Podcasts about arrayed

In the last episode we saw how the ‘Stapler' faction of London's Aldermen had betrayed the ‘Radicals' and gained the concessions they wanted from Parliament, but refused to support the Radicals demand for the return of London's traditional rights. And this leads to a political backlash.Welcome to an episode that drags us into the heart of explosive politics, as political control swung from one faction to another, as the very way the city picked its leaders was changed drastically, and the intrigue and politics was played out over a backdrop of riots, insults, executions, and salacious comments about a Prince's heritage. Welcome to the most intense internal civil war the city had seen since the Magna Carta, a place where the city itself was said to be ‘armed, arrayed in red and white'.

Jesus Christ came to provide healing for your greatest need.

Revelation 7:13 "And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?"

Order of Service: - Prelude - Patiently, Have I Waited for the Lord: Patiently, patiently have I waited for the Lord, And lo! He heard my cry, and lo! He heard my cry. - Camille Saint-Saens - Luke 2:1-7: And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. - Devotion - Prayer - Hymn 553 - Behold a Host, Arrayed in White: vv. 1, 3 - Blessing - Postlude Service Participants: Chaplain Don Moldstad (Preacher), Laura Matzke (Organist), Faith Johnson (Soloist)

The Gospel provides security and safety in Jesus Christ, our salvation. Amidst the spiritual battle we are in, we are told to stand strong, put on armor, to walk in victory and triumph. But how? In this study, Nathan Johnson examines the armor of God in Ephesians 6 and shows that Jesus is the person and place of our triumph … He is our refuge and fortress. In short, Jesus is the armor we are clothed within.

