Podcasts about Asaph

What do you do when your sins feel too heavy to carry, when your closest friends turn against you, or when you look at the world and wonder why the wicked seem to prosper while the faithful suffer? In Psalms 49–101, the psalmists give voice to our rawest cries, leading us from the depths of personal brokenness straight into the healing sanctuary of God. Summary: In this moving exploration of Psalms 49–101, we walk through the second major collection of the Hebrew Psalter. Moving between searing prayers of confession and breathtaking anthems of praise, these chapters provide an emotional and spiritual compass for every trial of mortality. The Agony of Confession: We dissect Psalm 51, David's brokenhearted plea after Nathan confronted him regarding Bathsheba. We examine what it means to offer a "broken and a contrite heart," asking God not just for a pardon, but to "create in me a clean heart". The Sting of Betrayal: In Psalm 55, we explore David's lament over being betrayed not by an open enemy, but by an equal and trusted companion—a passage that powerfully foreshadows Judas's betrayal of Jesus Christ. Envy and the Sanctuary Perspective: We study Asaph's crisis of faith in Psalm 73, where his feet almost slipped while envying the ease of the worldly—until he entered the sanctuary of God and understood their end. Tears in a Bottle & God's Memory: We dive into Psalm 56, discovering the tender truth that God numbers our wanderings, stores our tears in His bottle, and never leaves us to face mortality alone. Divine Potential and Council: We analyze Psalm 82, exploring the divine council and the Savior's quotation of verse 6 ("Ye are gods") to understand the balance between human humility and divine heritage. Entering His Gates with Praise: We conclude with the exuberant joy of Psalm 100, examining the seven invitations to worship and the remarkable story of how the Spirit prompted B. H. Roberts to read this exact psalm in a moment of public trial. Call-to-Action: When your heart feels overwhelmed, David pleads: "Lead me to the rock that is higher than I" (Psalm 61:2). What verse or phrase from Psalms 49–101 has served as your anchor during seasons of spiritual disorientation? Share your favorite psalm and personal insights in the comments below. To keep your gospel foundation anchored and "Unshaken," please like, subscribe, and share this video! Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 5:09 Worldly Wealth (49) 12:41 Covenant Renewal (50) 26:12 A Plea for Forgiveness (51) 48:58 Wickedness, Doubt, & Disloyalty (52-55) 1:05:41 Pleas for Help, Mercy, & Vengeance (56-58) 1:14:16 Innocent Suffering, and a Call to Arms (59-60) 1:22:33 Rocks, Wings, Walls, Water, & Weapons (61-64) 1:37:20 Thanksgiving, Finding Family, & the House of the Lord (65-68) 2:01:25 Messianic Psalms & Deep Waters (69-72) 2:18:38 Envying the Wicked, Apostasy, & the Bitter Cup (73-76) 2:29:43 Dealing with Depression (77) 2:40:28 Learning from the Past (78) 2:52:25 Planting & Renewing (79-81) 3:00:07 Gods in Embryo (82) 3:07:24 Redemptive Turbulence & the Temple (83-84) 3:15:40 Mercy & Truth's Kiss (85-87) 3:26:00 Work for the Dead & Wayward Children (88-89) 3:40:20 Long Life, Safety, & Sanctuaries in Time & Space (90-94) 3:57:05 Enthronement Hymns & Psalms of Celebration (95-99) 4:10:51 The Thanksgiving Psalm (100) 4:16:16 Conclusion

Ever feel like you do the right thing but get nowhere, meanwhile everyone else gets ahead?As we dive into Book 3 of our Psalms journey, we enter what many call the "valley" of the psalms. This section of psalms mirrors the book of Leviticus with a focus on worship and the sanctuary, but with a dramatic twist. The sanctuary lies in complete ruin, enemies are inside the gates, and God's people are left asking how true worship is even possible when everything around them has crumbled.In Psalms 73-80, we walk through the honest struggles of Asaph, and his worship-leading descendants, who function almost like an ancient record label passing down songs through generations. We'll watch Asaph's entire mindset flip from bitter jealousy to total peace the second he steps into God's sanctuary. This collection of ancient songs offers us a real and sacred playlist for our hardest days, from wrestling with deep loss to passing on faith to our kids.In our Psalms 73-80 Bible study, we cover:[3:34] Psalms Book 3: The Ultimate Record Label – Who Asaph and the "Sons of Asaph" actually are and how their music guild led worship across generations.[7:31] Psalm 73: Perspective Shift – why Asaph knows just how you feel when you scroll through social media and a wave of envy washes over you, and how he got past those feelings in a way that could still help us today. [12:17] Psalm 74: Grief and Healing – Why acknowledging what was lost in Psalm 74 is the essential first step before moving toward hope and rebuilding.[16:07] Psalms 75-76: God's Fair Judgement – How to praise God whenever you feel the wicked are winning, because you know He will be a fair judge.[27:51] Psalms 77-78: Passing the Torch – Why telling the next generation about God's miracles is a vital mandate for keeping faith alive today.[35:30] Psalms 79-80: An Allegory of Hope – Why Psalm 80 describes Israel as a vine and how we can pray for restoration in our own life.Psalms Show Notes:Psalms RoadmapPsalms Prayer ListPsalms Playlist on Apple MusicPsalms Playlist on SpotifyPhil Wickham - Psalm 8 (Hallé) [Official Music Video]ACTS Prayer GuideScene from The ChosenGroup Discussion Questions for Psalms 73-80[8:07] Asaph says his feet almost slipped when he envied the wicked. What "successful" people or images tempt you to compare your life unfavorably to theirs, and what would it look like to bring that comparison to God in prayer in His sanctuary, His church?[28:16] Psalm 78 describes a command to tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord. This week, who is one person “in the next generation” you could tell about something you've learned from Psalms?[35:48] As with the vine of Israel in Psalm 80, what is one place in your life where you feel a deep need for God to restore you physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually? How could you invite God into that space, begging for the mercy and healing you need?Contact Bible Book Club!Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.comSocial: Instagram or FacebookWebsite: Bible Book ClubReview Us: Apple Podcast or SpotifyJoin the Fun: DONATE or Buy merchThis episode is part of our ongoing Bible Book Club series, starting with Genesis and journeying all the way through the Bible. Thanks for listening!

Asaph stood at the edge of giving up. He was jealous, hurt, and convinced the world was winning. Asaph's faith began to stumble as he questioned God's goodness, and for a moment he nearly walked away, unaware of who would follow in his steps. Then Asaph had a life changing realization: his choices could cause children and seekers to stumble. That truth pulled him back into the sanctuary, where the church's presence, conviction, and perspective healed his shame and clarified his view of God. In this episode we travel with Asaph through doubt, repentance, and back to church, the place where faith is restored and a clear confession rises: truly, God is good. 

Pastor Zack continues our summer sermon series with Asaph's prayer of lament in Psalm 77. In the midst of his despair and pain, Asaph communicates honestly with God; sharing his deepest struggles and pain. Ultimately, his despair transforms into trust. Join us now as we journey with Asaph from pain to trust.

