Podcasts about amalekites

Today, Pastor Jeff shares that sometimes, helping someone in our family means giving something up. Aaron and Hur gave up their comfort, time, and energy. Exodus 17:11-12 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.

When Evil Arises ReCreate Church | Michael Shockley | July 27, 2025---------- EPISODE SUMMARY What do you do when it feels like evil is winning and God is nowhere to be found? Through the dramatic story of Esther chapter 3, Michael Shockley introduces us to one of history's most dangerous villains - Haman the Agagite. From a 500-year-old blood feud to a genocidal plot that threatened to eliminate all Jewish people, discover how God works behind the scenes even when His name isn't mentioned. Learn from the inspiring story of Corrie ten Boom and her Nazi concentration camp experience that sometimes what looks like abandonment is actually God's protection. When darkness seems to triumph, remember this truth: the Cross looked like defeat, but Sunday was already on the schedule. Core Message: Evil may rise, but God is already writing the rescue. ---------- KEY TOPICS COVERED Opening Stories: Death and Faith - The loss of cultural icons from the 80s and 90s - Malcolm Jamal Warner's Christian faith and peaceful character - Hulk Hogan's recent baptism and testimony about Jesus - Ozzy Osborne's reported possible deathbed conversion to Christianity - How unexpected people can embrace the Gospel Meet the Villain: Haman the Agagite - Haman's promotion to Grand Vizier, the king's highest official - His possession of the king's signet ring and ultimate authority - The epitome of someone who clawed and connived for power - His demand for everyone to bow and pay homage to him Mordecai's Refusal to Bow - Religious convictions about not engaging in false worship - The danger of making idols out of people or political systems - Standing up to insufferable, grandstanding leadership - A quiet act of conscience rooted in faith in a Greater King The Ancient Blood Feud - Haman as descendant of Agag, king of the Amalekites - The Amalekites' history of unprovoked attacks against Israel - God's judgment through King Saul and the Prophet Samuel - King Saul's disobedience in sparing King Agag - Mordecai as a relative or likely descendant of King Saul from the tribe of Benjamin The Genocidal Plot - Haman's plan to exterminate all Jews in the Persian Empire - The empire's scope from India to Ethiopia, Greece to Caucasus Mountains - The financial incentive offered (equivalent to $200 million today) - The casting of lots (Pur) to determine the timing - How God influenced the lots to fall nearly a year later What It Looks Like vs. What's Really Happening - Evil rising vs. God writing the rescue - Haman in charge vs. God in control - Mordecai defiant vs. God faithful - Haman controlling calendar vs. God ordaining timing - King passive vs. King of Heaven active - God silent vs. God sovereign - Jews doomed vs. deliverers already in place The Corrie ten Boom Story - Dutch watchmaker's family hiding Jews during Holocaust - Arrest and imprisonment at Ravensbrück concentration camp - The flea-infested Barracks 28 that seemed like abandonment - How the fleas kept guards away, allowing Bible studies and worship - God using the very thing that seemed like punishment as protection ---------- MEMORABLE QUOTES "People get all bent out of shape when God doesn't do something to stop evil. And when God does something to stop evil, people get all bent out of shape." "Haman thought he was picking the best time for genocide. In truth, God picked the perfect time for rescue." "There is a big difference between what it looks like and what's really happening." "The Cross looked like defeat. The Tomb looked like the end. But Sunday was already on the schedule." ---------- BIBLICAL FOUNDATION - Primary Text: Esther 3:1-6, 7, 15 - Supporting Texts: 1 Samuel 15 (Saul and the Amalekites), 1 Thessalonians 5:18 - Key Theme: God's sovereignty working through human evil for ultimate good - Historical Context: Ancient blood feud between Amalekites and Jews - Forward Connection: Preservation of Jesus' lineage through Jewish survival ---------- PRACTICAL APPLICATION When You Feel Evil Is Winning: - Remember there's a difference between what it looks like and what's really happening - Trust that God is writing the rescue even when you can't see it - Don't assume God is absent just because circumstances are difficult - Call on God and ask Him to show Himself strong When Wrong People Seem to Be in Power: - Avoid making idols out of political systems or leaders - Practice quiet acts of conscience rooted in faith - Remember that human authority is temporary, God's authority is eternal - Stand up for your convictions even when it's unpopular When You Face Systematic Evil or Persecution: - Trust that God can use even the worst circumstances for protection - Look for opportunities to minister and share faith even in dark places - Remember that what seems like abandonment might be God's provision - Hold onto hope that deliverance is coming even when you can't see how When You're Tempted to Compromise Your Faith: - Follow Mordecai's example of quiet resistance based on conviction - Don't bow to pressure when it conflicts with worship of the true God - Understand that standing for truth may bring persecution - Trust that God sees your faithfulness even when others don't When You Question God's Timing: - Remember that God ordains timing even when humans think they control it - Trust that delays in justice don't mean God isn't working - Understand that God may be positioning people and circumstances for rescue - Wait on God's perfect timing rather than demanding immediate action ---------- THE ULTIMATE INVITATION On the surface, it may seem like evil is winning and God is on vacation. But underneath it all, God is at work, quietly putting the pieces together for a rescue nobody sees coming. The Cross looked like defeat. The Tomb looked like the end. But Sunday was already on the schedule. When evil rises, when darkness closes its grip, when life itches and bites and burns and stings, don't assume God is absent. Even fleas and wicked decrees become a part of His rescue. Do you see evil around you? Are you wondering where God is? Call on Him. Ask Him to show Himself strong. ---------- CONNECT WITH RECREATE CHURCH - Website: recreatechurch.org - Support the Ministry: Give through the Tithe.ly app or offering boxes ---------- Remember: God's fingerprints are all over your story even when His name isn't mentioned. The Unseen Hand of God is at work, writing your rescue before evil even makes its move.

This week, Pastor Jeff shares that Families should help one another. Sometimes, one person needs help, and the others step in to assist. Our families can be like Moses, Aaron, and Hur - from the Bible story we will learn together.  Exodus 17:10 10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill.  

“When God Gets Angry”1 Samuel 15:1-31 Samuel said to Saul, “I am the one the Lord sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the Lord. 2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. 3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.'” CONNECT WITH USIf you have any questions or would like to get to know us further, head over to https://www.triumphlbc.org/connect and fill out our online connection card.ABOUT TRIUMPHTriumph wants to see the life and message of Jesus transform your heart, home, and city. To learn more visit https://www.triumphlbc.org/

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu didn't forget something God told his people 3500 years prior to specifically not  forget. He remembered the Amalekites. Not only that, he asked the world today to not forget the Amalekites.The reference is the very chapter we are on as we are walking thru Deuteronomy.  It is there Moses is commanded to "blot out the memory" of the Amalekites. Join me as we ask about his application of this verse to the current people group of the Palestinians, and their leadership of Hamas. Once again, Deuteronomy is practical and applicable. Subscribehttps://youtu.be/EYXBafhLsiQ