The Peddler & the Fairy: Part 9 The girls continue their shopping. In 10 parts, by Scholarly Mori. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels. "Now to go get new clothes!" Azalea sang as they exited the goblin smith's shop. She was happy and a bit amused, watching Chitchat walk unsteadily trying to acclimate to her new accessory. "Yes, we've had enough distractions for one day," asserted Reina. "We have a bit of a walk," groused Chitchat. "This way." [[MORE]] The job Chitchat had anticipated to be simple was proving more than she and her rear had bargained for. She rubbed her temples. Friendship assplugs? Really? Who even thinks of something like that? I've never even put my fingers in there before. Thought I was gonna pee myself. This should have been easy -- answer some questions, follow two rural girls around, watch them window shop, and make some money. Easy and simple. You can do it, Chitchat. Just a few more hours, and you'll be eating good and plug-free.' "Hey, Reina, look!" Chitchat's introspection was interrupted. She looked over her shoulder to see Azalea pointing from between Reina's breasts at a large bronze statue of a young arachne woman operating a loom. Reina surveyed the plaza. "They sure do like their urban sculptures." Lanterns placed strategically around the outer edge of the plaza aimed their light at the arachne woman's tapestry which reflected the colors back, bathing the surrounding area in variegated hues. "They are more than just decorative pieces," answered Chitchat. "They help people know which plaza is which since they are all designed the same. This one was erected in front of the tailor and seamstresses' neighborhood." Halfway down the street, Chitchat stopped at a storefront with an unusually wide set of double doors and a hanging sign of two crossed bobbins. "Here we are." "The Silky Loom," read Azalea, wiggling free from Reina. Chitchat leaned against a wooden post holding up the awning. "I'll wait out here while you two conduct your business." "Why?" asked Azalea. She looked down at her tattered cloak. "I'm usually not welcome in nice places like this." Azalea grabbed Chitchat's hand and pulled her past Reina."Then, I'll speak up for you if they don't like you." Reina gave an apologetic look as Chitchat was dragged once again by Azalea. Being the last to enter, Reina closed the door against the outside noise. Shelves of wool, hemp, muslin, and silk were neatly sorted by material, hue, and size on three walls. Hanging from the ceiling were nets filled with balls of yarn. Behind a heavy curtain lining the fourth wall, the patterned sound of a long clack followed by two short ones was heard. Reina took a step forward and felt the floor give slightly with a small creak. The clacking stopped. She looked down curiously. The carpet she stepped on had white threads extending out from it and underneath the veil. "Coming!" called a cheerful voice. A worn hand pushed aside the curtain, and out stepped an older arachne woman with an apron stuffed with needles and scissors. Her salt-and-pepper hair was tied in a bun. Her mature face had telltale crow's feet beginning to develop around her kindly eyes. "Not often do I get so many cute dearies wandering into my shop! Welcome!" She re-adjusted the black and gold shawl over her shoulders. "My name is Gertrude, one of the oldest shop owners in the city! How can I help you today? If you're just looking, you're welcome to browse as long as you wish, or if you have a specific request, I can make everything from formal to loungewear, made with any fabric you find in the store, including my own silk." Reina stepped forward. "We would like a price estimate for formal wear for a business meeting and two winter coats." "Three," Azalea corrected. "Three?" "Yes, something for Chitchat." Chitchat, who had been studying a display mannequin, looked up in surprise. "One gift was already more than enough. No need to trouble yourselves." The large arachne shook her head and marched over, looming over the younger girl. Chitchat slunk back. "Now, sweetie, none of that. I can't rightly feel good with such a young an' sweet thing such as yourself catching your death out in the cold this winter. Granny Gertrude will get you girls properly attired." She ushered them into a side fitting room, fawning disapprovingly over the tiny flaws in their current clothes: "The stitching on this cloak is abysmal! How do you even make clothes out of flowers? The hems on this blanket are way too low -- they'll fray them in no time!" She stopped mid-complaint. "When did you need these completed?" "The formal attire we need by tonight," replied Reina. "That doesn't give us much time. I think I can modify some pieces I already have. I should also have some doll clothes left over I'll be able to modify quick-like. Won't take any time at all! Any particular pattern or cloth you want them to be made out of?" Reina looked at the other girls. "We'll leave it to your judgment." "Splendid!" Gertrude effused and then regarded each girl's overall build and height. "I have a few ideas. I love when my customers give me creative freedom! I'm going to need to take some measurements. Who'd like to go first?" "I will." Azalea landed on a nearby table and assumed a T-pose, standing straight with her arms held out parallel to the table surface. "My name's Azalea, by the way." "And you certainly remind me of one!" Azalea fluttered her wings happily. "Just let me get something to jot some notes down." As the seasoned arachne turned around, Azalea's eyes were drawn to the darkened entrance to her silk hole at the back end of her abdomen. She wondered what it'd feel like to stick her arm inside. Shaking her head at the impolite thought, she jumped as a thread of silk shot out, clinging to the table edge beside her. With paper and chalk in hand, Gertrude snipped the thread and started sectioning off lengths with black marks. "Are you ok, dear? You look a bit red." "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to stare. I was just startled." "Good heavens, that was a bit improper of me, waving my bottom in front of your face like that. Technically, I'm supposed to get consent before I do that since some people get hot and bothered seeing me do that. Though I find it rather odd since my unmentionables are actually under my thorax. My memory isn't what it used to be." "We had to sign something like that at the last shop we visited," acknowledged Azalea. "If I sign it, can I see you do it again?" "I don't see why not." "Azalea, isn't that a little rude?" "It's alright, Reina, dear. I'm more than happy to indulge a healthy curiosity" She handed the girls a list of past signees. Upon receiving and nodding approvingly at their signatures, she turned around and reintroduced her abdomen. "All arachne produce silk, but not all use it because they either don't need to, due to their fast running speed or jumping prowess, or only use it sometimes. Take a look." She back up to the table. Azalea helped spread the opening as Gertrude relaxed her hole's entrance and peered inside. Seven little spinnerets were nestled in the shallow, moist cavity. "Arachne silk is a versatile substance; very strong yet light. We produce seven different types of silk: one for raising our young in, a thick one for web scaffolding, a sticky one for making the core part of a web, a strong and non-sticky one we can use like a rope, an intricate one for connecting threads to other threads, and one for creating little sticky droplets we can place along specific parts of a thread." "What's the last one for?" Azalea queried. "For wrapping up things, but male arachne have an alternative use. They don't have that organ humans use for mating, so they use it to hold their seed when they wish to mate." "Was your husband human?" "Yes. He was the most charming and sweetest man I've ever met. He didn't properly know how arachne conducted courtship, but he heard a rumor that male arachne give gifts of their seed to females. So he went out of his way to ask a male arachne for their special webbings just so he could deposit his seed into it and use it to propose to me." She put a hand to her cheek. "He misunderstood the meaning, but I found the attempt very romantic." "What did you do with it?" "I ate it." "You; ate it?" "Normally, when a male gives us that kind of gift, the two are already mates. It just means they want offspring, but I'm infertile, so I ate it. It's not uncommon. Silk-making takes a lot out of an arachne body, so they often eat their silk to recycle it." "My husband may have gotten the particulars mixed up, but it turned me on so much! Before he realized what was happening, I dragged him back home and spun a little suspended-web bed since he was a fair bit smaller than me. I accepted his offer, if you know what I mean. Was my first time mating human style. I quite liked it; but here I am just talking about myself." She set about measuring Azalea with the marking thread. "Are you three from around here?" "Reina and I aren't, but Chitchat is. I'm from a little fairy village in the north-central region. Reina is from the northeast. We both met Life-mate and arrived in town just today to live here with him." "How lovely! Let me welcome you to Iceford. It's a bit noisy at times but a safe place to live. Always lively and innovative. Ok, Azalea, I'm going to need to measure your chest next." Azalea lifted the flaps covering her chest, proudly displaying her breasts. "Ah, to be young again! Such soft, clear skin. I was quite a looker when I was your age. All the young men used to compliment me when I wore lacy stockings or very short skirts that barely covered them." She stroked the glossy black exoskeleton of her thigh and pedipalp. "And for some odd reason, a few wanted me to tie them up and do lewd things to them." "Really?" "I didn't really understand it but always found it amusing." "I'm sad for you not being able to have children," lamented Azalea. "I appreciate your feelings, deary. I do have regrets, but I'm busy enough where I don't get lonely much, and I'm content dressing up all you youngins in pretty clothes." "Well, if I ever see you around town, I'll definitely come say hi!" "That's very sweet of you. So, you are all together with the same special someone?" "Just Azalea and I. We both met Herd-mate very close to each other, time-wise. Chitchat is acting as our city guide for the day." "Does little Chitchat have a special someone?" "Not in the way you're asking. She's; more like someone I take care of." "I bet she appreciates you a lot." "In her own unique way, yes." "Well, that should do it." Gertrude patted Azalea on the head. "Shall we measure lovely Reina next?" Upon hearing her name, Reina tensed up and looked away, Gertrude noticed her trepidation. "Azalea, why don't you take Chitchat into the front room, choose some colored palettes you like, then take her to freshen up in the bathroom upstairs while I measure Reina. There should be a large, hot kettle you can use to heat up the water." "Sure thing!" Reina was still unsure whether it was the sheer force of charisma or confusion, but seeing a ratgirl being dragged away by a fairy a fraction of her size was something she wasn't getting tired of seeing, and she smiled. "Now, my dear, I noticed you seemed a bit uncomfortable. It's alright. No need to feel shy around granny. These old eyes have seen it all." "I'm sorry, it's just, " she hesitantly started as she removed her coat to reveal her scars. Gertrude frowned. "Good heavens! Who would do such a thing to such a lovely young woman? Brutes, I'd wager. People who wouldn't know refinement and beauty if it clobbered them over the head. You don't have to tell me how you got these, but I just want you to know that it's here that beauty continues to mature and blossom," she declared while pointing to her heart. "Take it from me. The outside matters less and less as you get older." "Life-mate k, kissed them the first time he saw them." "Sounds like you found yourself a keeper with a good head on his shoulders." The old weaver stepped back and looked Reina up and down. "This old seamstress knows a few tricks, so let's see if we can't turn your blemishes into something beautiful. My old grandweaver had a strong belief that even the messiest and most lopsided webs could be made beautiful with creativity." "There's really no need for you to go out of your way. I keep them covered well enough." Gertrude stood up straight. "As the foremost seamstress in the city, I'll tell you now! Us craftsmen don't apply our trade just to subsist on. We take pride in making new and more creative facets of beauty when applying our craft. I take great delight in tackling this challenge, so there is no reason we can't boost your self-image a little as well." She smiled warmly. "Now, please raise your arms." A sudden squeal, followed by giggling and a sudden splash, erupted from upstairs. "Sounds like those two are getting along well," Gertrude laughed. Reina sighed. "I'm sorry for all the mess Azalea is probably making." "It's perfectly alright. You youngsters' youthful energy is a delight to these old ears." She wrapped the measuring tape around Reina's chest. "Such lovely breasts. I'll have to make something special for them. While I can't make many large pieces, my specialty is making lacy lingerie from my silk. I'm sure you probably couldn't guess that." "May I make a small request?" asked Reina. "Of course!" "I'm going to be lactating soon, " "Oh, you're expecting?" "No, no, Azalea put the lactation crest on us so we could help Herd-mate with expenses. Could you make it so, " "So It's easy to gain access to suckle from?" Reina blushed. "So they don't stain the clothes." "Sure thing." Reina had redonned her coat when Azalea and a much cleaner but worn-out-looking Chitchat returned wearing only a towel. Azalea struggled to stay airborne while carrying several examples of colors she wanted, and Chitchat brought the rest. "I decided I want some combination of these colors! I heard the word lingerie. What is that?" demanded Azalea in her typical high-energy style. She set the spools on the table. "It's an undergarment worn primarily by humans to increase their sex appeal." "But how do you see it if it's under your clothes?" "Some outfits give little peeks and glimpses of the lingerie. Think of it as clothing that titillates or accentuates what's underneath. Oh, I can't wait to show you what I'm envisioning!" she bubbled. "But first, now that Chitchat looks freshened up, I'll take her measurements." Chitchat removed the towel, still not believing she was exposing herself twice in one day. Gertrude worked her way around, appraising Chitchat's petite form. "Such slender legs and arms you have, and these tiny hands we certainly must make some mittens for." Gertrude turned Chitchat around. "Your tail is so expressive. Please bend over a little." Chitchat did as she was asked. "Oh, this is a pretty little accessory!" Gertrude commented. "Yes, we just got them from Eitri's shop. Friendship assplugs! We all got one!" Azalea exclaimed. She turned around and bent over. Peering back between her legs, she pulled her ass cheeks apart. "Such a sunny color, isn't it?" Gertrude laughed. "Young people have such imaginative ways to express themselves these days." Finished with her measuring, she compiled all her notes and furiously drew up plans for the girls' outfits. Once the plans were complete, she handed them to Reina for review. "I don't know if we can afford all this, Azalea. Herd-mate was rather adamant about not wanting to spend the client's money." Gertrude reached for an abacus and did some calculations. "Taking into account the type of material and estimated amount as well as the number of outfits, we can apply the new customer discount, the cute discount, and the creative-freedom discount." She winked, rewrote a bill of sale, and handed it to Reina. "This should be the final price." Reina looked chagrined but grateful. "Thank you." "Then I'll get to work right away! I should be able to finish your coats before you leave, and I'll have someone deliver your formal attire by tonight." ---- It was late afternoon when the girls met up with Devin, each sporting their new winter coat. They wore matching wool-dyed, bluish-gray cloaks with large wooden buttons and a bunny-fur-lined hood embroidered with images that reminded one of winter. Reina's was different only in its length, extending all the way down her back and over her tail. "Life-mate! I missed you!" Azalea beelined into Devin's chest, giving him a big hug. "It's only been a few hours, but I missed you two as well. How'd it go?" "We had a very; full yet productive shopping trip," Reina replied. "We had so much fun, Life-mate! I can't wait to tell you all about it! How do we look?" Azalea did a little twirl. Devin nodded approvingly. "Adorable as always!" Azalea squealed in delight. "And Reina, equally as majestic. Though I doubt the cold bothered you much." "No, it doesn't, but I'm glad you like it. I can't wait to show you our new dresses tonight and; what's under them," she expressed with a slight blush. He kissed her. "I'll look forward to it." He turned his attention to Chitchat. She stood there awkwardly in her new coat. "I see you all got matching ones." "Y; yes, though I tried to tell them I didn't need one. Reina mentioned something about not spending a lot." "Sometimes it can't be helped. How does it feel?" Devin checked. "It is quite warm," she mumbled. "What's this, what's that!?!" cried an excited Azalea buzzing around the packages in Devin's arms. Reina's stomach growled. "Let's eat somewhere, and then I'll show you," he laughed, trying to dodge her closer inspection. Reina looked to Chitchat for suggestions. "Where should we eat?" "I know!" enthused Azlea, waving her hand. "I saw it before we went to the toy store." "Toy store?" asked Devin. "We'll tell AND show you after we eat,." shouted an impatient Azalea, already several paces away. Devin wondered what she meant as he followed the girls back to the corner with the fenced-off street, causing Devin to pause. Raising his eyebrow at Reina, he challenged, "You went down this street?" Reina pointed at Azalea. "Of course she did. That explains the toy store." "I didn't let her buy anything, Herd-mate," she affirmed. "I wouldn't have minded even if she did, but thank you for looking out for my coin purse, Reina." Chitchat lagged behind, trying to make sense of her feelings. She had set her mind on doing what she had to do to survive. It wouldn't be her first time swindling someone, but it was exceedingly rare for someone to be kind to her, much less give her things this nice or brand new. These chumps were too generous for their own good, and it was causing pesky feelings to arise, making her resolve falter. She pushed the feelings aside and quickened her pace when she saw they were getting too far ahead. "Found it!" Azalea shouted, nearly a block ahead. She pointed to the store-length sign above the window. "Bear Buns Bakery," Devin read aloud. Azalea peered in the storefront window. "I'm loving this street more and more!" she moaned and drooled, face plastered to the window. "They know how to set up an eye-catching display!" "The baker of such; risque confections such as these could almost have drawn inspiration from your special art collection," observed Reina. Arrayed behind the front window, on a slightly tilted display table, were cookies artfully shaped in a multitude of human and demi-human genitalia, surrounded by gingerbread men and women in adorable acts of love-making. Along the periphery were an assortment of similarly-themed pies and cakes with fruits, nuts, and glazes strategically placed to enhance the bawdy display. Azalea smiled smugly. "You're right! Great minds must think alike." This is your opportunity Chitchat! She thought to herself. Now, while their backs are turned! The bag of money hung from Reina's side. With them all huddled around the display, deft fingers and speedy legs would make for a successful grab-and-run before they even knew what had happened. However, for some reason, a tiny piece of her made her hesitate, and she derided herself over her weakness. The fleeting moment was lost. A bare bear ass smooshed against the glass door, causing a bell to ring as it pushed open. A tall woman with a physique that was undecidedly either muscular or plump backed out onto the street. Round, brown ears topped her head, sticking out from under a baker's hat. She was naked, aside from a light yellow apron with a bee pin in one corner covering her human parts. Thick fur covered the rest. She held a wooden folding sign in her fearsomely long-clawed hands. "Oh, hello there!" greeted the smiling portly grizzly woman. "Welcome to Bear Buns!" Everyone looked at her naked, stubby-tailed ass. "Just perusing, or can I entice you with supper tonight?" "We were deciding that," coughed Devin. "If it helps in your decision-making, pastries and baked goods are what we are mostly known for, but we also offer a more dinner-type fare." Devin looked at the girls. He was met with two nods and a grumbling stomach. "I suppose we will." "Wonderful! You may call me Sanna, or Momma Sanna, or Momma Bear -- whichever you like!" The merry woman opened the door and let them in. The interior matched her apron. It was bright and warm, and the ceiling was painted a gentle sky blue. The walls were a mural of flowery fields with scantily-clad bee girls engaged in playfully suggestive acts with aluranes, dryads, and several other plant demi-humans. Potted sunflowers dotted the room to add their cheery faces to the ambiance. "We mostly serve takeout, but we do have a few places for sit-down dining. Please feel free to sit anywhere. I'll go bring you some fresh milk," Sanna said, disappearing into the kitchen. There weren't many options for seating, about five tables in all. Still, they were designed to accommodate the wide assortment of body types found in the city. They chose a table in the corner, near a window, with a prominent flat-padded bench in a corner that allowed Reina to lie down next to the table. Devin sat next to Chitchat on the opposite side, and Azalea perched herself on the table nearest the window. The grizzly woman returned and placed several glasses on the table. "A little something to warm you up from the chill outside." "Hallie, how long are you gonna hide back there?" she shouted behind her. A bunny girl hopped out. Her lower half was covered in soft chestnut brown fur. Her human upper half was covered with an apron identical to Sanna's. One of her long ears stood tall and erect while the other hung loosely. As she rounded the front counter, it smacked her in the face, causing her to trip over her feet and fall face-first in front of everyone. "And here is my mascot and cute ditzy assistant, Hallie. When she's done flashing her dainty bits at ya, she'll be taking your order." The head-under-heels bunny girl took a suspicious amount of time to collect herself, giving ample time to appreciate her poofy tail and prim pink vulva. She jumped up and rubbed her sore button nose. "I'm so sorry! I'm a little clumsy at times. As you heard, my name is Hallie. It's nice to milk you! I mean, it's nice to milk me; You; it's nice to meet you! I'll be taking your orders today!" she stuttered. For some reason, Devin noticed two small wet spots at the top of her apron. He looked at the milk he was holding, then saw her looking intently at him, he guessed maybe waiting for his opinion. He took a sip. "Is this your milk!" queried Devin. With a hint of shyness, she returned, "Yes, it is! Ho; how is it?" "It's delicious. Refreshing with a hint of sweetness." She relaxed. "I'm glad. Normally, momma provides it, but since I'm her brand new hire, it frees her's up to use in baking." "Can I have some more?" inquired Azalea after downing the rest of hers. "Um, I might have a