Defining Moments: Nearly Stumbled (Asaph) Speaker: Ronnie Roberts Text: Psalm 73:1-3 The wickedness of the world can put our faith in peril. I. the world will continue to compete for our attention. (vs. 12) II. Defining moments happen when God has our attention. (vs. 17) III. God is our greatest advantage for life. (vs. 23-26)

We're so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --In 2 Chronicles 19:1-3 When Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem, 2 Jehu the seer, the son of Hanani, went out to meet him and said to the king, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, the wrath of the Lord is on you. 3 There is, however, some good in you, for you have rid the land of the Asherah poles and have set your heart on seeking God.” 2 Chronicles 19:1-3 NIVThe Crisis. Armies are coming against Jehoshaphat.The Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat. 2 Chronicles 20:1 NIVVs 1 Jehoshaphat had just got things in order in chapter 19 and here comes three groups of people coming against him and God's people. Just because you have done some good things does not mean that you are exempt for the attacks from the enemy. Well thought out plans do not disqualify you from the enemy's schemes.What is Jehoshaphat's Response to the possible attack?. Prayer and FastingVs 3-4Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. 2 Chronicles 20:3-4 NIV Part of his prayer is vs 15 “Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 2 Chronicles 20:15Everything hinges on what you are looking at, what you focus on. Prayer and Fasting are life-giving tools through which believers align their eyes and hearts with God's purpose and experience His transformative power.Divine intervention. After they fasted and prayed, God sent intervention. Vs 14-16 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. Tomorrow march down against them.Joel 2:12–13 God promises that when people return to God with fasting and weeping, He will hear and answer. The battle is not yours it's the Lords.Our Response. Praise and worshipVs. 15 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. Vs. 19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.The Word of God demands a correct response from us. The correct response is thanksgiving and praise. God's Resolution. God strategiesVs 21-23 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his[c] holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.” 22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.VS. 27-30 27 Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. 28 They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with harps and lyres and trumpets.29 The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side-------------------------------------------------Download the 828 Church app!To view our latest e-newsletter, the Midweek Momentum, and subscribe to our weekly updates, go here! https://linktr.ee/828church

Psalm 73 shows Asaph moving from bitterness and envy to an eternal perspective. The apparent prosperity of the wicked had distorted his thinking until he remembered that God was still holding his hand. This episode challenges us to shift our focus from temporary circumstances to the God who is our strength, our portion, and our hope forever.

Asaph started strong, then life happened — a surprise stumble that turned praise into questions and devotion into doubt. Through Psalm 73, he transparently shares a near-fall in faith, the sharp sting of misunderstanding God's ways, and the weight of complaining when life doesn't make sense. In this episode, we examine the first step of a three-part recovery: learning to respect God's chastening.

Spirit of God E3 — We've discovered in this series so far that God's Spirit, or ruakh in Hebrew, creates and sustains all life, moment by moment. Another key way the Spirit works in the world is by filling humans with wisdom. But in each story of the Spirit and wisdom, we're left wondering: Was God's Spirit working through that person, or was that just the person? In this episode, Jon and Tim explore the Hebrew Bible's portrayal of the Spirit of God and human wisdom, revealing a profound partnership at work. CHAPTERS Recap and Setup for Spirit and Wisdom (0:00-9:09) Joseph's Wise Words to Pharaoh (9:09-25:47) Bezalel's Craftsmanship and Joshua's Leadership (25:47-40:17) An Extraordinary Spirit in Daniel (40:17-54:49) OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT View this episode's official transcript. REFERENCED RESOURCES In chapter 1, Tim briefly alludes to ruakh as life in  Genesis 6, involving the Nephilim and “sons of God.” For more on this passage, check out our first question and response episode from the God and Spiritual Beings podcast series. Tim also teaches on this passage at length in module two of the Noah to Abraham Class. Correction: in chapter 4 of this episode, Tim accidentally cites Daniel 4 as the place where King Nebuchadnezzar commands his magicians to tell him his dream and interpret it. This story is actually in Daniel 2. Check out Tim's extensive collection of recommended books here. SHOW MUSIC “Sanctuary feat. Asaph's Arrows” by Lofi Sunday “Lunch Break ft. Abstractv” by Lofi Sunday “jazz club.” by Lofi Sunday, PAINT WITH SOUND SHOW CREDITS Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey and Aaron Olsen edited today's episode and provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty writes the show notes. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hello and thank you for joining us! At Gospel Community Church we teach the Bible line by line, verse by verse. In this week's sermon, David Patton takes us through Psalm 73 as we see the hymn writer Asaph confess his temptations of envy and praise the Lord because He is all that we need. This world has nothing better to offer. Want to go deeper in the scripture? Follow our sister podcast, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Deeper in the Text⁠⁠⁠⁠ , to take this text one step further!

August 2, 2026Alex KretzschmerPsalm 80:1-19

Ever look around and feel like everyone else has it easier? Even one of Israel's greatest worship leaders felt that way. In Psalm 73, Asaph almost loses his footing to envy, until God meets him in worship and shows him the whole picture.

