell it not" (Pr. 23:23) but the truth cannot be bought with money. (Isa. 55:1) Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (2) Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. (3) Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear, and your soul shall live: and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. If the truth could be bought with money, the rich would have an unfair advantage, which contradicts what Jesus said: (Mt. 19:23) Verily I say unto you, It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. (24) And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. We can only buy the truth with the cost of our own life and way. (Jn. 7:17) If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or [whether] I speak from myself. Peter said, "Thy silver perish with thee because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money." (Acts 8:20) To buy a lie, you must sell your soul. In a way, all those who buy and sell the merchandise (teaching, thinking, actions) of Babylon (apostate religion) are the merchants of Babylon. (Rev. 18:11) And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, for no man buyeth their merchandise anymore; (15) The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning. The rich young ruler was bribed (bought) by materialism to not follow Jesus. Many buy convenient Babylonish doctrines like this and sell their eternal lives. (Lk. 14:18) And they all with one [consent] began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a field, and I must needs go out and see it; I pray thee have me excused. (19) And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused. (Mt. 13:22) And he that was sown among the thorns, this is he that heareth the word; and the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. They sell their soul for the pleasures of sin for a season. The treasures of Egypt are worth more than the reproach of Christ to them. (Heb 11:25) choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; (26) accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward. We must sell our worldly life to buy our heavenly life, which is made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus' life. The body of Christ was sacrificed so that the corporate body of Christ would have power to sacrifice their lives. (Mt. 16:24) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (25) For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it. (26) For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his life? Riches will soon be worth nothing but wrath. (Eze. 7:12) The time is come, the day draweth near: let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn; for wrath is upon all the multitude thereof; (19) They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be as an unclean thing; their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of Jehovah: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels; because it hath been the stumbling block of their iniquity. (20) As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty; but they made the images of their abominations [and] their detestable things therein: therefore have I made it unto them as an unclean thing. (Rev. 6:6) And I heard as it were a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, A measure of wheat for a shilling, and three measures of barley for a shilling; and the oil and the wine hurt thou not. One reason there is such an emphasis on buying and selling is because Christians don't obey God's word and walk by faith in the area of giving and receiving. Jesus commanded us to "give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom" (Lk. 6:38). An opportunity to give is an opportunity to receive it back multiplied or it is an opportunity to sit on or eat the seed. God gives to us not to make us rich but to "multiply your seed for sowing" (2 Cor. 9:10). (2 Cor. 9:6) He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly, and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. God follows this with this promise: (8) And God is able to make all grace abound with you, that you having always all sufficiency in everything may abound unto every good work). On the other hand, he that sits on or eats his seed will have to buy and sell because he is disobedient and has no faith. This is where the merchants of Babylon are. They make "the Father's house a house of merchandise" (Jn. 2:16) when they peddle the word for salaries like the world. Peddling books, tapes, trinkets, chicken dinners, tours, etc., is the way of the world and for those who have an impoverished God. They make "merchandise of the word of God" (2 Cor. 2:17 in Greek). Why would anyone who believed the above promises do this? When a person is not sent by God he does not have faith that God shall supply every need (Phl. 4:19). Where God sends, He supplies. Without God's supernatural supply, people have to resort to other tactics to support "their ministry", like buying and selling. Another tactic these ministers use is to put God's people under the law to support them when the scripture clearly states that our giving is "not of necessity" (2 Cor. 9:7). Let each man do according as he has purposed in his heart (not according to law); not grudgingly, or of necessity (not according to law), for God loveth a cheerful giver. In the New Testament, God wants an offering from the heart from those born of His Spirit. God made the Old Covenant with the Jews, not the church. If a doctrine like tithing is not in the new covenant, then it was never made with you! Jesus, rebuking those under the Old Covenant, said "Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint and anise and cumin (even their seasoning), and have left undone the weightier matters of the law, Justice and mercy, and faith: but these you ought to have done (past tense in all ancient manuscripts and the Received Text) and not to have left the other undone" (Mt. 23:23). Jesus said tithing was of the law and in the past. Some say tithing was before the law. Yes, circumcision and animal sacrifice were before the law too but they were included in the law, and we are not under law to do them anymore. Paul also said tithing was of the law. (Heb. 7:5) And they indeed of the sons of Levi that receive the priest's office have commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though these have come out of the loins of Abraham: (6) but he whose genealogy is not counted from them hath taken tithes of Abraham, and hath blessed him that hath the promises. (7) But without any dispute the less is blessed of the better. (8) And here men that die receive tithes; but there one, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. (9) And, so to say, through Abraham even Levi, who receiveth tithes, hath paid tithes; (10) for he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him. (11) Now if there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it hath the people received the law), what further need [was there] that another priest should arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be reckoned after the order of Aaron? There is no New Testament command or request to tithe because we are no longer stewards of ten percent. Jesus taught that we have to renounce ownership of the other ninety percent or we cannot be his disciple. (Lk. 14:33) So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. "All" here means all possessions, rights, and will. We even must renounce "our" doctrine! It must be the Lord's doctrine. Since we have the Spirit we don't need a law; we are under the law of the Spirit. (Rom. 8:2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. The Spirit will tell where to give and how much and to whom. If everyone gave according to the Spirit the kingdoms of men would crumble and true ministers would be supported. A person who is under the tithing law robs God because he will disobey the Spirit's command to meet the needs of the brethren around him in order to bring his "tithes into the storehouse", which to them is usually an apostate religious system that won't meet the brethren's needs. The storehouse in the Old Covenant was in the temple. (1 Kings 7:51) Thus all the work that king Solomon wrought in the house of Jehovah was finished. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated, [even] the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, and put them in the treasuries of the house of Jehovah... In the New Testament the storehouse is in the people, who are His temple. (Mt. 25:34) Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (35) for I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; (36) naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me. (37) Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or athirst, and gave thee drink? (38) And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? (39) And when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? (40) And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, [even] these least, ye did it unto me. (41) Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels: (42) for I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink;(43) I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. (44) Then shall they also answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? (45) Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, In as much as ye did it not unto one of these least, ye did it not unto me. (46) And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life. You see we are called to meet the needs of the brethren. (1Jn. 3:16) Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (17) But whoso hath the world's goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him? Giving according to the Spirit causes one to fulfill the law without being under the law. (Mt. 5:17) Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil. (18) For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished. For instance, a person who gives bountifully will fulfill the ten percent and more, but they do it from the heart and are not seeking to earn God's approval as those under the law. We are not righteous before God when we attempt to please Him by the law, whether tithes, observing the Sabbath, circumcision, abstaining from meats, etc. (Gal. 2:16) yet knowing that a man is not justified (Greek: accounted righteous) by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified and (3:11) Now that no man is justified by the law before God, is evident: for, The righteous shall live by faith. If we rest every day from our own works we certainly fulfill the Sabbath, without being under the letter of the law. The righteousness of the law is self-righteousness because it is powered by self but "The righteous shall live from faith" (Gal. 3:11). When ministers of Babylon put you under the law they separate you from God's righteousness and bring you under a curse. Except your righteousness shall exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees (law of tithe included), you shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven (Mt. 5:20). The law is "a yoke of bondage". (Gal. 5:1-3) For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that, if ye receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing. Yea, I testify again to every man that receiveth circumcision (or tithing, Sabbath, meats, etc.) that he is a debtor to do the whole law. If you are under any part of the law you are under the curse of having to keep the whole law and since that is impossible you are separated from Christ. (Gal. 3:10) For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse: for it is written, Cursed is everyone who continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them. (5:4) Ye are severed from Christ ye who would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace. Notice: those who put you under the law cut you off from Christ and grace. You cannot hear the voice of Christ and the voice of the law at the same time. "You are not under the law" (5:18). The merchants of Babylon say, "you are not under the law", when they are talking about obedience to the word, but "bring your tithes into the storehouse," when they talk of money? "In covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you" (2 Pet. 2:3). In verse one of this text we are told this is the false prophets and teachers who bring in destructive heresies (law) and deny Jesus. They deny Jesus by separating Him from His body. "Forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam... who loved the hire of wrong doing" (15). Friends, if you know a minister, one of the few, who walks by faith and freely gives the true doctrine of God, support him as the scriptures teach. (1 Cor. 9:6) Or I only and Barnabas, have we not a right to forbear working? (7) What soldier ever serveth at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not the fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? (8) Do I speak these things after the manner of men? or saith not the law also the same? (9) For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. Is it for the oxen that God careth, (10) or saith he it assuredly for our sake? Yea, for our sake it was written: because he that ploweth ought to plow in hope, and he that thresheth, [to thresh] in hope of partaking. (11) If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things? (12) If others partake of [this] right over you, do not we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right; but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ. (13) Know ye not that they that minister about sacred things eat [of] the things of the temple, [and] they that wait upon the altar have their portion with the altar? The Word will be our judge as to whether we are buying and selling with the world. Witchcraft In Apostate Churches Tianna Fire 12/8/22 (David's notes in red) I dreamt that we were driving through a town, but we stopped to get paper and pens from a shop. Samuel waited in the car. There was only one shop in this town that sold items, like a general store. It looked like it used to be white, but it was now a dark and dirty white and it was very old and didn't look like it was well taken care of. The building was an 1800s style house that had been converted into a shop. (The old dirty store represents the apostate church where the true Gospel that was once given is now sold. It has been polluted by religion and false leadership.) Mat 23:27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Luk 11:39 And the Lord said unto him, Now YE the Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter; but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.) When I got into the shop it was packed with people all standing around and there was also a very long queue. (There are many people looking for the Truth but they are not getting it from the false apostate leaders.) They had a few items for sale in the part where everyone was waiting but most of the items were kept out in the back of the shop and also in the basement, which was blocked off to the customers. (Like Mormons and JW's they hide a lot of teachings that they know are unacceptable to other Christians. They only reveal these things after they feel they have you on the hook. The false leadership in the apostate churches merchandise very little truth which they sell to the sheep because they don't have the real Gospel to give them. Mat 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye shut the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye enter not in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering in to enter.) (Col 1:26-27 even the mystery which hath been hid for ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints, 27 to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 1Co 2:6-7 We speak wisdom, however, among them that are fullgrown: yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nought: 7 but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, even the wisdom that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory:) So, to get what you wanted you had to wait in line to ask the cashier lady if they stocked it and if they did, you had to wait around until she went and got it. (Waiting around for supplies represents the Nicolaitan error.) Rev 2:14-17 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there some that hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication. 