little more left. I only just recently received my milkmaid license, so I don't produce very much yet. I can make just enough for about four glasses." Azalea held out her glass. "Oh, so are we! I mean, we will be lactating soon, too!" Azalea rubbed her lower belly. "I gave Reina and I the lactation crest, but Life-mate needs to hurry up so he can help me fuel Reina's." "I'm making progress. In the meantime, we still have to get your citizen IDs and guild cards before we get your licenses. Maybe, if we have time after we eat, we can get the ball rolling," added Devin. "Ok, but I'm waiting to activate mine since I want to experience it together with Reina." "How delightful," said Sanna returning with menus and passing them around. "Hallie doesn't have any affinity, so we had to induce her the normal way. She was so eager, she massaged her boobs every day till the first drops started to appear." "Saaaaanaaa, don't tell them that! It's embarrassing!" the bunny girl cried. Sanna laughed. "You lucky folk are the first customers to try her milk, so enjoy." Sanna returned to the kitchen, leaving Hallie to her job. Hallie pulled her apron to the side and took Azalea's glass. Lightly milking her breast downward, she squeezed the soft, pink nipples, sending spurts of milk into the empty container. After milking both breasts, she handed a three-fourths full glass back. "I'm sorry. That's all I have left." "No, no! Thank you for letting me enjoy it." Azalea's wings fluttered happily as she drank. Hallie recovered her breasts and played with her hair nervously. "So c; can I get you to eat me? I mean, what can I get you to eat?" Devin hid his smile behind the menu. "What sounds good to you, girls?" Reina ran her finger down the page. "Soup or stew might be nice since it's cold. I'll probably go with this garden vegetable stew with sourdough bread." "Agreed. This summer squash soup with rye bread sounds appetizing to me," mused Devin. "I like sweet things, so maybe I'll try this sweet potato soup," Azalea added, setting the menu down. Chitchat perused the listed dishes. "I've never had food this fancy before." "Might I recommend the melted satyress cheese sandwich and potato leek soup?" Hallie suggested. "Alright! I'll try that, I guess." The bunny waitress took the menus and left to fulfill their orders. Chitchat remained mostly silent, only half-listening to the other three chatter away about their day. She brooded more on why she was not herself today. Stupid rat! You missed a prime opportunity earlier. You just had to let these people and their stupid kindness make you feel guilty, As she took a sip of Hallie's milk, she admitted that if she had done what she had planned, she wouldn't have been able to experience the amazing food she could smell from the kitchen. The smell intensified as Hallie returned with their orders. She placed the bowls in front of their respective hungry customers, bowed, and returned to the kitchen. Chitchat picked up her spoon and took a bite. The fare, albeit simple to her, was some of the best she'd ever had. She felt her chest tighten with emotion. Reina looked at her fairy friend. "Looks like you got a complimentary side salad, Azalea. If it's too much, eat what you can, and I'll finish the rest." "I should be able to finish it, but I'm not happy about it. Mom used to always get on me about eating vegetables and table manners: 'Azalea make sure you eat everything on your plate; stop letting your wings droop; don't slouch; stop masturbating at the table." "At least now you have another reason to eat your vegetables! You want to have a healthy body to produce as much milk of the highest quality as you can." "I know, I know, but they are so bitter." "Looks like they also added some pine nuts as well," Reina attempted to soothe. "Not the kind I like. Life-mate has the only kind of nut I really like." She turned up her nose while taking a bite. "But Herd-mate's tastes bitter too. What's the difference?" "Completely different!" she asserted. "This is plenty bitter. His is warm and creamy and makes me feel all warm and tingly between my legs." "Well, maybe this will distract you a bit from the taste." Devin laid out the things he had bought from Antoris on the table. Azalea jumped up. "Present time!" He unwrapped the cloth containing the remade jewelry box and pushed it toward her. "I had this made for you so you can hang your clothes, store your drawings, and whatever else you want." "Thank you, Life-mate! I love it, and I love you!" She flew up and kissed him all over his face. "But that's not all! There's another surprise inside." Azalea grabbed the honey-colored box and shook it gently. She heard not one but several things rattling. Upon opening the twin doors, the sweet scent of fresh-cut cedar hit her. She looked up at Devin excitedly, seemingly at a loss for words, and back inside the box. "Well, don't leave us in suspense, Azalea! What's inside?" laughed Reina. Azalea pulled out many phallic-shaped dildos, from small fairy size up to Devin's size. "I think these will help stretch you out over time," Devin concluded. "I can't wait to try them! But I suppose I'll have to wait till after we go out tonight! Thank you again, Life-mate. Your little soon-to-be-cock-sleeve couldn't be happier!" "You're welcome, but make sure you do it slowly. Remember how painful it was the first time we tried." "I will." Turning his attention to Reina, Devin confessed, " I'm sorry, but your gift will take a bit more time. It's going to be part of the wagon, and he didn't have enough material. Also, it was quite big and would have been awkward to carry around." "It's alright, Herd-mate. I will look forward to it with growing anticipation." "And lastly, Chitchat, I had a little something made for you. Consider it a small bonus for taking care of my girls, especially the handful one." "Hey, I resemble that remark!" Azalea quipped. Chitchat looked hard at the cloth-covered object. She put her spoon down and unwrapped a wooden dagger sheath, intricately wrought with engravings of a line of dancing rats. "T; thank you," she said, barely above a whisper. Sanna and Hallie returned. "Each of your dishes comes with a dessert." They passed four plates out. In front of Azalea, she placed an impressively elaborate, womb-shaped gingerbread structure filled with a white pudding. Reina was given a plate of four different cookies, each shaped like a different demi-human penis', topped with cream. Devin received a small tart layered with peach slices, shaped like a human cunt, topped with a cherry and fresh cream at the bottom. Lastly, Sanna smiled as she placed two round, jiggly puddings with a cherry placed in the middle in front of Chitchat. The ratgirl took a bite. As the mellow, sweet, fruity flavor spread over her taste buds, a lump formed in her throat. She looked down at the dagger case again, then at her new coat, and finally at the trio animatedly voicing their positive opinions to Sanna. "Chitchat? What's wrong?" Azalea asked, suddenly concerned. "What?" "You're crying." She put a hand to her wet cheek. "I, " She wiped the tears away. "I just, " The more she tried to dry her eyes, though, the more the tears fell. "I'm sorry!" she suddenly blurted out and broke down crying. Azalea zipped over and tried to give her a consoling hug. "Sorry for what?" "For deceiving you!" Everyone looked at her, startled and puzzled. "I'm not really a guide. I'm a thief and pickpocket. I only took this guide job because I thought I could get paid on top of stealing that bag of money you were carrying with you." She paused and bawled. "But; but you were so nice to me. You didn't look down on me like dirty street vermin, and then you started giving me presents and calling me a friend and; and; I'm sorry!" She put her face in her hands, weeping. Everyone looked uncertain about what to do with this revelation. Everyone except Sanna. She stood up to her full height, grabbed the little ratgirl right out of her seat, along with Azalea, and embraced her in a full bear hug. Azalea continued to rub and pat Chitchat's head. "You didn't in the end, and no one got hurt. I still consider you my new friend!" Chitchat sniffled, calming down a little. "You're too trusting." "Maybe so, but I'd rather be wrong in the attempt than not be trusting." "I've raised two girls who got into all sorts of mischief and trouble. While there may have been consequences, I don't believe it's ever too late to change for the better," added Sanna. "Yes, yes! You can start over as the adorable girl who went along with all my selfish requests today!" Sanna put down the puffy-eyed ratgirl. Hallie lent the edge of her apron to dry her tears. "Today was kinda fun," she sniffled. "But I'm still not so sure about the friendship plugs." Several eyebrows raised while Azalea laughed. Devin eyed the girl. "I am glad to see my instincts are still sharp since I thought something was off about you." At that, Chitchat hung her head. "But coming clean about your intentions makes me want to give you a second chance." Devin handed her the other half of the guiding payment and placed the knife sheath in her hands to reaffirm his words, "So you don't cut a hole in your new clothes." She gave a little smile and looked toward Reina. "Well, you haven't done me any harm, and I feel no ill will. I thank you for your guidance during our shopping today." "Um, I should probably tell you something else. My real name is Suvi." Azalea crawled between her ears and hung down over her face. "Chitchat was cute, but Suvi fits you more!" She glanced to Devin. "I still feel bad for Suvi's situation. Can we raise her standard of living somehow?" "Maybe this Whitegold place is needing another employee?" "Whitegold, eh? I'm quite sure she'll be able to find a job there," stated Sanna. Suvi put her knife in the sheath and pocketed her payment. "How can you be sure?" "I know the owner, and should it not work out for some reason or another, you would be most welcome to help Hallie prep my kitchen in the morning. I don't know how many bowls of flour she's broken." "It was only five," demurred a fidgeting Hallie. "Five too many!" Sanna laughed. "I won't be able to provide a place to sleep, though, like Whitegold could." "What kind of place is this Whitegold." "It's a place that server food and drinks. The employees there are all girls and are well taken care of." "If I worked here, would I have to wear only an apron, too?" questioned Suvi. "Not if you don't want to, but before Hallie's ass-flashing loses its novelty, our customers might enjoy seeing a new one. But I would encourage you to try Whitegold first. I think you'll enjoy the perks there more." Once everyone had finished eating, they all thanked Sanna and Hallie and filed out. Sanna called out a "see you again!" from the door. Just a block from the bakery, Devin suggested, "I think we have enough time to stop by the admin office and get you girls your guild cards." "You said it'd be as pretty as yours, right?" asked Azalea. "Yes. They are costly but worth it in the long run." "Let's do it!" With Devin leading the way this time, they walked briskly toward the middle of the city. Abruptly, he slowed and asked: "So what was that about friendship plugs?" "Oh, that! Well, now would be a great time to show you. Let's go over there." Azalea led them down an empty side alley. "I suppose I have to show mine as well." "Pleeease, Suvi!" Azalea begged. "Fine," she sighed, turning around. Reina and Azalea followed suit. She pointed at Devin with her tail and shared, "Consider this a thank you for forgiving me." Azalea called out. "Ready? One, two, three!" All three girls pulled their coats up over their asses. Suvi pushed her belts aside while Azalea spread her cheeks wide. Devin looked at the three citrine-gemmed plugged holes. "You three got matching sex toys?" "Not just matching, they are a physical manifestation of our friendship!" Azalea chirped. "An odd way to express it, but ok." "She's way too proud of them!" complained Suvi. "Can I stop now?" "Not yet! There is a special feature Eitri told me about." "Special?" Suvi hesitated. "Feature?" swallowed Reina. "Yep!" Azalea touched a finger to the gem in her own till she felt a click. She did the same to Suvi's and Reina's and then placed both hands on their hips. Both girls jumped as the plugs buzzed to life. Suvi tensed. "What is this feature!?!" "Eitri said when you turn it on, as long as you stay within physical contact, it vibrates! Two or more friends could all hold hands, mutually basking in the emotional and physical manifestation of their friendship. Doesn't it feel amazing!" "It's surprisingly strong," noted Reina. "Too strong!" squeaked Suvi. "I wonder if I touch you in different places if it changes the intensity?" Azalea traced her fingers down Suvi's ass and circled around until she touched her plug directly. Suvi's legs buckled. "I'm not sure I'm ready to start out with this level of friendship!" Azalea took her hand away. Suvi was red-faced and breathing heavily. "Thanks to you, I'm all horny and wet now." "I'm an expert at fixing that. May I help you cum?" Suvi regarded Reina and Devin. "I'm not sure I can with an audience, but you've already seen every part of me, so I guess I'll try." "I'll help make it a bit more discreet." Reina relocated so she faced the street and blocked the view from there. "Ready, my cute little rat?" Suvi, still squatting, spread her knees. Azalea re-positioned herself behind, admiring her swollen, red cunt. Azalea placed her tiny hands on the slick folds. Immediately, the vibrations returned. They were still focused around her anus, but with Azalea's ministrations, pleasure was steadily building throughout her body. "Azalea, don't get your new clothes wet," Devin warned. "Oh yes, I forgot. You're not a squirter, are you, Suvi?" Her eyelids fluttered open, and she began panting. "A what?" "Do you squirt when you cum?" "No, but this is more intense than anything I've ever felt!" "Well, just in case, I'll stand beside you." She moved to the side of Suvi's bottom. She rolled up her sleeve and busily started working her hand into the entrance of Suvi's vagina. From that angle, she could still push her small arm up into the tight, velvety insides. With her free hand, she pushed and prodded Suvi's plug, slightly changing its angle and depth. "I; I'm close," Suvi moaned. "I can see that. Let me hear your cute cries!" Suvi felt herself peak. Her body contracted as the first dry orgasm washed over her, but the second had loosened her bladder. During the third wave, she squirted a little. The post-orgasmic relaxation left her forgetful of her surroundings, trembling, and unable to control herself. She fell back against Devin's leg and emptied the rest of her bladder as Azalea backed away, licking the juices off her hand. As Suvi came back to her senses, she saw Azalea nodding her approval. Devin handed her a handkerchief, and she suddenly became self-conscious, quickly wiping herself dry and hesitantly handing it back. She re-dressed in silence. "Post-lunch orgasms are the best!" Azalea stated. "Did you have one?" asked Reina. "No, I wanted to make sure Suvi got the best one she ever had." "It was certainly that," the ratgirl acknowledged. "I can do it to you again whenever you want." "One, I think, is more than enough." With Azalea and Reina continuing to enjoy their new toy, Suvi made an effort to ensure she didn't accidentally bump into the large Whitehorn. Once the ladies were sated, they cleaned up, redressed, and continued on their journey with Devin in the lead. Upon reaching the center of town, they crossed an expansive arched bridge to the central council building. "Never been here before," Suvi confessed, looking up at the high-vaulted ceiling inside the reception room. After waiting in line, they approached the receptionist, to who they explained their purpose. She brought the appropriate forms and explained, "This one's your citizen ID. It's mainly to let the bureaucracy know that you are a family." Azalea whispered in Devin's ear on her way to an open spot on the counter. He answered for them all to hear, "If you two girls could fill out these Guild entry forms, I'll help fill out Suvi's." "Which is this?" Azalea held up the paper and squinted. "Is this my Guild entry? Why do I need it again?" "Well, you technically don't, but if you are going to work in any official capacity, it gives you some weight behind you as a potential employee. You also get discounts and perks depending on what rank you're in. Sapphire: 5% discount; Emerald: 10%; Amethyst: 15%; Ruby: 20%; and Diamond: 25%. Amethyst and up gives you access to certain guild functions, parties, festival events, etc., to network and make connections. Since you girls are new, you'll start in Sapphire." "Good enough for me." After she finished filling out all the blanks and signing her name, she handed it to the receptionist. With all the paperwork filled out, the secretary looked it over approvingly. "Everything looks in order. Since your ID and guild cards are two sides of the same badge, it'll take time to craft them, and they should be ready in a few days, but here is a rough idea what it'll entail." With that, she showed them sample cards she had prepared. Reina D. Ebonplume Weight: 500 Lbs | Height: 8.5 Feet Birth date: Autumn 34, 3608 Year of the Dryad Citizen of Iceford Merchant Guild Member Sapphire Rank Milkmaid ---------------------- Azalea Ebonplume Weight: 150g | Height: 7 Inches Birth date: Spring 15, 3605 Citizen of Iceford Merchant Guild Member Sapphire Rank Milkmaid ---------------------- Suvi Norvetica Weight: 70 Ibs | Height: 4' 7" Birth date: Summer 2, 3596 Year of the Dryad Citizen of Iceford ------- The sun was setting when they returned to Jeni's. At some point before they returned home, someone had left the girls' new clothes with her. They found the little owl abuzz in her typically mechanical way, examining the girls' new clothes and catching snippets of their adventures throughout the day. She was a little shy of Suvi at first, but her charisma soon disarmed any hesitancy the little owl felt. "Young patron and friends, are you leaving this one again tonight?" "Yes. We have a business meeting to go to." Her wings drooped. Azalea, striking upon an idea. "Life-mate, can Jeni go with us?" "I don't see why not." Jeni perked up. "I do not know what purpose my presence would be, seeing as I know nothing about economics. Wouldn't my presence be a hindrance?" "The girls also have no reason to go, but it's a chance to get out of your workshop and spend time with everyone." "This one did not go clothing shopping with the others." "Do you have any formal clothes?" Jeni thought for a moment. "My graduation robes from the academy." "That should be fine. Perfect, and since Life-mate already gave us our presents, it's time for us to show him his!" All four disappeared into the back room to get changed, leaving Devin alone. "Guess I should get changed, too." He found an empty corner and dug out his outfit reserved for guild functions with the more well-to-do business owners. A high-collared lace vest, a long sash tied around his waist, and pants tucked into high boots completed the ensemble. As he changed, he played back the events of the day, occasionally hearing a giggle and the murmur of chatter from the adjacent room. The girls' door opened just as he finished buckling a cape over his left shoulder. Azalea came in first, pretending not to notice him. Her hair was unbraided and done up in a bun, held together by a butterfly hairpin. She fluttered around, exaggerating the flow of her one-piece, white and violet kirtle. She acted surprised to see him, coyly coming close, then she crossed her arms, exemplifying the upside-down 'A' cutout showing a generous amount of under-cleavage. While it covered more of her body than her flower dress, it was opaque enough to see an undergown. The undergown was embroidered with crocus, snowdrops, leucojum, and other winter flowers tactically placed to hide the parts of her normally kept private while, at the same time, drawing the eye to those tantalizingly censored parts. "Here we are -- your two presents, Life-mate!" Reina entered right behind. Her demure movements were further dignified by her gown of arachne satin dyed midnight blue and interspersed with snowflakes matching the silver filigree on her horns. A lacy choker set with a sapphire-encrusted brooch of a snow-covered mountain peak, an heirloom of the matriarchs of her family, was clasped about her neck. Devin's eyes wandered down over Reina's womanly figure. A black bodice laced with ribbon hugged her torso, making her already large breasts spill over slightly. She strode to the middle of the room, making the glossy material ripple and giving the illusion of falling snow. With long white gloves, she played with the end of her hair which was done up in a braided ponytail and draped over her shoulder. Whoever the seamstress had been, Devin approved of their taste. Reina's lips curled slightly upon seeing Devin's engrossed assessment of her. Azalea landed on her composed friend's antlers and whispered into her ear. "Must we ruin the moment?" "You mean enhance! Ready, Reina? Aaaaand, go!" Both girls attempted a seductive pose. Devin tried to stifle his laughter but failed. "See? I told you Herd-mate would find this silly." "But it was fun." "Silly or not, you both are lovely, and I love you very much." He pulled them both into an embrace and kissed each of them. "I wanted Suvi to do it with us, Life-mate, but I couldn't persuade her." Suvi poked her head out the door. "I have to draw the line somewhere." "Come on out and show everyone," Azalea summoned. Stepping out from behind the door, she raised her arms and looked over the simple red wool tunic with soft leather-laced jerkin. It was decorous, so it maintained her tomboyish appearance. "It's quite easy to move in it." She tightened the belt around her waist and adjusted her twin tails. "I guess that leaves one more," Devin noted. "This one is still uncertain if this is appropriate attire for an outing," she complained, but Jeni drew everyone's attention as she entered the room last. She was, in every sense, dressed as an academic. A flat-topped scholar's hat set low over her head with a feathered quill sticking out from the top. An open-front, hoodless cowl, held together with two gold chains, laid on top of a heavy, pine green, sleeveless robe. Four polished, inkwell-shaped brass buttons decked the robe which hung to her ankles. She flapped her wings experimentally. Devin reached for her hat. "If you leave this, I think it'll be fine." "Jeni is so smart looking!" praised Azalea. "I'm so glad you're coming with us!" "We were supposed to wait for someone to escort us, yes?" reminded Reina. Devin smoothed down Jeni's feathers. "Around eight, if I recall." As if on cue, they heard a knock at the door. Devin rose and opened it. In the lantern glow of the front porch stood a slim-tailed weasel woman. She wore masculine, form-fitting breeches and a ruffled white shirt. Looking over the merchant with beady black eyes, she bowed and introduced herself. "My name is Sable, Stewardess of Whitegold." She pulled out a monocle and looked them over. "Mr. Ebonplume and guests, I presume?" "Yes, that is us," he declared. "Very good. I am here to escort you to a meeting at our establishment tonight." Devin looked over his shoulder. "We are ready." Sable held open the door to a sleek, white and gold gilded, enclosed coach. Jeni and Suvi hopped in along with Azalea. Devin turned apologetically to Reina. "I'm sorry, Reina." "It's alright, Herd-made. I am not fond of enclosed spaces, and a brief walk will feel refreshing." Sable closed the door as soon as Devin stepped in and climbed into the driver's seat. With a flick of the reins, they set off into the night. To be continued in part 10, by Scholarly Mori for Literotica.