Group Guide Use this guide to help your group discussion as you meet this week. TranscriptGood morning, my name's Chet, I'm one of the pastors here. If you will grab your Bible and go to First Samuel, chapter 21. We're going to be in chapters 21 and 22 today. We're looking through both of those chapters.When I was growing up, probably three to five, I think I watched Mary Poppins 42,000 times. I'm pretty sure that we only had like a handful of VHS that my grandmother had recorded from her television. So I also have a lot of commercials really, really memorized. But I watched that on a regular basis. And there's this scene towards the end of the movie where the children had been in a bank and there was some bank trouble. And I don't want to get into a whole discussion of finance, but they had to run out of the bank and they get lost in London. And thus begins a series of back to back to back to back moments that were utterly terrifying to me.It was like they took all the vulnerabilities of a four year old and just pummeled them. So they're lost in a city. Terrifying. Just not knowing where your parents are for like 12 seconds when you're four and five is scary. They're running through a city. This is, you know, it's awful. Then they come around a corner in an alleyway and an old lady pops out and goes, come with me, children. And it's like, why would she do that? And you don't know if she was intending to be helpful. They run away. She seemed scary. So they take off. Then they come around a corner and a dog jumps out and starts barking aggressively at them. When you're a child, a dog is the size of a bear. Like, I mean, you know. Then they turn and they run and they go down an alleyway and a shadowy figure grabs them. Turns out that that's their friend, but you don't know it at the time.I just remember like this seared in my brain, this series of events. And I remember even as a little kid, like, I'm pretty sure there were times where I just stopped watching the movie before that I was like, well, let's move on. I know they make it at the. And I think there were other times where I just left the room and like waited till I heard the song start back up, you know, because it's a children's movie where things are supposed to be happy. And then I returned, but it was really this interesting peek into things that made me feel very vulnerable and very alone. And this real dive into fears that I had.As we're reading through this text today, we're going to see how Saul, David and a handful of other people deal with fear. What it does to them, where it takes them. There's a reality to fear, that it drives us towards something, towards someone, it exposes us in a way. And so what I hope we see in this text is we're going to see them as they interact with it. They're going to see how they handle it. And what I hope we'll learn together is the scariest place to be and the safest place to be as we study this text together.So let's pray quickly for us and then we'll move into chapter 21 of First Samuel. Lord, we ask for your help. We ask for your Spirit to speak in a way that we can understand, that you would help us to deal with our fears and to see what fear does to us in a way that draws us to you. In Jesus name, amen.So David's on the run. Saul wants to kill him. Saul's the king. David was very close to Saul, was a general, was his bodyguard, was all these different things. And he's now having to flee for his life. And that's what we saw last week as Jonathan, Saul's son, helped David escape.Chapter 21.Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. So he goes to Nob, and we're going to find out that Nob is a whole city of priests. It seems as if after everything, after Shiloh was destroyed and the ark was taken, they get the ark back, and it seems like now the center of the priesthood is here. It's unclear whether the ark is also here, but the priests are. And this is where priestly activities will be taking place for the people of Israel, the sacrifices and all that.So he goes there to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech came to meet David, trembling, and said to him,"Why are you alone and no one with you?"So it's odd for David to be by himself. Ahimelech knows David, but David usually has like a whole crew. He's either with the king, he's with his military units that he's overseeing. For David just to show up is what business does he have? Did something terrible happen? What's going on?So he comes out, that's why he's trembling. And he says, what? What's going on? And David said to Ahimelech, the priest,"The king has charged me with a matter and said to me, 'Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you and with which I have charged you.' And I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place. Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread or whatever is here."So David just says, secret king business. And I've got some people that I'm definitely meeting who are real at a very specific place that you can't know about, and I need bread. None of that is true, except for that David wants bread, but he's on the run and he is just trying to get out of here.And the priest answered, David,"I have no common bread on hand, but there is holy bread if the young men have kept themselves from women,"which just has to do with sexual activity, makes you unclean in the law. So that's what that is. It's not just like women, some mean thing about them. It just has to do with sexual activity.David answered the priest,"Truly, women have been kept from us. As always, when I go on an expedition, the vessels of the young men are holy, even when it is an ordinary journey. How much more today will their vessels be holy?"So the priest gave him the holy bread, for there was no bread there, but the bread of the Presence which is removed from before the Lord to be replaced by hot bread on the day that it is taken away.So the tabernacle seems to be here, the bread of the Presence is here. They would set it out on the Sabbath before the Lord as a picture of the meal, the connection, the communion that we have with the Lord, that they have with the Lord. And then they would rotate it out on the Sabbath. And the old loaves were allowed to be eaten by the priests. And Ahimelech breaks that rule to give to David in a time of need.Jesus references this and says that he did right, that this was correct to do, to break a ceremonial law for the sake of caring for someone. And he says this in this argument with the Pharisees about the Sabbath, saying that some things were built for our good and our blessing, and therefore, if there's opposition, we can bless others in those moments. And that's what he's talking about.So David takes that bread and he now has five loaves of bread that was the bread of the Presence, but the priest is allowing him to have it.Verse 7.Now, a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord. His name was Doeg, the Edomite, the chief of Saul's herdsmen, he's detained before the Lord. It may be a Sabbath if they've just swapped the bread out. So it's possible he wasn't allowed to travel very long. It's also possible he's doing some sort of thing because he's an Edomite to become a follower of God. It's also possible that he has some sort of sickness or skin disease and he's having to be watched because there's all these. These are several of the reasons why you might be detained before the Lord. He could also just be there doing some, basically, some holy days for himself as he worships the Lord.But that's it. That's all it tells us about him. It just in the middle of this story goes, hey, Doeg, the Edomite is here. And it's going to go right back to the story. And that's foreshadowing. So remember him, he'll show up later, but he doesn't do anything here.Verse 8.Then David said to Ahimelech,"Then have you not here a spear or a sword at hand? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me because the king's business required haste."And the priest said,"The sword of Goliath, the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah. Behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the Ephod, if you will. Take that, take it, for there's none but that here."And David said,"There is none like that. Give it to me."So David says, I was in such a hurry, I don't even have any weapons. Do you have any weapons? He says, you gave us Goliath's sword. It's still here. And David says, great, that sword is awesome. I will take it. And so he has a nice, probably fairly large sword that he leaves with.Verse 10.And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish, the king of Gath.Okay, David doesn't have any options. That's what this just told us. The plan that he's come up with is, I'm going to show up to Gath with Goliath of Gath's sword and see how that goes. It seems like he's intending to maybe be like a mercenary. He's just going to go there and serve there. He's absolutely on the run from his home, his people, his everything.And the servants of Achish said to him, to Achish,"Is not this David, the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances? Saul has struck down his thousands and David his ten thousands."So if David was planning on being undercover, he shows up and they're like, mmm. And they go to the king and they're like, I'm pretty sure they have a song about how good he is at murdering us. I'm pretty sure that's him.And David took those words, these words to heart. So he somehow overheard this. In this situation, was much afraid of Achish, the king of Gath. So he changed his behavior before them, pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard.So somehow, on his way before the king, he just starts acting insane, drooling, marking up the walls. That's the best disguise he can come up with on the fly, you guys. And it works.Then Achish said to his servants,"Behold, you see, the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me? Do I lack mad men that you've brought this fellow to behave as a madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?"So they're like, hey, we've got David. And then he goes, you brought a crazy person here. Thank you so much. Did you think that was what I really needed? I needed those.Some of y'all like to memorize verses for specific situations that you can remind, you know, rehearse yourself or say to other people. Maybe this one for, like, when your family's coming over for vacation or something, or your in-laws are coming and you can just quote to your spouse,"Do we lack mad men in their house? Are we gonna let this fellow in just for y'all?"Bible memorization, you're welcome. Probably won't be one of our monthly verses, but it's a good one.All right, chapter 22.David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam.So David then leaves. He heads back over into Israelite territory and hides in King Achish's. So his plan to go to Gath does not work and he escapes. Now, an interesting thing happens as we get to follow this story and as we have the whole revelation of the Scriptures, because this text doesn't tell us a lot of what's going on with David, what he's thinking. We just hear what he's doing. We hear some of what he says, but we don't get to see what's going on with him.And so far, in the midst of fear, he's just run and he's come up with what arguably is an ill-advised plan to run to Gath. But that's all he comes up with. He ends up in this cave. But in the book of Psalms we have songs and poems and worship that David writes. And there's one that has this inscription above it. It says, this is Psalm 34. It says of David when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out and he went away.Now this text calls him Achish, which seems to be a title, and Abimelech seems to be his name. So like if you said he was in front of Caesar and then later it says Nero, it's the same guy. So Achish and Abimelech.So we actually get to hear what, how David responds after this moment when he gets to escape. And so it seems like he wrote this while in the cave or on his way to it. He starts off in the first four verses, worshiping, praising. He says,"I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him and delivers them."So he says, I had fear and he rescued me. And those who fear the Lord he protects. So David's interaction with fear is shifting here. He's saying, in my fear I began to go to the Lord, and now I fear him. He's the most fearful, so he's been on the run. It doesn't seem like he's handled everything so well so far. But now, as everything slows down, as he's trying to process through this, and he's worshiping the Lord for rescuing him out of Gath, this is what he's writing.Verse 8,"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack."He keeps going.Verse 18,"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."In verse 22 he says,"The Lord redeems the life of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him will be condemned."This is how he ends it. So he says, I'm hiding in him. I'm taking refuge in him. My hope is in him. That's David as he deals with this fear.So chapter 22, let's pick back up in the text.David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him.David on the run, hiding in a cave, trying to figure out what he's going to do, trying to lay low, writing some songs from his expert hiding place. He looks out one day, keeping a good lookout, and he's like, mom.Because his whole family shows up. They all come to him, which makes sense. And maybe he had to go out for supplies. Maybe word spreads at some point where David is, but his whole family comes to him, which makes sense, because if David's on the run from Saul, they're probably not that safe from Saul. And Saul may go look to them to find David.So they all go to David. Then it says this."And everyone who was in distress and everyone who was in debt and everyone who was bitter in soul gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about 400 men."So his mom, his brothers, his dad, they all show up. Then other people just start showing up. And it's like, why are you here? I am stressed beyond belief. Everything out there is terrible. I heard David was in a cave, and I thought, I'm gonna go get in that cave. Somebody else shows up. Why are you here? I owe so many people so much money. Cave started sounding pretty good. Everyone who's bitter in soul, so the most frustrated, angry people who are, they're not going to read, they're not going to vote for Saul when reelection time comes back around like, this hasn't worked for them. That's who's showing up to David. And then it says he becomes commander of them. So they showed up and they were like, everything is awful. And he's like, okay, do some push ups. It's time to start training. I guess y'all are gonna have to listen to what I say if you're hanging out in my cave. And they do. So now he has 400 distressed, bitter in soul people who owe a lot of money to other people. They're all with David now, plus his mom and his brothers and his dad, okay?And David went from there to Mizpah of Moab. So now he leaves again. He takes all these people with him, it seems. And he said to the king of Moab,"Please let my father and my mother stay with you till I know what God will do for me."And he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.So reading some commentaries on this, there was a couple of different ideas as to why the king of Moab would let him do that. Some of the things they put out were housing fugitives because the Moabites were enemies of the Israelites. So the king to house fugitives that are against Saul seems like maybe that's a good idea.There's also just a general cultural thing of hospitality. So it's possible they're just doing what their culture does, which is show hospitality in these sort of situations.There's a theory that it's possible that one of the reasons they went to Moab was that Jesse is the grandson of Ruth, who was from Moab. So there's some family connection here.And I've come up with my own theory, which is that David showed up with 400 desperate men and said, hey, will you watch my mom? And they were like, sure. You and your friends gonna leave? He's like, we're gonna hang out a little bit, but just keep an eye on them until we figure out what's gonna happen.So any one of those is possible as to why they've said yes to this, but they do say yes to this. David leaves his parents with the king of Moab, and he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.Then the prophet Gad said to David,"Do not remain in the stronghold. Depart and go into the land of Judah."So he says, we're not going to stay in Moab. The Lord wants you to go back to Judah. And he does. And we're going to see Gad show up periodically through the story of David.So David departed and went to the forest of Heref.Now the story is going to shift to Saul. So we've seen David dealing with fear. We've seen him on the run, and we've seen him as this process is happening, growing in worship and saying, he's going to trust in the Lord.And now we're going to see Saul as he deals with fear.Verse 6.Now, Saul heard that David was discovered and the men who were with him.If you're playing hide and seek and someone finds you, you may not have had the best hiding spot. If your entire family finds you, plus 400 strangers, you don't have a good hiding spot.So David now is discovered. They know he's out. They know kind of where he is. And he's got 400 people traveling around with him. And this news makes it to Saul. So he's no longer incognito. He's known.Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear in his hand. And all his servants were standing about him, which first of all, of course he has a spear in his hand. He seems to always be holding a spear. But also what is happening in this text, it says he was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear. And all his servants, all of those things are markers of leadership and kingship. That you would sit under an obvious tree, they would hold court there, they would answer questions there, they would judge there that he's on a height, that he's got servants, that he's holding his spear. So in some ways this text says Saul the king was out kinging in a very kingly way. That's kind of what that text is doing. It's building him up as much like he's super kinging. Right now. We got David hiding in a cave, wandering around other places, trying to figure out what he's going to do, hiding in a forest. And now we've got Saul, the kingiest king that ever did king.And Saul said to his servants who stood about him here now,"People of Benjamin."Okay, that's interesting. Benjamin is the tribe that Saul is from. He's been king for a long time. He's been king over all of Israel for a long time. It's possible that he only always has kept just Benjaminites the closest to him. Or as he's grown more and more paranoid and more and more fearful, he's gotten rid of everybody who doesn't belong to his tribe and now has perfectly surrounded himself with Benjaminites. But either way, he's paranoid and fearful.And we're going to hear from his speech how far that goes.But these are only people from his clan. He's suspicious, fearful."Hear now, people of Benjamin, will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, that all of you have conspired against me?"So he stands there and says, you just are so certain that David's gonna bless all of you, that he's gonna care for all of you, that you're all gonna be so important when he becomes king, that you've all conspired against me? And that's not true. But he now doubts everyone that's around him.Still, in verse 8, he says,"No one discloses to me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is sorry for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me to lie in wait, as at this day."He is correct that Jonathan did make a covenant with David, but it was because they loved one another. It was a covenant of friendship to care for one another. They make a covenant that they're not going to harm each other. And Jonathan goes out of his way to keep his dad from sinning against David.But he is not helping David lie in wait against Saul.David isn't lying in wait against Saul. David's not out to get Saul. Saul's out to get David. Saul is actually not in danger, not from David, but he thinks he is. And he's saying, everyone's against me.And Saul's entire world has shrunk to just him. It's just him. Everybody's an enemy. Everybody's in on it. Everything's a secret. Everything's falling apart.Then answered Doeg, the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul,"I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, and he inquired of the Lord for him and gave him provisions and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine."We actually don't know if he inquired of the Lord from him. Our text doesn't tell us that. But Doeg says he did. But that's something you do before military stuff. He doesn't say he gave him five loaves of bread. He calls it provisions, just militarizing it up a little bit. And he gives him a sword. He basically says, hey, Ahimelech's in on it.Then the king sent to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub and all his father's house. The priests who were at Nob and all of them came to the king. It would have taken a couple miles away, so to go get them to come back. This took a couple hours, but they all come.And Saul said,"Hear now, son of Ahitub?"And he answered,"Here I am, my lord."And Saul said to him,"Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him, so that he has risen against me to lie in wait as at this day?"Then Ahimelech answered the king,"And who among all your servants is as faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law and captain over your bodyguard and honored in your house? Is today the first time that I have inquired of God for him? No. Let not the king impute anything to his servant or to all the house of my father, for your servant has known nothing of this, of all of this. Much or little."So Ahimelech just says, it's David. David, your bodyguard, your son-in-law. I've done this. I do this. I would do this for him anytime he comes. I'm not in on something. I didn't know any of this. Don't add that to me. Don't add that to my family. That's not the case.Aside from those noises, that's what he said. He may have said it really calmly, I don't know, but he just kind of lists out like five things in a row where he's just like, I didn't have anything to do with anything, and this is normal for me to do whatever David asks.Verse 16.And the king said,"You shall surely die, Ahimelech. You and all your father's house."And the king said to the guard who stood about him,"Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David. They knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me."But the servants of the king would not put out their hand to strike the priests of the Lord.You got to hear the sentence that Saul said. He looks at his servants and says, that's it. Kill all the priests of the Lord because they're on David's team. Priests of the Lord. They're on David's team.And then I don't know if y'all can see the fear and the frustration. And Saul's face turned purple as all of his soldiers are just like, nope, I'm not.I love his soldiers in this moment because they all know there's going to be a day I stand before the Lord and it won't be Saul. There's a day that I will stand before my king and it isn't Saul. And I'm not going on record as killing a priest, it's not happening. You can kill me. That's fine. Then I'll go stand before the Lord and go, do you see me not kill that priest? Do you see what I just died for? Like, they just don't move.And again, I'm sure this just confirms in Saul that everyone is against him. His whole world has shrunk down to his center of gravity and Doeg.Then the king said to Doeg,"You turn and strike down the priests."And Doeg, the Edomite turned and struck down the priests. And he killed on that day 85 persons who wore the linen ephod. Doeg is an Edomite. He doesn't care.So he kills them, 85 of them. They brought all the males from that household. They kill all of them. And Nob, the city of the priests, he put to the sword both man and woman, child and infant, ox, donkey and sheep. He put to the sword.Saul does to the city of the priests what he was not willing to do to the Amalekites when it was for the Lord and it was holy war, he was unwilling to do it. When it's for him and it's his trying to keep his seat of power, he's willing to.Verse 20.But one of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to David.Alright, so something very interesting has happened in this passage.In chapter two, a man of God comes to Eli and says the priesthood is not going to stay with your family because you've dishonored me. He says they're going to be wiped out. There will only be left one who will cry his eyes out. That's what just happened. Abiathar is that one.And eventually it's taken from him. He doesn't get to carry on serving the Lord. So the curse of God is poured out on this family through the wicked choices of Saul.So Saul is very wrong to do what he does. But we also see the hand of God at work in fulfilling his promises. It's a very interesting thing that happens here. But it doesn't mean that Saul's right to do what he does. It just means that when God says something, it happens.And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord.And David said to Abiathar,"I knew on that day when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul, I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father's house."David's response is, that's on me. While David was on the run, while David was doing what he did, he said, I knew that. I knew he was going to tell him. And I don't know if David fully understood what was going to come from that. I don't see how he could have. But he just says, yeah, that's. I'm the one to blame for this.Verse 21,"Stay with me. Do not be afraid for he who seeks my life seeks your life with me. You shall be in safekeeping."So that's his response to Abiathar.There's a very interesting call it a social phenomenon that's happening in this text. But everybody who's absolutely desperate is going to David. If everything has fallen apart, if you have no hope of a future, if everything has fallen around your ears, they go to David.And I can't help but see that and see that that's exactly what happens in the New Testament with Jesus. That when Jesus is on earth, the people who flock to him are the poor, the destitute, the sinners, the weak, the small, the outcasts.This actually is one of the things that he and the religious leaders get into arguments over all the time. They're like, you hang out with absolute human garbage. And Jesus is like, right, because the sick need a physician, not the well.And there's this thing where if you really know that you're in need, you start looking for somewhere to go, some bit of hope, someone to run to.And so we see in this story as it plays out that you have fear, legitimate, real, terrible fear, actual bad things.And David, as we follow this out, he runs to the Lord and there's all of these people that run to David. And then there's Saul who tries to handle everything in his own strength.And I told you earlier that we would see. I'm trying to tell you the scariest place to be.The scariest place to be is where you are the biggest person in the world.The scariest place to be is where you are utterly, completely, absolutely self-sufficient.The scariest place to be is where the center of existence has boiled down to your center of gravity, where it's all up to you.That's where Saul is.Trust, no one believes, no one hopes in nothing, just whatever he can tooth and nail and claw and grab, whatever he can get done, all up to him.And I don't know if you know it, but that's what our culture has told you over and over again is what you need to go do.Express yourself, find yourself, succeed, accomplish, win, earn.It's up to you.The most powerful snowflake in the world that you've got to on your own. Be sufficient, be capable, be good.That's what religion shows up and tells you so often is be good, be moral, do it. It's up to you.That's terrifying.The guards around Saul know something that we need to know is that one day you're going to stand before the real Lord, the real King.And on that day you do not want to stand in yourself self-sufficient.You do not want to stand before the King and say, judge me, evaluate me, I am big enough, I am good enough, I am capable.That's terrifying.You don't want to live your life that way.And you certainly don't want to end your life that way.We get to do with Jesus what Abiathar does with David and we get to have the same response.We get to run to him and say, I have no hope anywhere but with you.And what David says to Abiathar is what Jesus says to us.Your life is connected to my life and with me you'll be in safekeeping.That we get to hide ourselves in Christ.That when he died for sins, he died for us.That when he was buried, we were buried.When he rose, we rise.We get to be hidden in Christ and what he has accomplished.And we get to stand before the Lord in Christ and not in ourselves and not in our sufficiency.But we get to say, I have hidden in him.And no one is put to shame who takes refuge in the Lord.David prophetically says it at the end of his psalm."The Lord redeems the life of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him will be condemned."And then we get to live like that in all the fears of life.You get to go to the Lord. You get to do what David did. He's in the, he's in the cave and he's rehearsing.You know how long it takes to write a song? It's possible that this just came out, but I think a lot of it is he's working on, he's rehearsing, he's remembering and he's reminding himself over and over and over and over again.My hope is in you. My trust is in you. I have no good apart from you.Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.Nobody who is condemned, who places their hope in you.Nobody who runs to you in refuge, oh, let me hide in you.Over and over and over and over again.And then we get to do the same thing that we don't in the middle of fear go, I must act, I've got to do something.But we get to in the middle of the fear go, okay Lord, if you don't help, I'm in trouble. If you don't show up, I'm in trouble.I see so often in my own sin. I'll talk to the Lord and I'll say, Lord, if you aren't merciful, if you don't forgive sinners, I have no hope.But oh thank you that you do. And let me hide in you.Let me. Let the righteousness of Christ be applied to me.Let his life and death and burial apply to me.Let me hide in him.It's one of my favorite songs is Rock of Ages.And just at the end it says,"Let me hide myself in thee, let me hide in you."And let it be about you.And so if you've never seen that you actually are not capable enough, strong enough, good enough, if your whole world is about you and you still think you are strong enough, I would say no, come to the Lord.But if you know you're in debt, in sin, you're destitute, you're distressed, you're bitter, come to the Lord, run to him and say, I need to hide in you.And for the Christians in the room who are struggling with fear, rehearse for yourself what's true about him.Start with Psalm 34.Read it, pray it. Sit. Remind yourself my hope is bound up in you.That's what Colossians 3 says,"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."We are hidden with him.His life and our life, our life is bound up in him.And with him we are in safe keeping.Let's pray.Lord, I pray right now in the name of Jesus, for every person in this room who is self-sufficient. For every person in this room who, when it all boils down, it's just them. Just them and their wisdom, just them and their morality, just them and their strength, just them and their ingenuity, that it's just them.Lord, I pray that you would, through your Spirit, help them to see how small and how vulnerable and how scary that is, that they might run to you.Lord, we pray for the person in this room who already sees that, who already feels debt, distress, destitute, desperate, that they would run headlong to you and say, oh, let your life cover me, let your righteousness apply to me. Let me hide myself in you.And Lord, may the Christians in this room rehearse that over and over and over again. That in fear we might fear you more and know that no one is condemned who takes refuge in you.In Jesus' name, Amen.The band's going to come back up. We're going to respond in communion and worship.