15 So hast thou also some that hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans in like manner. 16 Repent therefore; or else I come to thee quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it.) There were also people in the queue who hadn't even found out if the shop stocked or even sold their item yet. (People go to the same church for years, looking for Jesus, waiting and never find what they came for and become lukewarm there just accepting what they hear.) Everyone seemed very distressed, because it was taking such a long time and there were so many people. While I was there, I didn't see anyone receive the item they were waiting for. (Many in apostasy are in distress, continuously praying for healing and provisions and for God to answer prayer, never learning how to receive their needs by faith in prayer. No one learns how to minister to others. They expect the pastor to do everything, because “he is the one in charge” in their churches. This is a part of the Nicolaitan error.) As I waited in line, I overheard someone talking about Jesus which made me very excited. I joined in their conversation, and they professed to love Jesus, however they seemed to be religious and not understanding spiritual things. But I was still so happy to be able to speak about Jesus and God's Word! Then many other people in there heard us talking about God and they confessed to love Jesus too. I was so happy that there were so many people who loved our Lord. I started speaking with this married couple who had young children and I blessed and prayed for the children. I then stood closer to them on their right. As I did, I accidentally came too close to a man with his son. This man got very angry and upset with me and I apologized, and I told him that I loved him and his son and I desired God's blessings and love and joy to be upon them both. He became offended at that, and he said he was a Christian and he thought I was rude. (NENT Php 1:9-10 And this I pray, that your love abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment; 10 so that ye may approve the things excellent; that ye be sincere and void of offence unto Christ's day.) (Some people are easily offended, unable to come closer to those who are full of the love of Christ. Pro 18:19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city; And such contentions are like the bars of a castle.) (Pro 19:11 The discretion of a man maketh him slow to anger; And it is his glory to pass over a transgression.) So I spoke blessings on him and moved on, speaking with other Christians and sharing The Real Good News. It turned out that every person in this shop was a professing Christian. The lady who worked there said that because everyone there were Christians that we should all discuss a topic. Someone shouted to discuss God's Glory! She then brought up a slideshow on a big giant screen that was behind her which had Bible verses related to Glory. People started sharing their man-made doctrine that used only partial scripture, and not the sum of thy Word. (1Ti 6:3-5 If any man teacheth a different doctrine, and consenteth not to sound words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but doting about questionings and disputes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 wranglings of men corrupted in mind and bereft of the truth, supposing that godliness is a way of gain.) (Psa 119:160 The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever.) Someone said that as soon as we start believing in Jesus that we then have God's Glory and nothing else needs to be done. Someone else said that God loves everyone, and everyone will be saved. I felt love for all the people, but I knew what they were saying wasn't true and I desired for them to know the Truth. (Mat 15:9 But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men. 2Ti 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables.) I was sharing testimonies about what God has done for me and what He has shown me, and as much Truth I could without getting into teaching. They brought up scriptures and used them out of context to say that we are saved automatically when we start believing in Jesus and that nothing else is required. They also spoke about how we are already purified and it doesn't need to manifest on earth. That we will all be the same in Heaven. (The apostate church has very little truth and see only the letter, but error after the teachings of their leadership who are not filled with the Holy Spirit and many times aren't even saved. The “once saved always saved” is just one of their false doctrines. 1Ti 4:1 But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons.) I was then reminded of these verses: NENT 1Co 15:39-44 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fishes. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: it is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.) I knew that these verses revealed what they believe wasn't correct, I wanted to quote these verses to them but then I realized it might be teaching so I didn't say anything. I stood there confused about why all these Christians who profess they love Jesus are twisting the Word and are unaware of the real meaning. I asked God why He didn't want them to know about the star, moon, sun glory and about spirit, soul, body manifesting Jesus on earth. I then heard Him clearly say, "It's not for everyone to know." (Jesus spoke in parables to keep the truth hidden from the religious leaders and those who want to be self-justified in His day and He still does it today. Mat 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. But those who have ears to hear, will hear and understand.) So, I walked out of the shop and spoke to Samuel about what happened and we both agreed that we desired for all of them to come into the Kingdom of God, so we interceded on their behalf. (Our Lord interceded for us and we are to pray for others.) 1Ti 2:1 I exhort therefore first of all to make supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, for all men. 4 who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.) Then Samuel called David Eells to ask for advice. David Eells then physically appeared in front of us. David was a little shorter than I have seen him in videos, and his eyes were a bright blue. (Psa 8:5 For thou hast made him but little lower than God, And crownest him with glory and honor; Blue eyes represent heavenly discernment of the light of truth. Mat 6:22 The lamp of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.) I was surprised that he appeared instantly, but I was so happy to see him and I gave him a big, long hug and I felt so much spiritual love for him and I didn't want to let go of hugging him. I felt love, peace and gentleness radiating from him. (Php 1:8 For God is my witness, how I long after you all in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.) He then said, "You need to go back in there and testify of the Truth." (Sharing a testimony of what a truth did for you is permissible for women. Especially when you are speaking to lost religious people. Teaching the younger women is also permissible. Tit 2:4-5 ASV that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed: Teaching men the Word should be left to the men. 1Ti 2:12 ASV But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness.) So, I walked to go back into the shop, and I heard David and Samuel interceding and speaking the Word as I walked away. (As an example to us Jesus sent out the 12 and then the 70 men to teach the Word of the Kingdom. They were commissioned to go to all and be bold and stand with God and His Word. Act 22:15 For thou shalt be a witness for him unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.) (Deu 31:6 Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be affrighted at them: for Jehovah thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Psa 118:6 Jehovah is on my side; I will not fear: What can man do unto me?) I walked past a building that was right next to the Christian store. I looked through the door and I saw a lady lying on her back on a couch. I instantly saw in spirit that she was a witch. But in the natural she looked like an attractive woman. She wasn't selling anything in this building, but it looked like she lived there. She had dark hair and light, white-blue eyes (Dark hair represents submitted to darkness. Her eyes represent a false light, which is similar to what I have seen in people in real life who are involved in the occult.) (This woman could represent church denominations and we know that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. 1Sa 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim….) She was dressed very seductively with red lipstick, heavy eye makeup and she was wearing a crop top, a short purple skirt and long black boots. I saw into her soul and saw she was intending to do evil. (Job 15:35 They conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity, And their heart prepareth deceit. Pro 12:20 Deceit is in the heart of them that devise evil; Mar 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, evil thoughts proceed, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries…) I saw that she would physically be resting in her shop but through witchcraft in the spiritual realm, she would seduce random people who walked past this building and would come into her. She wouldn't always sleep with the people, but she would give them even more demons and lead them into deeper sin. (Demons are transferred through sex and by accepting the thoughts of lies, slander, gossip, etc., and by words of agreement with the sensual desires. (Temptations of the lust of the flesh.) We have protection from all this when we obey God and keep His commandments.) (Pro 7:5-13 That they [My commandments and wisdom] may keep thee from the strange woman, [Harlot] From the foreigner that flattereth with her words. 6 For at the window of my house I looked forth through my lattice; 7 And I beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, A young man void of understanding, 8 Passing through the street near her corner; And he went the way to her house, 9 In the twilight, in the evening of the day, In the middle of the night and in the darkness. 10 And, behold, there met him a woman With the attire of a harlot, and wily of heart. 11 She is clamorous and wilful; Her feet abide not in her house: 12 Now she is in the streets, now in the broad places, And lieth in wait at every corner. 13 So she caught him, and kissed him, … (The kiss represents her words.) Pro 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death.) She then tried to project witchcraft onto me and I saw the witchcraft, which kind of looked like frequencies or rays of electricity come out of her to touch me. It was blocked a few feet in front of me because there was a bubble of protection all around me in the spiritual, and nothing could get through the bubble. She was surprised at this and couldn't comprehend what happened. (Those who love the Truth will be protected from their deceptions. Eph 6:10-13 ASV Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.) I blessed her and kept walking to the Christian shop. I was wondering why they set up a shop right next to a witch. (The apostate church is compared to a harlot because they receive not the seed of her husband. This is witchcraft.) I went back into the store and I stood at a specific corner where I could see everyone in the room. I spoke to everyone who would listen, giving my testimony of the Truth of the Word. I could see in the spirit, and through walls. I saw witchcraft projecting from the witch directly into this shop; it came out like tentacles and would wrap around a person and quickly pull them into where she was. It seemed that if the person's will and desire was to go where the woman was, they'd be taken. People were left in the shop if it wasn't their will to follow her. (1Sa 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah,... Hos 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge…) (2 Cor 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ.) I saw the long tentacle grab onto one Christian man, and he became aroused, and he ran out of the shop and into the other women's shop. I then saw it happen again, but differently. This next person was not taken by physical arousal, but they had a weak spot of coveting, and they were convinced that by going to the witch, they would get all the money they wanted. It was as if this witch knew every person's weak spot and she would attract each person using their weak spot. (The demons see and know in the spirit realm how to work in spirit groupings of seduction using the lusts of the flesh and the sin nature. But if they would submit to God's Word and resist the devil he would flee. I have seen people drawn into faction through selfish ambition, jealousy and rejection.) I watched this lady in spirit attract each Christian out of the store one by one, like an octopus using its tentacles to draw its prey. When the witchcraft would come upon each person, they would quickly change and would run over to where the witch was, not thinking about anything else. Every time the witchcraft would come into the store, I would be supernaturally lifted up high to the roof where I could see everything. I was up so high that it couldn't touch me, nor could any human touch me. (Dwelling in heavenly places in Christ, we are protected from evil.) I watched every person in the store get taken in the spirit into where the witch was until I was left alone in the store. (The Christians in this shop were part of the apostate church and not equipped with the Spirit and Word. Having no ability to fight against the temptations of the flesh. They were seduced by the harlot and her witchcraft, so they gave into their lusts. God sovereignly protects His elect and He will deliver them from the works of darkness at an appointed time. The enemy works to tempt people away from the Kingdom of God and cause them to fall away.) Apostate Church Vanity Tianna Fire 1/26/23 (David's notes in red) I dreamt that Samuel and I were driving, and we saw this giant building to our left, sitting on a very large area of land, and it had a big cross on it. There were no cars parked outside, so it looked like no one was there. Because we saw the cross, we thought that we should leave them a Sovereign God book. So, we parked out front and went up to a window and looked inside the building. A few women were there and when they saw us, they came out quickly. We did not want to talk to them, only to just leave the book and go. One of the women that came out, was a woman that worked at the grocery store, and she was always there when Samuel went to get groceries, so Samuel knew her. Another woman was the wife of a man that kept inviting us to his church, but we didn't want to visit his church. We now realized that this building was his church. They urged us to come inside and we didn't want to hurt their feelings, so we said we would come in quickly just to see the place. When we went inside, it appeared 20 times bigger than what the outside looked like. (Like the megachurches.) One of the ladies told me to go to the children's section because I was carrying David. I honestly didn't want to, but I didn't want to upset her so I just did what she said. (Pro 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare; But whoso putteth his trust in Jehovah shall be safe.) I walked to the back of the building and entered this large colorful room that had an indoor children's playground, and many children running around and there were a couple of people watching them play. I felt this was vanity and a distraction from Jesus. I then saw a poster listing different activities during the week for children and one of them was like child daycare. All the activities were vanity and had nothing to do with Jesus. Samuel and I prefer having David always with us, so I said, “Well there's no reason for me to be here because we aren't doing the daycare thing, and we only want to do things involving Jesus.” So, I turned to leave and go find Samuel, but I got lost in the large building. There were so many different rooms and hallways and everything was set up weird. (The apostate church system causes confusion to ensnare people.) Then a man came running out of a room and said something with much excitement for me to go look where he just came from. I didn't want to be rude to him, so I just followed him and he led me into a massive library, and all the walls and shelves were all sorts of bright colors. I commented on how I love all the bright colors, especially the bright yellow. (The attraction of bright colors arouse the senses and emotions to please the flesh. Pro 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death.) There were people sitting around a table discussing a book that wasn't the Bible and there were many large shelves with thousands of books. I asked him about the books and about Jesus, and he said most books here are not really about Jesus and if they were, they contained incorrect doctrine. Which confused me because this was a church, so I expected everything to be about Jesus. (The apostate church leaders write many books about another Jesus, another Gospel and merchandise the people. It's all their works of the flesh. 