Spiritual Eyes of Faith (1) (audio) David Eells, 8/2/26  V. W. - 6/4/19 (David's notes in red) I had this dream where some of us of local UBM were in the living room of a house. Some of us were talking casually, sitting at a picnic table that was in the living room. My husband and I were sitting next to each other; Debbie Fenske was to the right, a little farther away. She was talking to us about the book we are reading in our Wednesday Bible studies, The Real Good News. (This book is about what the Gospel provides for those who overcome through faith.) She said something about the chapter we are in, and she had read a few chapters ahead. She was also very excited about the deliverance the Lord is doing now, and something about spiritual warfare. I remember seeing Joe D. (who has come here to visit) sitting in a chair diagonally across from her, smiling. As she was talking about the book, I knew we were now receiving “grants”. (For those who take part in the cleaning up process, the heavenly “grants” will come to those who have faith in the promises.) Then, when I woke up I thought of (Php.1:29) …to you it hath been granted in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer in his behalf. (Those who suffer with Jesus in our death to self will also reign with him through the grants. (2Ti.2:11) Faithful is the saying: For if we died with him, we shall also live with him: 12 if we endure, we shall also reign with him: if we shall deny him, he also will deny us. (Rev.2:26) And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations. All the promises we've been given from the Lord are past tense, so we see them as being “granted” already.) I thought about how a grant is a gift to be used for a specific purpose. And I searched the New Testament for the word ‘granted' and found these verses. (I added the Old Testament grants to overcomers.) It is amazing to see all the things the Lord is granting us now. Thank You, Father, for Your grace and for granting us to be delivered out of the hands of our enemies! Thank You for all the things You are giving us. May we use all You grant us for Your Kingdom and glory in Jesus name, Amen! (Luk.1:73-75) The oath which he sware unto Abraham our father, 74 To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Should serve him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before him all our days. (Act.4:29) And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness. 30 while thy stretchest forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy Servant Jesus. 31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness. (Act.14:2) But the Jews that were disobedient stirred up the souls of the Gentiles, and made them evil affected against the brethren. 3 Long time therefore they tarried there speaking boldly in the Lord, who bare witness unto the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. (Act. 27:23-25) For there stood by me this night an angel of the God whose I am, whom also I serve, 24 saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must stand before Caesar: and lo, God hath granted thee all them that sail with thee. 25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even so as it hath been spoken unto me. (Rom.5:5) Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus: 6 that with one accord ye may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Gal.3:16) Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (And He grants to those who abide in Christ who are sons of Abraham by faith.) 17 Now this I say: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God, the law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, doth not disannul, so as to make the promise of none effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise: but God hath granted it to Abraham by promise. (Eph.3:16-19) that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man; 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God. (2Pe.1:3-4) Seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue; whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust. (1Ch.4:10) And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that thy hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it be not to my sorrow! And God granted him that which he requested. And He will grant us this too. (2Ch.1:11) And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thy heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor the life of them that hate thee, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: 12 wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee; neither shall there any after thee have the like. (Ezr.3:6) From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt-offerings unto Jehovah: but the foundation of the temple of Jehovah was not yet laid. 7 They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and food, and drink, and oil, unto them of Sidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar-trees from Lebanon to the sea, unto Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia. (Trump as Cyrus is conquering D.S. Babylon and freeing the Christians and granting them expenses to build the true Temple. Its happening!) (Ezr.7:6) this Ezra went up from Babylon. And he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which Jehovah, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of Jehovah his God upon him. 7 And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king. 8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. … 13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, that are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with thee. … 15 and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, 16 and all the silver and gold that thou shalt find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill-offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem; (Just as above, Ezra was granted to lead the people of God out of Babylonish bondage with a grant from the King to build the temple of God, which is a type of God's people so it will be granted today.) (Est.5:8) If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to-morrow as the king hath said. (Esther the Bride was granted to save the people of God from the D.S. Beast kingdom and bring them to their spiritual Red Sea destruction so it will be today.) (Neh.2:7) Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the River, that they may let me pass through till I come unto Judah; 8 and a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the castle which appertaineth to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me. (Again a grant from the King to rebuild the true Temple of God and so it will be in our day.) (Est.5:6) And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. (So ask today, Bride, for whatever you need!) (Est.7:2) And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. (The Bride is granted to be a joint heir with Christ.) (Est.8:11) wherein the king granted the Jews that were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, their little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey, (The Bride is granted to give authority to destroy the D.S. Beast kingdom.) (Est.9:12) And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what then have they done in the rest of the king's provinces! Now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done. 13 Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews that are in Shushan to do to-morrow also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows. (The Bride is granted to give authority to utterly destroy the D.S. Beast kingdom.) (Job.10:12) Thou hast granted me life and lovingkindness; And thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. (Pro.10:24) The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him; And the desire of the righteous shall be granted. 25 When the whirlwind passeth, the wicked is no more; But the righteous is an everlasting foundation. (Psa.20:4) Grant thee thy heart's desire, And fulfil all thy counsel. (Psa.119:29) Remove from me the way of falsehood; And grant me thy law graciously. 30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness: Thine ordinances have I set before me. 31 I cleave unto thy testimonies: O Jehovah, put me not to shame. 32 I will run the way of thy commandments, When thou shalt enlarge my heart. (Psa.140:7-11) O Jehovah the Lord, the strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. 8 Grant not, O Jehovah, the desires of the wicked; Further not his evil device, lest they exalt themselves. Selah. 9 As for the head of those that compass me about, Let the mischief of their own lips cover them. 10 Let burning coals fall upon them: Let them be cast into the fire, Into deep pits, whence they shall not rise. 11 An evil speaker shall not be established in the earth: Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.   Abiding in Heavenly Places Alenna Timoshchuk - 12/17/21 (David's notes in red) I dreamt that my husband went to visit David Eells and Michael, but instead of visiting them where they lived now, he actually was visiting them in heaven. (Representing the first fruits Man-child ministers living in “heavenly places in Christ”.) None of them were dead; they were still alive on this earth, but it was like there was a lower part of heaven that was open to those who abide in Christ, and they could visit it, even though they were still alive on earth. (The first fruits come into perfection through Christ first by abiding with Him in heavenly places.) I got to see a bit of it as if I was looking through my husband's eyes and it looked like it was just above all the mountain peaks. (Looking through our husband's eyes represents seeing the way our heavenly husband Jesus sees. The Bride has the eyes of a dove, representing the Holy Spirit, just as her husband Jesus does. (Son.4:1) Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; Thine eyes are as doves behind thy veil. Thy hair is as a flock of goats, That lie along the side of mount Gilead. And (Son.5:12) His eyes are like doves beside the water-brooks, Washed with milk, and fitly set.) It had beautiful pine trees and rivers, and Michael and David lived in a beautiful large log cabin, a really fancy one. (For anyone who loves the outdoors and appreciates nature, this would be their dream place. Just the prettiest scenery you could ever imagine.) (I was shown in a vision years ago a tower of logs that represented the UBM ministry that the Lord was giving me. This log cabin represents the UBM ministry living the crucified life, represented by the cross timbers at the corners.) My husband stayed with them for three days, then came back to me and was just so excited, telling me all about it. He was saying how Michael (Meaning, “Who is like God”) held a staff in his hand, and if someone wanted to enter that part of heaven, then he'd hold it out, and if the color turned red, then the person could not enter because they were not abiding in Christ. But if it turned green, then they could go in. He told me how relieved he was when the staff turned green and not red. He started telling me about how wonderful and beautiful everything was up there. (The first fruits have very good discernment; the discernment of Jesus, and the wicked don't ever get past them. (2Co.10:6) and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full.) Then he pulled out a branch from a pine tree and gave it to me. It had the most beautiful aroma. I thought it was so sweet that he brought me a souvenir from heaven. (Pine trees are evergreens, and they represent everlasting life. Jesus is the Father of Eternity and the Branch. This is the gift or souvenir that Jesus has brought back to us with His resurrection. (Isa.9:6) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father (Hebrew: Father of Eternity), Prince of Peace.) Then I told him, “I want to go so badly. I want to be in heaven.” And he smiled and hugged me and said, “Let's go for your birthday on March 6th. (3/6 or 3+6=9. Nine was the hour that Jesus died on the cross, and there are 9 fruits of the Spirit for those who have died to self. And, as in the natural, those who die get to go to heaven. Our birthday begins when we begin to die to our flesh by living the crucified life; then we begin to bear the fruits of the Spirit of God as He makes us a fully born again new creature in Christ.) Then he said, “Maybe then we can stay there for a month.” (30 days? Jesus was 30, as the Law states, when He began his ministry.) I was so excited! I knew it would be the best birthday I've ever had, but I worried a little that we wouldn't have enough money to not work for an entire month. (God will always make provision when He holds the green staff because we walk by faith to follow in His footsteps.) Then I woke up.   Seeing Others Through Faith Eve Brast - 06/13/08 (David's notes in red) The Shulamite bride in Song of Solomon had the eyes of a dove, meaning she saw things the way God's Spirit sees things. This dream teaches us to see others by faith as God does, to see that they have already been given godliness through Christ. This is the opposite of the way the faction views righteous people. (2Pe.1:2) Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue; 4 whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in that world by lust. Spiritual eyes see the end from the beginning. I had a dream that began in an indoor swimming pool area. The voice of David Eells was talking over my right shoulder throughout the whole dream. He was showing me different people and situations; people that I had wondered whether they were saved or would be saved, or if these people were making the right choices or living their lives the right way. These things had disturbed or concerned me throughout my life. (Rather than wonder about them, we should have faith for them to be saved. (Php.1:6) being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ: 7 even as it is right for me to be thus minded on behalf of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as, both in my bonds and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers with me of grace.) David would show me these different people. Some of them were close friends or family members; others were strangers whom I had never seen before, or people I had only had brief encounters with. I was walking on the right side of the pool. David's voice was talking over my shoulder in my right ear from behind me. Suddenly, I could hear the voices of my son Noah and his friend Nathan squabbling ... I walked up to them, not sure how to handle their squabble, and was frustrated with their childish foolishness ... Then David Eells walked over to both of them and, in a gentle way, started teaching them ... He calmed them with a gentle voice. Then he showed them how to…reconcile their differences. (Mat.5:9) Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God.) Then the scene changed. David's voice was still in my right ear, teaching me. The more he taught me, the more my spiritual sight opened up, and I began to see these people the way God sees them or knows them, even when they are still living in sin or ignorance. (We have to be the peacemakers between the immature and teach them to let God be the judge between them.) The next scene was outdoors on some land that David owned... I drove up in a flatbed pick-up with food, plants, flowers and one small crate of special baby birds. I was contributing these things as a gift to UBM. (No buying and selling but giving and receiving.) All of us lived on his land and had our different positions and chores or things we were assigned to do, based on what we were good at. (Everyone will work according to their assigned gifts and abilities from God, Him working in them to will and to do of His good pleasure; this creates peace and rest.) ... The women and I carried all the food, plants and flowers into the greenhouse nursery to tend to them. I set the baby birds on the top right corner of a table in the center of the nursery. (Baby Christians in the nursery will grow up like the Father's planting.) One of the women who was older than me in her 50's with dyed, dark brown hair walked past the birds and looked down at them with presumptive irritation and said, “What are those?” I started to tell her, but she cut me off because her true intention was to make a point that she wasn't going to help me feed them or care for them. She said, “Well, I hope you don't expect me to take care of them”. I was offended at first by her presumptuousness. But David's voice on my shoulder explained to me why she said that, because that was not God's calling for her and then something amazing happened. All at once, I was able to see her heart attitude and knew this woman intimately as God saw her! All my anger just melted away …and I loved this woman and was so grateful for all she had done for UBM. I was shown how precious and valuable she was to God, and I cherished her like a hidden treasure! (Everyone will learn to appreciate individual callings and gifts as the people manifestly become the body of Christ. No one will do without, for the body will minister to itself as it was in the Book of Acts.) After this, the scene changed, and the plant nursery turned into my grandmother's house. It was Christmas, and there were gobs of Christmas décor everywhere. My mother's family was celebrating Christmas and standing around, eating and talking to one another. My grandmother was being the good hostess that she has always been, preparing food and asking everyone about themselves ... (In God's nursery, the babies can grow up out of their Babylonish traditions without condemnation.) Suddenly, I realized that my grandfather was there. (He passed away back in September 2007.) He was dressed in a colorful Christmas sweater and he looked so young and full of life! (Representing those who are immature, who are dead in their sins, can grow up out of Babylonish works.) My grandmother acted as if it were normal to have a dead man mulling around her house! My mom finally came in, and I rushed over to her in a panic and said, “Thank God you are here! Grandpa is alive! And he is running around here talking to everyone!” I was fearful and horrified. My mother was surprised and concerned. She didn't know what to do except pretend like everything was normal and talk to my grandpa like he was still alive. My mom and I were the only two who realized that my grandpa had died. (Resurrection life will come to those in immature Babylonish habits when we see them and talk to them as though they are alive from the dead and new creatures in Christ. (2Co.5:14) For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and he died for all, that they that live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who for their sakes died and rose again. 16 Wherefore we henceforth know no man after the flesh: even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know [him so] no more. 17 Wherefore if any man is in Christ, [he is] a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new. 18 But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech [you] on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God. 21 Him who knew no sin he made [to be] sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.) As I stood there, I could hear David's voice over my shoulder again, and it calmed me down, and my fear melted away. ... Then that amazing thing happened again! I started quietly observing my grandpa as he talked and interacted with the other family members. He was beautiful and radiant. He was kind and his heart was childlike. I saw him the way God had seen him! (Yes, by faith and renewed imagination as a new creature in Christ.) He was going around, really just pouring his soul into his children and grandchildren! I couldn't believe what a precious soul this was! (My grandpa used to be a very hard man in his younger years. When I was a child, I heard him and my father arguing as my dad tried to share the Gospel with him. A stream of obscenities would pour out of his mouth. He said he didn't need God. Later in his life, during his 60s, he had a change of heart. He got involved in a local Methodist church and went to Sunday school and church most Sundays and dragged my grandma along, who also got involved with that church. They were really serious about it all. (As baby Christians, we were all involved in a simplistic experience of Christianity, so we should love these as Christ loved us as His babies who are learning to walk -- at the same time correcting the system and leaders who would keep them as babes.) When he had been alive, I judged them for their denominational choice and what I viewed as a shallow, almost worthless relationship with God. (Babies play in the shallow end of the pool until they grow up. We must speak justification by faith to them to give them the joy and confidence of their salvation.) As I was observing my dead grandpa at this Christmas party, I was able to see his heart the way God saw him. It was incredible to me how I could feel how God felt and saw my grandpa! I saw that God cherished his childlike faith and his desire to help others understand things and mentor them, and his desire to help others with their projects. (We must see the immature as accounted righteous by faith.) At that moment, I knew that he was with the Lord and not in hell, as I had been concerned about it since his death. The scene changed again, and my grandmother's house turned into the apartment of two homosexual men. As I observed them, they couldn't see me. I was immediately disgusted that I was in their home. (We are forbidden to judge any of the lost, for they have not grace yet to obey and are in bondage, to be pitied [1 Cor.5:9-13].) I was fearful of some sort of defilement or something. These two men were nicely dressed. I listened to them talk. They had several Great Dane dogs that were running around in the backyard. I wasn't happy about those dogs. … As I was feeling threatened by these men and their dogs, I heard David's voice talking in my right ear again, and as I listened, the threat melted away, and I began to see these men's hearts. They had such compassion and loving kindness in their hearts! I watched them love and care for their animals, when suddenly I heard a knock at the door. One of the men went over to open the door. There was a naked man who was obese and hairy all over his body, sitting in a wheelchair with a colostomy bag taped to his lower abdomen that was filled with feces. He was homeless and needed a place to live and someone to help him change his colostomy bag every day. The sight of this man horrified me, and I doubted these men would take him in. I watched as they happily discussed the possibility between themselves and eagerly agreed to take this crippled, naked man into their home and take care of him! I was astounded at their love for other people, their compassion, and their blindness to the flaws of others. God showed me all the qualities that he had formed in their hearts, how He used the betrayal and rejection that they had experienced throughout their lives in order to form Christ in them! I was seeing the end from the beginning in these men (even though they were still in ignorance and lost in their sin). (Those who have been sinners and rejected can appreciate the acceptance of Christ through the Gospel. Some lost people have more of the nature of Christ than some Christians, but they are not justified through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus. In everyone whom God will ultimately draw and call to Himself, He prepares the soil by breaking it up through adverse circumstances and failure, so that through repentance and faith the seed of Christ is planted. Those who are forgiven of much are able to love much. (Luk.7:47) Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little.) God told me, “These are mine!” And they were so beautiful!! So perfect in heart! Such compassion that I had never seen or experienced before! It just made me want to weep. I felt defiled by my own attitudes and judgmental self-righteousness and was horrified at myself. David's words had helped me to see things and people the way that God saw them, in process. I was able to finally see my own heart clearly and repent to God. After this dream, seeing others the way God sees them became a permanent gift. (God sees us as a finished product from the beginning through Jesus' sacrifice, and we must do the same for others. As we forgive them, God forgives us. We can tell them the good news that they are free from sin. The repentant sinner will appreciate this greatly.) They looked so precious to me, and I just cherished each one in my heart like a rare jewel! I didn't see their sin anymore or their imperfections. I wasn't concerned about their immediate state or what they were planning to do that was sinful or wrong. I just saw the end from the beginning and felt such rest! (Seeing our loved ones through the sacrifice of Christ by faith gives us rest that God will do the work in them.) Not only did God settle my uncertainty about the salvation or spiritual condition of all the people whom I have prayed for or been “concerned” about in my family or other people's families, but He gave me the faith I needed to believe in the sanctification of others that we pray for and believe for their salvation. (When we pray for lost loved ones, we are commanded to believe we have received what we prayed for and see it as done. (Mar.11:24) Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye received (in original Greek) them, and ye shall have them.) This has been an issue for me that I have worried over and struggled with a lot. These situations were representative of all the lost loved ones whom the saints of God are praying and believing for! Praise God for peace of mind and for His great mercy! To be balanced on this subject, we must not give grace to believers who walk in willful disobedience. (Heb.10:26) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries. 28 A man that hath set at nought Moses law dieth without compassion on [the word of] two or three witnesses: 29 of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense. And again, the Lord shall judge His people.   