“When God Gets Angry”1 Samuel 15:1-31 Samuel said to Saul, “I am the one the Lord sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the Lord. 2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. 3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.'” CONNECT WITH USIf you have any questions or would like to get to know us further, head over to https://www.triumphlbc.org/connect and fill out our online connection card.ABOUT TRIUMPHTriumph wants to see the life and message of Jesus transform your heart, home, and city. To learn more visit https://www.triumphlbc.org/

Getting up when knocked down. #4 Denial to renewal Never underestimate the power of denial. By Pastor George Lehman   Denial is a weapon we give to the enemy to use against us. We are not lacking information or even revelation.  We are sorely lacking in application.  The ‘doing' part of what we keep hearing. Most of us are experts at ignoring the inconvenient facts of life. If we don't ignore them we must do something about them. Denial can become one of the most effective tools the enemy will use (if you'll let him) to keep you knocked down. The danger of denial is that you prevent yourself from accepting truth about yourself. You begin to believe that your life, your mess up's, poor conduct and wilful sin, even your poor attitude is Okay and acceptable! For many, denial is their way of coping when life knocks them down. If you start your day without caffeine or pep pills.  If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains.  If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles.  If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it.  If you can understand when loved ones are too busy to give you time.  If you can take criticism and blame without resentment.  If you can face the world without lies or denial.  If you can do all these things, Then, you are probably the family dog.   What is denial?  It is refusing to believe something that is true. Matthew 16:24 (Amp) – Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also]. (Jesus connects self-denial with finding true life) Many times we are in Denial of the Christ life truth. Psychologists say: it's a process by which painful truths are not admitted into an individual's consciousness. If I accept it into my conscience, I will have to change or do something about it. “The worst lies are the lies we tell ourselves.  We live in denial of what we do, even what we think.  We do this because we are afraid.” -  Richard Bach Galatians 6:5 (NCV) - Each person must be responsible for himself. Our denials can take many forms. Denial of fact. The obvious way to deny the truth is to lie. Telling a story, we leave out certain details. Officer, I didn't know I was driving so fast. I never heard you ask me to clean up my room. I would love to help with your move but I'm busy this weekend. People lie to avoid uncomfortable situations or to make themselves look better. Denial of denial. Maybe the most dangerous form of denial is when we don't even recognize we're denying reality. Here is one of those denial stories King Saul's life… 1 Samuel 15:16-24 (Amp) - 16Then Samuel said to Saul, Stop! I will tell you what the Lord said to me tonight. Saul said to him, Say on.  17Samuel said, when you were small in your own sight, were you not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed you king over Israel?  18And the Lord sent you on a mission and said, “Go”, utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites; and fight against them until they are consumed.  19Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord, but swooped down upon the plunder and did evil in the Lord's sight?  20Saul said to Samuel, “Yes, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord and have gone the way which the Lord sent me and have brought Agag king of Amalek and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.  21But the people took from the spoil sheep and oxen, the chief of the things to be utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”  22Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.  23For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim (household good luck images). Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.”  24And Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.” Covering up what we look like on the inside is denial we refuse to accept or deal with who we really are! Especially after hearing the word being convicted by the Holy Spirit to change certain things, you just ignore it (That's Denial) In the days of royalty in England, Kings and Queens, when an artist painted their portraits, they never were allowed to include their blemishes and flaws.  He made them look better than they did. We  call it Photo shop today Here are some phrases that a person in denial uses often: I can handle this… It's not really a problem. I don't need help. I don't need counselling. I can quit anytime. I can work it out on my own. The problem is we can't handle it The truth is you have a problem! The problem with denial is that the longer it goes on, the more we hurt ourselves and the harder it is to come to terms with the truth. Think about David after his sin with Bathsheba. 2 Samuel 12:1-7 (Amp) – And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came and said to him, There were two men in a city, one rich and the other poor.  2The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 3But the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb which he had bought and brought up, and it grew up with him and his children. It ate of his own morsel, drank from his own cup, lay in his bosom, and was like a daughter to him.  4Now a traveler came to the rich man, and to avoid taking one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfaring man who had come to him, he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for his guest.  5Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, As the Lord lives, the man who has done this is a son [worthy] of death.  6He shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and had no pity.  7Then Nathan said to David, You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I anointed you king of Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. So many times, when a personal crises doesn't work, then God often uses people like a NATHAN. Psychologists call what Nathan did ‘intervention'. Going to a person in love and showing them what they are in denial about. Galatians 6:1-2 (LB) – Dear brothers, if a Christian is overcome by sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help him back onto the right path, remembering that next time it might be one of you who is in the wrong.  Share each other's troubles and problems and so obey our Lord's command. Has a friend or a spouse or a parent said to you lately, “You have a problem”?  We don't listen, rather we defend and make excuses. This is a sure sign that you possibly have a problem. Turning denial around to renewal takes a heavy dose of acceptance and a cup of humility blended with a spoonful of courage. That's why James talks so firmly to the church. James 1:22 (NLT) – But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. David understood that denial only kept his life in bondage and defeat. Listen how he protects himself from a life of denial. Psalm 139: 23-24 (Amp) - Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!  And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.   Psalm 51:6 (Amp) - Behold, You desire truth in the inner being make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart. When living with an attitude of denial it will cause you much hurt and knock downs. The good news is that… Philippians 1:6 (Amp) - And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you. God is more interested in what you become than what you achieve. Only with the support of a caring, loving, healing Jesus you can say, “I am capable of terrible things, but I am absolutely, unconditionally committed to You Lord.”  “ I am willing to change.” Ephesians 4:23-24 (Amp) -  And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude] And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness. Denial is a destroyer that should be cut off as quickly as possible. Acceptance and truth ‘always' are your surest path to peace and freedom. “Getting up when life knocks you down.”