2Co 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not accept, ye do well to bear with him. 1Ti 6:3 If any man teacheth a different doctrine, and consenteth not to sound words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 he is puffed up, knowing nothing…) I wondered what type of Bibles they had, and I couldn't find Bibles anywhere. I thought maybe I should leave a Sovereign God book here so God can lead the right person to find it. (Hos 4:1 Hear the word of Jehovah, ye children of Israel; for Jehovah hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land.) The man that led me into this room started hitting on me, and I thought this was crazy, this is a church and supposed to be brethren in Christ, and I am married. I ignored the man and ran out of there to go find Samuel, but I couldn't find him anywhere. I walked around the entire place searching for Samuel, and I saw all different types of people, supposedly Christians, although no one was talking about Jesus. I was wondering, ‘Jesus where are you? I can't find you anywhere in this place, although they say that you are here.' (Like the Shulamite in Song of Solomon: Son 5:6…I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. 7 The watchmen that go about the city found me, They smote me, they wounded me…) I felt this whole place which claimed to be a house of God, had all the world mixed in it and the place felt corrupted and defiled and I couldn't see or feel the presence of God anywhere or in anyone. (The apostate church is a mixed multitude; the world is Babylon, from Babel, which means confusion and includes the harlot churches.) (Mat 23:28 Thus ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inwardly are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.) The whole building layout was completely confusing and so easy to get lost but I finally found the way to get out. Once outside I noticed heaps of people all gathered around at a café, and others standing around. And there were about 20 different small shops set up with many people everywhere. (This is how the megachurches are set up to draw the multitudes to network, socialize and merchandising.) I was confused as to why no one is talking about Jesus; I felt no Spirit of God there, and I wondered why Samuel is missing? At this point I was disappointed that no one here really loves Jesus. I no longer cared what anyone thought of me anymore. I didn't want to do what they all wanted me to do, or think I had to be kind to them and agree to their requests. So, I looked up at the sky and screamed out, "Jesus!” “Jesus where are you, Jesus?!” I think everyone around me thought I was crazy but I wanted Jesus and all these people claimed to be following Jesus but clearly were not. (Some in the apostate harlot churches are looking for Jesus, but don't always find the real Jesus... Son 3:1-4 By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. 2 I said, I will rise now, and go about the city; In the streets and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. 3 The watchmen that go about the city found me; To whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? 4 It was but a little that I passed from them, When I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, Until I had brought him into my mother's house, And into the chamber of her that conceived me.) I started walking past the shops, when this toddler ran up to me and told me that his father needed a new wife and asked me to be his new mum. I kindly told him that I already have a husband and he ran back to his father. I thought this place was so strange. I looked into the shops as I continued to walk by. In one of the stores people were fighting and I thought this isn't how children of God are to behave. In another store they were selling cigarettes and things like that, and I was shocked as we knew those things were wrong. Another store had people looking at me strangely as if I wasn't from this world. (We are not of this world, as Jesus said in Joh 17:16 They are not of the world even as I am not of the world. To the average Christian, we appear out of place.) Then in another store, a man catcalled. At every store everything was completely overpriced and had nothing to do with Jesus, and no one was manifesting the fruit of Christ. I kept saying, “vanity, vanity, all is vanity.” (Ecc 1:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.) Everything in this ‘supposed church' was corrupt and had nothing to do with Jesus and I couldn't understand why. I just wanted to leave but I couldn't find Samuel anywhere. I finally got through these shops and into an area where there were no people. I asked God what He wanted me to do. He told me to go back there, and I said, “Lord nothing there has anything to do with You, and it's all corrupt and I don't want to go back.” He told me to go back and tell them all about His real Son Jesus and the Truth. So, I turned around and walked back the exact same way I came. I opened the door to the first store and shared the real gospel, and they rejected it so I went to the next store and told them, and they wanted nothing to do with it either. (Mat 10:40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. Luk 10:16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that rejecteth you rejecteth me; and he that rejecteth me rejecteth him that sent me.) I turned around and saw two police officers going around into the exact same stores I had just left. It was as if they were following my steps, however I felt they were going to the places where I shared the Truth and we're exposing the corruption and arresting the evil. (The police may be the angels. Eph 5:11 and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them;) I went into each shop sharing the Truth, but they all rejected it. So, I went into the café area and shared the Truth there, but everyone just wanted to go on with what they were doing and justifying their sin and corruption. I walked back into the children's area and library and testified of Jesus. (Like Jesus taught His disciples and the apostle Paul says in Act 20:21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 … that I may accomplish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Ministering the Gospel of Christ.) I went to every person I saw and told them the Truth which finally led me to finding Samuel who was speaking to the leaders of this church. As soon as I got next to Samuel we walked straight out to the car and left. UBM House Sanctified And Protected Tianna Fire 4/25/23 (David's notes in red) I dreamed that Michael, David and other brethren and I were living in my gramps Alan's old house. (Alan means harmony, little rock, and precious. This house represents the house of God's chosen or the elect, who are built on the Rock, which is Jesus Christ. 1Co 10:4 and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ. 1Pe 2:6-8 Because it is contained in scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame. 7 For you therefore that believe is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner; 8 and, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence; for they stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.) On one side of the house was a very large lounge room where all the brethren would gather for prayer, Bible studies and fellowship. There was a long hallway that led to the other side of the house where all the bedrooms were located. David's and Michael's rooms were located upstairs on the next level. (In an upper room, as overseers, overlooking the others.) Upstairs, David and Michael had their own small living room area to seek the Lord and write up their teachings received from Jesus. I remember they spent very much time there seeking God together, and individually, praying and studying the Word; but they would share the Word with everyone in the lounge room in God's perfect timing. The brethren who cooked meals, would sometimes bring food up to Michael and David because they were at times so focused and absorbed in the Word and Spirit of God. All the brethren had specific chores around the property, such as cleaning, cooking and gardening and other important tasks, relieving Michael and David and others, so they could spend more time with the Lord in prayer, worship and the Word. (All the members of the Body of Christ have their gifts and individual roles to serve and edify each other. (1Co Ch. 12 and 14) Act 6:2-4 And the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not fit that we should forsake the word of God, and serve tables. 3 Look ye out therefore, brethren, from among you seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will continue stedfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word.) The kitchen area was in the center of the house. (Where the unleavened bread is prepared. 2Ch 7:7 Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of Jehovah;) The house was set up on a hill (Mt Zion) on a large amount of land, approximately five acres. (grace) Outside the house was a large, covered area for gathering, and there was a lake located at the bottom of the hill. The whole property was fenced. (Protected by sanctification.) On the adjoining neighbors' side were many trees and much bush so there was decent privacy. The neighbors were not able to come over the property line even if they wanted to; it was as if there was an invisible shield or wall. (The wall is sanctification from the worldly.) They could only come in contact with us if we were off our private property or if we gave them permission to come onto our property. (If we are “off the private property” or “giving permission” this represents giving place to the enemy by any sin of unbelief, rejection, criticism, unforgiveness, willful sin, etc. When we walk in holiness (sanctification, abiding in Christ, in heavenly places) the enemy is bound and cannot legally be on our “property” (promised land.) 1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, 9 whom withstand stedfast in your faith…) (Isa 35:8 And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for the redeemed: the wayfaring men, yea fools, shall not err therein.) One time I went into the large lounge room and towards the right of the room. Michael, David and some other brethren were there deep in prayer. On a table sat a laptop computer which was turned on. I looked at the screen and saw they were watching a live conference of satanists gathered from around the world. All the brethren in the lounge room were in intense spiritual warfare and prayer against it. (I felt the conference being live online represents all evil being brought into the light and nothing is hidden before God. Also, the Man-Child and Bride body are in spiritual warfare, praying down satan's faction, witchcraft and D-S attempts.) As I watched, HRC (Hillary Clinton) appeared on the laptop screen and I saw the pure evil and high level fallen angels inside of her and the presence of evil was so intense, that I had to turn away from looking at it. Sometimes the evil spiritual realm is too intense for me, so I couldn't bring myself to look at the conference anymore, but I instead just sat further away, and prayed in tongues and I was in complete agreement with what the brethren prayed, and I knew that our prayers would be answered. (We also send the angels to bring down satan and his angels dominion. We have been gaining great victories this way with much less effort as in Rev 12:7-11 ASV And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels going forth to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels; 8 and they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him. 10 And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuseth them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death. All the brethren were in intense prayer all day until it was just David, Michael and myself and my son David, still praying at around 3am. Then I took my son David into our room at the other end of the house. Later, some brethren had to drive somewhere, and two men that I felt were like our bodyguards (angels) came to us and said the enemy was waiting for us. From the house there was a long driveway down the hill to the main road, where we could only go right to leave, we couldn't go left, there was only one way. (The Word of God, Who is Jesus, the one way path of righteousness.) Suddenly, our eyes were opened, (anointing) and we could see through walls, bushes and everything and we were able to see on the main road where some people who were against us were hiding behind a bush waiting for us (an ambush). But because we were able to see the enemy's plans, we were able to avoid the danger, pray it down and knew what to do and what not to do. (The Lord reveals the enemy and their traps, and the hidden dangers by the spiritual gifts, in words of wisdom, words of knowledge, visions and gift of discernment and the angels also tell us of them.) When it was clear they were able to continue. The neighbors in the house next door did not like us, and they were always devising plans of attack against us in some way, but by God's grace, their plans were exposed and always failed. (God reveals the curses and witchcraft of the factious and apostate leaders to us through dreams and visions, so we can pray it down.) I remember in the dream how one of these men repented to follow Jesus and he joined us. The wife of one these men also decided to follow Jesus and she was on fire for God. She was pregnant and would regularly fellowship with us bringing her five children with her. She didn't want to leave her unbelieving husband because she believed God would soon reveal Himself to him too so he would be saved. (1Co 7:13-14 And the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. 1Pe 3:1-2 In like manner, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, even if any obey not the word, they may without the word be gained by the behavior of their wives; 2 beholding your chaste behavior coupled with fear.) There was another UBM camp a little further away in a wooded area (The wooded area represents the wilderness.) and the house was a large wooden cabin. We would regularly meet together for fellowship with the few brethren who lived there. I don't remember what their area of ministering was, but it was different from the one we were in. I remember they had a slide that went off the cabin deck and it went further down onto the property. (This cabin in the woods represents the many other places of refuge that God has provided that are scattered all over the world. Some of these may be part of the UBM ministry.)