Learning to Walk in the Spirit Winnie Osegueda - 1/25/22 (David's notes in red) In this dream, I was at my mom's house and there were quite a few different types of people of all colors and nationalities. (I believe this could be part of God's elect still stuck in the mother harlot Church.) There was a man who came into the house who looked like Brandy Arney when he was a bit younger. This man looked like a mix between Brandy Arney and the actor Daniel Craig, who plays James Bond. (Bond is a play on words representing the first fruits Man-child who are bonded together in the agape love of Christ to teach the woman, as Revelation 12 shows. The Man-child body of all nations teaches the woman to fight for the Kingdom like Bond fought for his.) I wanted him to come in because he was going to show me how real the spiritual realm is, and I invited him inside. He was wearing a white or light cream sweater as he stood across from me in front of my mom's front door. As “Brandy/Bond” stood there, I saw his spirit man come out of his body and I was blown away. I asked him how to do that, and he began to teach me. (This represents learning to walk in the Spirit and be led by the Spirit rather than walk in the flesh. (Rom.8:12-14) So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh: 13 for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.) Then, as I stood there, my spirit man also came out of my body. This aspect of the dream felt so real. I literally felt myself leave my body. (living in the flesh no more) As I was “walking in the spirit,” I could see and feel my spirit man's arm and hand touch a white lady's sweater with ruffles on the shoulders that was folded over on the back seat of a wooden chair in my bedroom. I believe this sweater was for me. (These are the righteous acts of the saints that we are clothed with when we walk in the Spirit, denying our flesh.) (I see this dream as a parable of coming out of the flesh and walking in the Spirit, and how we are able, by faith, to put on the Lord's righteous garments.) Then I woke up. I asked the Lord for a couple of verses regarding myself in this dream and I received by faith at random: (Joh.3:12) If I told you earthly things and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you heavenly things? (We walk in Heavenly things when we walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh.) And (Eph.4:14) (14-16 for context) that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; 15 but speaking truth in love, may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ; 16 from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.   Seeing Christ in the Mirror Marie Kelton - 1-28-22 (David's notes in red) During the night the Lord gave me a vision of my spiritual man in a dark place. (1Co.13:10-12) but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known.) She was wearing all white and standing in front of a vanity that was all white with a desk and a chair. My spiritual man was looking in the mirror and saw a black being there. I knew it was my flesh man in the mirror. (Jas.1:23-24) But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves. 23 For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: 24 for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.) My spiritual man broke the mirror by hitting it. (Because we cannot see the old man in the mirror, or we will not be justified by faith and not have the power to obey.) Then I saw the Lord standing next to my spiritual man in front of the vanity. (2Co.3:18) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.)   Get the Beam out of Your Own Eye C. P. - 1/15/22 (David's notes in red) In a vision, I saw a mist and heard the word “fumigate”. (Fumigate means to exterminate or disinfect using smoke or chemicals.) (I believe this mist is the prayers of the saints, as well as the Holy Spirit). Then in the mist I saw a wooden beam. (Mat.7:1-5) Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me cast out the mote out of thine eye; and lo, the beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.) In the wooden beam, there was the tiniest little black speck, but as the mist continued to stay on the beam, the black speck became bigger until something wriggled out from the wooden beam. It looked like a newt or a small lizard. It was struggling to survive so it left. (The black newt or lizard can be the spirit of judgement, which hangs around with rejection and fear of rejection. These unclean spirits are curses from the evil one. All factious spirits of criticism, judgement, rejection, etc. leave when the fumigation mist of the saints' prayers comes. We need to be praying for our brothers and sisters! (1Th.5:23-25) And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it. 25 Brethren, pray for us.) The prayers, both personal and collective, for ourselves and for others, are how we cast out the beam from our own eye. Then you can see the beam and what was in it. Our prayers to be cleansed from all unrighteousness are heard, and He will complete the good work He has started in each one of us! Praise God!) This vision greatly encouraged me, and I have been trying to use every opportunity in my daily disciplines to pray for others, even if it is in the Spirit with tongues. I asked the Lord if I should share this dream with the body to encourage everyone, and received by faith at random (Psa.65:5) of them that are afar off, so that's an affirmative! (In context 5-7) By terrible things thou wilt answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation, Thou that art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, And of them that are afar off upon the sea: 6 Who by his strength setteth fast the mountains, Being girded about with might; 7 Who stilleth the roaring of the seas, The roaring of their waves, And the tumult of the peoples.   The Lord is Cleansing His Body Winnie Osegueda - 9/20/21 (David's notes in red) I dreamt that I was at the house where we (UBM) meet locally. (Winnie here represents the Bride body that the Lord is faithfully attending to in order to get them cleaned up and ready for ministry during the 7 years of tribulation.) I was sitting on the couch that I normally sit on with my family, which is on the right of David. Instead of David sitting on the chair he normally sits in, however, he was sitting beside me. As David sat next to me, he turned into another man, whom I had not seen before. This man was regular-looking and was younger, but not too young. He also had a nice tan, like someone who'd been out in the sun often. (I believe this man was Jesus, but at the same time, he was also still David.) (Jesus and David 'merged together' represents the Lord through the David/Man-child body of ministers shepherding and caring for their flocks in faithfulness and love.) The man began to speak to me and told me that when I sing, it sounds very beautiful to the Lord. (Our praise and worship are not just songs that we sing to the Lord, but we worship Him with the sacrifice of our lives through obedience to His Word and taking up our cross daily to follow Christ in our suffering of death to self. (Joh.4:23) But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers. The Greek word for worship here is Proskuneo, meaning to “kiss towards.” i.e. an act of love towards God is worship. This could include praise, singing, or what we normally think of as worship or other acts of love towards Him and our fellow man.) (For the morning prayer meeting on the morning that I received this dream, the verses I got by faith at random were the story of the woman with the alabaster jar of expensive perfume, which I received confirmation of when Chuc received the same story in a different gospel the following day or two. (Mar.14:3) And while he was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster cruse of ointment of pure nard very costly; and she brake the cruse, and poured it over his head. (This was an act of love toward the Lord.) (I believe this could be symbolic of giving the Lord our all and holding nothing back.) Winnie went on to say: He also said that He hears my pain and that it echoes through the kingdom. In the dream, I knew immediately that it meant I needed to cast my burdens onto the Lord. When the man said this to me, the thought came to me that I had to lay down my pain and give it to the Lord. (When we allow the enemy to inflict his pain upon us by receiving his fiery darts, it affects the whole body of Christ, and everyone suffers when one is suffering. This is how it echoes through His Kingdom.) The man also said to me, “Can't you see the angels around you?” I looked up and saw several angels above me, almost forming a circle. (Psa.91:11) For he will give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways. (Psa.34:7) The angel of Jehovah encampeth round about them that fear him, And delivereth them.) (We must keep our angels who are assigned to go forth for us into battle against our enemies employed. (Heb.1:14) Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation?) As this man was talking to me, I could see his eyes were very kind, and they also teared up. The man had a lot of compassion, and as he was telling me all these things, my eyes began to well up with tears. As a tear began to fall down my left cheek, the man reached over to wipe it away. As he wiped away my tear, he also began to rub a black spot off of my face. (Jesus not only came to wipe away our sorrows and give us His joy and freedom, but He also came to take away all our sins, spots, and blemishes.) A feeling of shame tried to creep up on me, as if I did not want the man to look too closely at my faults and flaws. (Shame and condemnation will keep us trapped in a prison and an endless cycle, and we will not be effective for the Kingdom of God if we stay in this state.) Then I woke up suddenly. The verse that came to me as I was typing this was: (Eph.5:25-27) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it; 26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, 27 that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. This is a work that the Lord will complete in us, and all we have to do is repent and believe. (1Jn.1:9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  I asked the Lord if I should share this dream with the body and received by faith at random: (Eph.2:21-22) in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit. (I thought this was a pretty good confirmation.) (I believe, and also Winnie, that when the Lord removed the black spot, she was representing the Body.)   Loving the Hidden Treasure Eve Brast - 07/30/2016 (David's notes in red) I dreamed that my son Elijah and I were in the basement of a greenhouse where David and Michael lived. It was painted forest green. (I believe Father is using a word play here for a greenhouse where plants are nurtured and protected from the harsh elements.) (This is what we do. Eve represents the Bride of the “last Adam”. Elijah means “my God is YAHWEH”, meaning “my mighty one is YAHWEH”. Those who trust in God's strength to do their works.) The basement had a dirt floor, and the dream started with Elijah and me pulling up a large golden crate out of the ground that had been unearthed. (An obvious hidden treasure in the UBM house. The golden ark of the covenant.) We opened the lid and golden light shone forth from its contents. I don't know who had unearthed it, but he and I were excited to carry it upstairs and show it to our brethren. It was surprisingly lightweight and wasn't at all hard to carry up the basement stairs. (God's hidden treasures are Jesus' light burden. His treasures put faith in us, which gives His power to bear any burden.) Elijah and I brought it and set it on the threshold between the living room and dining room, and I knelt in front of it as Elijah moved around to the other side in the dining room next to Michael Hare. I thought in the dream that it was a “hope chest”. (A hope chest is something that young girls used to have in the old days, where they would store things away for the time when they would be married.) (Representing a treasure hidden for Eve, as a type of the Bride's marriage.) There was a well-lit kitchen off to my right and in front of us, where David was busy preparing something for us all to eat. (Jesus said we must eat His body and He is the Word made flesh, the manna from Heaven that the fleshly tire of, for they value flesh.) Several brethren were standing behind me, waiting to see what was inside the crate. They seemed perturbed at us for bringing the crate up out of the basement. (These are not one spirit with the Bride because of a critical spirit. They are not in one accord to prepare for the coming outpouring.) It's hard to explain, but I could see things through their eyes, as well as my own view. I was going back and forth between what I was seeing and what they were seeing and thinking. Once I knelt down in front of the golden crate, I was then inside the minds of those behind me. I saw myself through their eyes kneeling down in front of an ugly, old wooden crate that had mud and dirt on it. (They do not value the treasure of the Bride as she and the Groom do.) When I opened the crate, the people stepped forward, and when they looked inside, they saw nothing but a small piece of white paper lying on the floor of the upper right-hand corner of the crate. It looked like the corner of a larger piece of white paper that had been torn away. (They don't see the whole page but only a small portion. God gives knowledge and wisdom to those who will use it. He does not give the hidden treasure to those who are only hearers and not doers because they would just be more condemned for not obeying.) They began to make critical comments and think critical things about the crate. They said, “There is nothing in there but a little piece of trash! Why did you drag that old thing up here?” (They who speak against the gifts and Word of God become defiled by what they speak. (Mat.15:18) But the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings: 20 these are the things which defile the man... The righteous treasure everything that comes from God. Those who are satisfied with the world don't hunger for the things of God. (Pro.27:7) The full soul loatheth a honeycomb; But to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. (Psa.17:15) As for me, I shall behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with beholding thy form.) At the same time, I was able to see myself opening the crate through my own eyes, and when I opened it, Elijah, Michael, and I saw that same warm, beautiful golden light come shining forth out of it again. We saw a rich, golden crate and, as we watched, two silver trays of thinly sliced sourdough bread came rising up out of the light. (Sourdough represents “bitter in the belly” or flesh. The bread of Heaven is the light, and it is Christ. Search for Him as for treasure. (Pro.2:3) Yea, if thou cry after discernment, And lift up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seek her as silver, And search for her as for hid treasures: 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of Jehovah, And find the knowledge of God.) One side was completely full of bread, and the other side still had a third of its bread left on the tray. (Two tablets in the ark that were placed there with a bowl of manna and Aaron's rod.) (Both the manna and the tables represent the bread of the Word: (Heb.9:4) ... the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was a golden pot holding the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant...) I said in amazement, “Look at that!” But the people behind me asked, “Look at what? There is nothing there!” Then I heard Father say to me in my right ear, “My promises and entrance into My Kingdom are obtained by faith, but they (meaning the ones behind me) only walk by sight. They can't see what you see.” Michael then gestured with an open hand toward the two trays of bread floating in front of me, cocked his head to the side and said, “Y'all have got two days to eat this bread or else it's going to go bad and we'll have to throw it out! Now get to eatin.'” (Those who saved the bread for another day, saw it go bad. Eat it now or lose it. In Exodus 16, what was the manna that was given? Actually, the word given in Exodus 16 for manna is the word “man”. Look at your footnote at the bottom of the page. The footnote says “man”. Do you know who that man was? The man who came down out of Heaven and gave life to the world. The one we have to eat in order to have life. It is Jesus, the Word. How do you eat Jesus and have life? You have to consume Him. He is the Word made flesh. The Word has to go into you and become a part of your being. How does it do that? You have to believe and obey it. This is exactly what the Word says: (Exo.16:4) Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you... Jesus said, “I am the bread that came down out of heaven for you”. Exodus continues, 4 ... and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in My law, or not. What is it to eat your portion every day? It is to walk in God's Word. He is proving them to see if they will walk in His law. We are supposed to partake of God's Word and walk in it every day. Did you know that for six days they went out and gathered the manna? When they tried to store it up, it bred worms; but when they gathered it for the seventh day, it did not breed worms. What does six mean? Six means “man” and what is earthly and worldly. Seven means rest for those who believe it.) At this point, I had a vision of a flock of Mallard ducks outside the house waiting for that molded bread that had not been eaten after the two days were up, to be tossed to them. (Ducks are waterfowl.) (The bread of the Word is to bring us into the resurrection life of Christ on the third day. (Luk.13:32) And he said unto them, Go and say to that fox, Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures to-day and to-morrow, and the third day I am perfected.) I picked up a slice of bread from the tray that had one-third of the bread left and took a bite. It was good but really sour. The people behind me were angry and were asking, “What bread? What are you talking about?!” They couldn't understand because they didn't have the faith to see what was right in front of them. All they saw was the natural state of that crate and all the negative things. They couldn't even see the bread to eat it. (Luk.8:10) And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to the rest in parables; that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. (Mat.11:25) At that season Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes... Notice that the treasures are hidden from those who are wise in their own eyes. At this point, I was sad for them and felt alone. I obediently kept eating the bread, but I asked Michael, “How am I going to eat all this myself? I'm only one person.” (Those who love the hidden manna are one in Christ.) He didn't answer; he only smiled at me because I was helping to eat the bread so that it wouldn't go bad. Then I woke up. When I woke up from this dream, I asked Father for a verse or text for this dream and received Acts 1:12 (12-26). This is also the verse I gave at the morning prayer meeting. This text talks about the need for us to be in one accord (for the outpouring) as God replaces Judas with another who is faithful to eat the bread. I asked Father for a verse for the critical brethren behind me and received (Pro.8:13) The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate. This whole chapter is an excellent parable for this dream!   Why Die Walking After the Flesh? Suani Guzman - 03/01/2011 (David's notes in red) I asked the Lord for a dream, and He gave me a very good one. There was a woman whose name was Delilah (meaning “weakened, uprooted or impoverished”) who had lost her son. (She was weakened and uprooted because she lost her spiritual man or fruit of the womb of her heart, as in the parable of the sower. How can we lose our spiritual man or fruit? (Jud.12) Twice dead plucked up by the roots. Jesus said in (Joh.15:2) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away.) Some Christians gathered to pray about finding the boy. (Praying for her to find her fruit again.) They were waiting for me to finish washing my teeth. (Son.6:6) Thy teeth are like a flock of ewes, Which are come up from the washing; Whereof every one hath twins, And none is bereaved among them. Each tooth has its opposite so that a person may be well fed spiritually. (Gen.49:12) His eyes shall be red with wine, And his teeth white with milk. The teeth must be washed with the milk of the Word. In this way, clean teeth mean clean spiritual food of the Word.) My son began to pray a mellow prayer, and I felt that prayer wouldn't do it. I started to pray with power and faith. We finished and went on the search. I think the boy's name was Elijah (“my God is YHWH”) and his father's name was Onesimus, a carpenter, who was a very good father. (Onesimus was the runaway slave who met Paul and became “profitable or helpful”, as his name means, when he brought forth the fruit of the spiritual man, his son.) I found an old man who was attaching a boy to a pallet. (The old man had taken the spiritual man captive. It's called walking in the flesh. A pallet is for moving merchandise around. So the old man makes merchandise of the spiritual man, much like false ministers do.) I went over to him and took the boy off and grabbed him. I put the old man on my side like carrying a baby (We must take the old man where he would not go, as Jesus said to Peter) and asked him, “Where is the boy, and who do you work for?” He wouldn't say. I said with a firm determination, “I will win”; then he said, “You already won.” (Through Jesus, we have already won against the old man, who works for the flesh and the devil. (Gal.2:20) I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that [life] which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, [the faith] which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. (Gal.5:24) And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.) While still carrying the old man, I noticed the empty packaging of what he had been using to attach the boy, and I picked it up. I read the label, hoping to trace it to the kidnappers. The price tag read “Humble Oct. 6-11”. (The Lord paid the price to set us free from this bondage above. And the old man will pay a terrible price for taking authority over the spiritual man. What is “Humble Oct.6-11”? This is the opposite of and solution for what happened above when the old man took authority over the spiritual man. This symbolizes the 10th month or book, 6th chapter, 11th verse (Watch this formula), which is (2Sa.6:11) And the ark of Jehovah remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and Jehovah blessed Obed-edom, and all his house. A Gittite is a Philistine of the city of Gath. This is the old man of the flesh that dwells in the land. When the flesh is “Humble”ed, as Obed was under David, and serves the spiritual man, who is the ark of God's presence, he is blessed. The very next verse says that the ark was taken to the city of David, which is Zion, the Bride. 12 And it was told king David, saying, Jehovah hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. And David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with joy. It is the most joyful thing for the ark of God's presence to rest in the Holy of Holies of our spiritual man in the Holy City. In the time of Eli, the ark was taken captive under the authority of the Philistines or fleshly man in 1 Samuel 4-6, and it brought a curse to all their cities so much that they returned it under the authority of the spiritual man, Israel. So when we walk in the flesh, we bring these curses on us, but when the spiritual man is in the lead, we are blessed. The moral of the story is so perfectly written in (Rom.8:12) So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh: 13 for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live. This warfare against the gods that rule over the flesh man and seek to bring under subjection the spiritual man is spoken of in the New Testament, (Here it is again) 10th book, 6th chapter, 11th verse: (Eph.6:11) Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]. Amen.