Scriptures: Revelation 3:1-6, Colossians 2:6, John 1:12, Ephesians 1:13-14. Be sure to check our Digital Bulletin often to keep updated on our announcements, events and more! https://koldodi.updates.church/?fbclid=IwAR2SzjT96MW2vACmNdw6V4uIcvNVMZ9rDfMV2CJUY2dxMYzDL9o-I9OK-bo

Cornerstone Community Church, Lynchburg VA

Well, the day has come — our very last sermon in the book of Hebrews. Our text this morning is this incredible book's conclusion. But don't let that word fool you — it's not a conclusion like the kind we may be accustomed to — one that simply restates all the main points we've already covered. No, but here at the letter's end our author is yet pushing us onward — further into the margins of our care for one another, and deeper into the realities of the God whom we worship. Of the three main points of this sermon, the first will correspond to the former, our care for one another, points two and three with the latter, the deep realities of our God. Here's the three points: Our Prayer, God's Power, Jesus' Unique Glory. Before we go any further, let's pray and ask God for his help. 1) Pray For UsFirst point, prayer. Our text opens with the entreaty, v. 18 “Pray for us.” And I think one litmus test for us, this morning, of how deep the realities of Hebrews have permeated our souls, is how we react to those three words – “pray for us.” As One Near GodFor example, when you hear “Pray for us,” you may think, “Why pray, I mean, would the God of the universe even hear me? I'm no writer to the Hebrews. I'm no apostle Paul. I'm just a standard issue, run-of-the-mill Christian.” Hebrews would reply, “Brother, sister, if you're a Christian, then how could God not hear you when you pray?”Recall how Hebrews has labored to show that to be a Christian is to be one who is intensely near to God.One who recognizes that there's “a better hope (that's been) introduced, through which we draw near to God.” (7:19)As one who believes that “(Jesus) is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him.” (7:25)One who has, “confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,” (10:19-20)One who, because you have a “great priest over the house of God, should “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” (10:21-22).One who “with confidence (can) draw near to the throne of grace, (to) receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).Do you pray as one dialing up a long-distance phone call? Do you pray as one wishfully-thinking – perhaps God will hear me, eventually. If you're a Christian, you live all your days – morning, noon, night, at work, at home, good times, bad times, before the face of God. So when we hear the writer's request to, “Pray for us,” we should think, “Of course he's asking us to pray for him, we're Christians — when we pray, we pray with God in the room. How could he not hear us?” As one dedicated to othersYou may read, “Pray for us” and think, “Why pray, it's not like it's my responsibility.” Hebrews would say, “Actually, brothers and sisters, one another's spiritual good is our responsibility.” No, not responsibility in the sense of control – we can't manage or manufacture another's spiritual good. But it is our responsibility to work toward, put effort toward, our brothers and sisters spiritual good. Hence the exhortations,“Exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” (3:13) and “Stir one another up to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together,” (10:24) and “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God” (12:15) and now, “pray for us.” This is no mere preface to the paragraph for us to gloss over, but a real, live call to action to work and labor for the good of your brothers and sisters in the faith through prayer. There's two more possibilities.As ChristlikeYou may read, “Pray for us” and think, “Why pray, isn't that a bit too menial of a task? Too simple? Like, ‘Give me something that takes a bit more skill and knowledge, not this little stuff like prayer.'” Hebrews would say, “Have you missed my description of what Jesus, your Great High Priest, has been doing for the sake of his people, for the past 2,000 years?” “(Jesus) is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25) Jesus prays for his people. In fact, that is what he is doing for you and me, before his Father, right in this very moment. The author to the Hebrews — and this should shock us — in saying, “pray for us” invites us to join Jesus in his prayer ministry — praying with the same names on our lips that are also on his.As those who believe it does somethingLastly, You may think, “Why pray, it's not like it's actually going to change anything.” Hebrews would say, verse 19 of today's text, “I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.” Hear the urgency in those words, “I urge you the more earnestly to do this?” Like, “I'm really asking you to do this, it's really important, I'm expecting it of you.He's so after their prayer, in fact, that he even gives them personal testimony, v. 18, “For we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things” lest any doubt about their motives arise and cause them not to pray. That'd be quite the ridiculous ask if prayer changed nothing.He goes further, “I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you sooner.” See that. Sooner. Like, “Listen, my current location will change, and the time of my arrival will change, and things will move into motion, events will fall like dominoes — I'll be restored to you, sooner, if you pray.” Implication: if you don't pray, well then, I might not. Interestingly, it seems he is, after all, confident that these Hebrews will respond in prayer. Look at the hint in verse 23, “You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon.” In other words, “Since I know that through their prayers I will be restored to them sooner, then Timothy better hurry up, because I'm taking off here, shortly.” He'll come with me, but only if he gets here soon. First point, Pray. Now, second, God's power.2) God's PowerHebrews follows his exhortation to his readers to pray for him more earnestly with his own prayer, in the form of a benediction, for them (verses 20-21). And very prominent in his benediction — certainly anchoring and supporting his prayer — is the unparalleled power of God.Now, God's power has already been implied. In verse 19, note the passive language — not “I'll go to you sooner” but “I will be restored to you sooner.” It's not him that's going to do the restoring, but God.God's power will be called upon in v. 21, It is God who “will equip them with everything good, and work in them that which is pleasing.”But nowhere is God's power more plainly evident than in verse 20, God's raising of Jesus from the dead. Interestingly, the wording here doesn't seem to emphasize the new life to which Jesus was raised to, but rather on the death he was taken out from. “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus.” Death, and the fact that the same Jesus who went into it, God brought out from it, that's what's in view. In order to grasp just how that bringing out of death shows us about God's power, we need to begin by asking, “What is death in the first place?” Well, Death is the pitiless wall between man and every one of God's promises. Death is the dividing line between man and everlasting joy, peace, and life. Death is the chasm of darkness that swallows sinners whole. Death is the final ticking of the clock, the “game over” moment, the snuffing out of ones hope, happiness, and wholeness. Death is the thing that all of us naturally fear. Because Death is the thing that we are all born into. And Death is the thing that we all deserve. Even more, Death, if it were to be the end for Christians, would render our preaching vain, and our faith vain, and prove we are still hopelessly lost in our sins, and of all people most to be pitied.As it is, we're not hopelessly lost in our sin, and death doesn't render our faith in vain, because Jesus, has been: “crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” (Heb. 2:9) Jesus, through death, destroyed the one who had the power of death, that is, the devil, (Heb. 2:14). And Jesus “has delivered all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Heb. 2:15). For the Christian, that death is dead and buried. That Death has breathed its last. That “Death has swallowed up in victory, and been robbed of it's sting” because it was in Jesus' death, (Col. 2:14), that God canceled our record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands, nailing them to the cross.And it was in Jesus' death that God disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him (Col. 2:15).And the proof of all this – our own freedom and victory over the death which had us so enslaved and shackled in its grasp – is in a Messiah who breathes – 3 days following his own death. Hebrews, aiming throughout this letter to instill in his brothers and sisters a confidence in God – confidence that God can keep his promises, keep his people, equip them with all they need, work in them that which he pleases, and both hear and answer their prayers – says, “Allow me to remind you who bound the hands of the greatest enemy the world has ever known!”How powerful is God? Powerful enough to conquer the grave. More than that, conquer the grave for the good of his people. It think it's fair to say we don't often associate power with peace, do we? We associate power with destruction. Power with violence. Power, when we hear about it on the news or see it in the papers, is not usually, to us, a good thing.But our God, verse 20, is the “God of peace” because he puts his power to work for the good of his people — to bring them peace with him, and downstream from that peace, a growing peace with self, with others, with the world, leading on into the final peace, final rest, heaven.Col. 1:20, “God, through Jesus, reconciled to himself all things making peace by the blood of his cross.” For that reason we call it, Eph. 6:15, “the gospel of peace.”Do you believe that?Do you believe that God puts his power to work for you? That you're not running on your own strength in this Christian life? It's not all up to you? But that it is instead the God who conquered the grave who equips you with everything good that you may do his will (verse 21)? Just look at that verse: It's his power that is without limit (equipping you), and it is his will – the very thing he wants, the very thing he desires – that he's equipping you for (verse 21). It's what he finds pleasing that he's moving you toward. And if the grave could not stop him, why would something as simple as equipping you for the very things that he desires for you to be and do this side of glory? Brother, will he require a vacation in a season where you most need him near?Sister, will he suffer exhaustion and need rest when you most need his strength?Church, will there ever come a day when you go to him and say, “Lord, I need more faith, I need more hope, I need more strength, I need more love,” and him say, “Look, you asked me for these things last week, and I gave them to you, but I'm off today, you'll need to wait a bit till I revive?”We might feel that way when others ask things of us. God does not. His power never waivers, just ask the grave.So pray. Pray in light of God's power, and run the Christian life in light of God's power. Final point, marvel at the unique glory of Jesus. 3) Jesus' Unique GloryTurn to the description of Jesus we get here, starting halfway through verse 20, “Our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep.” It's a description not many of us would expect to come at the tail end of this letter. “Our Lord Jesus, The Great High Priest” – that's what we'd expect, not “Our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep.” It's imagery that shifts the focus a bit in a surprising way. I mean for so much of this book we've been dialed in on the Temple – the priests and sacrifices there – but “shepherd of the sheep” bumps the lens. Zooms it out past the Temple to the rolling hills and pastureland beyond it – focusing in there, as it were, on a group of sheep, traveling together: not wandering about and changing direction, but moving forward; not headed toward arid ground but luscious field; not walking in crippling fear, but contented peace. They're sheep, not known for consensus, nor intelligence, nor bravery, – yet, they seem to have all. Why? Because, as we see most clearly though this lens, they have a great shepherd. Beautiful, but what's the connection to Hebrews?Why the transition from Jesus as Great High Priest to Jesus as Great Shepherd, especially here at the very tale end of the letter? Well, consider two of the major themes of this book. Jesus as the Great High Priest, who's offered the better sacrifice, and has now sat down on the throne beside his father. And, Jesus' people bound for the better country, the city with foundations, and their need to keep moving onward, toward it. The first, Jesus as Priest, happens at a very fixed-point on the map, so to speak – the true Temple in heaven. The second, the journey of Jesus' people, does not happen at a fixed point on the map. It moves as the people progress toward glory. I think Hebrews leaves us with the image of Jesus as the Great Shepherd, so as to say, “Jesus is the Great High Priest, who's finished his work on behalf of his people and sat down on the throne, he is. And he is also, the Great Shepherd who now continues to lead his people onward, as they travel toward that very throne.” He's not in other words, the kind of priest that says from his throne, “My work is finished, I'll see you when you get here,” but a priest who completes his Temple work, and also grabs his shepherds crook, saying, “now, follow me through the wilderness as I lead you there.” The book ends with God's people bound for glory.As God's people travel on, they look to their shepherd – eyes fixed on Jesus. As they look to him, what do they see?In the BloodOne final point here: See there's that little phrase at the very end of verse 20, “By the blood of the eternal covenant.” Where does that connect to? Are we to read, “by the blood” as referring to how the God of peace brought back Jesus from the dead? Like, “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant?” — The blood being the means by which God brought back Jesus from the dead? That's what many suggest, but to be honest, that seems a bit strange to me.After all, throughout this book, the point of Jesus' blood – overwhelmingly – has been that it is for his people. He bleeds for his people. That's who the blood is for. In fact, Hebrews notes this as an area of contrast between Jesus, and the high priests in Jerusalem, saying, “the high priest goes into the Most Holy Place but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people” (Heb. 9:7). It's a point of contrast – Jesus' blood not being for himself, but purely for the sins of his people. A second suggestion is to read it as, “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by virtue of the blood of the eternal covenant.” So Jesus became the Great Shepherd by virtue of the fact that he shed his blood. Makes more sense— after all he is the shepherd who lays down his life, bleeds, for the sheep. But could there be more? Could Hebrews, at the end of this letter which has been so riveted upon the glories of Jesus, be doing something other than noting the mechanics either of Jesus' resurrection, or of how Jesus became the Great Shepherd?Here's what I want to suggest to you is the final image of Jesus that we get at the close of this book. I was greatly helped by Pastor David Mathis in working through this. He noted that the literal rendering of this passage in Greek would read, “May the God of peace who brought up from the dead the shepherd of the sheep, the great one in the blood of the eternal covenant, the Lord of us, Jesus.” Hear that? The “great one in the blood of the eternal covenant.” I don't think the focus here is on the mechanics of Jesus' resurrection or his becoming shepherd — But is instead on the glory of Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, who as his sheep (scared, tired, discouraged as they can be at times) lift their eyes up to him, see him adorned in the blood of the eternal covenant — venerated by it, celebrated by it, glorified by it. They see adorned in the blood of victory, not of defeat. Cloaked in the symbol of battle won, not lost. Arrayed in the proof of power possessed, authority shown, and glory made clear. His blood adorning him in awesome splendor. The great one in the blood which dismantled death, defeated Satan, and paid for our sins in full – that is who they see.What an encouraging reminder for the sheep to look up and see the blood by which their very souls were bought. What a cause for them to bow once more before their Great Shepherd. And what an image, what a picture, to leave us with at the close of such a glorious letter.As the hymn goes, “crown him the Lord of love! Behold his hands and side - Rich wounds, yet visible above, In beauty glorified.” To the TableJesus' blood is what now brings us to the table. Here, we bask in the presence of our great shepherd and receive from his hand — a meal which anticipates a better meal, which he is bringing us to. It's a meal that celebrates Jesus – his blood spilled in death, the death that dismantled the grave. And so if you recognize this blood as a symbol of Jesus' victory and the means by which you have been reconciled to God, we invite you to eat and drink with us.