November 24, 2023 Daily Devotion: "High Hopes" 1 Kings 18:44 New International Version 44 The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea.” So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.'” Do you live expectantly? Do the little things excite you? Do you imagine the improbable and expect the impossible? Life is full and running over with opportunities to see God's hand in little things. Only the most sensitive of His servants see them, smile, and live on tiptoe. Children can teach us a lot about this kind of expectancy. Did you ever listen to a child pray? Their faith knows no bounds. And who are the least surprised people when God answers prayer? The children. As we get older we grow too sophisticated for that. We use phrases like, "Let's be realistic about this." We lose that expectancy, that urgency of hope, that delightful, childlike, wide-eyed joy of faith that keeps us full of anticipation and excitement. May God deliver us from a grim, stoic, stale shrug of the shoulders! "Look, I haven't changed," He says. "I still delight in doing impossible things. I love to surprise you!" Elijah's God was the God who kept His promises. He was the God of impossible things. So, in childlike faith, Elijah said to Ahab, "Get ready. The rain's coming. I know, because there's a tiny little cloud out there that's getting ready to unload God's abundance." --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gerzon-etino/message
Psalms and Wisdom: Psalm 113 Psalm 113 (Listen) Who Is like the Lord Our God? 113 Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD! 2 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore!3 From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised! 4 The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens!5 Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high,6 who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?7 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap,8 to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.9 He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD! (ESV) Pentateuch and History: 2 Kings 21 2 Kings 21 (Listen) Manasseh Reigns in Judah 21 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah. 2 And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel. 3 For he rebuilt the high places that Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. 4 And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, “In Jerusalem will I put my name.” 5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. 6 And he burned his son as an offering1 and used fortune-telling and omens and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger. 7 And the carved image of Asherah that he had made he set in the house of which the LORD said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever. 8 And I will not cause the feet of Israel to wander anymore out of the land that I gave to their fathers, if only they will be careful to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the Law that my servant Moses commanded them.” 9 But they did not listen, and Manasseh led them astray to do more evil than the nations had done whom the LORD destroyed before the people of Israel. Manasseh's Idolatry Denounced 10 And the LORD said by his servants the prophets, 11 “Because Manasseh king of Judah has committed these abominations and has done things more evil than all that the Amorites did, who were before him, and has made Judah also to sin with his idols, 12 therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Jerusalem and Judah such disaster2 that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. 13 And I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria, and the plumb line of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. 14 And I will forsake the remnant of my heritage and give them into the hand of their enemies, and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies, 15 because they have done what is evil in my sight and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came out of Egypt, even to this day.” 16 Moreover, Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides the sin that he made Judah to sin so that they did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. 17 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh and all that he did, and the sin that he committed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 18 And Manasseh slept with his fathers and was buried in the garden of his house, in the garden of Uzza, and Amon his son reigned in his place. Amon Reigns in Judah 19 Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Meshullemeth the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. 20 And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as Manasseh his father had done. 21 He walked in all the way in which his father walked and served the idols that his father served and worshiped them. 22 He abandoned the LORD, the God of his fathers, and did not walk in the way of the LORD. 23 And the servants of Amon conspired against him and put the king to death in his house. 24 But the people of the land struck down all those who had conspired against King Amon, and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place. 25 Now the rest of the acts of Amon that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 26 And he was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza, and Josiah his son reigned in his place. Footnotes [1] 21:6 Hebrew made his son pass through the fire [2] 21:12 Or evil (ESV) Chronicles and Prophets: Isaiah 11–12 Isaiah 11–12 (Listen) The Righteous Reign of the Branch 11 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.2 And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear,4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins. 6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.7 The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.9 They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. 10 In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious. 11 In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush,1 from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea. 12 He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.13 The jealousy of Ephraim shall depart, and those who harass Judah shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah, and Judah shall not harass Ephraim.14 But they shall swoop down on the shoulder of the Philistines in the west, and together they shall plunder the people of the east. They shall put out their hand against Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites shall obey them.15 And the LORD will utterly destroy2 the tongue of the Sea of Egypt, and will wave his hand over the River3 with his scorching breath,4 and strike it into seven channels, and he will lead people across in sandals.16 And there will be a highway from Assyria for the remnant that remains of his people, as there was for Israel when they came up from the land of Egypt. The Lord Is My Strength and My Song 12 You5 will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me. 2 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD6 is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” 3 With joy you7 will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. 5 “Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known8 in all the earth.6 Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your9 midst is the Holy One of Israel.” Footnotes [1] 11:11 Probably Nubia [2] 11:15 Hebrew devote to destruction [3] 11:15 That is, the Euphrates [4] 11:15 Or wind [5] 12:1 The Hebrew for you is singular in verse 1 [6] 12:2 Hebrew for Yah, the Lord [7] 12:3 The Hebrew for you is plural in verses 3, 4 [8] 12:5 Or this is made known [9] 12:6 The Hebrew for your in verse 6 is singular, referring to the inhabitant of Zion (ESV) Gospels and Epistles: John 14 John 14 (Listen) I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life 14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;1 believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?2 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”3 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.4 From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. 12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me5 anything in my name, I will do it. Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper,6 to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be7 in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. 25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here. Footnotes [1] 14:1 Or You believe in God [2] 14:2 Or In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you [3] 14:4 Some manuscripts Where I am going you know, and the way you know [4] 14:7 Or If you know me, you will know my Father also, or If you have known me, you will know my Father also [5] 14:14 Some manuscripts omit me [6] 14:16 Or Advocate, or Counselor; also 14:26; 15:26; 16:7 [7] 14:17 Some manuscripts and is (ESV)
Even the best leaders, apart from Jesus, are imperfect. Take Jehoshaphat - he was an incredibly good king but he kept going back to associate himself with the wicked house of Ahab. The consequences of this and the arranged marriage for his son Jehoram contributed to the disastrous reign of his son and grandson. Despite all this, however, God's covenant remained intact.
Listen into Sunday's message titled "A Kingly Stature" preached by Pastor Cason Shobert as he continues to walk us through 2 Kings looking at Ahab characteristics and how we eliminate them.
Established In The Faith · Vengeance Upon The House Of Ahab (Part 1) 2 Kings 9:5-7 (KJV) 5 And when he came, (speaking of the young prophet who was sent by Elisha) behold, the captains of the host were sitting; and he said, I have an errand to thee, O captain. And Jehu said, Unto which of all us? And he said, To thee, O captain. 6 And he arose, and went into the house; and (the young prophet) poured the oil on (Jehu's) head, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel. 7 And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel.
Will Sinwar escape? Will Israel allow it?
During the reign of the wicked king Ahab, Elijah showed up out of nowhere and turned off the rain for three and a half years. He also raised a widow's son from the dead and slaughtered the prophets of Baal when they could not demonstrate that their god had any power.
In Herman Melville's Moby Dick, we meet Captain Ahab for the first time long after the Pequod has left Nantucket. “There was,” says Melville's Ishmael, “an infinity of firmest fortitude, a determinate, unsurrenderable wilfulness, in the fixed and fearless, forward dedication of that glance. Not a word he spoke; nor did his officers say aught to him; though by all their minutest gestures and expressions, they plainly showed the uneasy, if not painful, consciousness of being under a troubled master-eye. And not only that, but moody stricken Ahab stood before them with a crucifixion in his face; in all the nameless regal overbearing dignity of some mighty woe." Dr. Virginia Arbery has taught Moby Dick for years is, once again, reading it with our Wyoming Catholic College seniors many of whom are introduced to the book and Captain Ahab for the first time.