I am continually with you #Nightlight #RTTBROS NightlightScripture: "Nevertheless I am continually with thee." — Psalm 73:23 (KJV)Reflection: There are nights when the soul feels adrift, clouded by confusion or weighed down by the realization of our own failings. We look at the world around us at the prosperity of the ungodly or the apparent chaos of life and we find ourselves, like Asaph, admitting to a certain heaviness of heart and a lack of understanding. We may feel that our wandering thoughts or our moments of doubt have distanced us from the Divine.But then comes the most beautiful word in the Psalmist's vocabulary: "Nevertheless."This "nevertheless" is the hinge upon which the door of grace swings. It stands as a barrier against our despair. It says that notwithstanding our foolishness, notwithstanding our ignorance, and notwithstanding the very fact that we often feel unworthy, the fundamental truth of our salvation remains unshakeable. Our standing with God does not fluctuate based on the stability of our emotions or the perfection of our faith; it rests upon His steadfast character.To say, "Nevertheless, I am continually with Thee," is to claim a glorious reality: that even when we are lost in thought or mired in doubt, we are held. We are not merely observed from a distance by a cold judge; we are kept by a loving Father. To be "continually" with Him means we are perpetually before His eye and ever-present upon His mind. He is constantly thinking of us for our good.let this truth quiet your heart. You do not have to find your way back to Him through sheer strength; He has already found you. In Christ, His presence is your constant companion, an anchor that holds even when the tide of our understanding pulls away.Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the "nevertheless" of Your grace. When our hearts are confused and our vision is dim, remind us that we are held in Your sight. Thank You that even when we forget You, You never forget us, and that we are continually under the watchful, loving care of Your presence. Amen.