November 5, 2023 Daily Devotion from Lutheran Hour Ministries

MelchizedekGenesis • July 2, 2023Teacher: Dave Brown--Genesis 12:1-3 NIVThe Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”Genesis 14:18-20 NIVThen Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.Psalm 110:1-4 NIVThe Lord says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of your enemies!” Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning's womb. The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”Hebrews 7:11-28 NIVIf perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life.  Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant. Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.1. Jesus is Our King2. Jesus is Our Priest3. God is Faithful

Rev. Andy Wright, pastor at St. John's Lutheran Church in Topeka, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 7:9-17. After hearing the number of those sealed, John sees their host is innumerable. Though they come from every nation and language, they are all clothed in white robes and holding palm branches of Jesus' victorious suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension. Their song of praise sounds forth along with the whole heavenly host, declaring the salvation that God has won. One of the elders asks John about this white-robed crowd, and he answers his own question. Their robes have been made spotless by the blood of the Lamb, who has brought them out of the great tribulation into eternal life. In this eternal life, sin and its effects are all banished, for the Lamb of God is the Good Shepherd who has sheltered His people by laying down His life and taking it back up again. “Come Lord Jesus!” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Revelation given to St. John. Although some look at Revelation with fear, it is a book of supreme hope in our crucified, risen, and ascended Lord. The book of Revelation gives a heavenly perspective on our earthly circumstances so that the Church in every generation is challenged, comforted, and assured of final victory through Jesus Christ.

Join filmmaker Nathan Blackwell (Voyage Trekkers, The Last Movie Ever Made) and improv comedian Krissy Lenz (The Neighborhood Comedy Theatre, The Cool Time Dice Hour) for a smashing, crashing good time looking back at this action packed 80s movie.Letterboxd says, "WHEN ALL THAT'S LEFT IS ONE LAST CHANCE, PRAY THAT HE'S STILL OUT THERE … SOMEWHERE!Max Rockatansky returns as the heroic loner who drives the dusty roads of a postapocalyptic Australian Outback in an unending search for gasoline. Arrayed against him and the other scraggly defendants of a fuel-depot encampment are the bizarre warriors commanded by the charismatic Lord Humungus, a violent leader whose scruples are as barren as the surrounding landscape."Get the recap, the review, the ratings and the Deep Cut Recommendations! PLUS, Members will get to hear Krissy and Nathan stumble through the 1981 and 1982 top box office hits! 

Psalm 110 Of David. A psalm. The Lord says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand     until I make your enemies     a footstool for your feet.” The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying,     “Rule in the midst of your enemies!” Your troops will be willing     on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor,     your young men will come to you     like dew from the morning's womb. The Lord has sworn     and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever,     in the order of Melchizedek.” The Lord is at your right hand;     he will crush kings on the day of his wrath. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead     and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. He will drink from a brook along the way,     and so he will lift his head high.

Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2023.03.22.533709v1?rss=1 Authors: Tsuchida, C. A., Brandes, N., Bueno, R., Trinidad, M., Mazumder, T., Yu, B., Hwang, B., Chang, C., Liu, J., Sun, Y., Hopkins, C. R., Parker, K. R., Qi, Y., Satpathy, A., Stadtmauer, E., Cate, J. H. D., Eyquem, J., Fraietta, J. A., June, C. H., Chang, H. Y., Ye, C. J., Doudna, J. A. Abstract: CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing has enabled advanced T cell therapies, but occasional loss of the targeted chromosome remains a safety concern. To investigate whether Cas9-induced chromosome loss is a universal phenomenon and evaluate its clinical significance, we conducted a systematic analysis in primary human T cells. Arrayed and pooled CRISPR screens revealed that chromosome loss was generalizable across the genome and resulted in partial and entire loss of the chromosome, including in pre-clinical chimeric antigen receptor T cells. T cells with chromosome loss persisted for weeks in culture, implying the potential to interfere with clinical use. A modified cell manufacturing process, employed in our first-in-human clinical trial of Cas9-engineered T cells,1 dramatically reduced chromosome loss while largely preserving genome editing efficacy. Expression of p53 correlated with protection from chromosome loss observed in this protocol, suggesting both a mechanism and strategy for T cell engineering that mitigates this genotoxicity in the clinic. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info Podcast created by Paper Player, LLC

Psalm 110   as read by Noelle   1-3The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies. Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy majesty, from the womb of the dawn you will receive the dew of your youth. 4-7The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. He will drink from a brook beside the way; therefore he will lift up his head. Right mouse click or tap here to save/download this Psalm as a MP3 file

Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2023.03.01.530592v1?rss=1 Authors: Wong, C. H., Wingett, S., Qian, C., Taliaferro, M., Ross-Thriepland, D., Bullock, S. L. Abstract: The cytoplasmic dynein-1 (dynein) motor plays a key role in cellular organisation by transporting a wide variety of cellular constituents towards the minus ends of microtubules. However, relatively little is known about how the biosynthesis, assembly and functional diversity of the motor is orchestrated. To address this issue, we have conducted an arrayed CRISPR loss-of-function screen in human cells using the distribution of dynein-tethered peroxisomes and early endosomes as readouts. From a guide RNA library targeting 18,253 genes, 195 validated hits were recovered and parsed into those impacting multiple dynein cargoes and those whose effects are restricted to a subset of cargoes. Clustering of high-dimensional phenotypic fingerprints generated from multiplexed images revealed co-functional genes involved in many cellular processes, including several candidate novel regulators of core dynein functions. Mechanistic analysis of one of these proteins, the RNA-binding protein SUGP1, provides evidence that it promotes cargo trafficking by sustaining functional expression of the dynein activator LIS1. Our dataset represents a rich source of new hypotheses for investigating microtubule-based transport, as well as several other aspects of cellular organisation that were captured by our high-content imaging. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info Podcast created by Paper Player, LLC

Order of Service: - Prelude - The Confession of Sin (p. 120) - Hymn 540 - Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones - The Versicles (pp. 120-121) - Matthew 9:18-25: While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.” So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples. And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour. When Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. - Choir anthem: The Call Z. Randall Stroope c. 2013 : Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life: Such a Way, as gives us breath: Such a Truth, as ends all strife: Such a Life, as killeth death. Come, my Light, my Feast, my Strength: Such a Light, as shows a feast: Such a Feast, as mends in length: Such a Strength, as makes his guest. Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart: Such a Joy, as none can move: Such a Love, as none can part: Such a Heart, as joys in love. George Herbert, 1593-1633 - Homily - Magnificat Quarti toni: Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life: Such a Way, as gives us breath: Such a Truth, as ends all strife: Such a Life, as killeth death. Come, my Light, my Feast, my Strength: Such a Light, as shows a feast: Such a Feast, as mends in length: Such a Strength, as makes his guest. Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart: Such a Joy, as none can move: Such a Love, as none can part: Such a Heart, as joys in love. - Kyrie, Lord's Prayer - Hymn 584 - Grant Peace, We Pray, in Mercy, Lord - The Collect, Benedicamus & Benediction - Hymn 553 - Behold a Host, Arrayed in White: vv. 1 & 3 - Postlude Service Participants: Chaplain Don Moldstad (Preacher), Rev. Prof. Mark DeGarmeaux (Organist), Prof. Ann Fredrickson (Choir Director), Joel Hermanson (Accompanist), Mary Martha Singers (Choral Group)

Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 8:22-30, 46-63; 2 Corinthians 4:1-18We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. (2 Corinthians 4:8-10)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When Christianity is depicted apart from crosses, it always makes them scarier when Christians find out God actually does give them things they can't handle all the time, despite clinging to a mistranslated verse that doesn't actually say what they think it does.  Because it isn't you who handles all the stuff that's bigger than you. It's Jesus. Christianity is never depicted apart from suffering because our symbol is Christ crucified for us sinners. A God who won't associate with suffering is not a God who exists to be crucified for you. So there will be suffering because Jesus suffers for you to forgive you.  There's still suffering now, too, and it's maddening. On its own, it's soul-destroying. So Paul gives us something to cling to. We carry in our bodies the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in us. We are baptized into Jesus' death. Into Jesus' resurrection. That changes things. The world is bigger than you and full of things you can't handle. But you carry with you the death of Jesus, suffering used for salvation, so the world cannot crush you. You carry in your body the Baptism He gives you, so you cling to the resurrection that gives you hope in the face of questions you can't answer. You are not forsaken, because God is in the suffering with you and for you. So you are already brought through suffering. It cannot destroy you.  The existence of God doesn't preclude the existence of suffering. It confirms it. You have a God who saves through the Cross. That's a God who dives into suffering to save, so He's a God who dives into suffering to carry you through yours, even if it's more than you can handle. This is what it is to remember your Baptism. You are baptized. Make the sign of the cross. Read 2 Corinthians 4:8-10. The life of Jesus that you carry speaks to your pain. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Despised and scorned, they sojourned here; But now, how glorious they appear! Those martyrs stand, A priestly band, God's throne forever near. On earth they wept through bitter years; Now God has wiped away their tears, Transformed their strife To heav'nly life, And freed them from their fears. They now enjoy the Sabbath rest, The heav'nly banquet of the blest; The Lamb, their Lord, At festive board Himself is host and guest. ("Behold a Host, Arrayed in White" LSB 676, st.2)-Rev. Harrison Goodman is content executive for Higher Things.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane BamschStudy Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.

Title: Our Conquering Priest-King Text: Psalm 110 The Lord Jesus Christ: 1. IS SEATED - v. 1 Verse 1 YAHWEH says to my ADONAI: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” God's Right Hand is a symbol of: Power (Psa. 89:13) Protection (Psa. 16:8; 63:8) Presence (Psa. 16:11; 48:10) Salvation (Psa. 60:5; 20:6; 138:7) Victory (Psa. 18:35; Isa. 41:10) Defeat of God's enemies (Exo. 15:6, 12; Psa. 21:8; 74:11) His mighty works (Psa. 45:4; 118:15-16; Isa. 48:13) Judgment (Lam. 2:4) “[God] raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church” (Ephesians 1:20-22) “Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:24-26) 2. WIELDS THE SCEPTER - v.2-4 Verse 2 (NIV) “Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning's womb.” “The Gospel creates new people, who are committed to Christ in every area of their lives. People like these will change the world. They will fill and rule the earth for the glory of Jesus. They will plant churches and establish godly families, and they will also establish hospitals, schools, arts, and sciences. That is what has happened, by God's grace. And that is what will continue to happen until Jesus comes.” (Dr. John M. Frame) What does this mean for us? WE'RE IN WAR-TIME - v. 2b “We are in a war. There is an enemy. That enemy is no gentleman, prepared to play by rules and on a level playing field. When the world around us is relinquished to a supposedly neutral "common kingdom," that enemy will seize control, and in many ways has done so and is increasingly advancing.” (Robert Letham) WE'VE FREELY ENLISTED - v. 3 “what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.” (2 Timothy 2:2-4) WE HAVE SALVATION - v. 4 Our Great High Priest… Can empathize and helps us in temptation (Heb. 2:18) Represents us to God (Heb. 5:1) Enters the Most Holy Place (Heb. 9:24) Makes one sacrificial atonement for sin (Heb. 10:11-14) Brings us close to God (Heb. 10:19-22) Perfects believers (Heb. 10:14) Intercedes for us continually (Heb. 7:24-25) Is a steadfast Anchor for our soul (Heb. 6:20) 3. WILL SHATTER HIS ENEMIES - v. 5-7

The main focus of these hymns in Revelation points us to an eternity of praise to God. And in that space and place we will never grow weary of doing that. The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23). There will be a new cause for praise to God each new morning in heaven. and our focus will be fixed on God. The hymn, Behold a Host Arrayed in White expresses beautifully the joy of singing the praises of the One who is worthy of all blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might forever and ever! Amen!

Sunday morning service from March 27, 2022. Message brought by Pastor Parrish Lee.

Achilles is armed and ready.  The Greeks huddle up and plan.  The blood is about to flow.Arrayed in battle armor, Achilles returns to the stage as Agamemnon and Odysseus plan strategy and prepare for the final clash with the Trojans!