1 Kings 21 vs 8-9. "Then Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab's name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. 9 In the letters she wrote: “Proclaim a fast and give Naboth a seat of honor among the people. 10 But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify, ‘You have cursed both God and the king!' Then take him out and stone him to death.”
How much money did Damnation 2023 make? The problem with A Night of Salvation being so cheap. the chaos of losing Tuskar and Ahab at the final hurdle. Bossk and Din of Celestial Birds knocking it out the park. THAT Nordic Giants opening set. Fixation on a Co Worker. Highlights and low points of the weekend... Plans for 2024.We get in about about it all.Thanks for listening, please give the show a follow and tell your mates! ;)
In this Bible Story, Jehu is used by God to rid Israel of evil. He kills Jezebel and all the remnants of king Ahab. He also toppls the temples of Baal along with all its followers. Eventually, he succumbs to his own inner evils and strays away from God. This story is inspired by 2 Kings 9:30-10:36. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 2 Kings 9:34 from the King James Version.Episode 139: Jehoshaphat, in an attempt to broker peace between him and Israel, betrothed his son Joram to Ahab's daughter Athaliah. But because the wicked and idolatrous nature of her parents was in her, both Jehoram and the nation of Judah would be led astray. And as he, his kingdom, and his sons passed away; his wife Athaliah plotted. Determined to stay in power, she killed all of her grandchildren so that the line of David could not stand in her way. But God would not let her evil stand in the way of His promise. Jehosheba, Athaliah's daughter, hid away one of Ahaziah's sons in the temple to be raised by the priests and taken care of until he could become king!Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.This episode is sponsored by Medi-Share, an innovative health care solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Psalms and Wisdom: Psalm 101 Psalm 101 (Listen) I Will Walk with Integrity A Psalm of David. 101 I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will make music.2 I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house;3 I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.4 A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil. 5 Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure. 6 I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me. 7 No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes. 8 Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, cutting off all the evildoers from the city of the LORD. (ESV) Pentateuch and History: 2 Kings 10 2 Kings 10 (Listen) Jehu Slaughters Ahab's Descendants 10 Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the rulers of the city,1 to the elders, and to the guardians of the sons2 of Ahab, saying, 2 “Now then, as soon as this letter comes to you, seeing your master's sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, fortified cities also, and weapons, 3 select the best and fittest of your master's sons and set him on his father's throne and fight for your master's house.” 4 But they were exceedingly afraid and said, “Behold, the two kings could not stand before him. How then can we stand?” 5 So he who was over the palace, and he who was over the city, together with the elders and the guardians, sent to Jehu, saying, “We are your servants, and we will do all that you tell us. We will not make anyone king. Do whatever is good in your eyes.” 6 Then he wrote to them a second letter, saying, “If you are on my side, and if you are ready to obey me, take the heads of your master's sons and come to me at Jezreel tomorrow at this time.” Now the king's sons, seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who were bringing them up. 7 And as soon as the letter came to them, they took the king's sons and slaughtered them, seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets and sent them to him at Jezreel. 8 When the messenger came and told him, “They have brought the heads of the king's sons,” he said, “Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until the morning.” 9 Then in the morning, when he went out, he stood and said to all the people, “You are innocent. It was I who conspired against my master and killed him, but who struck down all these? 10 Know then that there shall fall to the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spoke concerning the house of Ahab, for the LORD has done what he said by his servant Elijah.” 11 So Jehu struck down all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, all his great men and his close friends and his priests, until he left him none remaining. 12 Then he set out and went to Samaria. On the way, when he was at Beth-eked of the Shepherds, 13 Jehu met the relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah, and he said, “Who are you?” And they answered, “We are the relatives of Ahaziah, and we came down to visit the royal princes and the sons of the queen mother.” 14 He said, “Take them alive.” And they took them alive and slaughtered them at the pit of Beth-eked, forty-two persons, and he spared none of them. 15 And when he departed from there, he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him. And he greeted him and said to him, “Is your heart true to my heart as mine is to yours?” And Jehonadab answered, “It is.” Jehu said,3 “If it is, give me your hand.” So he gave him his hand. And Jehu took him up with him into the chariot. 16 And he said, “Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD.” So he4 had him ride in his chariot. 17 And when he came to Samaria, he struck down all who remained to Ahab in Samaria, till he had wiped them out, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke to Elijah. Jehu Strikes Down the Prophets of Baal 18 Then Jehu assembled all the people and said to them, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him much. 19 Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers and all his priests. Let none be missing, for I have a great sacrifice to offer to Baal. Whoever is missing shall not live.” But Jehu did it with cunning in order to destroy the worshipers of Baal. 20 And Jehu ordered, “Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal.” So they proclaimed it. 21 And Jehu sent throughout all Israel, and all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left who did not come. And they entered the house of Baal, and the house of Baal was filled from one end to the other. 22 He said to him who was in charge of the wardrobe, “Bring out the vestments for all the worshipers of Baal.” So he brought out the vestments for them. 23 Then Jehu went into the house of Baal with Jehonadab the son of Rechab, and he said to the worshipers of Baal, “Search, and see that there is no servant of the LORD here among you, but only the worshipers of Baal.” 24 Then they5 went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside and said, “The man who allows any of those whom I give into your hands to escape shall forfeit his life.” 25 So as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guard and to the officers, “Go in and strike them down; let not a man escape.” So when they put them to the sword, the guard and the officers cast them out and went into the inner room of the house of Baal, 26 and they brought out the pillar that was in the house of Baal and burned it. 27 And they demolished the pillar of Baal, and demolished the house of Baal, and made it a latrine to this day. Jehu Reigns in Israel 28 Thus Jehu wiped out Baal from Israel. 29 But Jehu did not turn aside from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin—that is, the golden calves that were in Bethel and in Dan. 30 And the LORD said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in my eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.” 31 But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin. 32 In those days the LORD began to cut off parts of Israel. Hazael defeated them throughout the territory of Israel: 33 from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the Valley of the Arnon, that is, Gilead and Bashan. 34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehu and all that he did, and all his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 35 So Jehu slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place. 36 The time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years. Footnotes [1] 10:1 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew rulers of Jezreel [2] 10:1 Hebrew lacks of the sons [3] 10:15 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks Jehu said [4] 10:16 Septuagint, Syriac, Targum; Hebrew they [5] 10:24 Septuagint he (compare verse 25) (ESV) Chronicles and Prophets: Malachi 1–2:9 Malachi 1–2:9 (Listen) 1 The oracle of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.1 The Lord's Love for Israel 2 “I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob's brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet I have loved Jacob 3 but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” 4 If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the LORD of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,' and ‘the people with whom the LORD is angry forever.'” 5 Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the LORD beyond the border of Israel!” The Priests' Polluted Offerings 6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?' 7 By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?' By saying that the LORD's table may be despised. 8 When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts. 9 And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the LORD of hosts. 10 Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. 11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be2 great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts. 12 But you profane it when you say that the Lord's table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. 13 But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,' and you snort at it, says the LORD of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the LORD. 14 Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations. The Lord Rebukes the Priests 2 “And now, O priests, this command is for you. 2 If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the LORD of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. 3 Behold, I will rebuke your offspring,3 and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it.4 4 So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the LORD of hosts. 5 My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. 6 True instruction5 was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. 7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people6 should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. 8 But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts, 9 and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction.” Footnotes [1] 1:1 Malachi means my messenger [2] 1:11 Or is (three times in verse 11; also verse 14) [3] 2:3 Hebrew seed [4] 2:3 Or to it [5] 2:6 Or law; also verses 7, 8, 9 [6] 2:7 Hebrew they (ESV) Gospels and Epistles: John 5:19–47 John 5:19–47 (Listen) The Authority of the Son 19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father1 does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. 25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. Witnesses to Jesus 30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. 31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. 33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, 38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. 39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 41 I do not receive glory from people. 42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 43 I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?” Footnotes [1] 5:19 Greek he (ESV)