True and Better // A Better King // Pastor Casey BushWhat made David “a man after God's own heart”? How does this ancient king help us understand the kind of King we actually need? In this message, Pastor Casey Bush invites us to take a deeper look atthe stories we think we know—and the questions we might not be asking. We're going to look at how David's rise, failures, and faith point us to something more, the true and better.Sermon Notes1 Samuel 8:4-54 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, 5 and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”1 Samuel 8:7And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.”Kingship” - A God-ordained position of leadership, authority, and servanthood under God himself."Anointing" - The act of applying oil to someone or something, symbolizing consecration, sanctification, or divine empowerment.1 Samuel 13:13-14“13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”1 Samuel 16:11 Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.”1 Samuel 16:6…”Surely the Lord's anointed is before Him!”1 Samuel 16:12Now he was ruddy, with [f]bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.Matthew 6:33“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”1. DAVID WAITED ON THE LORDFIRST1 Samuel 18:7“..Saul has slain his thousands, but David his 10 thousands.”1 Samuel 24:6“And he says to his men, ‘The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lords anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.”2. DAVID WAS OBEDIENT TOGOD'S AUTHORITYMatthew 25:1“You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things” Gods not after your obedience to earn His love-Its aboutresponding to it.Disobedience doesn't just break the rules, it breaks the relationship1 Samuel 15:23“Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also rejected you from being king.”Malachi 3:6“For I am the Lord, I do not change…”1 Samuel 15:1-21 Samuel also said to Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you king over His people, over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of the words ofthe Lord. 2 Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. 3 Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them.1 Samuel 15:7-97 And Saul attacked the Amalekites, from Havilah all the way to Shur, which iseast of Egypt. 8 He also took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, they utterly destroyed.1 Samuel 15:2121 But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”2 Samuel 24:1010 And David's heart condemned him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done; but now, I pray, O Lord, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.”3. DAVID WAS REPENTANTRepentance - Where our heart turns away from sin and turns toward God—a genuine sorrow, confession, and a desire to walk in obedience.A. David valued relationship over reputationB. David feared losing God's presencePsalm 51:11“Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.”C. David was tender toward conviction“Conviction” is not condemnation-its correction wrapped in compassion.Numbers 32:23“and be sure your sin will find you out.”Numbers 32:23James 5:16Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.Someone or something will sit on the throne of your life. The question is, who?

Join Servant Marcia Carty on "Heaven on Earth Ministries of Jesus Christ" as she delves into the profound question: "Can we lose our salvation and also our kingdom?" In this impactful message titled "The Loss of a Kingdom," she unpacks the biblical narrative of King Saul, the first king of Israel, whose journey from a promising beginning to a tragic end serves as a stark warning. Carty illuminates how Saul's partial obedience, fear of the people, and ultimate rebellion against God's direct commands led to the forfeiture of his throne. She draws parallels between Saul's mistakes and common pitfalls in our own lives, such as not "staying in our lane" or prioritizing our own understanding over God's. The discussion powerfully contrasts Saul's self-justification and eventual turn to witchcraft with the unwavering obedience of figures like Samuel and, most importantly, the perfect obedience of Jesus Christ. Carty stresses that God's desire for His kingdom to reign on Earth, as expressed in the Lord's Prayer, is realized through the complete submission of His people. She encourages listeners to examine their own hearts, asking if they are walking in partial or complete obedience. The episode culminates with an exhortation to embrace the spiritual warfare that requires God's armor and weapons, accessible only through a heart fully committed to Christ. It's a compelling call to prioritize God's commandments above all else, ensuring we do not lose the spiritual kingdom placed within us by faith. Scriptures for Further Study Matthew 6:9-10: "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." 1 Peter 2:9: "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." 1 Samuel 13: Saul's premature offering and Samuel's rebuke. 1 Samuel 15: Saul's disobedience regarding the Amalekites and his rejection as king. 1 Samuel 15:22-23: "And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king." 1 Chronicles 10:13-14: "So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; And enquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David." 2 Corinthians 10:3-5: "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." Ephesians 5:1-7: "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them." Ephesians 6:10-18: The full armor of God. 1 John 5:1-5: "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" +++++++ We have begun building a new website which you can see here: https://www.noahdays.org/

In 1 Samuel 29 David will find that his lies and deception have brought him to a dilemma from which there would appear to be no opportunity to escape. The lords of the Philistines had mustered their forces at Aphek in order for a full scale war with Israel. Achish has summoned David and his men to go with them to fight against their enemies. The other 4 lords express their objections believing that should the battle not go in favour of Philistia David could change sides and fight for Israel to reconcile himself to Saul. These lords recount what a thorn in their sides David had been in the past. Achish defends David's loyalty before the lords. However they still insist that David and his men leave the Philistine camp before sunrise - before the battle. David agrees to do this. Once again David's Almighty God has saved him out of an exceptionally dangerous predicament. Chapter 30 sees David and his troop reach a very low point where David despairs of life. As David's troop come to Ziklag they find their town destroyed and burning and strewn with corpses. David's followers are so distraught that they want to blame him for what has happened and to stone him to death. David prays as verse 6 tells us. Never let us forget that no matter how bad things seem to be we can always count on our LORD for support. David then asks counsel from his God by asking Abiathar the priest to find out what the Almighty would have him do. Their Sovereign instructs them to pursue the enemy and that they will recover their families and their wealth. David's company found a sick and starving Egyptian who had been left behind by the Amalekite raiding party. Just think that had Saul destroyed the Amalekites as God had commanded him this catastrophe could not have happened. The Egyptian promised help as long as he was not sold to those Amalekites. Verses 16-20 tell us that just as the Almighty had promised so it came to pass. Two hundred of David's men had minded the luggage whilst the other four hundred had risked their life in battle. The 400 did not wish to share the spoil. David made a rule from that point and beyond the spoil was to be divided evenly whatever part his followers had played in the warfare. David always tried to act with justice and equality for all. David then distributed much of the wealth to the nearby regions with an explanation that it had come from the enemies of Yahweh. In Jeremiah 5 the prophet is told to run through Jerusalem to see if he could find anyone who would walk in the ways of the LORD. If the prophet could find such a person God promised to pardon Judah. However, says Almighty God, He saw only hypocritical lip service - outward worship without any truth. All this despite their Sovereign's discipline. Ezekiel was given a similar task in chapter 9 of that prophecy. The nation had set her face against her Maker. Jeremiah acknowledges that this is true, but claims that the LORD's people are ignorant of His ways. In verse 6 their Omnipotent Judge declares that they would be savaged by the Babylonian lion and that God would observe the nation's actions as closely as a leopard does his prey. In verses 7-9 her Sovereign describes her lascivious behaviour and that Judah's appetite for immorality is unquenchable. Graphic word pictures are used by her God. Verses 10-13 outline the vast extent of the coming judgments - even the prophets would be destroyed (excepting Jeremiah as we shall find out later). In verses 14-17 the LORD describes the arrogance and ruthlessness of the Babylonians. He also speaks of the destruction that would be brought upon Judah. The Babylonians would show no mercy. Verses 18-25 reveal that Yahweh, in contrast to Babylon, would show mercy in sparing Judah and saving a remnant. Verses 26-29 speak of the treacherous behaviours of the Judeans among themselves. God says that such actions cannot go unpunished. In verses 30-31 God describes the perverse practices of the priests and ruler. Sadly, says the prophet, the people not only tolerate it, but want it to be that way.  The 16th chapter of Matthew shows the incapacity of the nation's rulers to see what was happening in their midst. This is followed by a treatise on the deception contained in corrupt teachings; whose pervasive influence rapidly permeates like leaven. Next comes the greatest confession by Peter, upon which rock-like foundation the entire ecclesia is built - namely, that "Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God" (see John 6verses 68-69; Ephesians 2 verses 20-21). Our Lord Jesus next explicitly explains to his Apostles his coming sufferings, death and resurrection on the third day. Our Lord Jesus Christ's resurrection was the sign of the prophet Jonah. That prophet spent 3 days in the belly of the whale which in Jonah's prayer is called the belly of hell: Jonah 2 verses 1-2. The Apostle Paul says that this proved the Lord Jesus Christ's divine Sonship: Romans 1 verses 4; Ephesians 1 verses 15-22. The Apostle Peter reminds us of the same matter: Acts 2 verses 22-36. The chapter concludes with a final appeal to each believer to take up our stake - Greek "staurus" - and follow our Lord through suffering even unto death should that be our lot.