Title: Growing in Understanding Through the Holy SpiritSpeaker: Pastor Tim CopeDate: 4th May 2025Location: Perth, Australia Summary:"Get wisdom, and with all thy getting, get understanding." This episode digs into a word the Bible treats as something bigger than knowledge or even wisdom: understanding. It's framed as something that grows in a person over time, through the Holy Spirit, rather than something learned in a single sitting. The episode opens in John 13 with Jesus washing His disciples' feet, then takes an unexpected detour into a New York Times piece on a seventy five year Harvard happiness study. The findings line up surprisingly closely with principles found throughout scripture: avoid comparing yourself to others, stay positive toward people, learn to be content with your circumstances, and don't dwell on the negative. From there the episode moves through Psalm 73, where Asaph wrestles with envy over the apparent ease of the wicked before finding clarity in God's presence, and finishes in John 3, using Nicodemus's conversation with Jesus about being born again as a picture of stepping into an entirely new way of understanding the world. This is a solid episode for anyone wondering why growth in faith feels slow or hard to explain, and how genuine understanding differs from simply knowing facts about God. Key Points: Understanding is presented as distinct from knowledge and wisdom, something that develops gradually through the Holy Spirit rather than arriving all at once Modern happiness research and biblical teaching point to the same practical habits: don't compare yourself to others, stay positive toward people, accept your circumstances, and avoid dwelling on negativity Being born again is described as a genuine shift into a new way of understanding, similar to how a baby has no concept of the world before birth Reference Scriptures: John 13:14-17 2 Corinthians 10:12 Luke 10:29-37 Philippians 4:6-7, 11-13 James 3:14-18 Ecclesiastes 7:1-4 Hebrews 12:11 Psalm 73 Proverbs 4:1-9 John 3:1-8, 23-30 Listen to the entire Podcast Revival library by visiting https://podcastrevival.com The Revival Fellowship is a Bible-directed, Spirit-filled Church and we welcome visitors to our meetings at any of our locations worldwide. To find your nearest venue visit https://therevivalfellowship.com © 2026 The Revival Fellowship. All Rights Reserved.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do God's children suffer while the wicked often seem to prosper?It is a question that troubled Asaph, burdened Jeremiah, and has challenged believers throughout every generation. In this thoughtful message, Brother Desmond Singh examines Psalm 73 alongside other passages of Scripture to reveal that affliction is not evidence of God's rejection, but often of His loving purpose. As our perspective is transformed, we discover that earthly trials are preparing us for an eternal inheritance.If you have ever wondered why the righteous sometimes walk the hardest road, this message offers both Biblical insight and enduring hope.