In this Bible Story, we learn about Elisha's interaction with the future King of Syria. Elisha is able to see in him a deep darkness that would cause death and destruction to many in Israel. This story is inspired by 2 Kings 8:1-15. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 2 Kings 8:10 from the King James Version.Episode 137: The reign of King Ahab had finally come to an end. But his son Joram was just as set on evil as he was. So God told Elisha of his plans to put an end to the line of Ahab. Then Elisha sent a prophet at once to go and anoint Jehu as king over Israel in secret. In the barracks of Ramoth Gilead, the men of Israel proclaimed Jehu as king, and at once, rode out to meet Joram and put an end to him as punishment for his crimes.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.This episode is sponsored by Medi-Share, an innovative health care solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this Bible Story, Elisha anoints Jehu as the next king of Israel. Jehu embraces his role as God's cleansing instrument. Jehu kills King Joram and King Ahaziah, and begins his mission to rid Israel of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel's evil influence. This story is inspired by 2 Kings 8:28-9:29. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 2 Kings 8:13 from the King James Version.Episode 138: Riding towards the gates of Joram's former palace, Jehu confronts the wicked king's mother Jezebel. As she yells curses at him, her servants, following Jehu's lead, throw her out the window. Next were Joram's seventy sons. Their caretakers slew them in allegiance to Jehu and in accordance with the word of God spoken about Ahab's line. Finally, he gathered all the prophets and followers of Baal in Israel for a feast, closed the door, and killed them all. Thus eradicating the sins of the line of Ahab from Israel. But all this killing would take a toll on him as well.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.This episode is sponsored by Medi-Share, an innovative health care solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Psalms and Wisdom: Psalm 100 Psalm 100 (Listen) His Steadfast Love Endures Forever A Psalm for giving thanks. 100 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!2 Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 3 Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his;1 we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! 5 For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Footnotes [1] 100:3 Or and not we ourselves (ESV) Pentateuch and History: 2 Kings 9 2 Kings 9 (Listen) Jehu Anointed King of Israel 9 Then Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, “Tie up your garments, and take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead. 2 And when you arrive, look there for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi. And go in and have him rise from among his fellows, and lead him to an inner chamber. 3 Then take the flask of oil and pour it on his head and say, ‘Thus says the LORD, I anoint you king over Israel.' Then open the door and flee; do not linger.” 4 So the young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead. 5 And when he came, behold, the commanders of the army were in council. And he said, “I have a word for you, O commander.” And Jehu said, “To which of us all?” And he said, “To you, O commander.” 6 So he arose and went into the house. And the young man poured the oil on his head, saying to him, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, I anoint you king over the people of the LORD, over Israel. 7 And you shall strike down the house of Ahab your master, so that I may avenge on Jezebel the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD. 8 For the whole house of Ahab shall perish, and I will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel. 9 And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah. 10 And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel, and none shall bury her.” Then he opened the door and fled. 11 When Jehu came out to the servants of his master, they said to him, “Is all well? Why did this mad fellow come to you?” And he said to them, “You know the fellow and his talk.” 12 And they said, “That is not true; tell us now.” And he said, “Thus and so he spoke to me, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, I anoint you king over Israel.'” 13 Then in haste every man of them took his garment and put it under him on the bare1 steps, and they blew the trumpet and proclaimed, “Jehu is king.” Jehu Assassinates Joram and Ahaziah 14 Thus Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram with all Israel had been on guard at Ramoth-gilead against Hazael king of Syria, 15 but King Joram had returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) So Jehu said, “If this is your decision, then let no one slip out of the city to go and tell the news in Jezreel.” 16 Then Jehu mounted his chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to visit Joram. 17 Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel, and he saw the company of Jehu as he came and said, “I see a company.” And Joram said, “Take a horseman and send to meet them, and let him say, ‘Is it peace?'” 18 So a man on horseback went to meet him and said, “Thus says the king, ‘Is it peace?'” And Jehu said, “What do you have to do with peace? Turn around and ride behind me.” And the watchman reported, saying, “The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back.” 19 Then he sent out a second horseman, who came to them and said, “Thus the king has said, ‘Is it peace?'” And Jehu answered, “What do you have to do with peace? Turn around and ride behind me.” 20 Again the watchman reported, “He reached them, but he is not coming back. And the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.” 21 Joram said, “Make ready.” And they made ready his chariot. Then Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah set out, each in his chariot, and went to meet Jehu, and met him at the property of Naboth the Jezreelite. 22 And when Joram saw Jehu, he said, “Is it peace, Jehu?” He answered, “What peace can there be, so long as the whorings and the sorceries of your mother Jezebel are so many?” 23 Then Joram reined about and fled, saying to Ahaziah, “Treachery, O Ahaziah!” 24 And Jehu drew his bow with his full strength, and shot Joram between the shoulders, so that the arrow pierced his heart, and he sank in his chariot. 25 Jehu said to Bidkar his aide, “Take him up and throw him on the plot of ground belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. For remember, when you and I rode side by side behind Ahab his father, how the LORD made this pronouncement against him: 26 ‘As surely as I saw yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons—declares the LORD—I will repay you on this plot of ground.' Now therefore take him up and throw him on the plot of ground, in accordance with the word of the LORD.” 27 When Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled in the direction of Beth-haggan. And Jehu pursued him and said, “Shoot him also.” And they shot him2 in the chariot at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo and died there. 28 His servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his tomb with his fathers in the city of David. 29 In the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab, Ahaziah began to reign over Judah. Jehu Executes Jezebel 30 When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. And she painted her eyes and adorned her head and looked out of the window. 31 And as Jehu entered the gate, she said, “Is it peace, you Zimri, murderer of your master?” 32 And he lifted up his face to the window and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked out at him. 33 He said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down. And some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, and they trampled on her. 34 Then he went in and ate and drank. And he said, “See now to this cursed woman and bury her, for she is a king's daughter.” 35 But when they went to bury her, they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands. 36 When they came back and told him, he said, “This is the word of the LORD, which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite: ‘In the territory of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel, 37 and the corpse of Jezebel shall be as dung on the face of the field in the territory of Jezreel, so that no one can say, This is Jezebel.'” Footnotes [1] 9:13 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain [2] 9:27 Syriac, Vulgate (compare Septuagint); Hebrew lacks and they shot him (ESV) Chronicles and Prophets: Zechariah 14 Zechariah 14 (Listen) The Coming Day of the Lord 14 Behold, a day is coming for the LORD, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst. 2 For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3 Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. 4 On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. 5 And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. And you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.1 6 On that day there shall be no light, cold, or frost.2 7 And there shall be a unique3 day, which is known to the LORD, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light. 8 On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea4 and half of them to the western sea.5 It shall continue in summer as in winter. 9 And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be one and his name one. 10 The whole land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. But Jerusalem shall remain aloft on its site from the Gate of Benjamin to the place of the former gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king's winepresses. 11 And it shall be inhabited, for there shall never again be a decree of utter destruction.6 Jerusalem shall dwell in security. 12 And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the peoples that wage war against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths. 13 And on that day a great panic from the LORD shall fall on them, so that each will seize the hand of another, and the hand of the one will be raised against the hand of the other. 14 Even Judah will fight at Jerusalem.7 And the wealth of all the surrounding nations shall be collected, gold, silver, and garments in great abundance. 15 And a plague like this plague shall fall on the horses, the mules, the camels, the donkeys, and whatever beasts may be in those camps. 16 Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths. 17 And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain on them. 18 And if the family of Egypt does not go up and present themselves, then on them there shall be no rain;8 there shall be the plague with which the LORD afflicts the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Booths. 19 This shall be the punishment to Egypt and the punishment to all the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Booths. 20 And on that day there shall be inscribed on the bells of the horses, “Holy to the LORD.” And the pots in the house of the LORD shall be as the bowls before the altar. 21 And every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holy to the LORD of hosts, so that all who sacrifice may come and take of them and boil the meat of the sacrifice in them. And there shall no longer be a trader9 in the house of the LORD of hosts on that day. Footnotes [1] 14:5 Other Hebrew manuscripts you [2] 14:6 Compare Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate, Targum; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [3] 14:7 Hebrew one [4] 14:8 That is, the Dead Sea [5] 14:8 That is, the Mediterranean Sea [6] 14:11 The Hebrew term rendered decree of utter destruction refers to things devoted (or set apart) to the Lord (or by the Lord) for destruction [7] 14:14 Or against Jerusalem [8] 14:18 Hebrew lacks rain [9] 14:21 Or Canaanite (ESV) Gospels and Epistles: John 4:43–5:18 John 4:43–5:18 (Listen) 43 After the two days he departed for Galilee. 44 (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) 45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast. Jesus Heals an Official's Son 46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you1 see signs and wonders you will not believe.” 49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants2 met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour3 the fever left him.” 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. 54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee. The Healing at the Pool on the Sabbath 5 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic4 called Bethesda,5 which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed.6 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. 10 So the Jews7 said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” 11 But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.'” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk'?” 13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. 16 And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” Jesus Is Equal with God 18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. Footnotes [1] 4:48 The Greek for you is plural; twice in this verse [2] 4:51 Or bondservants [3] 4:52 That is, at 1 p.m. [4] 5:2 Or Hebrew [5] 5:2 Some manuscripts Bethsaida [6] 5:3 Some manuscripts insert, wholly or in part, waiting for the moving of the water; 4for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and stirred the water: whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease he had [7] 5:10 The Greek word Ioudaioi refers specifically here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, who opposed Jesus in that time; also verses 15, 16, 18 (ESV)
During this episode of the Red-Haired Archaeologist® Podcast, learn about the Northern Kingdom's most infamous king and queen: Ahab and Jezebel. Find out where Samaria's capital city was built, how Phoenician religion and trade affected the nation, and why we think of Jezebel as a seductress instead of a powerful politician. Episode links: The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. "Elijah meeting Ahab and Jezebel in Naboth's vineyard," New York Public Library Digital Collections: https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e4-5d8f-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99 Jude Flurry, “Samaria Ivories — Proof of the Bible?” Armstrong Institute of Biblical Archaeology: https://armstronginstitute.org/394-samaria-ivories-proof-of-the-bible John Byam Liston Shaw (1872–1919), “Jezebel,” https://russellcotes.com/collection-piece/jezebel/ The Sidon Excavation: http://www.sidonexcavation.com/sidon-the-city/ “Furniture inlay: Woman at the Window,” IAA 1933-2578, Israel Museum: https://www.imj.org.il/en/collections/365182-0 Red-Haired Archaeologist® links: https://redhairedarchaeologist.com/free https://www.facebook.com/AmandaHopeHaley/ https://www.instagram.com/redhairedarchaeologist/ https://amandahopehaley.square.site/ Learn more about my fabulous video editor, Tanya Yaremkiv, by visiting her website at https://tanyaremkiv.com and listening to her podcast, Through the Bible podcast with Tanya Yaremkiv. You can also follow her on Facebook and Instagram @tanyaremkiv.