1 Samuel 28 is the lowest point in Saul's life. In chapter 10 we see a promising beginning for a humble young man who God caused to be surrounded by a band of spiritually talented men. From there he slid lower and lower in the failure of removing all of the Amalekites and then to the slaughter of the Gibeonites. Yahweh refused to answer Saul and so in his extremity with a massive Philistine army having invaded the land he turns to a witch, or a medium, as some translations say. Saul travelled at night accompanied by members of his army to Endor to hear of his fate from a woman whose life was in danger from her king who had removed from Israel "all those with familiar spirits". The first interchange of words between Saul and the woman illustrates how these types of people are able to delude others and gain their confidence. A very tall man in the company of other men comes to her home not far from the site of the coming battle. This man assures her, that even though the king has determined to destroy mediums, he can guarantee her safety. He then asks her to stir up the spirit of Samuel. The woman says "You have deceived me - you're Saul". Who else could it be? She delivers a disturbing message to the king. Did she summon Samuel from the dead? Certainly not! Why would God allow this when he had refused to answer Saul? Also there is no communication with the unconscious dead. Notice that Saul asks her what she has seen. And her answers are vague, and many in Israel would have described Samuel in this way. She also relates information that many in Israel knew very well. The woman tells Saul that he and his sons would die in battle tomorrow. Anyone could see that this was the most likely outcome for an unequal battle. Finally the woman implores Saul and his men to eat before departing for the battle. In Jeremiah 4 verse 1-2 the LORD asks Israel to return to Him and promises that if they do this the Gentiles will embrace their God: Isaiah 65:16-19. Verses 3-4 says that repentance is a matter of a heart that has been touched by God and has nothing to do with outward appearances. And without anyone truly seeking the Almighty our God will bring justice to every hypocrite. Verses 5-8 reveal that the day of settling for the nation would come in His bringing judgment from the Babylonians in the north. The Babylonians are depicted as a ravenous lion ready to sweep upon the prey - Judah. Verses 9-13 speak of how Judah's hearts will tremble from the king down to the commoner. Verses 14-18 tell the nation to change its ways, since their doings have caused this coming doom. Verses 19-31 give a word picture of the destruction that the Babylonians have brought upon guilty Judah. Jeremiah is anguished by his contemplation of this scene of devastation. The prophet likens the pain of Judah to a woman in hard  labour. Matthew 15 describes the lengths to which Jewish traditions could be taken to subvert Divine precepts and the Word of the LORD. The 5th commandment, described as the first with promise (Ephesians 6 verses 1-3), was bypassed by a legal ruse known as Corban. It allowed the wealthy to avoid all responsibility to their parents by declaring with an oath that an individual's entire wealth belonged to God. Whilst ,at the same time, ensuring that the wealthy enjoyed unfettered access to everything "promised" to the Temple. Just like the times of Jeremiah the chosen people gave mere lip service to their Creator and substituted this for this is what the truth demanded by our Sovereign demands from all disciples. The record tells of a discussion about the true source of defilement of people - that is their own fleshly minds  - and not any external thing. These matters reveal Pharisaism as an example of the blind leadership of the blind. The faith of the Canaanite woman, whose daughter Jesus healed, was astonishing to our Lord. This incredible incident is like the faith of the Roman centurion in Matthew 8. This woman's belief and accepting of the power of Jesus to heal and his authority caused our Lord Jesus to marvel. This faithful woman acknowledged that privileges rightly rested upon the covenant people of Israel. She also requested that Jesus graciously give her crumbs that fell from the chosen people's table by heading her daughter. The chapter tells us that Jesus performed many miracles for the Gentiles. This caused many of them to ascribe praise to the God of Israel. The chapter concludes by telling us that our Lord Jesus fed 4,000 gentiles. This was despite his own Apostles' reticence to show any compassion to those people who were after all Gentile dogs. Our Lord never shared such prejudices. Christ was always expansive in his love of all and freely distributed the gospel's bounties.

In this sermon, Curtis looks at the difficult story of Saul and the Amalekites to draw some lessons in how we can read hard stories in the Bible.

Find Fr. De Young on his podcast: https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/lordofspirits/Sign up for Dr. Jacobs' college course: https://myprofer.com/  

How do you face spiritual battles? In this message, Pastor Nate Nupanga teaches Moses needed the help of Aaron and Hur to defeat the Amalekites and how all of us need connection in the church as we pursue a God sized mission bigger than ourselves.

“The devil fears a soul in union with God as he fears God Himself” Saint John of the Cross Three good questions to ask in regard to the God of the Bible.“Why does God choose messy people? “Why does God show us so much of that mess?” “Why doesn't people's mess undermine God's reputation and derail His purposes?”Three good answers in regard to the God of the Bible.God doesn't choose messy people, He chooses ordinary people. It just turns out that ordinary people are messy. God doesn't hide people's mess because the Bible it isn't a story about people, it's a story about Him. God chooses to write His story in conjunction with ordinary people to highlight His power and grace. Our mess doesn't derail God's purposes because He isn't dependent on us, we are dependent on Him.Why does an “Immeasurably More God” consistently leave His people overmatched and under resourced? 1. God is the Hero of the story, not us. We can't save anybody, He can save everybody. 2. Success is dependent on God dependence not self-reliance.God neither abandons us to walk alone nor does He empower us to walk alone. He redeems us to be aligned and walk with Him!The Core of Saul's Mess ImpatiencePrideTwo Mess Lessons 1. To move without God reveals a misaligned self-dependence. 2. Impatience with God reveals a lack of trust in God.In our wait, God isn't still.1 Samuel 13:10-12 (NIV) 10 Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him. 11 “What have you done?” asked Samuel. Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash, 12 I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord's favor.' So, I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”1 Samuel 13:13 (NIV) 13 “You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. 14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord's command.” 15 Then Samuel left Gilgal and went up to Gibeah in Benjamin, and Saul counted the men who were with him. They numbered about six hundred.Impatience is a Trust issue. Trust is a Heart issue. Actions reveal our Heart. 1 Samuel 15:1-3 (NIV) Samuel said to Saul, “I am the one the Lord sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so, listen now to the message from the Lord. 2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. 3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.'”1 Samuel 15:10-14 (NIV) 10 Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel: 11 “I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.” Samuel was angry, and he cried out to the Lord all that night. 12 Early in the morning Samuel got up and went to meet Saul, but he was told, “Saul has gone to Carmel. There he has set up a monument in his own honor and has turned and gone on down to Gilgal.” 13 When Samuel reached him, Saul said, “The Lord bless you! I have carried out the Lord's instructions.” 14 But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?”Saul's pride was displayed in his disobedience. His disobedience was a rejection of God's authority. Replacing God as authority redirects worship only intended for God. 1 Samuel 15:22-23 (NIV) “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”Worship it is primarily a “heart” issue not a “hand” issue. Worship is the ultimate surrender move.A lack of trust + abundance of self-reliance = a separation from God. Do you know where your heart is this morning? Check your feet. Your feet reflect your heart. Back to Saint John of the Cross“The devil fears a soul in union with God as he fears God Himself” Trust over impatience and obedience over pride unites us with God. When we are united with God we walk in His grace and power to fulfill His purposes. This unity not only impact us, it impacts everyone we touch.

After marching victoriously through the Red Sea, the Israelites faced three major internal obstacles and God provided for them. Now this passage shows how God brought victory against their first external opposition, the Amalekites.

1 Sam 15:1-35. As Saul boasts of his obedience, he was betrayed by the bleating of sheep in the background. Sometimes the “bleating of sheep” can be heard in our own lives. We may have overcome son areas of overt sin, but what about the areas of goodness, pride or self-r/ness that have not been […]

After Gideon had been tested the first time, God spoke to him again in Judges 7:2-15 and told him to go against the Midianites. But, before this happened God told Gideon to bring the number of people down by some tests.  The tests are not the important thing, what is important is that when it is finished there only 300 men to go against 135,000 Midianites and Gideon was afraid because he still was not trusting God. This is one of the most important lessons we need to learn in understanding God's principles of spiritual warfare.  God doesn't just want us to be victorious, but the greatest principle is learning to trust Him.  If we become more self-reliant or self-sufficient by our victories, we are learning the wrong lesson and it will ultimately lead to disastrous results.  God commands Gideon to get ready for battle, but strengthens his faith by allowing him to hear a conversation between two Midianite soldiers stating that they were going to be defeated by Gideon. It is sad that Gideon did not believe the promise of God, but believed it when he heard the soldiers talking.  What will it take for us to believe what God has said and take Him at His word?                       Judges 7:2,9-15 And the LORD said to Gideon, "The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, 'My own hand has saved me. 9 'It happened on the same night that the LORD said to him, "Arise, go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand. 10 "But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant, 11 "and you shall hear what they say; and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp." Then he went down with Purah his servant to the outpost of the armed men who were in the camp. 12 Now the Midianites and Amalekites, all the people of the East, were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude. 13 And when Gideon had come, there was a man telling a dream to his companion. He said, "I have had a dream: To my surprise, a loaf of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian; it came to a tent and struck it so that it fell and overturned, and the tent collapsed." 14 Then his companion answered and said, "This is nothing else but the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel! Into his hand God has delivered Midian and the whole camp." 15 And so it was, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel, and said, "Arise, for the LORD has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand."      Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?              John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today.               “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  -John 8:32             Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten.              hisloveministries.podbean.com #HLMSocial hisloveministries.net https://www.instagram.com/hisloveministries1/?hl=en His Love Ministries on Itunes Don't go for all the gusto you can get, go for all the God (Jesus Christ) you can get. The gusto will get you, Jesus can save you. https://www.facebook.com/His-Love-Ministries-246606668725869/?tn-str=k*F             The world is trying to solve earthly problems that can only be solved with heavenly solutions

This evening, we take a look at I Samuel 30, when the Amalekites had destroyed Ziklag, and David and his men were looking for them so he could get everyone he held dear back to him, and his men found an Egyptian in a field to help them find the Amalekites.

A new MP3 sermon from Trinity Bible Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: David's Prayer for Guidance vs. the Amalekites Subtitle: Prayer Series Speaker: Dr. Greg Mazak Broadcaster: Trinity Bible Church Event: Midweek Service Date: 6/11/2025 Bible: 1 Samuel 30:1-19 Length: 16 min.

Are you ready to reclaim what the enemy has stolen from your life? In this powerful episode, Kathy DeGraw sits down with prophetic leader and author Jane Hamon to talk about her impactful book Confronting the Thief. This conversation is loaded with spiritual warfare strategies, prophetic insight, and practical tools to help you take back your peace, your health, your finances, your passion, and your purpose. Jane shares a prophetic vision she received of two demonic spirits—The Devourer and The Destroyer—standing in a boxing ring. Instead of confronting them, believers sat paralyzed, believing the lie that "this is just life." In this episode, you'll hear how that lie has infiltrated the Church and how we must rise up and say no more. Jane brings revelation and scriptural truth that will challenge and empower you to fight back and recover what's rightfully yours. We dive into the biblical and prophetic foundations of deliverance, including the strategy of the Amalekites in Scripture—spiritual enemies who rob, plunder, and try to dismantle God's plans for His people. Jane unpacks the significance of Haman's ten sons in the book of Esther and how their names represent different demonic strongholds—distraction, mammon, pride, oppression, accusation, rebellion, and more. This isn't just a history lesson—it's a blueprint for modern-day victory. If you've been on a journey with topics like spiritual warfare, healing, and deliverance, this episode is essential. We specifically address healing and divine health, and how believers can activate the promises of God for their bodies. Jane shares powerful healing testimonies and talks about how she equips readers with healing decrees and prayers that activate faith and bring real results. You'll also hear strategies for intercession, praying in tongues, and using the written and prophetic word of God to overcome chronic sickness, emotional attacks, and generational bondage. If you feel like you've been in a prolonged battle, this episode will give you the hope, clarity, and direction you need to keep fighting—and win. This is a timely and equipping conversation for anyone who is ready to stop tolerating the enemy's interference and start walking in the fullness of what Jesus paid for. It's time to confront the thief. Purchase Kathy's book Healed at Last – Overcome Sickness to Receive your Physical Healing on Amazon https://a.co/d/6a6mt8w or at: https://www.kathydegrawministries.org/healed-at-last/    Purchase Anointing Oil with a prayer cloth that Kathy has personally mixed and prayed over on Kathy's Website or Amazon. Order Kingdom Scents anointing oil on Amazon  https://amzn.to/3PC6l3R or Kathy DeGraw Ministries https://www.kathydegrawministries.org/product-category/oils/    Teachings on deliverance, spiritual warfare, and prophetic ministry, subscribe to our channel and listen to Kathy's spiritual warfare podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3mYPPkP28xqcTzdeoucJZu  or Apple podcasts.   **Connect with Us:** - Website: https://www.kathydegrawministries.org/  - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathydegraw/  - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathydegraw/  - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/kathydegraw    **Recommended Resources:** - Receive a free prayer pdf on Warfare Declarations: https://kathydegrawministries.org/declarations-download  - Kathy's training, mentoring and ecourses on Spiritual Warfare, Deliverance and the Prophetic: https://www.kathydegrawministries.org/deliverance-school/  - "Healed At Last" Overcome sickness and receive your physical healing: https://www.kathydegrawministries.org/healed-at-last/  - "Mind Battles – Root Out Mental Triggers to Release Peace!": https://www.kathydegrawministries.org/product/mind-battles-pre-order-available-january-2023/  - "Prophetic Spiritual Warfare": https://www.kathydegrawministries.org/product/prophetic-spiritual-warfare-book/    **Support Kathy DeGraw Ministries:** - Give a one-time love offering or consider partnering with us for $7, $15, $35, $75 or any amount! Every dollar helps us help others! - Website: https://www.kathydegrawministries.org/donate/ - CashApp $KDMGLORY - Venmo @KD-Ministries - Paypal.me/KDeGrawMinistries or donate to email admin@degrawministries.org  - Mail a check to: Kathy DeGraw Ministries ~ PO Box 65 ~ Grandville MI 49468