As we step into the shoes of Asaph as he stands on the brink—faith shaken, comparing his quiet struggle to the loud success of the ungodly. His perspective warps reality and almost drives him away from God. Through honest questions, a moment of accusation, and the sting of temptation, this episode traces how unrealistic perspectives breed destructive conclusions—and how the gospel cuts through the deception. We examine three guardrails that guide Asaph (and us) back to the life-changing truth: truly, God is good.

What do we do when life feels deeply unfair? When we watch people who seem to ignore God thrive while we struggle despite our best efforts to live faithfully? Psalm 73 pulls back the curtain on one of the most honest and relatable spiritual crises in all of Scripture. Written by Asaph, a worship leader of Israel, this psalm does not sanitize the raw tension between what we know to be true about God and what we feel in the middle of hard circumstances. The central insight is both simple and profound: while life is not always fair, God is always good, period. Not a question mark, a period. The journey Asaph takes us on moves from envy and confusion to a place of deep intimacy with God, and the turning point is not a change in circumstances but a change in perspective. When he enters the sanctuary, everything shifts. Worship has that power. It does not always change what is around us, but it changes how we see it. This message invites us to stop holding our hardest questions at arm's length and instead bring them directly to God, trusting that honesty with Him is not dangerous but is actually the doorway to a closer relationship with Him.Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

July 26, 2026Shannon NielsenPsalm 78: 1-72

Psalm 78 | Asaph urges God's people to stop resisting their Shepherd and trust His gracious rule through His King, fulfilled in Christ.Psalms | Jeremy Hudson

Have you ever looked around at people who play by their own rules, cheat their way to the top, and mock everything holy, only to watch them coast through life in luxury while you sweat blood just to keep food on the table? That crushing thought sneaks into the quietest hours of Monday morning, whispering that your faithfulness has been a bad investment and your sacrifices have yielded nothing but calloused hands. In this message on Psalm 73, Pastor Steve McKenzie uncovers the ancient journal of Asaph, a man whose feet were slipping on glassy ice as he choked on the thick fog of envy and silent doubt. When life curdles your soul and pain reduces you to living by sheer survival instinct, God does not cast you off or recoil from your honesty. Instead, the holy presence of God clears the haze of temporary ease and lifts your eyes to eternity. Discover how Jesus entered our brokenness, laid down His heavenly wealth, and surrendered His flesh to be pierced on the cross so that He could become your unshakable inheritance when your own heart and strength fail.

“Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion…” (Ps 48:2). Not now, says Asaph!

What does it mean to be truly close to God? In today's Christian daily devotion, Pastor Balla reflects on Psalm 73:28 (ESV), where Asaph concludes that life's greatest blessing is not wealth, success, or easy circumstances, but the gift of being near the Lord. This Christ-centered Lutheran devotion points to Jesus Christ, who came near to us through His incarnation, atoning death, and glorious resurrection so that nothing can separate us from God's love. Discover biblical comfort through faithful Scripture teaching, Law and Gospel preaching, and the hope found in Christ alone. If you enjoy daily Bible devotions, verse-by-verse Bible study, ESV Scripture, LCMS theology, Christian encouragement, and Reformation teaching, subscribe and join us each day as we grow together in God's Word and find lasting peace in His promises.Support this ministry:☕ Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/whitegandalphWebsite:buymeacoffee.com/whitegandalphPlease like, subscribe, share this devotion, and leave a comment to help others discover God's Word.#DailyDevotion #Psalm73 #BibleStudy #LCMS #ChristianFaithHashtags

La paix ne vient pas toujours quand nos circonstances changent. Elle vient surtout lorsque Dieu change notre perspective.Dans ce message de la série: Un été au cœur des Psaumes, avec pasteur Luc Dumont nous fait découvrir pourquoi certaines batailles ne se remportent pas avec davantage de réponses, mais par une rencontre avec Dieu. En observant la vie d'Asaph, nous réalisons que la confusion, le découragement et les épreuves ne disparaissent pas toujours lorsque nos circonstances changent. Verset de référence : Psaume 73

Asaph stands at the edge of doubt, watching the prosperous mock and wondering if God is truly just. In this episode we follow his inner dialogue—how envy and distorted comparisons nearly make him quit, and how Scripture begins to peel back the illusion. We walk through Psalm 73, showing how God's Word exposes lies, restores perspective, and leads from accusation back to trust. 