Psalms and Wisdom: Psalm 99 Psalm 99 (Listen) The Lord Our God Is Holy 99 The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!2 The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples.3 Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he!4 The King in his might loves justice.1 You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.5 Exalt the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he! 6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called upon his name. They called to the LORD, and he answered them.7 In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them; they kept his testimonies and the statute that he gave them. 8 O LORD our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.9 Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy! Footnotes [1] 99:4 Or The might of the King loves justice (ESV) Pentateuch and History: 2 Kings 8 2 Kings 8 (Listen) The Shunammite's Land Restored 8 Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, and depart with your household, and sojourn wherever you can, for the LORD has called for a famine, and it will come upon the land for seven years.” 2 So the woman arose and did according to the word of the man of God. She went with her household and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years. 3 And at the end of the seven years, when the woman returned from the land of the Philistines, she went to appeal to the king for her house and her land. 4 Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, “Tell me all the great things that Elisha has done.” 5 And while he was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life appealed to the king for her house and her land. And Gehazi said, “My lord, O king, here is the woman, and here is her son whom Elisha restored to life.” 6 And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed an official for her, saying, “Restore all that was hers, together with all the produce of the fields from the day that she left the land until now.” Hazael Murders Ben-hadad 7 Now Elisha came to Damascus. Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick. And when it was told him, “The man of God has come here,” 8 the king said to Hazael, “Take a present with you and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the LORD through him, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?'” 9 So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, all kinds of goods of Damascus, forty camels' loads. When he came and stood before him, he said, “Your son Ben-hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?'” 10 And Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover,' but1 the LORD has shown me that he shall certainly die.” 11 And he fixed his gaze and stared at him, until he was embarrassed. And the man of God wept. 12 And Hazael said, “Why does my lord weep?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel. You will set on fire their fortresses, and you will kill their young men with the sword and dash in pieces their little ones and rip open their pregnant women.” 13 And Hazael said, “What is your servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing?” Elisha answered, “The LORD has shown me that you are to be king over Syria.” 14 Then he departed from Elisha and came to his master, who said to him, “What did Elisha say to you?” And he answered, “He told me that you would certainly recover.” 15 But the next day he took the bed cloth2 and dipped it in water and spread it over his face, till he died. And Hazael became king in his place. Jehoram Reigns in Judah 16 In the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab, king of Israel, when Jehoshaphat was king of Judah,3 Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, began to reign. 17 He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. 18 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. 19 Yet the LORD was not willing to destroy Judah, for the sake of David his servant, since he promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever. 20 In his days Edom revolted from the rule of Judah and set up a king of their own. 21 Then Joram4 passed over to Zair with all his chariots and rose by night, and he and his chariot commanders struck the Edomites who had surrounded him, but his army fled home. 22 So Edom revolted from the rule of Judah to this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time. 23 Now the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 24 So Joram slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place. Ahaziah Reigns in Judah 25 In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab, king of Israel, Ahaziah the son of Jehoram, king of Judah, began to reign. 26 Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah; she was a granddaughter of Omri king of Israel. 27 He also walked in the way of the house of Ahab and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done, for he was son-in-law to the house of Ahab. 28 He went with Joram the son of Ahab to make war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead, and the Syrians wounded Joram. 29 And King Joram returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick. Footnotes [1] 8:10 Some manuscripts say, ‘You shall certainly not recover,' for [2] 8:15 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [3] 8:16 Septuagint, Syriac lack when Jehoshaphat was king of Judah [4] 8:21 Joram is an alternate spelling of Jehoram (son of Jehoshaphat) as in verse 16; also verses 23, 24 (ESV) Chronicles and Prophets: Zechariah 12–13 Zechariah 12–13 (Listen) The Lord Will Give Salvation 12 The oracle of the word of the LORD concerning Israel: Thus declares the LORD, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him: 2 “Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah. 3 On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it. 4 On that day, declares the LORD, I will strike every horse with panic, and its rider with madness. But for the sake of the house of Judah I will keep my eyes open, when I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. 5 Then the clans of Judah shall say to themselves, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength through the LORD of hosts, their God.' 6 “On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a blazing pot in the midst of wood, like a flaming torch among sheaves. And they shall devour to the right and to the left all the surrounding peoples, while Jerusalem shall again be inhabited in its place, in Jerusalem. 7 “And the LORD will give salvation to the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not surpass that of Judah. 8 On that day the LORD will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the LORD, going before them. 9 And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. Him Whom They Have Pierced 10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. 11 On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning for Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. 12 The land shall mourn, each family1 by itself: the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves; 13 the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the Shimeites by itself, and their wives by themselves; 14 and all the families that are left, each by itself, and their wives by themselves. 13 “On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness. Idolatry Cut Off 2 “And on that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, so that they shall be remembered no more. And also I will remove from the land the prophets and the spirit of uncleanness. 3 And if anyone again prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will say to him, ‘You shall not live, for you speak lies in the name of the LORD.' And his father and mother who bore him shall pierce him through when he prophesies. 4 “On that day every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies. He will not put on a hairy cloak in order to deceive, 5 but he will say, ‘I am no prophet, I am a worker of the soil, for a man sold me in my youth.'2 6 And if one asks him, ‘What are these wounds on your back?'3 he will say, ‘The wounds I received in the house of my friends.' The Shepherd Struck 7 “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me,” declares the LORD of hosts. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones.8 In the whole land, declares the LORD, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive.9 And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people'; and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.'” Footnotes [1] 12:12 Or clan; throughout verses 12–14 [2] 13:5 Or for the land has been my possession since my youth [3] 13:6 Or on your chest; Hebrew wounds between your hands (ESV) Gospels and Epistles: John 4:1–42 John 4:1–42 (Listen) Jesus and the Woman of Samaria 4 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3 he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. 4 And he had to pass through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.1 7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.2 The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband'; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” 27 Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” 28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30 They went out of the town and were coming to him. 31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. 36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.' 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” 39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” Footnotes [1] 4:6 That is, about noon [2] 4:14 Greek forever (ESV)
With family: 2 Kings 21; Hebrews 3 2 Kings 21 (Listen) Manasseh Reigns in Judah 21 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah. 2 And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel. 3 For he rebuilt the high places that Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. 4 And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, “In Jerusalem will I put my name.” 5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. 6 And he burned his son as an offering1 and used fortune-telling and omens and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger. 7 And the carved image of Asherah that he had made he set in the house of which the LORD said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever. 8 And I will not cause the feet of Israel to wander anymore out of the land that I gave to their fathers, if only they will be careful to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the Law that my servant Moses commanded them.” 9 But they did not listen, and Manasseh led them astray to do more evil than the nations had done whom the LORD destroyed before the people of Israel. Manasseh's Idolatry Denounced 10 And the LORD said by his servants the prophets, 11 “Because Manasseh king of Judah has committed these abominations and has done things more evil than all that the Amorites did, who were before him, and has made Judah also to sin with his idols, 12 therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Jerusalem and Judah such disaster2 that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. 13 And I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria, and the plumb line of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. 14 And I will forsake the remnant of my heritage and give them into the hand of their enemies, and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies, 15 because they have done what is evil in my sight and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came out of Egypt, even to this day.” 16 Moreover, Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides the sin that he made Judah to sin so that they did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. 17 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh and all that he did, and the sin that he committed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 18 And Manasseh slept with his fathers and was buried in the garden of his house, in the garden of Uzza, and Amon his son reigned in his place. Amon Reigns in Judah 19 Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Meshullemeth the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. 20 And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as Manasseh his father had done. 21 He walked in all the way in which his father walked and served the idols that his father served and worshiped them. 22 He abandoned the LORD, the God of his fathers, and did not walk in the way of the LORD. 23 And the servants of Amon conspired against him and put the king to death in his house. 24 But the people of the land struck down all those who had conspired against King Amon, and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place. 25 Now the rest of the acts of Amon that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 26 And he was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza, and Josiah his son reigned in his place. Footnotes [1] 21:6 Hebrew made his son pass through the fire [2] 21:12 Or evil (ESV) Hebrews 3 (Listen) Jesus Greater Than Moses 3 Therefore, holy brothers,1 you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's2 house. 3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.3 A Rest for the People of God 7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice,8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness,9 where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years.10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.'11 As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.'” 12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” 16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. Footnotes [1] 3:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 12 [2] 3:2 Greek his; also verses 5, 6 [3] 3:6 Some manuscripts insert firm to the end (ESV) In private: Psalm 139; Hosea 14 Psalm 139 (Listen) Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. 139 O LORD, you have searched me and known me!2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. 7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,”12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. 13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.1 Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. 19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me!20 They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain.221 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?22 I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!324 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!4 Footnotes [1] 139:14 Or for I am fearfully set apart [2] 139:20 Hebrew lacks your name [3] 139:23 Or cares [4] 139:24 Or in the ancient way (compare Jeremiah 6:16) (ESV) Hosea 14 (Listen) A Plea to Return to the Lord 14 Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.2 Take with you words and return to the LORD; say to him, “Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will pay with bulls the vows1 of our lips.3 Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride on horses; and we will say no more, ‘Our God,' to the work of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy.” 4 I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them.5 I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon;6 his shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon.7 They shall return and dwell beneath my2 shadow; they shall flourish like the grain; they shall blossom like the vine; their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon. 8 O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you.3 I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit. 9 Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them. Footnotes [1] 14:2 Septuagint, Syriac pay the fruit [2] 14:7 Hebrew his [3] 14:8 Hebrew him (ESV)