Order of Service: - Prelude - Revelation 7: 13-17: Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” - Hymn 553 - Behold a Host, Arrayed in White: vv. 1 & 2 - Responsory - P Alleluia! Remember: P: Alleluia! Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies for they have been from of old. Alleluia! C: To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul; O my God, I trust in You, let me not be ashamed. All: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, forevermore. Amen. - Devotion - Prayer - Hymn 553 - Behold a Host, Arrayed in White: vv. 3 - Blessing - Postlude Service Participants: Chaplain Don Moldstad (Preacher), Nathan Wildauer (Organist)

Liturgical Date: All Saints' Day Calendar Date: November 7, 2021 Location: Our Savior, Milford, IL Order of Service: Divine Service 1 Hymns: #837, "Lift High the Cross" #932, "Jesus Sat with His Disciples" #601, "All Who Believe and Are Baptized" #673, "Jerusalem, My Happy Home" #676, "Behold, a Host, Arrayed in White" #677, "For All the Saints" #678, "We Sing for All the Unsung Saints" Sermon Theme: Comfort for the Mourning Sermon Text: Matthew 5:4 Other Lectionary Readings: Revelation 7:9-17 Psalm 149 1 John 3:1-3 Matthew 5:1-12

All Saints Day (Observed) 11/7/21 Rev. 7:2–17 Psalm 149 1 John 3:1–3 Matt. 5:1–12 DS 1 672 Jerusalem the Golden 677 For All the Saints Gospel Procession - Cantor 670 Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones 676 Behold a Host, Arrayed in White Gospel Procession: Alleluia and Verse - Meyers Cantor for Verse; Choir - Voluntary: I Sing a Song of the Saints of God

"Behold a Host Arrayed in White" is the hymn that we focus on during this All-Saints Day discussion with Gary Duncan and Pastor Doug Nicely.

My friend, may you purified in the Fire of the Holy Spirit, sanctified by the washing of the water of the word of God in the beauty of holiness of heart and life, praying with greater power and authority by the Spirit of the Lord speaking through you, arrayed in holy majesty for the day of battle, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! Tommy & Rocio Hays | Messiah Ministries Mailing Address: Messiah Ministries 412 S. Adams Street #148 Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 Please share this word to encourage a friend! Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at: https://Messiah-Ministries.org --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/morningbymorningtommyhays/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morningbymorningtommyhays/support

The TEXT for the audio can be found here---https---www.gracegems.org-2017-02-God-pardoned,-20God-reconciled,-20Sin-delivered,-20God-arrayed,-20Heaven-entitled-20souls.html--You will find it most helpful to read the text as you listen to the audio.

Sometimes it seems like the whole world is crashing down on us. In this Psalm, David cries out for help as his foes are coming against him.

I've been a Moodscope User - a member of the community at www.moodscope.com - for years. Why? Because I regularly have to take decisive action to maintain a state of good cheer and good courage. Arrayed against me are formidable foes, who sometimes seem invincible... but they aren't. They are pointing in the wrong direction! The main driving force of my life is towards inner peace, harmony, and mood mastery. And I have formidable friends working towards this with me. Their names are Mr Interested, Lady Inspired, Professor Excited, Sir Active, Mrs Determined, Dr Strong, Lord Proud, Rev Enthusiastic, Ms Alert, and Team Attentive! By strengthening just a single one of my allies, I can win the day. Equally, by weakening just a single one of my foes, I can with the day. You can too. You can join the battle and win. Moodscope is here to help you. The test enables you to understand where you are starting from today, and make an informed decision as to how you will improve your position as you move towards Emotional Mastery. Thank You! If you'd like to say, "Thank You!" and fund the increased production of resources like this, you can support my work here: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/lexmckee

How is it that the great city of Revelation chapter 18 accumulates the vast wealth described in this prophecy? She is said to be “that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones, and pearls (verse 16) for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.”

Order of Service: - Prelude - Hymn 553 - Behold a Host, Arrayed in White: vv. 1 & 2 - Hebrews 11: 37-40: They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. - Devotion - Prayer - Hymn 553 - Behold a Host, Arrayed in White: vv. 3 - Blessing - Postlude Service Participants: Pastor Marques Nelson (Preacher), Paul Gullixson (Organist)

Readings: Rev. 7:2–17 Psalm 149 1 John 3:1–3 Matt. 5:1–12 Lutheran Service Book Hymns:670 Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones677 For All the Saints676 Behold a Host, Arrayed in White672 Jerusalem the Golden 

First Reading: Revelation 7:(2-8) 9-17 Psalm 149 (antiphon: v. 4) Epistle: 1 John 3:1-3

The believer is arrayed to match his arrangement. The man of God takes us on riveting experience into the ever gracious word of God.

1 John 4:7-12 The post God Arrayed in His Beloved appeared first on Immanuel Baptist Church - Wausau, WI.

Psalm 110 1 The Lord says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” 2 The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of your enemies!” 3 Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb. 4 The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” 5 The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath. 6 He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. 7 He will drink from a brook along the way, and so he will lift his head high. Download Message Slides

Psalm 106 to Psalm 110 Often we hear the Psalms one by one, but today we offer you the chance to hear a group of Psalms read as a collection!   Right mouse click or tap here to save/download these Psalms as a MP3 file Psalm 106 1 Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures for ever. 2 Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the LORD or fully declare his praise? 3 Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right. Right mouse click or tap here to save/download these Psalms as a MP3 file Psalm 107 1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures for ever. 2 Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story – those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, 3 those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. Right mouse click or tap here to save/download these Psalms as a MP3 file Psalm 108 A song. A psalm of David 1 My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul. 2 Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. 3 I will praise you, LORD, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. 4 For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. , Right mouse click or tap here to save/download these Psalms as a MP3 file Psalm 109 For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. 1 My God, whom I praise, do not remain silent, 2 for people who are wicked and deceitful have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues. 3 With words of hatred they surround me; they attack me without cause. 4 In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer. 5 They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship. Right mouse click or tap here to save/download these Psalms as a MP3 file Psalm 110 Of David. A psalm. 1 The LORD says to my lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’ 2 The LORD will extend your mighty sceptre from Zion, saying, ‘Rule in the midst of your enemies!’ 3 Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendour, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb. You can now purchase our book commenting on the Psalms! Please do click or tap here to visit our Amazon site! Click or tap on the appropriate link below to subscribe, share or download our iPhone App!

Order of Service: - Prelude - Hymn 553 - Behold a Host, Arrayed in White: vv. 1 & 2 - Revelation 7: 9-17: After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” - Devotion - Prayer - Hymn 553 - Behold a Host, Arrayed in White: vv. 3 - Blessing - Postlude Service Participants: Rev. Shawn Stafford, Religion (Preacher), Nathan Madson (Organist)

Revelation 17 We have mention made for the first time in Revelation, of a great whore who sits upon many waters.  Arrayed in purple and scarlet, decked with gold, precious stones and pearls, she is being carried along by the beast of Revelation 13.  Written upon her forehead is a number of names and John saw the woman drunk with the blood of the Saints.  Who is this woman and why is she depicted in this way?  What is her relationship to the beast and why is she counted as a harlot?  All of these questions and others besides, we endeavour to answer in this teaching part as we look at the imagery of the woman and the beast she is sat upon.

What do you do when the battle is arrayed against you? Do you become struck with fear or do you take your battle stance? I received a Word from the Lord that a battle was coming. My initial response was, “wait! what?” and to ask the Lord from what direction and what our strategy should be? The Spirit of God led me to 2 Kings 6 to remind me, “Do NOT fear! There are more with us than those who are with them. Remember, “it may look like you’re surrounded but you’re surrounded by Him!” References: This is How I Fight My Battles by Upperroom; Psalm 34:7. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him,and he delivers them. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/patrice-j-carter/message

Bible readings Psalm 110: 1-7 Psalm 110: 1-7 1 The Lord says to my lord:[a] “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” 2 The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of your enemies!” 3 Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning's womb.[b] 4 The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” 5 The Lord is at your right hand [c]; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath. 6 He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. 7 He will drink from a brook along the way,[d] and so he will lift his head high. Footnotes: Psalm 110:1 Or Lord Psalm 110:3 The meaning of the Hebrew for this sentence is uncertain. Psalm 110:5 Or My lord is at your right hand, Lord Psalm 110:7 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain. Luke 24: 44-53 44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you:Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” The Ascension of Jesus 50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple,praising God.

A brutal proxy war is being waged in Yemen, with catastrophic humanitarian consequences. Arrayed against the Houthis and their allies is a Saudi-led coalition, of which the U.S. is an active participant. Yemeni activist Shireen Al-Adeimi discusses the war and its impact. Also: the final portion of the interview with Amy Sueyoshi (which went unaired last week). Yemen Source The post Waging War on Yemen appeared first on KPFA.

On June 17, 1775, over one thousand New England militia stood on a hill overlooking Charlestown, Massachusetts and Boston Harbor. Arrayed in front of them in their scarlet and white uniforms, brushed clean for the occasion, were regiments of the British Army. Their goal was to take this hill from the erstwhile colonists-turned-rebels and fortify it, which would prevent the rebels from controlling the harbor. Honor would not allow General Thomas Gage, commander of British Forces in North America and governor of the Colony of Massachusetts, to stand by while farmers and merchants made pitiful displays of defiance. Gage expected these amateur soldiers to flee at the sight of his professional army. Instead, to the shock of British command, the American colonists stood and fought. Dur: 15mins  File: .mp3

Paris by Willa Cather Behind the arch of glory sets the day; The river lies in curves of silver light, The Fields Elysian glitter in a spray Of golden dust; the gilded dome is bright, The towers of Notre Dame cut clean and gray The evening sky, and pale from left to right A hundred bridges leap from either quay. Pillared with pride, the city of delight Sits like an empress by her silver Seine, Heavy with jewels, all her splendid dower Flashing upon her, won from shore and main By shock of combat, sacked from town and tower. Wherever men have builded hall or fane Red war hath gleaned for her and men have slain To deck her loveliness. I feel again That joy which brings her art to faultless flower, That passion of her kings, who, reign on reign, Arrayed her star by star with pride and power. ----- Prosodia is a daily podcast dedicated to historical notes and poems, hosted by Karim El Azhari. Welcome! All show notes are heavily recycled from old The Writer’s Almanac archives. May that podcast rest in peace (it was Karim’s favorite). All poems are public domain or submitted by the author for use on the show. Intro and outro music by Chillhop Records. They are amazing!

Psalm 1101 The Lord says to my lord:“Sit at my right hand     until I make your enemies     a footstool for your feet.”2 The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying,     “Rule in the midst of your enemies!” 3 Your troops will be willing     on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor,     your young men will come to you     like dew from the morning’s womb.4 The Lord has sworn     and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever,     in the order of Melchizedek.”5 The Lord is at your right hand;     he will crush kings on the day of his wrath. 6 He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead     and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. 7 He will drink from a brook along the way,     and so he will lift his head high.Genesis 14At the time when Amraphel was king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goyim, 2 these kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3 All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea Valley). 4 For twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.5 In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim 6 and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, as far as El Parannear the desert. 7 Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh),and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amoriteswho were living in Hazezon Tamar.8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboyim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Siddim 9 against Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goyim, Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five.10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills. 11 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. 12 They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.13 A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshkoland Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying,“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,     Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And praise be to God Most High,     who delivered your enemies into your hand.”Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.”22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshkol and Mamre. Let them have their share.”Hebrews 77 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life.17 For it is declared:“You are a priest forever,     in the order of Melchizedek.”18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:“The Lord has sworn     and will not change his mind:     ‘You are a priest forever.’”22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.Download Message SlidesDownload Message Notes

Psalm 1101 The Lord says to my lord:“Sit at my right hand     until I make your enemies     a footstool for your feet.”2 The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying,     “Rule in the midst of your enemies!” 3 Your troops will be willing     on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor,     your young men will come to you     like dew from the morning’s womb.4 The Lord has sworn     and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever,     in the order of Melchizedek.”5 The Lord is at your right hand;     he will crush kings on the day of his wrath. 6 He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead     and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. 7 He will drink from a brook along the way,     and so he will lift his head high.Genesis 14At the time when Amraphel was king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goyim, 2 these kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3 All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea Valley). 4 For twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.5 In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim 6 and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, as far as El Parannear the desert. 7 Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh),and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amoriteswho were living in Hazezon Tamar.8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboyim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Siddim 9 against Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goyim, Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five.10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills. 11 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. 12 They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.13 A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshkoland Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying,“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,     Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And praise be to God Most High,     who delivered your enemies into your hand.”Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.”22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshkol and Mamre. Let them have their share.”Hebrews 77 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life.17 For it is declared:“You are a priest forever,     in the order of Melchizedek.”18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:“The Lord has sworn     and will not change his mind:     ‘You are a priest forever.’”22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.Download Message SlidesDownload Message Notes

Arrayed in white linen, the overcoming bride rides a white war horse to battle!

Jacob Baker and Tom Kimball present their topic on August 2, 2013. [powerpress]

Jacob Baker and Tom Kimball present their topic on August 2, 2013. [powerpress]

In the new “Diversity” series, Carbonell takes twenty iterations of the same form – a slender-legged chair attached to a narrow, covered desk – and creates distinct finishes for each with the result suggesting a demographically diverse neighborhood. One is coated in “hair filaments” that can be combed and groomed; another in shards of broken glass from used wine bottles; and, yet another in a granular concrete coating. Arrayed in the vast and opulent 625 square meter exhibition space at the Palazzo Ferre, the works seem almost processional.

In the new “Diversity” series, Carbonell takes twenty iterations of the same form – a slender-legged chair attached to a narrow, covered desk – and creates distinct finishes for each with the result suggesting a demographically diverse neighborhood. One is coated in “hair filaments” that can be combed and groomed; another in shards of broken glass from used wine bottles; and, yet another in a granular concrete coating. Arrayed in the vast and opulent 625 square meter exhibition space at the Palazzo Ferre, the works seem almost processional.

In the new “Diversity” series, Carbonell takes twenty iterations of the same form – a slender-legged chair attached to a narrow, covered desk – and creates distinct finishes for each with the result suggesting a demographically diverse neighborhood. One is coated in “hair filaments” that can be combed and groomed; another in shards of broken glass from used wine bottles; and, yet another in a granular concrete coating. Arrayed in the vast and opulent 625 square meter exhibition space at the Palazzo Ferre, the works seem almost processional.

Arrayed in beauty and endowed with graceful artistry are but few of the observations used to describe Tamela Mann. The golden-voiced actress has impressively ascended into one of todays most accomplished talents. Tune in to hear from her! Who knows maybe "Brown" will call in too... The second half of the show will feature the Editor of Average Girl Magazine, Rebekah L. Pierce.