FEED YOUR FAITHHebrews 3:19 (GNB) – We see, then, that they were not able to enter the land (promise land),because they did not believe.Exodus 6:6–8 (NLT) – “‘I am the Lord. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you fromyour slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment. 7 I will claimyou as my own people, and I will be your God… 8 I will bring you into the land I swore to give toAbraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as your very own possession. I am the Lord!' ”1. Delivered from Egypt…bondage & oppression2. Red Sea…baptized…old life is dead…new beginning3. Cloud by day…Fire by night…..Presence of God with them4. Manna…miracle provision…daily dependence5. Mt Sinai… place of instruction & preparation for the Promise LandExodus 23:20,27 (NIV) – See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and tobring you to the place I have prepared. 27 I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusionevery nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run.Exodus 33:14 (NCV) – “I myself will go with you, and I will give you victory.”6. Kadesh…entrance to Promise Land10 Spies Report – the promise land is amazing…..BUT!!!Numbers 13:27–29 (NLT) – This was their report to Moses: “We entered the land you sent us toexplore, and it is indeed a bountiful country—a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind offruit it produces. 28 But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. Weeven saw giants there… 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev, and the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amoriteslive in the hill country. The Canaanites live along the coast …”Caleb – speaks in faithNumbers 13:30 (NLT) – But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let's go atonce to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!”10 Spies – speak in unbeliefNumbers 13:31–33 (NLT) – But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. “Wecan't go up against them! They are stronger than we are!” 32 So they spread this bad report aboutthe land among the Israelites: “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone whogoes to live there. All the people we saw were huge. 33 We even saw giants there…Next to them wefelt like grasshoppers, and that's what they thought, too!”(NKJV) – we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”2 Corinthians‬Unbelief speaks – “we are going to die and God doesn't care”Numbers 14:1–4 (NLT) – Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. 2Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt,or even here in the wilderness!” they complained. 3 “Why is the Lord taking us to this country only tohave us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn't it be betterfor us to return to Egypt?” 4 Then they plotted among themselves, “Let's choose a new leader and goback to Egypt!”Faith speaks - “God is with us, we can take the land”Numbers 14:6–9 (NLT) – Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Calebson of Jephunneh, tore their clothing. 7 They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveledthrough and explored is a wonderful land! 8 And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safelyinto that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. 9 Do not rebel against theLord, and don't be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have noprotection, but the Lord is with us! Don't be afraid of them!”Results of Faith & Unbelief Unbelief Results – Entire generation did not enter promise land Faith Results – Only Joshua & Caleb entered Promise LandRomans 10:17 (NKJV) - faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.Hebrews 4:2 (NASB) – but the word they heard did not benefit them, because they were not unitedwith those who listened with faith.Hebrews 2:1 (TPT) - it is so crucial that we be all the more engaged and attentive to the truths thatwe have heard so that we do not drift off course.Hebrews 3:12 (NKJV) – Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief indeparting from the living God.Romans‬Living by faith - simply believing what God said in his word…speaking it & acting on it.TWO THINGS HAPPEN WHEN WE FEED OUR FAITH1… WE WILL SEE THE PROMISES OF GOD FULFILLED IN OUR LIFE……BLESSED LIFE2… OUR BLESSED LIFE WILL BE A WITNESS TO THE WORLD

We explore Israel's journey through the wilderness, where their discontentment escalates, leading them to threaten Moses' life for the lack of water. Despite their unfaithfulness, God provides water from a rock at Horeb. Following this, the Israelites are attacked by the Amalekites. However, through God's intervention and Moses' prayer, they prevail in the battle. We also meet Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, a non-Israelite priest who praises God for his deliverance of the Israelites. Despite witnessing God's power and provision, the Israelites continue to grumble and test God, failing to honor him as Jethro does. Support the showRead along with us in the Bible Brief App! Try the Bible Brief book for an offline experience!Get your free Bible Timeline with the 10 Steps: Timeline LinkSupport the show: Tap here to become a monthly supporter!Review the show: Tap here!Want to go deeper?...Download the Bible Brief App!iPhone: App Store LinkAndroid: Play Store LinkWant a physical book? Check out "Bible Brief" by our founder!Amazon: Amazon LinkWebsite: biblebrief.orgInstagram: @biblelitTwitter: @bible_litFacebook: @biblelitEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.org Want to learn the Bible languages (Greek & Hebrew)? Check out ou...

BOOK OF JUDGES Part 2: The Weak Made Strong Judges 6:1-10 (ESV) 1 The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord gave them into the hand of Midian seven years. 2 And the hand of Midian overpowered Israel, and because of Midian the people of Israel made for themselves the dens that are in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds. 3 For whenever the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East would come up against them… 6 And Israel was brought very low because of Midian. And the people of Israel cried out for help to the Lord. 7 When the people of Israel cried out to the Lord on account of the Midianites, 8 the Lord sent a prophet to the people of Israel. And he said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I led you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of slavery. 9 And I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. 10 And I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell.' But you have not obeyed my voice.” The book of Judges is so much more than just a sin cycle; it is also a redemption cycle. Judges 6:11-16 (ESV) 11 Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. 12 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” 13 And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?' But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.” 14 And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” 15 And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.” 16 And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.” Your identity comes before your activity. Are you a critic or a servant? Judges 7:2-8 (ESV) 2 The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.' 3 Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.'” Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained. 4 And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,' shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,' shall not go.” 5 So he brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, “Every one who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, every one who kneels down to drink.” 6 And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was 300 men, but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water. 7 And the Lord said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.” 8 So the people took provisions in their hands, and their trumpets. And he sent all the rest of Israel every man to his tent, but retained the 300 men. And the camp of Midian was below him in the valley. In the process of salvation, the only thing that you and I bring to God is our sin. God supplies all the rest. God cuts down the army twice; once for a good reason, once for a reason that is never explained. Judges 8:22-31 (ESV) 22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” 23 Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.” 24 And Gideon said to them, “Let me make a request of you: every one of you give me the earrings from his spoil.” (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) 25 And they answered, “We will willingly give them.” And they spread a cloak, and every man threw in it the earrings of his spoil. 26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian, and besides the collars that were around the necks of their camels. 27 And Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his city, in Ophrah. And all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family. 28 So Midian was subdued before the people of Israel, and they raised their heads no more. And the land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon. 29 Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and lived in his own house. 30 Now Gideon had seventy sons, his own offspring, for he had many wives. 31 And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he called his name Abimelech. Gideon's story is one of hope, the faithfulness of God, but also a cautionary tale about finishing well.

In Isaiah, Cyrus the Great emerges as a unique figure chosen by the God of Israel to fulfill a specific historical task: the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple and the liberation of the Judahites from exile in Babylon in direct fulfillment of the prophecy spoken by Jeremiah.Cyrus's rise to power is depicted not as a product of his strength but as the result of God stirring his spirit and granting him authority over all nations.God bestows upon Cyrus exceptional titles: “my shepherd,” a nomadic-pastoral, Bedouin-styled function typical of prophetic literature, signifying his role in guiding the people of Israel back to God's land, and “my anointed,” indicating a special divine commissioning that parallels, though does not equal, the messianic expectations normally associated with Israelite kings.Through Cyrus's conquests, especially the subjugation of Babylon, the Lord demonstrates his universal sovereignty, demonstrating to all nations that he alone is the Unipolar Hegemon that directs the course of history and holds ultimate authority over the kingdoms of the earth.While Cyrus plays a pivotal role as a pawn on God's political chessboard, Isaiah carefully distinguishes him from the Slave of the Lord.The Slave—often wrongly identified with Israel itself—points to a future messianic figure who carries a broader, more enduring mission: to establish justice, bring light to the nations, and embody God's ultimate purpose. Unlike Cyrus, whose mission is temporal and political, the Slave's work is a universal call to the path of the Lord, extending beyond the restoration of Jerusalem to the transformation of the human race.Thus, Isaiah presents Cyrus as a divinely appointed instrument for a limited, though critical, historical role. At the same time, the Slave of the Lord stands as the ultimate fulfillment of God's plan of victory and liberation for his people and the entire world.Then, in Luke, the Slave landed on the beaches of the Gerasenes.Everything I do, I do for the Slave.This week, I discuss Luke 8:29.Show Notesπαραγγέλλω (parangellō)order, summon, command, send a messageשׁ-מ-ע (shin-mem-ayin) / س-م-ع (sīn-mīm-ʿayn)hear, submit!1 Samuel 15:4 - Saul, Israel's first king, asserts his leadership by gathering a vast army (200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah) to fulfill a divine command: to destroy the Amalekites utterly. Centralized, royal power at its peak.1 Samuel 23:8 - Saul, now insecure in his power, redirects his military might to pursue David at Keilah, driven by jealousy and fear of losing his throne.1 Kings 15:22 - King Asa commands all of Judah to dismantle Baasha's fortifications at Ramah and repurpose them to fortify Geba and Mizpah. Asa's leadership is pragmatic and defensive, focused on security rather than prophetic utterances.Jeremiah 26:14 (LXX) - Jeremiah stands alone before religious and political leaders, “I am in your hands; do with me as seems good and right to you.” Luke's lexical itinerary at Decapolis follows the biblical storyline, shifting from the king's authority to the prophet's vulnerability.Jeremiah 27:29 (LXX) - Jeremiah warns Judah that resisting Babylon will only bring destruction; the people must submit to Babylon's yoke as God's instrument of judgment.Jeremiah 28:27 (LXX) - The theme of the yoke—submission to Babylon's dominion—continues. This reinforces the prophet's earlier warning that Judah's fate is sealed unless they accept God's judgment.ע-ב-ר (ʿayin-bet-resh) / ع-ب-ر (ʿayn-bāʼ-rāʼ)pull along, pass through, pass by, go your way; consistent with nomadic pastoral or shepherd life2 Chronicles 36:22 - This verse marks the beginning of the return from exile. It records that in the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord moved his heart to make a proclamation allowing the exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. This aligns with the prophecy of Jeremiah being fulfilled — God's promise to bring his people back from captivity after seventy years.Ezra 1:1 - This verse parallels 2 Chronicles 36:22. It highlights that in the first year of King Cyrus of Persia's reign, God stirred his spirit to make a decree throughout his kingdom allowing the Judeans to return and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, again, fulfilling the prophecy of Jeremiah.In Arabic, this root carries various functions, including “to cross,” “to pass over,” “to interpret,” or “to take a lesson.”عُبُور (ʿubūr) crossingمَعْبَر (maʿbar) crossing placeتَعْبِير (taʿbīr) expression, interpretation (especially of dreams)א-מ-ר (ʾaleph–mem–resh) / أ-م-ر (ʾalif-mīm-rāʾ)In Arabic, this root is the foundation for words like أَمْر (ʾamr) (“command” or “order”) and مَأْمُور (maʾmūr) (“one who is commanded”). Matthew Cooper observes that אָמַר (amar) “he spoke,” is inter-functional with the Arabic word أمير (emir), which means “prince,” “commander,” or “leader,” from the same root.Joshua 6:7 - Joshua commands his army to advance on Jericho. Specifically, he orders the armed men to proceed, and the seven priests with the trumpets to go before the Ark of the Covenant as they prepare to encircle the city. This is part of the famous account of the fall of Jericho, where the walls come down after the Israelites' obedience to God's instructions.צ-ע-ק (ṣade-ayin-qof) / ص-ع-ق (sīn–ʿayn–qāf)In biblical Hebrew, צעק (ṣāʿaq) means “to cry out, to shout, to call loudly.”1 Samuel 10:17 - Samuel gathers the people of Israel at Mizpah to publicly present Saul as the chosen king. This follows God's command to anoint a king, as the people had demanded one like the nations around them. Samuel is about to cast lots to reveal Saul as God's chosen king formally.In Arabic, صعق (ṣaʿaqa) means “to be struck by thunder, to be shocked, to be stunned.”י-ע-ץ (yod-ayin-ṣade) / و-ع-ظ (wāw-ʿayn-ẓāʾ)1 Kings 12:6 - Rehoboam, Solomon's son and the new king, consults the elders who had served his father about responding to the people's request to lighten their burdens. The elders advise him to show kindness. He does not listen.“To advise, to give counsel.” The Arabic triliteral carries the core function “to exhort, to admonish, to preach.”وَعْظ (waʿẓ) exhortation, admonitionوَاعِظ (wāʿiẓ) preacher, admonisherتَوْعِيظ (tawʿīẓ) act of exhorting, preaching“Call to the path of your Lord with wisdom and the beautiful exhortation (الْمَوْعِظَةِ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ al-mawʿiẓati al-ḥasanati), and discuss with them in that which is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from his path, and he is most knowing of the guided.” Surah An-Nahl (16:125) ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