* Duffy Challenges Producer Lanphere about Freedom to Sin: Will Duffy pointed out to Les Lanphere, the producer of the film Calvinist, that by the doctrines of Calvinism, men are not even free to sin. So he asked the producer, Does your film admit that Calvinism teaches that man is not free to sin? After all, John Calvin himself taught that men can only sin by divine decree and that they are unable to sin in any way other than how God decreed that they would commit each of their sins. Of course, Calvinists like Lanphere happily argue that men do not have free will, nor the freedom to choose God, nor the freedom to do right. Simultaneously though, they avoid discussion of the Calvinist teaching that men are also not free to sin, either. By Calvinist philosophy, men have no freedom to choose evil, or one sin over another sin, or to do anything outside of the divine decree. And because the eternal divine decree allegedly includes every thought, every desire, every action, and the history of every bit of matter, therefore by Calvinism men are not free to do good, nor to sin, and they can only do the wicked and perverse things that, before they were even conceived, they were decreed to do. (When Calvinists reply, Yes, but men sin just as they desire to, of course, by Calvinist philosophy, those men were unalterably created to desire and to commit the specific sins that they commit.) Lanphere responded but by avoiding the substance of Will's challenge. (Hear this at 16:30 into today's program and click here for Part 2 of today's program.) * Ask a Calvinist, What Prevents a Man from Sinning Differently from God's Decrees? Will presents his second question to Lanphere (at 18 minutes into today's program) that likewise exposes the perversion of Calvinist doctrine. What prevents a man from sinning differently from God's decrees? Their only answer: God. By the corruption of Calvinist doctrine, the only thing that prevents a man from sinning other than how God decreed that he would sin is that divine decree itself. In duplicity when pressed, Calvinist will sometimes deny this. Then asking, "So you don't believe that God has decreed everything?", usually demonstrates their obfuscation. So if eternally decreed to rape a victim, they cannot instead murder that victim, and if decreed to murder, they cannot instead rape. (At 21 minutes into today's program, here this in audio from Reformed theologian James White.) Calvinism is not merely wrong. It is sinful, and brings reproach upon the holiness of God, trading away God's qualitative for His quantitative attributes, trading His goodness and love for how much change, how much knowledge, etc. (the OMNIs and IMs.) * Today's Calvinist Film: Bob Enyart and Will Duffy discuss Lanphere's film Calvinist with audio from the movie and quotes from John Calvin himself. Calvin rejected the claim that God only permits wickedness and insisted that God is the author of sin. Now in heaven, he knows otherwise. The film however quotes still-living Calvinists who haven't learned as much as their namesake. From Paul Washer and R. C. Sproul (father of RCS Jr. who denies that God the Son took upon Himself a human nature), the film presents these comments, not to highlight their error, but affirmatively: - "From the time a child in the United States enters kindergarten, he begins to be taught... a particular understanding of the nature of man, this concept of free will, that man is free to choose the good or evil, on either side. That's a blasphemous doctrine." (Like D. James Kennedy's N.T. prof in debate with Enyart, Sproul confuses "ability to accomplish" with one's "ability to decide") - "The greatest heresy in the American, evangelical, and Protestant church is that if you pray and ask Jesus to come into your heart, He will definitely come in." (Calvinism denies the Bible's repeated teaching that one must believe to be saved, for by it's convoluted human reasoning it teaches the reverse, that you can't believe until after you are saved.) "Yes, they can be saved. Regardless though, Calvinists are intellectual reprobates." -B.E. * God is the Author of Sin according to these Quotes from John Calvin, Institutes Book One, Chapter 18: All Calvinists (including Matt Slick) concerned with defending God's holiness should repudiate these tragic claims by John Calvin from Chapter 18 which begins on page 228: [Of] the Works of the Ungodly [God] Bends their Minds To Carry Out His Judgments. Chapter 18 Section 1: "No mere 'permission'"! "And now I have already shown plainly enough that God is called the Author of all the things that these faultfinders would have happen only by his indolent [lazy] permission." [That is, Calvin tragically but explicitly claims here that God is the "Author" of sin. Every obfuscating Calvinist should be asked to repudiate John Calvin's this teaching on this.] "Therefore they escape by the shift that this is done only with God's permission, not also by his will..." "However, that men can accomplish nothing except by God's secret command, that they cannot by deliberating accomplish anything except what he has already decreed with himself and determines by his secret direction, is proved by innumerable and clear testimonies." "If the blinding and insanity of Ahab be God's judgment, the figment of bare permission vanishes: because it would be ridiculous for the Judge only to permit what he wills to be done, and not also to decree it and to command its execution by his ministers." "Therefore, whatever men or Satan himself may instigate, God nevertheless holds the key, so that he turns their efforts to carry out his judgments." "man does by God's just impulsion what he ought not to do" "Great are God's works, sought out in all his wills” [Ps. 111: 2; cf. Ps. 110: 2, Vg.]; so that in a wonderful and ineffable manner nothing is done without God's will, not even that which is against his will." "For it is easy to dispose of their first objection, that if nothing happens apart from God's will, there are in him two contrary wills, because by his secret plan he decrees what he has openly forbidden by his law." "not because he would teach impious and obstinate men to obey him willingly, but because he will bend them to execute his judgments, as if they bore his commandments graven upon their hearts; from this it appears that they had been impelled by God's sure determination. I confess, indeed, that it is often by means of Satan's intervention that God acts in the wicked, but in such a way that Satan performs his part by God's impulsion and advances as far as he is allowed." "As far as pertains to those secret promptings we are discussing, Solomon's statement that the heart of a king is turned about hither and thither at God's pleasure [Prov. 21: 1] certainly extends to all the human race, and carries as much weight as if he had said: “Whatever we conceive of in our minds is directed to his own end by God's secret inspiration." "Yet from these it is more than evident that they babble and talk absurdly who, in place of God's providence, substitute bare permission— as if God sat in a watchtower awaiting chance events, and his judgments thus depended upon human will." * And from chapter 16: "Hence we maintain that, by his providence, not heaven and earth and inanimate creatures only, but also the counsels and wills of men are so governed as to move exactly in the course which he has destined." * It's Been Said: "If Calvinism is true, then love cannot exist. If love exists, then Calvinism cannot be true."* Warren McGrew Said: Find at kgov.com/warren-mcgrew that Calvinism claims, "There's a perfect amount of evil." Uh-huh. * Dom's Been Heard Sayin': "No theology makes less of man being made in God's likeness than Calvinism", Dominic Enyart once said to his dear-ole' dad. He's also pointed out that in the Scriptures God utterly abhors the person who brings another person to do evil. Yet this wickedness is what Calvinism pins on God. Not surprisingly then, Dodge is the official car of Calvinists in debate. Dom also observes, "One of the main reasons why Calvinists are legalists is because they argue that faith and works are the same thing. When a Calvinist denies that if you believe you will be saved by claiming that faith itself is a work, they are not only disagreeing with Scripture, they are contributing to legalism. They argue that by total depravity the unsaved cannot believe for salvation. They claim, rather, an elect person must first be regenerated in order to believe. Otherwise, they claim, absurdly, you are being saved by works, because if you need faith to be saved, then that is a work. However faith and works are not the same thing. So Christians should not be surprised that Calvinists, blurring the distinction between faith and works, tend to be legalists." * Toy Refutes Calvinism: For those who have been told that everything occurs by God's eternal decree, thus making Him the author of every thought and word, consider the gibberish on a product imported from China. This toy, with its confused imprinted warning refutes Calvinism for all those who accept the Bible's teaching at 1 Corinthians 14:33 which states that, "God is not the author of confusion." The helicopter blade says, "WARNING: If blade damage, don't be fly, otherwise it will create the human body or blame damage." * Vegas Mass Shooting Today: Our hearts go out to all those suffering in Las Vegas. Today's program was pre-produced for the launch of the film Calvinist. Undoubtedly, because of his superstition masquerading as theology, the producer of Calvinist must have wondered why America's deadliest mass shooting was decreed to occur on the same day as his long-planned premiere. Update: Bob Enyart conducted an unauthorized, off-the-record interview with a Mandalay Bay employee who was there during the massacre to discuss the absurd conspiracy theorist claims like the FBI wiped the phones of the concertgoers (what, all 20 thousand of them?), that there were multiple shooters, that the government was somehow behind the mass murder, and even that concertgoers were being illegally held by FBI agents inside of the casino. See also, kgov.com/conspiracy-theorists (all of which, of course, was decreed in the mind of God from eternity past if the above craziness were true).
Sometimes we call on God, asking Him to act, asking Him to reveal Himself or to remedy a dire situation. And sometimes He responds with dramatic intervention. Today we jump forward in biblical history to the time of Israel's kings. First Kings 1–11 chronicles the rise and fall of Solomon whose love for foreign women ultimately caused his spiritual demise. Upon Solomon's death, the kingdom divided. Jeroboam reigned over the ten tribes of Israel in the north, and Rehoboam ruled over Judah and Benjamin in the south. Jeroboam did evil in the sight of the Lord, as did all other eighteen kings in Israel. Ahab was the seventh (1 Kings 16:28), and he was even more evil than any other king before him (16:30). Ahab and his wife Jezebel worshiped Baal who they believed controlled the rain and all fertility. In 1 Kings 17, Elijah the prophet visited Ahab, predicting a drought—God's punishment for their idolatry. The drought caused widespread famine. In the third year, God instructed Elijah to approach Ahab again. He would bring rain, but not without a showdown. On Elijah's instruction, Ahab assembled 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah at Mount Carmel. Elijah addressed the starving crowd first: “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him” (v. 21). Elijah instructed the Baal prophets to prepare a sacrifice. All day, they called (qara) on Baal to bring fire. They danced and cut themselves. Yet, “there was no response” (v. 29). Then it was Elijah's turn. After soaking his altar three times, Elijah called (qara) on the Lord, asking Him to show Himself as God. And the fire of the Lord fell, consuming everything: offering, wood, stone, water, dust. When the people saw it, they fell on their faces, saying, “The LORD he is God!” (v. 39). >> Elijah's story should inspire great confidence in you today. We call upon a God who hears and answers! Our God alone is sovereign. Call on Him today and be confident in His power.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
1 Kings 18:[17-19] 20-39 17When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, "Is it you, you troubler of Israel?" 18He answered, "I have not troubled Israel; but you have, and your father's house, because you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals. 19Now therefore have all Israel assemble for me at Mount Carmel, with the four hundred fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table." 20So Ahab sent to all the Israelites, and assembled the prophets at Mount Carmel. 21Elijah then came near to all the people, and said, "How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." The people did not answer him a word. 22Then Elijah said to the people, "I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets number four hundred fifty. 23Let two bulls be given to us; let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it; I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. 24Then you call on the name of your god and I will call on the name of the LORD; the god who answers by fire is indeed God." All the people answered, "Well spoken!" 25Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many; then call on the name of your god, but put no fire to it." 26So they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, crying, "O Baal, answer us!" But there was no voice, and no answer. They limped about the altar that they had made. 27At noon Elijah mocked them, saying, "Cry aloud! Surely he is a god; either he is meditating, or he has wandered away, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened." 28Then they cried aloud and, as was their custom, they cut themselves with swords and lances until the blood gushed out over them. 29As midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice, no answer, and no response. 30Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come closer to me"; and all the people came closer to him. First he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown down; 31Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, "Israel shall be your name"; 32with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. Then he made a trench around the altar, large enough to contain two measures of seed. 33Next he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood. He said, "Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood." 34Then he said, "Do it a second time"; and they did it a second time. Again he said, "Do it a third time"; and they did it a third time, 35so that the water ran all around the altar, and filled the trench also with water. 36At the time of the offering of the oblation, the prophet Elijah came near and said, "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your bidding. 37Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back." 38Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and even licked up the water that was in the trench. 39When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD indeed is God; the LORD indeed is God."