Sermon transcript Introduction: Pictures of Christ We are looking this morning at Genesis 14, a fascinating chapter. And, one that perhaps is not as well-known as some of the other stories and accounts in Genesis, but very rich, nonetheless. Throughout the history of the church, artists have depicted Christ, they have made portraits or artistic renditions of Christ. There's something compelling about the scriptures and about the accounts of Jesus, and the artists want to depict it, and so they will drop paintings, make paintings of Christ or sculptures. One of the most famous was done in 1475 by Leonardo Da Vinci. He painted a scene entitled The Baptism of Christ, oil, and tempera on wood, kept in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy. Priceless. Absolutely priceless. And an incredible picture through the eyes of Leonardo Da Vinci. Twenty-five years later, perhaps the most famous sculpture of Christ, was done by perhaps the greatest sculptor ever, Michelangelo. In 1499, he did the Pietà, which is a moving picture of the dead Christ across the lap of his grieving mother. It really is an incredible thing as you say, I've never seen it in person, but the picture, the ripples of the fabric almost seem alive, like a breeze could move them, and yet they are made of marble. An incredible depiction of Christ. Greek and Russian Orthodox churches have icons by the thousands, paintings of Christ, that focus their worship in a way that we do not do here. Some people believe the most accurate portrait of Christ is found in the Shroud of Turin, a mysterious kind of image of a bearded man, which will be very familiar to us. You look at somebody who looks like that and say, "He looks like Jesus." We don't really know what Jesus looked like. There are no physical descriptions of Christ in the scriptures, but I think it's not far to imagine that the Shroud of Turin when it first began making its circuit in Europe, greatly influenced Western art and its depictions of Christ, and they all started to look like that image one after the other, perhaps the most famous picture and portrait of Christ physically. For me, however, I enjoy seeing the portraits of Christ that come off the pages of scripture. It's not so important to me the shape of his nose or the set of his eyes, but I want to know about his character, I want to know about his great actions and deeds. And therefore, for me, the clearest portrait or picture of Christ is going to be descriptions of those, the person of Christ, and the work of Christ found in the scriptures. I believe the whole Bible gives portraits of Christ, not just the New Testament. In the Old Testament, we have Christ in prophetic relief. You are going to see portraits of Christ in the Old Testament, and they're going to come in two different types, one of them would be what we call verbally predictive prophecy, like "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son." Or the prediction in Micah 5:2, that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel.” These are what we call “verbally predictive prophecies.” Then there is a different category of portrait or a picture of Christ, what we call “types” or typically “predictive prophecy.” Now, the way this works is that things are acted out in life. They are just acted out in history, and they capture a vignette, a little snapshot of Christ in his work and in his person. The animal sacrifices are great types of Christ. Typically, “predictive prophecy,” we call it. Every time an animal was sacrificed and its blood shed on the ground and poured out before the Lord in the fire of sacrifice, it was a picture of Christ who is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, that I think the best typical predictive prophecy of Christ. But also, you see in redemptive history, the unfolding of redemptive history, certain vignettes or stories that depict some aspect of the work of Christ. For example, later in Genesis Chapter 22, when Abraham and Isaac go up the mountain and God has commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son, his only son, Isaac, whom he loves. You hear very much the pre-echo, I think, of the gift of Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, and that, "What Abraham was asked to do," says Michael Card, "He's done. He's given his only son." So, that's an acted-out type or picture of Christ. And I think we have two of those portraits in our account today. Two portraits of Christ. One portrait as a mighty conqueror who rescues the captive and delivers him, that we see in Abram as he mounts up with 318 soldiers and rescues his nephew, Lot, from his abductors. It is a portrait of Christ. And then, also in this mysterious Melchizedek, the Priest King, we see a portrait of Christ who is both king and priest, and that's what we're going to unfold today. Two portraits of Christ. The Tapestry of Redemptive History: The Wars of Pagan Kings Redemption Woven into a Tapestry of History Now, the portraits you could imagine are kind of woven into a tapestry. God likes to kind of weave in pictures of Christ by his sovereign control of historical events. Things don't just happen in God's world. He's too much of a king for that. And so, the unfolding of human history, the tapestry of history provides the basis for the portraits of Christ that are unfolding in redemptive history. They are woven into a tapestry of history, and a lot of that comes with the consideration of pagan wars, the wars of the pagans, and of the Gentiles. Jesus talks about this in Matthew 24:6, "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars." Well, that's kind of a summation of human history, wars, and rumors of wars. It's not all there is but certainly very important. Not only is human history the unfolding of the tapestry of God's plan of salvation, redemptive history is unfolding generation by generation. But also, we are seeing unfold before us in history, the wickedness of the human heart. We learn more and more about just how wicked we are and how much we need a savior. So how does it work? Well, a small king finds himself to be a little bit more powerful than some of his neighbors, he mounts up with some strength and he conquers his neighbors, takes their land, takes their flocks and their possessions. Then he allies with them, and he gets ever stronger and so it builds and builds. So, the Pagans, through their lust for power and glory and possessions, build these miniature empires. They get stronger and stronger. Eventually, one kingdom rises up and takes over for another kingdom. The other one falls and the second takes its place. It enjoys its heyday, its time in the sun until it falls and the next one comes along. And yet, God is ruling over all of this. He is controlling it, it seems to make no sense at all, to be chaotic, but it isn't, and God is weaving in that tapestry, redemptive history. God uses wars to accomplish his redemptive purposes. For example, because of the conquest of the Greeks under Alexander the Great and the Romans under the Caesars, there was an infrastructure of highways and common language and economic unity that enabled the Gospel to travel very quickly in the first 200 years of its existence. So very quickly the Gospel spread through the Greco-Roman world because of the wars that the Greeks and Romans had fought. Later, because of the conquest of the Roman empire by the barbarians, the Gospel made it up into the forest of Germany and across the English Channel into England, because the barbarians had broken apart the Roman Empire. God used it. Then later, because of the conquest of the vicious and cruel Vikings, the Gospel spread wherever they went, because the Vikings had no power to withstand the Gospel itself. They could come and conquer the lands of the monasteries and kill the Christians but, eventually, they would be conquered in a sweet way by the Gospel and they would take the Gospel where they had traveled. Because of the worldwide empire-building ambitions of the English, you know the sun never set on the English or the British Empire. The Gospel eventually made it to places as far as India and China, along the coasts and the depths of Africa. And so, God uses military conquest for his purposes. Because of World War II, American soldiers left the security and safety of small-town America and went and fought in places they couldn't even pronounce, in the steamy jungles of the South Pacific, and then went home. But the world was never the same for them again, and some of the Christians went back to Papua New Guinea and led many of those to Christ because they had been near there and were not afraid to go. And so, God used that tragedy of World War II to accelerate the gospel. Lot’s Faithless Choice Even in our time, we have seen how God has used the conquest of the Taliban in Afghanistan to open up missionary opportunities that absolutely would not have come if the Taliban were still in power. God weaves redemptive history against the backdrop of pagan wars and rumors of wars. If God controls sparrows, and not even a sparrow falls to the ground apart from the will of God, how much more does he control the rise and fall of nations? Now, also the backdrop of this is Lot's faithless choice. The last time that we talked about Genesis two weeks ago, we saw how Lot decided to break away from Abram and go down in the fertile land near Sodom. And so, he “pitched his tents," it says, "toward Sodom." This brought Lot under the swirl of events surrounding Sodom and Gomorrah, and he would never have been abducted and never have been sucked into this whole maelstrom of events if he had stayed with Abram. So, the faithless choice of Lot is also a backdrop. The Warring Pagan Kings Now, what's going on here in Palestine in Genesis 14? Well, I read kind of like a rising up of these miniature city-states, like we had in ancient Greece. There are these little areas like Sodom or Gomorrah, little towns, and there are kings of those cities and the regions around them. They were miniature city-states and were all kind of under the power of a regional king named Kedorlaomer. He was king of Elam. Now, Elam is east of Babylonia, near Ur of the Chaldees where Abraham had originally come from. So, it really is a kind of precursor to the Assyrian and the Babylonian empires. These conquerors were forever curving up around the Fertile Crescent, and then coming down what they called the King's Highway through Palestine and on into the fertile areas of the Nile in Egypt. And so, Palestine was desirable, it had good arable land, it had good natural resources, but it was also strategic because it was the crossroads of history where people could go down and cross into Egypt. Now, look at Verse 1. This man, Kedorlaomer, is allied with Amraphel, King of Shinar. Shinar is the place where the Tower of Babel had been built. It eventually became Babylon. So, he's aligned with the King of Babylon, with Arioch, King of Ellasar, and Tidal, king of Goiim. They are all coming from the place where Babylon would eventually be. This is a precursor, the Babylonian empire. Now in Palestine, there are these vassal kings, these little smaller kings who paid tribute and money to Kedorlaomer. They would give some of the harvest or some money, etcetera, and, basically, Kedorlaomer would leave them alone or protect them. This kind of thing. But in the 13th year, these vassal kings said, enough of Kedorlaomer. If we can ally ourselves together, the five of us the king has gotten together, we can throw this guy off and we can run the thing ourselves. And so, they allied and they rebelled. Well, Kedorlaomer is not going to take this lying down. He whistles up to his three allies and the four of them march, they come along the Fertile Crescent and down into Palestine to fight. They were powerful and successful. Frankly, they were undefeated. It was a strong military conquest. Look at Verses 5-7, "In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim, and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, as far as El Paran near the desert." Now, after the service is over, I want you to find Steve Carrell and thank him from the bottom of your heart for reading this text. You did a wonderful job, brother. When I was reading over it this morning, I said, "Woe to the person who has to read these verses this morning." So, we compromised and thought to begin at Verse 8, and he did a wonderful job, there's no escaping all these Hebrew names, but I thought he did a fine, fine job. There are these five kings, they're allied, and the four kings come, Kedorlaomer leading them, going from place to place, conquering, conquering and conquering. Everywhere they go, they are succeeding. Kedorlaomer seems unbeatable, and now the time has come for him to draw up the battle lines against these four or five kings that have risen up against him. In Verses 8-9, it talks about the battle of the four kings against the five, nine kings altogether. Well, Kedorlaomer wins decisively. His armies destroyed the armies of the five kings and some of the men fell into the terrifying pits of the Valley of Siddim, the rest fled to the hills. And now Kedorlaomer gets to plunder. That's the thing the army has always to do. Napoleon, when he escaped off Elba and was gathering his army again for one final push that ended in the Battle of Waterloo, what was his big promise to them? "Plunder, the cities of Europe are waiting for you." Oh yes, they were loyal to Napoleon, but more than anything, because he could fill their pockets. And so, the armies have a chance to plunder the rich cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and others, and so they did. So, in Verse 11, "The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away." But they took one item too many. Now, they took Lot and that was a big mistake. Look at Verse 12, "They also carried off Abram's nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom." Now, notice that additional comment. He was living where? Oh, he's living in Sodom now, I guess he's moved. Last we heard about Lot, he had pitched his tents toward Sodom. Now he's actually living in Sodom. Notice the degeneration of Lot as Sodom has its pull on him and draws him away from righteousness, away from the godly life with Abram. Now he's living in Sodom. Well, somebody escapes in Verse 13, and Abram is told, "One who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram." And so, Abram had made an alliance with some Amorites. I don't know if he had led them to personal faith in the Most High God, maybe he had, I hope so, but the text doesn't say anything about that. It does say that they were allied together with Abram. So that sets the table for the first portrait. And, the first portrait is a picture of Christ as a military conqueror, as a rescuer, as a powerful king who comes to deliver us from our captivity. Christ-like Portrait #1: Abram and the Military Rescue of Lot Look at Verses 14-16, "When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.” Abram’s Courageous Rescue of Lot Now look at Abram's courageous rescue of Lot and notice some things here. First of all, note Abram's gracious attitude toward his nephew. Lot has been selfish. He's grabbed the best part of the land for himself, but Abram doesn't hold it against him. He's risking life and limb and his own men to go rescue this nephew, this wayward nephew. And so, notice his gracious spirit toward this nephew. Notice also Abram's courage and leadership. A relatively small force. Now, it says they were trained men, but a relatively small force going after an undefeated army of four kings. Incredible courage. Incredible boldness. Notice also Abram's skill as a general. The incredible boldness and initiative, the nighttime attack, the division, the tactics, the division of the men in the middle of the night into groups, the surprise factor. You could probably study this at West Point and see some of the techniques that Abram the general used. And notice also then how beautifully as you put all this together, Abram stands as a type or portrait of Jesus Christ. You know, Jesus Christ rescued us, it says in Colossians 1:13, from the dominion of darkness and brought us over into his own kingdom. He in effect came over or went through the walls of the devil's kingdom, and he rescued, he plundered us. Now, Jesus talked about this contest in Luke 11:21-22. He said, "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils.” Jesus is the second one. He comes and takes away from the devil what the devil thought was his, namely you and me. Colossians 1:13 says, "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves." It also says in Galatians 1:4, Jesus Christ, “who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age." And so, he rescues us. Jesus, a portrait of Jesus here in Abram. Charles Spurgeon’s Comments Listen to what Charles Spurgeon said, I think this is so beautiful. "What a splendid type is Abram, in the narrative before us, of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us read this story of Abram in connection with our Savior, and see how full of meaning it is. Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the abundance of his love, had taken us to be his brothers, but we, through our sin, had moved into the land of Sodom, and Jesus Christ dwelt alone in his safety and his happiness, enjoying the presence of God. The hosts of our enemies, with terrible force and cruel fury, carried us away as captives. We were violently borne away with all the goods which we possessed, into a land of forgetfulness and captivity forever. Christ, who had lost nothing by this, nevertheless being a brother born for adversity, pursued our haughty foes. He overtook them, he smote them with his mighty hand, he took their spoil, and returned with crimsoned clothing, leading captivity captive. He restored that which he took not away. Abram was that righteous man raised in the East, to whom God gave his enemies as driven stubble to his bow, and so the Lord Jesus has driven our enemies like chaff over to the wind, for they fled at the presence of Jehovah Jesus, and by the valor of the atoning Lamb they have been utterly broken in pieces forever." Amen and amen. God’s Commitment to Rescue His Own: Both Lot and Abram Jesus is a conqueror. He is a mighty King, and he came after us to rescue us. So, also, Abram did for Lot. Notice also God's commitment to rescue his own. He's going to, in the account in Genesis, rescue Lot twice. First through Abram, this military rescue, and then second through the two angels that he sends to rescue Lot from the real danger, namely the wrath of God about to be poured out on Sodom and Gomorrah. And so, we see that God has a total commitment to rescue his own and to get them out from danger. The great grief to me in this story and you really have to read between the lines to get it, is what in the world did Lot do, moving back to Sodom after the first rescue? See how stubborn our hearts are, how much we love to live in Sodom, and how he should have taken some good advice and gotten back with his Uncle Abram at that point, but instead, he goes back to Sodom for more and God has to send the two angels and rescue him later. Oh, how wicked and wayward are our hearts, and we don't take the escape that God gives to us. And so, Abram goes out, he goes out boldly, he goes out courageously. It says in Proverbs 28:1, "The wicked man flees though no one pursues, the righteous are as bold as a lion." Why was Abraham so bold? Well, he had a promise from God, "I will make you into a great nation." That kind of makes you immortal until it happens, right? And so, he's like, nothing is going to happen to me. And it also said in Genesis 12, "I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse." And so, let's get 318 guys, which may even be too many for this job, 318 guys and go take on four kings with an undefeated army, and we are going to win. Note the boldness and the courage of Abram as he trusts in God's word and goes out and rescues. Now, what did it cost Abram? Well, in the end, it didn't cost him anything. It could have gained him a lot of wealth. But what did it cost Jesus to rescue you from your captor? It cost him his very life. He had to pour out his lifeblood on the cross to rescue you from sin and death, and from the accusing law which stood over against you to condemn you. He had to give his own life to rescue you. It says in Matthew 20:28, "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." That was the price for him, that's what he paid. Far more expensive than what Abram paid in his type, or his picture of Christ, to rescue Lot. Now, this image or picture of Christ as a conquering king who comes to rescue his own will only be fulfilled in the future in Revelation 19, when the heavens will be open, and Jesus leads the armies, the legions of heaven on a white horse, it says in Revelation 19, "He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords,” and he will return to earth as a mighty conqueror, not riding humbly on a donkey as he did the first time, but coming in a military fashion to conquer and to destroy and to rescue his own. And so, this image, this type, awaits its final and complete fulfillment when Jesus returns to the earth a second time. Abram’s Faith-filled Pledge to the King of Sodom One final note concerning this aspect here, and that's Abram's faith-filled pledge to the king of Sodom. Verses 17, 21-24, look at it with me. "After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley).” Verse 21 and following, "The king of Sodom said to Abram, ‘Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.’" Tempting offer, a tempting offer. "But Abram said to the king of Sodom, ‘I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, “I made Abram rich.” I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me −to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share.’" But for himself, he takes nothing. He does not want their stuff. It doesn't hold any attraction to him. And why? Because the love of the world is adultery against God. For everything in the world, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, the pride of life, the stuff of Sodom, he has no interest in that. "The world and its desires pass away," 1 John 2:17 tells us, ". . . but the man who does the will of God lives forever." I don't think it's an accident that the very next verse after that is Genesis 15:1, look at it. "After this," right after this, it says, "the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.’" You don't need the stuff of Sodom, you are going to get something better, you are going to get me. I will be your very great reward. It's an incredible promise from God, and that is exactly what Abram wants, God and God alone, that's all he wants. And so, we see a beautiful portrait or a picture of Christ in Abram, the conqueror. Christ-like Portrait #2: Melchizedek the Priest-King We also have a mysterious portrait of Christ in this man Melchizedek, and we get just a brief mention of him here. But look at Verses 18-20, "Then Melchizedek King of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was a priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.’ Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything." Who Was He? Now, who was this man? Well, his name “Melchizedek” literally means king of righteousness. His city was Salem, or Jerusalem. So, he's the king of Salem, or the king of Jerusalem. Now, the word Salem is the Hebrew word for peace. So, he's the king of righteousness, and he's the king of peace. He's the king of Jerusalem. Now, it's a little bit of an ironic name, Salem. Peace. Is Jerusalem a city of peace today? How long has Jerusalem not been a city of peace? David conquered it from the Jebusites, and then Nebuchadnezzar conquered it from the Jews. And then Cyrus the Great conquered it from the Greeks for the Persians, and then Alexander conquered it, and then the Romans conquered it, and then the Muslims conquered it from the Byzantine Empire. And then the Crusaders came and tried to conquer it and got it for a little while, but the Muslims took it back until World War I when the British conquered the Ottoman Turks. And then in 1948, during the partition of Israel, Jerusalem was set up to be a Muslim/Christian/Jewish city, and it's been nothing but trouble ever since. Hardly the city of peace. Jesus himself spoke about this in Luke 19:42, "As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace −but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you.’" Jesus alone is the peace of Jerusalem, and it will have no peace until they recognize Jesus as their Savior. But here is Melchizedek, he's the king of Salem, the king of righteousness. And it's interesting because he is both a priest and a king. It says he was a priest of God Most High. He is a king, king of the city-state of Salem, and he is also the priest of God Most High. What Did He Do? Well, what did he do? Well, first he brought out bread and wine. Why did he do that? Our Catholic friends would say this is a precursor of the Lord's supper. I don't really find the Lord's Supper here, even though the name Melchizedek is mentioned every Sunday at mass. When I was growing up as an altar boy, I wondered who Melchizedek was. It wasn't until after I came to Christ and read the Book of Hebrews that I learned who Melchizedek was. But he brings out bread and wine to refresh Abraham and his troops. That's all. It's not a precursor of the Lord's Supper. But also, it says he blessed Abram. "Blessed be Abram by God Most High” and he blessed him with authority." There's a sense of his authority even over Abraham or Abram, and he received a tithe, or a tenth, of Abram's plunder. Now, we wouldn't know much about Melchizedek if it weren't for two other scriptures: Psalm 110 and Hebrews 7. Look with me at Psalm 110 for a moment. Psalm 110. Psalm 110 is a messianic Psalm, a prediction written by David. Jesus quoted it in Matthew 22 and said that David was speaking by the spirit in Psalm 110, and he was writing about Christ. Now, look just with me, if you would, at Psalm 110: 1-4. It was read earlier, Eric read it, but look with me if you would. Psalm 110:1-4. It says, "The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’ The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies. Your troops will be willing on the day of your battle. Arrayed in holy majesty, from the womb of the dawn you will receive the dew of your youth." Now, verses 2 and 3 speak of a mighty scepter, of a conquering king coming forth from Zion. This is the kingship of the Messiah, and he will be a king. He's the son of David, he's the lion of the tribe of Judah. And it says in Genesis 49:10, "The scepter will not depart from Judah . . . . . .until he comes to whom it belongs. . .” And so, Jesus will be from the tribe of Judah and He will hold the scepter, for He is the son of David. But He is greater than David because David calls him Lord. "The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’" Psalm 110: King David’s Inspired Meditation on the Christ So, here's the king of Judah, he is the king of Zion, a picture of a king. But then out of nowhere in Psalms 110, Verse 4 it says, "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.’" So here you have a king from the tribe of Judah, a descendant from David, the son of David, and He is a ruler, He's got the scepter in his hand, and yet He is sworn, God swears to him a promise and an oath, "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." Well, for us, that's not a problem because we're not Old Covenant people, but back then there was a strong division between the priesthood and the kingship. The kingships were from the line of David, from Judah. It was from Judah that the scepter would never depart. Judah. But meanwhile, the priesthood is a Levitical priesthood. From the priests, they were all of the Levites, and there could be no mixture of the two. Indeed, any kings from the line of Judah who tried to be priests received the curse of God like leprosy in one case. There could be no mixture of the two under the Old Covenant. But he says, "You're not a priest in the order of Levi or Aaron. You're a priest in the order of Melchizedek." And Melchizedek from Genesis 14 was both king and priest, and the two were together and there's no division between the two. And so, this is the picture of Jesus. The kingly power of the Messiah, and also, the priestly ministry of Melchizedek. Hebrews 5 and 7: The Inspired Commentary on Genesis 14 and Psalm 110 Now, look over at Hebrews 7, and we'll see the full understanding of this. Take a minute and look at Hebrews 7. In Hebrews 7, the author of Hebrews unfolds the mysteries of this issue of Melchizedek. Aspects of Comparison Look at Hebrews 7:1-4. "This Melchizedek" it says, "was King of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means ‘king of righteousness;’ then also, ‘king of Salem’ means ‘king of Peace.’" Verse 3, "Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever. Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch, Abraham, gave him a tenth of the plunder!” So, Melchizedek is a picture of Christ, a type of Christ. He is a priest and a king, and so was Christ. The name “King of Righteousness” will only be fulfilled perfectly in Jesus Christ. The name “King of Peace” is only fulfilled perfectly in Jesus Christ. The symbolic eternal origins. It says, "Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days" that's only fulfilled in the eternal Son of God, Jesus Christ. His symbolic eternal priesthood, in that he never dies, Melchizedek never dies in the Scripture, is only symbolic but fulfilled ultimately in Jesus Christ. "Whoever lives," it says, "To make intercession for you and me." He is higher in rank than Abram, therefore Abram gives him a tenth of everything. He rules over him, and that is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. As Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing Jesus' day, he saw it and was glad. And so, we have a glorious composite portrait of Christ. Glorious Composite Portrait of Christ Jesus Christ, the perfect king and also the perfect priest. Was Melchizedek Actually the Pre-incarnate Christ? Now, the question comes, was Jesus actually or was Melchizedek pre-incarnate Christ? Was this really Jesus showing up here? Some scholars think so, but I don't. Notice that it says in Hebrews 7, "like the son of God, he remains a priest forever." Well, what would you be comparing? It would be Jesus like Jesus and it doesn't make any sense. Therefore, I think Melchizedek was really a man, really a king, he really lived, he was flesh and blood, he had a life, he was a king of Salem, he was also priest of God Most High, and he came out physically and blessed Abram. But there is in his life a portrait of Jesus, the priest-king. Theological Significance of Melchizedek: Christ Our Eternal High Priest Central Message of Hebrews: Superiority of Christ and the New Covenant Now, what is the theological significance of this? Well, first of all, the superiority of Christ and the New Covenant to the Old. We live in the New Covenant, and therefore we don't have to bring animal sacrifices, we don't have to pour out blood on altars, we have a New Covenant, and Jesus is the priest and the mediator of a superior New Covenant. And as a result of that, as Eric did earlier, we have an invitation to come right to the throne of grace and receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. The Old Covenant told you to stay away. Barriers. You couldn't get into the Holy of Holies. You couldn't draw near. But the New Covenant says it's wide open. Specific Message of Hebrews 7: Christ is Our Eternal High Priest In the body of Jesus, we have a new and living way open for us right into the very presence of God. And what do we find when we get there? We find a merciful and faithful high priest who became a man and was tempted in every way, just as we are. Yet, He never sinned. And therefore, when you're tempted, when you are weak, when you are struggling in your Christian life, you go to the throne of grace and say, “Oh, merciful, faithful high priest, help me. I'm struggling.” And if you've already sinned and you wonder, “Can God ever forgive me?” You come to the throne of grace and you receive full cleansing through the blood of Christ, far superior to anything the Old Covenant could ever do. We have opened up for us a priestly ministry through Jesus Christ, and he invites us, and he offers the perfect sacrifice once for all, his own blood shed on the cross, and he stands at the right hand of God and is constantly speaking into his Father's ear on your behalf. And oh, does the Father love the Son. And on the basis of that, you are forgiven and protected, and you'll be brought ultimately into the very presence of God. Application Now, what kind of application can we take from Genesis 14? Well, first of all, worship Christ, honor him. It says in Philippians 3:3, We are those “who worship by the Spirit of God” who boast or “glory in Christ." Boast in Christ. Jesus rescued you from your captors. Far more powerful than Kedorlaomer was Satan over you. Far more powerful than Kedorlaomer was sin and death. Could you ever have wriggled yourself free from them? No. Death stands like an undefeatable enemy, and it mocks everything you do if it's not for Jesus. But Jesus comes and rescues you from death, He rescues you from sins, so honor him, worship him, give Him thanks today for your salvation. But don't forget that He's a king. Melchizedek is a priest king; He is a king. Jesus is Melchizedek's king. He is the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords. And before him, every knee will bow. And so, bow your knee to Jesus the King. Could it be that, speaking in the language of Genesis 14, you are like Lot and little by little getting sucked towards Sodom? What's going on in your life? What are you watching? What entertains you? How do you spend your time? Are you enamored with this world? Would it be hard for you to give it up? Are you kind of acting more like Lot or like Abram, a man of faith who saw through it all and raised his hand and said, I took an oath. I'm not taking anything from you. I don't want anything from you. And if you find the Lot principle inside you getting sucked toward the world more and more, then come near to the throne of grace and say, "Lord, rescue me." That's what he came for, to deliver you from sin and bring you close. And trust in your eternal high priest. His priestly ministry is perfect, he pleads his own blood. The Father is open-hearted toward hearing the intercession, it will not fail, and he will not stop pleading for you that your faith will not fail until the day he sees you face-to-face and until the day you receive your resurrection body perfected in him. So, trust in him, your High Priest. If you're feeling right now because of your sinfulness or things that you've done, that you're separated from God, you are far from Him, then come close, confess the sin. He's inviting you to come close. He's saying, “Just as I am, without one plea, I come to you, Lord.” We come close to him. Then come. Don't try to rid yourself of one dark blot, but let him do it and cleanse you. And then finally, look at the courage of Abram. It may be that you don't have a sin problem, you're not feeling distant from God, you're walking with Him, but are you being courageous in your life? When was the last time you got scared for Jesus? When was the last time you went out on a night attack for the Kingdom of God? Are you doing anything that calls for valor and courage and boldness? Let me speak especially to you fathers on Fathers' Day. How are you modeling courage to your sons and daughters? How are you a man, standing firm like Abraham did when he said, “Let's go get him.” Are you displaying courage? Are you bold in evangelism? Are you bold in putting sin to death in your own life? Are you bold at the workplace to stand up for Christ? Are you bold like Abraham was? Remember, the wicked flee though no one pursue, but the righteous are bold as a lion.