When we last left King Saul, he had consulted a medium when he didn't hear from the Lord, where he learns that he and sons will die the following day. David almost joins the Philistine forces in the impending war against Saul, but the commanders don't trust David like King Achish does. Returning to their settlement at Ziklag, they find their territory decimated and their families taken captive. After consulting the Lord, they pursue the Amalekites. On the way, David and his men redeem the life of a servant who had been discarded by his Amalekite master, and he returns their kindness by directing them toward the Amalekites. Later, Saul goes to battle against the Philistines along with his sons, where they meet a devastating end.1 Samuel 29 - 1:02 . 1 Samuel 30 - 3:34 . 1 Samuel 31 - 9:35 . Psalm 92 - 12:04 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

1 Samuel - David's Victory over the Amalekites, The Spoils Are Divided, Saul and His Sons SlainPsalm - The LORD Praised for Giving Deliverance.

In this powerful message Pastor Sean Pinder dives into 1 Samuel 30:1–19, revealing how David overcame one of the darkest moments of his life at Ziklag. After losing everything to the Amalekites—his family, his home, and his hope—David chose to seek God instead of giving up. Through faith, divine guidance, and persistence, he recovered all.Join Pastor Sean as he teaches how you, too, are anointed to recover everything the enemy has stolen—your peace, your purpose, your family, your joy. No matter the setback, God has already positioned you for a comeback! Get ready to be encouraged, empowered, and reminded that your recovery is guaranteed. You are anointed to get it back!

The Lord sends Samuel to tell King Saul that he is to wipe out the Amalekites completely, because they opposed Israel when God brought them out of Egypt. King Saul decides that he will wipe out everyone and everything, except for King Agag of the Amalekites, and, you know, all the good stuff. You can't destroy the good stuff, right? Because of this disobedience, the Lord tells Samuel that he regrets making Saul king. Samuel rebukes King Saul, and proceeds to take care of business where Saul failed to do so. After this, the Lord sends Samuel to Jesse of Bethlehem, because he has selected one of his sons to be king in Saul's place.1 Samuel 15 - 1:02 . 1 Samuel 16 - 8:50 . Psalm 88 - 13:51 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

A @Christadelphians Video: Description: The history from the times of the patriarchs to the Babylonian exile is outlined. Although the relationships between Jew and Gentile were often hostile, they were not necessarily so. Some Gentiles came to be associated with the promises which God made to Abraham, through their faith. To this day Gentiles can share in these blessings through belief and baptism into the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ.# SummaryThis PRESENTATION delves into the history of the nations surrounding Israel, focusing on groups such as the Philistines, Phoenicians, Syrians, Kenites, and the descendants of Abraham, including the Amalekites, Moabites, and Ammonites. It explores their origins, interactions with Israel, and the impact of their relationships on the biblical narrative. The speaker highlights both the conflicts and alliances formed between these nations and Israel, emphasising the overarching theme of redemption and faith in God's plan, exemplified through figures like Ruth and Naaman.

In this Bible Story, David plays the part of loyal servant to Achish the Philistine king, but remains loyal to Israel. When the Amalekites raid David’s town and steal all their families, David’s heroic spirit is rekindled, and he mounts a rescue mission. This story is inspired by 1 Samuel 28. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 1 Samuel 28:7 from the King James Version.Episode 94: Dark days were at hand for Israel and the Philistines, and battle after battle began to wear on the hearts of both nations. Saul was now without David, without Samuel, without God, and without peace. He begged God to speak to him, sought prophets, and waited for dreams but God was silent towards him. Desperate, he went to Endor and sought the medium that lived there in hopes of bringing the spirit of Samuel up from the dead. God allowed this to happen but instead of hearing words of hope, Samuel told Saul that tomorrow he and his sons would die in battle.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.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 powerful message, we're reminded of the vital importance of spiritual momentum in our lives and our church. The central theme revolves around protecting and nurturing this momentum, especially during seasons of potential distraction like summer. Drawing from the story of the Amalekites in Deuteronomy 25, we're shown how the enemy seeks to attack when we're weary or lagging behind.Notes for this sermon: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fjwyYxB3k10cbJeXyWg4TpbW7eoXXKe9/view?usp=sharingWebsite | https://lifechurchww.comFacebook | https://facebook.com/lifechurchwwInstagram | https://instagram.com/lifechurchwwVida Music | https://vidamsc.com

In this Bible Story, the Philistine horde rises up against Israel. David continues to wrestle with his alliances. While Saul, now living apart from the spirit of God, turns to dark arts to settle his weary and restless soul. This story is inspired by 1 Samuel 27. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 1 Samuel 27:7 from the King James Version.Episode 93: David, still playing the role of a Philistine marauder in Ziklag, found himself in the camp of the enemy as they were marching up against Israel. But the lords of the Philistines disapproved of this and petitioned Achish to send him and his men away. God kept David from killing his brethren that day, but when they returned to Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had raided their city and taken their wives and children. So David sought God and pursued the Amalekites to overtake them, bringing back their wives and children. God gave them favor, and the women, children, livestock, and goods were saved! David got his first true taste of what it meant to be 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.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.

Your Daily Prayer

In this Bible Story, Saul is rejected as king. His pride, greed, and disobedience lost him the favor of God and Samuel weeps over Saul's fall. This story is inspired by 1 Samuel 14:47-15:35. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 1 Samuel 15:23 from the King James Version.Episode 83: Saul led Israel in battle to the point that nations who once oppressed Israel now feared them. One day, God gave a message to Samuel to deliver to Saul, that he was to destroy the Amalekites, leaving none alive. But again, Saul disobeyed God and spared the most important member of the Amalekites, their king. Through this repeated disobedience and self-pride, God regretted ever making Saul 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.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 episode, we explore the historical and biblical context surrounding Israel's second judge, Ehud, during a time when the Israelites once again turned away from God after the death of Othniel. As a result, God allowed King Eglon of Moab—along with allies from the Ammonites and Amalekites—to oppress Israel for 18 years. We dive into the origins and cultural backgrounds of these three groups, particularly the Moabites, descendants of Lot, and their ongoing territorial conflicts with Israel. The story climaxes with Ehud, a left-handed (or ambidextrous) warrior from the tribe of Benjamin, who assassinates Eglon in a daring and strategic move, leading to Israel's liberation. This episode also examines archaeological evidence surrounding the City of Palms (Jericho), the political symbolism of the tribute to Eglon, and the significance of Ehud's actions, which brought 80 years of peace to Israel.   If you'd like to support "The History of the Bible", visit our Patreon Page at https://patreon.com/TheHistoryoftheBible. Your feedback is valuable to us! Share your thoughts and insights via our feedback form at https://forms.gle/AtzUReJ8gLuFYPaP8. Let us know how our podcast has impacted you or someone you know by filling out our impact form at https://forms.gle/jr4EdGsqCaFk4qZm8. If you have concerns about any information presented, please inform us via our correction form at https://forms.gle/PiMMkPnJFaa4j5p37.   #BibleStudy #OldTestament #BookOfJudges #Ehud #Israelites #Moab #BiblicalHistory #BiblePodcast #ChristianPodcast #FaithBasedContent #ChristianTeaching #BibleTeaching #ScriptureStudy #BibleStory #HebrewBible #Moabites #Ammonites #Amalekites #BiblicalArchaeology #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianHistory #GodsDeliverance #LeftHandedWarrior #KingEglon #CityOfPalms #JerichoHistory #ChristianYouTube #FaithJourney #BibleExplained #ChristianEducation   Episode's Sources Bible, NIV Study Bible.  https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-moabites https://armstronginstitute.org/38-uncovering-the-bibles-buried-civilizations-the-moabites Bible, ESV https://armstronginstitute.org/309-uncovering-the-bibles-buried-cities-jericho  

Bible Study WITH ME through Exodus chapter 17 and ask all the questions!

In this powerful message, we're reminded that our greatest enemy - Satan - is relentless but ultimately weak. The story of the Amalekites attacking Israel in Exodus 17 serves as a metaphor for our spiritual battles. Just as the Amalekites attacked when Israel was weary, Satan often strikes when we're at our weakest. However, we learn that our weakness can become our strength when we rely on God and our community. The image of Moses holding up his arms, supported by Aaron and Hur, beautifully illustrates how we need both divine intervention and human support in our struggles. This message challenges us to remain vigilant, to build altars of remembrance for God's victories in our lives, and to live under the banner of Christ rather than worldly identities. It's a call to embrace our vulnerability, allowing God's strength to shine through our weakness.

In this episode of the Let's Get Freaky podcast, host and guest Justin Brown delve into various themes including the hero's journey, the significance of the Bible, personal transformation, and the cultural perceptions of Christianity. They explore the idea of defending one's faith in a skeptical world, the spiritual battles faced by believers, and the intriguing topic of Bigfoot from a biblical perspective. The conversation is rich with insights and personal anecdotes, making it a compelling listen for those interested in spirituality, history, and the supernatural. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the intriguing connections between biblical narratives and the legends of Bigfoot and other wild men. They explore the story of Nebuchadnezzar II, the implications of ancient texts, and the legacy of biblical giants like Esau and the Amalekites. The discussion also touches on the search for Bigfoot, drawing parallels with historical accounts and the possibility of these creatures still existing today. The speakers reflect on the process of writing a book that encapsulates these theories and insights, emphasizing the importance of passion in uncovering hidden truths.Head over to http://www.prometheuslenspodcast.com to sign up for the "All Access Pass" and get early access to episodes, private community, members only episodes, private Q & A's, and coming documentaries. We also have a $4 dollar a month package that gets you early access and an ad free listening experience!Apple Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prometheus-lens/id1701912463Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/6aUS57bWUuyAL0y9nmrBEX?si=_amAFj7wT8meWhgtzGpgBQThe Epic of Esau book:https://a.co/d/dU8d7x9Want to Escape the financial beast system and secure your hard earned money? $1,000 invested into silver in the 60s would be almost $30,000 today! What are you waiting for? Start investing into gold in silver today as everyday the value of your paper money does down! Click the link below for your free info kit and tell them Doc Brown from Prometheus Lens sent you!https://cornerstonemetals.info/guideLove the quality of these videos? Sign up for Riverside.fm through this link for a special offer!https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=justin-brownSPONSORS:Squatch Survival Gear:http://www.squatchsurvivalgear.comNeed help with video or audio? Give my boy Jason a shout! Tamayo.jason@gmail.comWant to donate to the show? Send your one time donation to “Elrod32” on Venmo or PayPal. All donations will get a shout out and thank you on a recording.Have you written a book? Have a show idea? Had a supernatural experience you'd like to share on the show? Go to the website and click the contact link. I'd love to hear from you!