sermon transcript Introduction Please take your Bibles and open to Psalm 110. This supernatural book that you carry around with you, you don't even realize all the things that are in here. I know I don't, and as I continue to grow as a Christian, I'm astonished by all the light that flows from this book, and it testifies to Jesus Christ, the spirit of prophecy is the Spirit of Jesus Christ. As we look at Psalm 110, we continue our study of the messianic psalms of Psalms, which testify to Jesus Christ. So far we've looked in our study at Psalm 2, in which the Father says, “You are my son, today I've begotten you. Ask of me and I'll give you the nations as your inheritance, the ends of the earth as your possession.” He also said, “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain, the kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His anointed one and the one enthroned in heaven laughs.” So we see a decree in Psalm 2 that Jesus shall reign wherever the Son does His successive journeys run. That was the first one we looked at. Then we looked at Psalm 69 which testify to the suffering life of Jesus Christ. How Jesus would be rejected by his people, he would suffer, he would be rejected by one of his closest disciples, he'd have to drink bitter gall. So this testified to his suffering earthly life. Then we spent a couple of weeks in Psalm 22, as you remember, the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow, the crucifixion so plainly depicted there, “you have pierced my hands and my feet.” But then the second half, so gloriously to the Jew first and also to the Gentile, that Jesus' name would be exalted to the ends of the earth, and that there would be a banquet, and people from every tribe and language and people and nation would come and eat at that banquet, an incredible prophecy, Psalm 22. We could still be in it now with profit, there's so much there. Then we went from that, the crucifixion, the death of Jesus, to Psalm 16 last week, the powerful resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, “You will not let your Holy One see decay.” In that one word, the testimony that that psalm did not refer to David, but to the Son of David, Jesus Christ, in that he would not see decay but would triumph over the grave, Psalm 16. The Identity of the Messiah Now we look at Psalm 110, which is the identity and the victory, and the priesthood of the Messiah, in which the Father invites the Son to sit at His right hand. Beginning at verse 1, it says, “The Lord said to my lord: Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion. You will rule in the midst of your enemies. Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy majesty, from the womb of the dawn, you will receive the dew of your youth. The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. The Lord is at your right hand; He will crush kings on the day of his wrath. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. He will drink from a brook beside the way, and therefore, He will lift His head.” The story has often been told that the Jewish people of Jesus' day were looking for a re-establishment of David's throne. They had good reason to do it because God had prophesied that there would be one who would do this very thing. They were thinking about their present plight, they were hoping for the demise of the Roman Empire, little did they know that it would go on for another four centuries, that it was just coming into its power. When Jesus was born, the first emperor, the first mighty extender of Roman power, Caesar Augustus, was at his heyday, and so the Roman Empire had a long, long way to go, but they didn't know it and they had hopes, and their hopes were based on some dusty old scrolls and some prophecies about a Messiah that would come. The focus was on the title, Son of David. They were looking for a Son of David to come and re-establish David's throne. They were a dominated people, and they were wary of Rome's crushing ascendancy, of the tax collectors and the burden, and just seeing Roman troops walking through their streets who could exert their will at any time and take anything that they wanted. The Roman rule was strangling the life from Israel, and they cried out to God, “How long, O Lord, would it be till the Son of David came at last?” In thinking about the Son of David, they were thinking of an ancient kingdom, for David's rule over Israel a thousand years before this time was really Israel's golden era. There was more prosperity under Solomon, and then there were other godly kings that came, but there was no one like David, a man after God's own heart, who loved God with all of his heart, soul, mind, and strength; except in the matter of Bathsheba and Uriah. David walked in the ways of God and sought to obey his covenant. There’s was an ancient kingdom, and they were looking forward to the Son of David re-establishing those days, a glorious throne, a glorious time, a time of wealth and prosperity, in which God would miraculously bless his people and the Gentiles would be crushed and pushed off to the side. They wanted another king like David to come. David was a godly man, and there came a time when David was sitting in his palace of cedar, smelling that sweet smell, the paneling, and he thought, “Here I am in a palace of cedar and God's Ark, the Ark of the Covenant, is in a tent, an ancient tent. I think I'd like to build him a temple. I want to build a house for God.” God spoke to Nathan the prophet and said, “Tell David this, ‘You want to build a house for me, but I will build a house for you. I will establish your throne.’” 2 Samuel 7:16, “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me. Your throne will be established forever.” What a promise, that David would never lack a man to sit on his throne, and that his throne and his kingdom will be established forever. Four hundred years later, Isaiah the prophet came along and prophesied and predicted that this would continue for he said, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Listen to verse 7, “Of the increase of his government and peace, there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne.” Did you hear that? He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. Isaiah the prophet, seeing a time when David's throne will be established forever. So they weren't without reason to be waiting for the Son of David to come and establish his throne. Faithful Jews were waiting for the consolation of Israel, the Son of David, to raise up the shattered throne of King David, and sit on it once again. He would be powerful to defeat his enemies, and no one would be able to stand before him. And along came Jesus Christ, and as he ministered, and as he began to do miracles and do astonishing things and speak and teach in a way that no one had ever heard before, they began to wonder and speculation came around. A couple of blind men sitting by the side of the road hear that Jesus is walking by, [Matthew 9:27], and they call out to him, “Have mercy on us, Son of David,” they said. Jesus is the Son of David, so they thought. Matthew 12:22 and 23, “They brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him so that he could both talk and see, and all the people were astonished and asked, Could this be the Son of David?” So they thought Jesus might be the Son of David. [Matthew 15], “Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon, and a Canaanite woman, a non-Jew, a Gentile, calling out to him, Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me. My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.” Jesus heals and heals and heals one after the other, and they're thinking, “I think this is the Son of David, it's got to be. Where else does his power come from?” It came to an apex at the triumphal entry in Matthew 21:9, “The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, Hosanna to the Son of David.” Do you know what Hosanna means? “Do it now, save now Lord, now is the time, establish your throne Son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest. He's got to be the Son of David.” Oh, was Jesus the Son of David? What's the very first fact you learn about Jesus in the New Testament? [Matthew 1:1], a record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David. Right from the start, Matthew tells us, he is the Son of David. No question about that, and Matthew goes on to establish the fact by the genealogy. I'm sure all of you have read it devotionally time and time again, the genealogy is so rich with prophetic fulfillment. “You will never lack a man to sit on the throne.” Forty-two generations, he lists there in Matthew 1, he is the Son of David. But they missed something else, something in the message that Gabriel had given, in Luke chapter 1, the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary. You have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High.” What does that mean, Son of God? But that's not all Gabriel said, “The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David.” The blending together of the physical descendants through David, that he is the Son of David, and also the fact that Jesus was the Son of the Most High, the incarnation established in Gabriel's message. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, his kingdom will never end. Yes, he was the Son of David, but also the Son of God Most High. The people were waiting for a human king, another David to reign over the Romans. Their dreams seem ludicrous to the world-dominating Romans, some tiny Palestinian state's going to rule the whole world. It never happened. What a dream. Were the Jews dreaming? Absolutely. But it turns out in the words of a Michael Card song, “their wildest dreams had simply not been wild enough.” There would come a king who would re-establish David's throne but he would not just be the Son of David, he would be the Son of the Living God. There came a time that Jesus wanted to puncture this misunderstanding. All of his enemies and adversaries had been gathering around him asking him tough questions. They stayed up all night thinking of these questions, questions on divorce and why, that one? To get him in trouble with Herod who had divorced his wife to marry his brother's wife. They wanted to see the same thing happen to Jesus, that happened to John the Baptist. Jesus handled that scripturally. Then the Sadducees asked him a question about the resurrection, trying to trip him up in the Law of Moses. Jesus handled that one as well. They asked him a question about which is the greatest commandment? Jesus handled that one. They asked him a tough question about taxation. Who are they trying to get him in trouble with there? The Romans. Jesus said, “Show me a coin. Whose portrait is on it? Caesar's. Well, give to Caesar what Caesar's and give to God what is God’s.” Astonishing! He handled every question. He said, “Now, I've got a question for you?” He didn't say it, but in effect said. Turn in your Bibles to Psalm 110, I've got a question for you. I'd like to ask that you turn in your Bibles to Matthew 22 and look at this account. Put your finger in Psalm 110 and look over at Matthew 22. In Matthew 22:41-46, Jesus poses a tough question. It says, “While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, ‘What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?’” Stock answer comes back, “Son of David,” they replied. “Well, how is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord' for he says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.’ If then David calls him 'Lord' how can he be his son?” Look at the aftermath. No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions. Amazing! The infinite brilliance of Jesus Christ, but it all had been written in Scripture a thousand years before he's even born. Let's try to understand the “Son of David”, and let's do it scripturally. As you look at Jesus' question, he makes three assumptions, and we can learn so much about the handling of Scripture by looking at how Jesus did it. Can I say in the midst of all kinds of controversies over Baptist faith and message in Scripture and all that, can we just simply come to the conviction that whatever Jesus' attitude towards Scripture should be ours as well? We'll just have Jesus' attitude towards Scripture. Jesus made three assumptions here, didn't he? Assumption number one, David wrote Psalm 110. David wrote it, and as a matter of fact, the whole argument falls to the ground if David didn't write it. For any Israelite, any Jewish person could call the Messiah my Lord, but it's a kind of a different thing when David calls his own descendant, “my Lord.” The whole thing falls apart if David didn't write Psalm 110. Assumption number one. By the way, modern critical scholarship will say, “Ridiculous, we know better, we know David didn't write Psalm 110. It came in during the post-exilic period”, and all that, oh, my goodness, the things you read. You know that African spiritual, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” Were they there when the psalm was written? David wrote this psalm and you know how I know it? Jesus said so. In 1889, Bishop Gore, an Anglican bishop, comes up with a kenosis theory, an emptying theory about Jesus. He said Jesus was stripped of his divine capabilities when he took on a human body, and the reason we know that is he thought that Psalm 110 was written by David, saying that, “Jesus is limited in his knowledge, and that's... We've got to account for his errors here. We know better, we German higher scholastics, and we have studied this matter, and we know that David could not have written the psalm.” But we're believers in Jesus Christ, and Jesus said David wrote it, end of story. And it's not just a side issue, I contend that his whole argument falls to the ground if David didn't write it. Assumption number two. David wrote this psalm under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Where do we get that? In verse 43, he said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord' ?” What does this mean? It means David didn't make a mistake. He wasn't wrong in calling him Lord. It wasn't just a flight of fancy or some confusing moment for David. The Word had been handed him, Adonai had been handed David and he wrote it down. You must understand, it says in 2 Peter that prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. David spoke under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Assumption number three, that in Psalm 110, David's writing, he was speaking about the Christ. “What do you think about the Christ?” Jesus asks. “Whose son is he?' Son of David. “Then how is it that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him, namely, ‘the Christ, Lord’?” These are Christ's three assumptions about Psalm 110, they must be yours as well if you're a believer in Christ. If we accept these then we start to get drawn into the stunning nature of Jesus' argument here, because the Jews were making some assumptions as well. Assumption number one is that the Son of David was the fulfiller of the David covenant, the Davidic covenant. Therefore, the Son of David would pattern his reign after David's earthly throne. But beyond that, there was an assumption of patriarchal rule. The Father is always greater than the Son. You can see that. They can't understand this. Ordinarily, it will be true. Can you imagine David calling Solomon his son, “my Lord”? As a matter of fact, the Scripture indicates that Solomon was called David's servant. If anything, Solomon would have called David “my lord.” No, he called him “my father David” in almost every case. The fact of the matter is, the Scripture in the Ten Commandments says, “Honor your father and mother.” It's never backward, the parents are not to honor the children but the children, the parents. So there is an assumption here that the Father is greater than the Son. So it's troubling that David would call his own son, his physical descendant, “lord.” That's an odd thing. As a matter of fact, it's a supernaturally odd thing, and that's the context of Christ's penetrating question. If then David calls him “Lord,” how can he be his son? What is going on then with the Son of David if David's calling him “lord?” Now it's very interesting. Jesus never used the title Son of David in regards to himself. As a matter of fact, this is the only time he talks about the Son of David, and he does it in a penetrating way. What did Jesus usually call himself? The “son of man.” Now, God willing, our next sermon series will be in the book of Daniel. Wait till we get to Daniel 7. There is nowhere I believe in all of the Old Testament that the deity of the coming Messiah is as clearly revealed as in this Son of Man. Jesus was God in the flesh, and this is not just a piece of theological lumber or luggage that we carry around. This is the center and core of our faith. If He's not God, we have no eternal life, we have no salvation. Jesus wants to penetrate to the very identity. He goes beyond that to the proclamation of the Lord. Verse 1, “The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand.” Who is it that's giving this invitation? God himself, the Eternal God of the universe, and he's saying, “Messiah, come and sit at my right hand, from whence you will rule the universe.” A double testimony therefore to the deity of the Messiah. The right hand is a position of ultimate power and authority, the right hand blessed the firstborn son, when Jacob went to bless Joseph's sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, he crossed his hands and put his right hand on Ephraim's head, the second-born, and Joseph was very distressed. “No, my father, this is the first-born,” he said, “I know, he'll be blessed too,” but he put his right hand on the second-born because it's a position of preeminence, the right hand. It symbolizes also God's power over his enemies. After Pharaoh's army had been destroyed in the Red Sea, Miriam and the others sang a song, [Exodus 15] “Your right hand, O Lord, was majestic and power. Your right hand, O Lord, shattered the enemy”, the right hand, a demonstration of God's power over his enemies. The right hand also symbolizes close access to the throne, we speak in this way of someone's right-hand man, somebody who's real close to the power, the seat of power. Last Sunday evening when we were talking about somebody sitting at Jesus' right hand and somebody's sitting at his left in his kingdom, James and John, wanted access, one of those positions of power. They wanted to get close. In effect, the Father saying of the son, “No one is closer to me than this.” It says in Romans 8:34, “Jesus Christ, who died more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God and is interceding for us.” He has that access to the Father. More than 20 times in the New Testament, it says that Jesus ascended and is seated at the right hand of the Father, the right hand of God. And so Jesus sits on God's right hand, and he's at God's right hand that his enemies may be destroyed, and this leads us to the irresistible advance of Christ's kingdom. The identity is clear. Christ, the Messiah, is God, He's the Son of God. He's somebody worthy of David's worship. David will worship His Son and honor Him and give Him praise. He is God in the flesh. The Victory of the Messiah But then we see the irresistible advance of the kingdom. In verse 1, he says, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” This is the Father's zeal for his Son's glory. The Father is aflame with zeal for the glory of the son, just as the son was aflame with zeal for the glory of the Father. Jesus lived and breathed, and even died for the glory of the Father. And now the Father lives for the glory of the son. “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” What is this footstool? What is this putting enemies under the feet? In the ancient Near East, when a king would conquer his enemies, the kings that were conquered would come and lay down on the ground, and the conquering general, the conquering king, would put his foot on the neck of his adversaries showing total domination over them. We see this in Joshua 10. Joshua says, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me. So they brought the five kings out of the cave, the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, Eglon. And when they had brought these kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings. So they came forward and placed their feet on their necks, and Joshua said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous.’” This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight. So when in fact the father is saying, “they're all, every last one of them, are going submit to you Christ, every last one of them are going to come and become a footstool for your feet.” And by the way, this picture of total submission works for us as well. Who is our gravest enemy now? Is it not the devil? The roaring lion who seeks someone to devour. Romans 16:20 says, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” Aren't you looking forward to putting your foot on his neck? I'm looking forward to that moment. It's going to be special. But he's our enemy, and all of Christ's enemies will receive this kind of treatment, this is the zeal of God to crush Christ's enemies, and it's burning with the brightest, brightest flame. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this, it says in Isaiah 9:7, “Because Jesus was willing to take on a human body and give himself even to death on a cross, therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father,” and the Father's zeal is going to advance the scepter. In verse 2 he says, “The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, and you will rule in the midst of your enemies.” When I was on a mission trip in Kenya, I saw the President of Kenya. He drove by, I was in a small village called Moi's Bridge. As the president was driving by, he waved to me... I think it was because I was the only non-Kenyan in the crowd. You can imagine why I would stand out. But he pointed at me, and he waved. I saw that he had a stick in his hand, and I asked the Kenyan pastor about it, and he said, “That's Mzee's stick. Mzee means ruler, an elder, a leader.” It was a symbol of his authority. Whoever was president would get to hold the stick, it's a symbol of authority, and so it is with this. God is going to take your scepter and extend it to the ends of the earth. You will rule in the midst of your enemies, and it's in the midst of enemies. Christ's kingdom is presently surrounded by enemies, godless governments, including our own, unbelieving people, false religious systems, materialistic forces, worldly philosophies, and behind all of it the devil himself. The father is going to extend Christ's reign despite all of this adversarial opposition. In verse 3 we come in, your troops, it says in the NIV, “Your troops will be willing on your day of battle.” Literally, it says, “Your people will be willing in the day of your power.” The context here is definitely of the advance of a kingdom, and we who have believed in Jesus Christ, we are His people, and we will be, it says, willing, when he needs us, willing on the day of battle to say, “Yes sir, whatever you command, I will do. I want to advance your kingdom, I'm available for you.” No one who is enlisted in the army does anything except to please his commanding officer. Anything the commanding officer asks, he will do, and it says of them, “They are arrayed in holy Majesty, from the womb of the dawn you will receive the dew of youth.” You can picture a mighty strong energetic army ready to go, willing on the day of Christ's battle. Stop and ask yourself, “Am I willing on the day of His battle? Am I available as a warrior for Christ?” We'll talk about that more in a minute. Our king is a mighty warrior. Verse five through seven talk about his final victory, the victory is predicted and described, saying, “The Lord is at your right hand, He will crush kings on the day of his wrath, He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth, He will drink from the brook beside the way, therefore He will lift up his head.” The Father's power now is available to the Son, the Father is now at the Son's right hand, ready to conquer His enemies. Victory is secure and the kings are assembled, and they will one after the other, submit to the reign of the Son. Now we're seeing that over 2000 years of history, all those that have opposed Christ, they're vanquished one after the other, but there will come a day in the future when all the remaining kings will be assembled at a place called Armageddon. It says in Revelation 16:16, “Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.” All the nations who opposed Christ and raged against him, assembled for destruction and that destruction is described, [Revelation 19], “When the Son Jesus Christ returns on a white charger for glory and for victory, and they will crown him at that point with the crown of all the nations. His kingdom will endure forever.” That's what happens to his adversaries. The final image in Psalm 110 is that He will drink from a brook beside the way, and therefore He will lift up his head. Victory is complete, Christ reigns and He's satisfied. He enjoys that drink. The battle's over. We've established the identity of the king, the coming Messiah, He is God in the flesh, we have talked about the extension of his reign, his scepter going out from Zion, that's Jerusalem, to the ends of the earth, and then the final victory over his enemies. The Kings arranged and then crushed, conquered in heaps, and then he drinks a deep satisfying drink, the victory is his. The Priesthood of the Messiah We skipped one verse. Did you notice? Verse 4. Right in the middle of this comes a strange prediction. “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind. You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” What in the world is this? I grew up in the Catholic church, and every week I heard about the gifts offered by your servant Abel, and the bread and wine offered by Melchizedek. Who is Melchizedek you may be asking, who is Melchizedek? Right in the middle of Psalm 110, this is an immensely important verse. Why do I say that? Because an entire chapter of Hebrews, Hebrews 7 is dedicated to this one verse, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind. You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” Now, up to this point, we've been thinking about Jesus as a king, but now he comes in as a priest, He's not just a king, but a priest and his priesthood is established by the will of the Father. The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind. Established by an oath, it is unchangeable, and it is eternal. You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. The writer to Hebrews points out that the Levitical priesthood was not an eternal priesthood, each priest reigned until he died. But if we could have a priest who could conquer death, now he could be an eternal priest, and so Jesus through His resurrection has gained for himself an eternal priesthood in the order of Melchizedek. Now, who is Melchizedek? Genesis 14 says, “Then Melchizedek, King of Salem, brought out bread and wine, he was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram. Saying, Blessed be Abram by God Most High, creator of heaven and earth, and blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand, then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” There it is, we have now heard everything the Old Testament says about Melchizedek: Genesis 14, a couple of verses, and Psalm 110:4, that's it. Yet he is the focal point of the argument of the writer to Hebrews, that Jesus is for us, a priest-king, joined together forever. Hebrews 7 says, “This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High.” He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness”, then also King of Salem means King of Peace. Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, he remains like the Son of God, a priest forever. All it means is that Melchizedek just pops up in the Genesis account, does his thing, and then just disappears. It's like, he has no beginning and no end. And so the writer to Hebrews says that Jesus' priesthood is just like that, it's eternal. It had no beginning, it will have no end. He's a priest forever. Now, this idea of a priest-king was excluded by the Old Covenant. You couldn't have it. Remember there are three offices in the old Covenant, you've got prophet, you've got priest, you've got king. You could have a king who was a prophet, David was one, you could have a priest who was a prophet, Jeremiah was one, but you could not have a king who was a priest. Do you remember what happened with Solomon when he tried to offer sacrifices? That day Samuel tore the kingdom away from him because of his arrogance. Do you remember the day that godly Uzziah came in to burn incense at the altar and some courageous priest confronted him and said, “It is not right for you to be here, Uzziah. This has been given to the priest and not to the king.” And Uzziah went to strike or to shout, and God struck him with leprosy at the moment, and he had leprosy till the day he died, and they hustled him out of the temple and said indeed he was happy to go because God's hand was against him. You cannot have a king who is a priest in the Old Covenant, and therefore we must have a new covenant, and so we do, we have a whole new covenant, and Jesus is a priest in the new covenant, an eternal priest who brings for us a sacrifice that will never end. Jesus Christ offers for us his own blood as a sacrifice, and he offers it forever. Psalm 110 depicts Jesus Christ, the triumphant messiah, coming to do a kingly work to triumph and to reign. The Jews were waiting for that. But they missed Verse 4, he had a priestly work to do first, he had to offer himself as a sacrifice, a dead sacrifice with his blood poured out, that we might have eternal life Application What is the application of the Psalm for us today? First of all, understand these words were written a thousand years before Jesus was born. The supernaturally accurate predictive prophecy of scripture is its greatest testimony to its divine origin. Every day you hold in your hands a supernatural book because its words come from God. David was speaking by the spirit when he wrote these things, and the Spirit has something to say to you today through them. The first application, is just the beauty and the perfection of scripture. The second is how Jesus handles scripture. His entire argument turns on one word in Hebrew, “My Lord.” Are we too careful, too meticulous with scripture? Looking at it too much. Thinking about it too much. I know the other way, we don't deal with it carefully enough, we don't study to show ourselves approved unto God, workmen who do not need to be ashamed, but who correctly handle and rightly divide the Word of God. Jesus was accurate in his handling of scripture and careful. Thirdly, the certainty of Christ's final triumph. Some day, Jesus will reign. And how is that applicable to us today? What would you say is the number one news story these days? Is there a second news story? I'm not sure that there is. Do you realize that someday Jesus is going to reign and that's not uncertain at all? There's not going to be any recount, there'll be no dangling chad. Do you understand that there is no chad involved in the establishment of Christ's kingdom? It's a done deal, the Father's decreed, and the zeal of the Lord Almighty is going to accomplish it. It's a certain thing. Therefore, if you are a Christian, you've signed on the winning side, you're guaranteed of having your man rule and he will rule forever and ever. Rejoice in that because it's a righteous rule. It's a righteous scepter. Fourthly, the battle is not done yet. Does he reign on earth as he does in Heaven? No, so, therefore, we got to go to verse 3. His troops are supposed to be willing on the day of battle. Are you willing? Are you willing to have a wartime mentality? Are you willing to think of yourself as a warrior? Are you willing to deny yourself certain pleasures and comforts and privileges that Jesus may be established as king over the earth? The kingdom does not extend except through the suffering of those who extend it. I've noticed that. If you're willing to sign on and to enlist in his army, you're willing to deny yourself and take up the cross and follow, then you will be useful, you will be one of the troops, willing on the day of battle. But if you live for comfort and pleasure and ease, you will not assist in the advance of the kingdom, you must deny yourself to help advance. Are you a warrior in your prayers? Praying for the extent and the establishment of Christ's kingdom. Are you a warrior in your giving? Denying yourself earthly comforts that you may give more to the advance and the extension of Christ's kingdom. Are you a warrior in your witnessing in your evangelism, willing to put aside your earthly reputation that someone else might be saved? Do you carry a wartime mentality with you day after day? This verse calls for his troops to be willing in the day of His power when He needs us. “He who does not gather with me scatters,” said Jesus. Are we gathering with him? Are we energetically involved? Finally, just the most heart-felt, soberest warning to those of you who are not in Christ, do you see what these verses say about Christ's enemies? They will be crushed. You may say, “Well, that's not the loving Jesus that I know.” Well, may I say to you that the Scripture testifies to who Jesus is. We can't put Jesus together in our imaginations. He will crush his enemies. Don't be his enemy. That's the warning here. Don't be his enemy. Don't vote against him in the coming of His kingdom. You may say that you don't feel like his enemy. It doesn't matter, Satan deceives us. The fact of the matter is, are you relying on Christ's righteousness alone for your salvation? Have you turned to Christ and put your trust in Him? And is he your king? Does he rule over you? And those times when he doesn't rule over you by his command, do you grieve over them and wish it were different? Are you his child? You could say, “Well, I had too much sin. He'll never accept me.” He is a priest in the order of Melchizedek, and his blood is sufficient for all of your sin. Sufficient to cleanse you top to bottom. Come to Christ today. Closing Prayer Close with me in prayer, please. Heavenly Father, as we have considered Psalm 110, we are staggered by its truth, the seven short verses and they testify so miraculously to Christ. This greater son of David, who David is on his face worshipping now and gladly. Oh God, I pray that we, your troops, would be ready for you in the day of your battle, and I pray that any who are here who do not know you as Lord and Savior, that they would repent, throw down weapons of rebellion or indifference, and come to faith in Christ. We believe, O high priest, great high priest, that your blood is sufficient to cleanse all of our sins. Pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.