For today’s installment of our 40 Days Meditation series, our brother Martin Steinbereithner provides commentary on Num 14:1-25. Listen below, download here, or search for Words from the Brothers on your favourite podcasting app. Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel. And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.” But Moses said to the Lord, “Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for you brought up this people in your might from among them, and they will tell the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you, O Lord, are in the midst of this people. For you, O Lord, are seen face to face, and your cloud stands over them and you go before them, in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. Now if you kill this people as one man, then the nations who have heard your fame will say, ‘It is because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land that he swore to give to them that he has killed them in the wilderness.’ And now, please let the power of the Lord be great as you have promised, saying, ‘The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.’ Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now.” Then the Lord said, “I have pardoned, according to your word. But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it. But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. Now, since the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valleys, turn tomorrow and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.” Num 14:1-25

This chapter highlights how the Amalekites destroyed Ziklag and took the women and children captive but were later defeated by David and his 600 men.

For today’s installment of our 40 Days Meditation series, our brother Martin Steinbereithner provides commentary on Num 12:16-13:33. Listen below, download here, or search for Words from the Brothers on your favourite podcasting app. After that the people set out from Hazeroth, and camped in the wilderness of Paran. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel. From each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a chief among them.” So Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran, according to the command of the Lord, all of them men who were heads of the people of Israel. And these were their names: From the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur; from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori; from the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh; from the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph; from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Nun; from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu; from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi; from the tribe of Joseph (that is, from the tribe of Manasseh), Gaddi the son of Susi; from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli; from the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael; from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi; from the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi. These were the names of the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun Joshua. Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan and said to them, “Go up into the Negeb and go up into the hill country, and see what the land is, and whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many, and whether the land that they dwell in is good or bad, and whether the cities that they dwell in are camps or strongholds, and whether the land is rich or poor, and whether there are trees in it or not. Be of good courage and bring some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes. So they went up and spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob, near Lebo-hamath. They went up into the Negeb and came to Hebron. Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were there. (Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) And they came to the Valley of Eshcol and cut down from there a branch with a single cluster of grapes, and they carried it on a pole between two of them; they also brought some pomegranates and figs. That place was called the Valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster that the people of Israel cut down from there. At the end of forty days they returned from spying out the land. And they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the people of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh. They brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. And they told him, “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the Negeb. The Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the hill country. And the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and along the Jordan.” But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” Then the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.” So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.” Num 12:16-13:33

Life is filled with ups and downs. David had suffered a catastrophic loss. While he and his warriors were gone, his city was attacked, burned to the ground, and all their wives and children had been taken. The pain of loss was overwhelming. Fortunately, David found strength in the Lord and rallied his men to pursue the villains. They came upon the Amalekites' camp, attacked them, and slaughtered the enemy.And then we read some incredible words of hope: So David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken.Join me for today's Daily Word & Prayer to how you, too, can "recover all" after a painful loss.Scripture Used in Today's MessageI Samuel 30:16-19 If you've not read my book, Takin' it to Their Turf. request a copy on my website, www.CampusAmerica.com.You'll be inspired, encouraged, and learn plenty about evangelism and spiritual warfare through the 70+ stories I share of my campus evangelism expereinces.We send a copy to anyone who donates to our ministry, but if you can't do so, simply request a copy by sending us an email. Who do you know that needs to hear today's message? Go ahead and forward this to them, along with a prayer that God will use it in their life.To find Tom on Instagram, Facebook, TiKTok, and elsewhere, go to linktr.ee/tomthepreacher To support Tom Short Campus Ministries, click herehttps://www.tomthepreacher.com/support************ Do you want to have all your sins forgiven and know God personally? *********Check out my video "The Bridge Diagram" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0Kjwrlind8&t=1sCheck out my website, www.TomthePreacher.com, to learn more about my ministry and sign up for my daily email. And make sure to request a copy of my book, Takin' it to Their Turf, when you visit my website.Check out my videos on this channel to learn how to answer tough questions challenging our faith.

God wants us to obey Him. Bible Engagement Obeying God and Denying Self Serving God and Others Sharing Christ Exercising Faith Seeking God Building Relationships Unashamed (Transparency) ⅓ We Want Control (Build In) It's Fun (Build In) I wanna do hoodrat stuff with my friends We Think We Know Better (Build In) We Think Our Way Is Faster (Build In) Obeying God is only easy when a person's own desires match God's. Obeying God is only easy when a person's own timing matches God's. John 14:15  //  “If you love me, keep my commands.” John 14:23  //  “Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching…” Those who want to be mature in Christ have a desire to obey Him. Our way is to disobey, but God's way is a way of obedience. 1 Samuel 15:2-3  //  “...This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.'” Obedience is an Opportunity    1 Samuel 15:3  //  Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.'” Time doesn't diminish sin in the sight of God. Acts 13:22  //  After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.' Obedience is an opportunity to align with God. Begin to view every act of obedience as an opportunity to align more closely with God. Obedience is 100% 1 Samuel 15:20-21  //  “But I did obey the Lord,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.” 1 Samuel 15:22  //  But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. Worship is good, but obedience is better. Anything less than full obedience misses the mark of God's calling for our lives. Delayed and/or incomplete obedience is disobedience. Begin to actually do what God has called you to wholeheartedly and completely. Obedience is a matter of the Heart 1 Samuel 15:11  //  “I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.” Samuel was angry, and he cried out to the Lord all that night. 1 Samuel 15:35  //  Until the day Samuel died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned for him. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel. Obedience isn't just about our outward actions; it's about the inward condition of our heart. Begin to keep a close check on your heart. What is it that God has called you to do?

When David and his men return to Ziklag, they find that their city has been burned and their families have been taken away. David's men are ready to kill him in their bitterness, but David relies on the LORD. The LORD commands David to pursue the raiding party and gives an Egyptian as a source of information. When David and his men overtake the guilty Amalekites, the enemy army's revelry is quickly turned into destruction. David wins a complete victory over the Amalekites and rescues all of the people and all the spoil that had been taken. He shows great wisdom in treating all of his soldiers equally, both those who fought and those who protected the baggage. This gives us a picture of the wisdom and grace our Lord Jesus Christ.  Rev. David Vandercook, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in North Little Rock, AR and Shepherd of Peace Lutheran Church in Maumelle, AR, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Samuel 30:1-31.  "A Kingdom Unlike All the Nations” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through 1-2 Samuel. This time in Israel's history has its highs and lows, but the LORD's faithfulness never wavers. He provides His Word to be proclaimed faithfully through prophets like Samuel and Nathan. Even as princes like Saul and David sit on an earthly throne, the LORD remains King over His people, even as He does now and forever through the Lord Jesus Christ. Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

In this engaging conversation, Lionel Tavares hosts Doc Brown, who delves into the intriguing connections between biblical narratives, particularly focusing on Esau and his legacy. The discussion explores the nature of Esau, the significance of extra-biblical texts, and the supernatural elements surrounding his lineage, including ties to Nephilim and the Amalekites. The conversation is rich with insights into ancient history, cryptids, and the interpretation of biblical texts through a modern lens. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the historical and spiritual implications of ancient sorcery, the legacy of the Nephilim, and the nature of cryptids like Bigfoot and Dogman. They discuss the spiritual warfare associated with these entities, the rituals and altars linked to them, and the controversial serpent seed doctrine, exploring how these themes connect to modern beliefs and experiences. In this conversation, the speakers delve into ancient texts and legends, exploring their connections to modern cryptids and the implications of genetic manipulation. They discuss the nature of creatures like Bigfoot, the ethics of cloning, and the spiritual ramifications of hybrid beings. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of faith in navigating these complex topics, suggesting that understanding the unknown is intertwined with belief in a higher power.Head over to http://www.prometheuslenspodcast.com to sign up for the "All Access Pass" and get early access to episodes, private community, members only episodes, private Q & A's, and coming documentaries. We also have a $4 dollar a month package that gets you early access and an ad free listening experience!Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prometheus-lens/id1701912463 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6aUS57bWUuyAL0y9nmrBEX?si=_amAFj7wT8meWhgtzGpgBQ The Epic of Esau book:https://a.co/d/dU8d7x9 Love the quality of these videos? Sign up for Riverside.fm through this link for a special offer! https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=justin-brownSPONSORS:Squatch Survival Gear:http://www.squatchsurvivalgear.com Need help with video or audio? Give my boy Jason a shout! Tamayo.jason@gmail.com Want to donate to the show? Send your one time donation to “Elrod32” on Venmo or PayPal. All donations will get a shout out and thank you on a recording.Have you written a book? Have a show idea? Had a supernatural experience you'd like to share on the show? Go to the website and click the contact link. I'd love to hear from you!

What does it mean for the Israelites to blot out the memory of Amalek, but not forget? In today's episode, Watermark's staff member Emily Hope and JTJ staff Lauren Atkinson discuss the purpose of the law in revealing God's character and regulating the Israelites' behavior to protect them and help them flourish. Later in Deuteronomy 25, God tells the Israelites to remove the presence of the evil Amalekites. It was an ethical cleansing, not an ethnic cleansing that revealed God's holiness and character. Like them, we are also before a holy God in dire need for Christ to cover our sins.   Additional Scripture Referenced: Exodus 17:8-16 – Amalek and his men attack the Israelites 1 Samuel 15:9 - Saul preserves the Amalekites – He does not obey God's full command 1 Samuel 30:17 – David obeys God's command to wipe out the Amalekites, but some escape 1 Chronicles 4:43 – Hezekiah completely wipes out the Amalekites  Exodus 34:6-7, “That is, the Lord passed in front of Moses and said, “Yahweh, the Lord, is a kind and merciful God. He is slow to become angry. He is full of great love. He can be trusted. He shows his faithful love to thousands of people. He forgives people for the wrong things they do, but he does not forget to punish guilty people. Not only will he punish the guilty people, but their children, their grandchildren, and their great-grandchildren will also suffer for the bad things these people do.”  Interested in Watermark's Women's Bible Study? Check out the link below! https://www.watermark.org/ministries/womens-bible-study  Here is the link to the Watermark Men's Bible Study! https://www.watermark.org/ministries/mens-bible-study   Check out Emily's story in this previous episode! https://open.spotify.com/episode/15MR5uMD3ayvfI8cdZRPQG?si=16a8d652726241b2  Check out the Join The Journey Devotionals here! https://www.jointhejourney.com/  You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898

In this Bible Story, God continues provision as he quenches Israel’s thirst for water. Then He gives them victory over their first battle against the Amalekites. This story is inspired by Exodus 17-18. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Exodus 17:6 from the King James Version.Episode 39: Hungry, Thirsty, and fast to forget what God has done for them, the people grumbled about not having any water. Yet even in their complaints, God is full of mercy and He provided life-giving water for the people out of a solid rock. But then, in their celebration of God’s provision, an army of Amalekites comes to ransack their camp, and God teaches His people how to fight for the Lord.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.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.