July 19, 2026John SyversonPsalm 81: 1-16

Sermon Outline: "A Table in the Wilderness" Preacher: Pastor Rhonda Davis I. Introduction: The Accusation of Unbelief The Wilderness Setting: Written by King David's chief musician Asaph, Psalm 78 serves as a historical reminder of Israel's behavioral cycles in the desert. Fresh out of Egyptian deliverance—having witnessed the ten plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and being physically guided by pillars of cloud and fire—the people began to bitterly complain against God a mere three days into their journey. An Honest Question vs. An Accusation: In Psalm 78:19, the people ask, "Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness?" Pastor Rhonda noted that the word really transforms a seemingly innocent question into a toxic accusation dressed up as reason. It is the phrase used when a human heart has already decided the answer is "no," waiting around only to prove its own doubt correct. Covenant Over Anger: Despite their rebellion, God did not slam the door or cancel His covenant. Instead, He commanded the skies to open and rained down manna—the food of angels. God systematically spread a feast in front of the very people who were whispering against Him in their tents the night before. The Three Divine Tables Pastor Rhonda unpacked the three distinct tables God establishes throughout biblical history: 1. The Table for the Doubters (The Wilderness Table) The Purpose of the Table: The wilderness table is never a structural reward for individuals who possess perfect, unwavering faith. It is a table of pure grace, deliberately established right in the middle of your human doubting. The Goodness that Pulls: Relying on Romans 2:4, it is the unmerited goodness of God—not His anger—that gently leads broken, derailed, or disappointed individuals into true repentance. The Commitment of God: God remains infinitely more committed to your ultimate destiny than your lingering doubt is committed to keeping you away from His presence. As highlighted in Psalm 78:38-39, He stays full of compassion, frequently holds back His anger, and remembers that human beings are fragile, temporary flesh. 2. The Table for the Enemies (The Battlefield Table) The Blinded Army at Dothan: In 2 Kings 6, the King of Syria surrounded the prophet Elisha at Dothan with a massive host of horses and iron chariots. When Elisha's servant panicked, shouting, "What shall we do?", Elisha uttered the historic reality: "Don't be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those with them." The Spiritual Sight Shift: Elisha did not pray for his servant's natural eyes, but for his spiritual eyes to be opened. Instantly, the young man saw the surrounding mountains packed with the fiery chariots of God's angelic hosts. A Feast Instead of a Sword: After praying for God to strike the Syrian army with blindness, Elisha boldly walked into their ranks and led them directly into the capital city of Samaria. When the King of Israel eagerly asked, "Shall I kill them?", Elisha commanded him to serve them a massive feast of comfort food and water instead. The Victory of Mercy: This exact battlefield feast provides the historical background for Psalm 23:5 ("Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies"). It was not the edge of a sword that permanently stopped the Syrian invasions—it was an overwhelming act of covenant mercy. Pastoral Application on Stiff-Arming: Pastor Rhonda paused the message to deliver a deep word on forgiveness and breaking internal chains (Psalm 44:21). True forgiveness does not excuse the offender; it releases the victim from an emotional prison. She shared a transparent personal testimony of a spiritual son and backup worship leader who left her ministry years prior. Though she smiled outwardly, she spent years "stiff-arming" him to protect her own heart from being hurt again. After her late husband confronted her behavior, she broke down at the altar, embraced the man, repented of her coldness, and unlocked a deep, ongoing fellowship that persists to this day. 3. The Ultimate Table (The Salvation Table) Crushing the Enemy's Head: The framework for the final table was established in Genesis 3, where God promised that the seed of the woman would eventually crush the head of the serpent. Because Satan acutely understands this legal decree, he target-attacks human families with desperation and fear. Spread While We Were Rebellious: Reading from Romans 5:6-8, Christ did not wait for humanity to surrender, perfect their theology, or clean up their lives. He set out the bread and wine of the ultimate table at Calvary while we were actively operating as His lifestyle enemies. The Table of Communion: At the Last Supper, Jesus willingly broke bread, dipped from the same cup, and washed the feet of Judas Iscariot—the very man orchestrating His betrayal. He fully established a table in the literal presence of His enemy. Conclusion: The Mandate of the Church Jesus Is Better: Moving into corporate communion, Pastor Rhonda echoed the foundational theme of the Book of Hebrews: Jesus is structurally better than legalism, religion, and all earthly material goods. He is the express image of the living God. Prophetic Prophecy Declared: During a prolonged moment of corporate worship, a prophetic word was delivered over the room: “I have not brought you this far to leave you, says the Lord. You are hidden in the hollow of My hands, and I am preparing you to move like an arrow shot from a bow at the right time. You are the ones called to set My tables of mercy in the wilderness of this world.” The River in the Desert: Standing across the sanctuary, the congregation applied Isaiah 43:18-19, commanding all spiritual squatters of doubt to leave, completely releasing old bitterness against parents, employers, or former spouses, and taking communion with a fresh, childlike awareness of Christ's healing power. Scripture Index Here are the primary scriptures read, cited, or expounded upon during the service: Psalm 78:19 > "Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish [prepare] a table in the wilderness?" Romans 5:6-8 > "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly... But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners [enemies], Christ died for us." Romans 2:4 (Referenced) – Knowing that the goodness of God leads human beings to repentance. Psalm 78:38-39 > "But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away... For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again."   2 Kings 6:16-17 > "And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." Deuteronomy 31:6 (Referenced) – Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, He it is that doth go with thee. 2 Chronicles 32:7 (Referenced) – Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him. Psalm 23:5 > "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." Psalm 44:21 (Referenced) – Shall not God search this out? For He knoweth the secrets of the heart. Revelation 3:20 > "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Isaiah 43:18-19 > "Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert." Numbers 6:24-26 (The Benediction) > "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." "Thanks for listening! For more information, visit churchoftheharvest.com. Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and YouTube @cothcleveland.

When life seems unfair and it appears that others are prospering while we struggle, its easy to question Gods goodness. In Psalm 73, Asaph wrestles with comparison, doubt, and the apparent success of the wicked. But through corporate worship and an eternal perspective, he is reminded that God is good, faithful, and ultimately all he needs. The post Is God Really Good to Me? appeared first on Caz Church.

Most times, we end up fighting our own battles. But sometimes, the opposition is just – well, it's overwhelming. Then what? Well that's when we can discover that the battle, belongs to the Lord.   I Can Do Anything I Want In this day and age one of the things that they teach us is to be self reliant. To have confidence in our own abilities. You can do anything you set your mind to they tell us. You can make it, it's all up to you. That's ok to a point I guess. It's a good thing to have some confidence in who we are that God made us to be. But you can take this idea too far and it will bring you undone. The positive turns into a terrible negative. See what happens, when the situation we're in or the circumstances that we're facing are so far beyond our ability to deal with them, that any idea of self reliance is completely ridiculous. What happens when the problem confronting us requires skills and abilities that we don't have. What happens when the career we've chosen just doesn't fit who we are? What happens when the one we love, our wife or our husband or one of our children is going through some tough times. Something that as much as we love them, we can't seem to be able to help them through. An illness, a depression, a crisis. And nothing we can say or nothing we can do seems to make any difference. Well, then what? What happens when a tsunami hits our lives? What do we do when the enemy that gathers around us completely outnumbers and outguns us? Come on. Then what do we do? And this isn't some theoretical exercise. This is life. It's my life and it's your life. Because this happens. It's real. There are times in our lives when the enemy whoever or whatever that is, when the enemy is so much bigger than our ability to survive. It happens in families. It happens in work places. And it happens in our hearts. When sickness hits for no good reason. When a loved one is taken in their prime and the grief overwhelms us. When a marriage falls apart. It happens when retrenchment hits. When the economy takes a nose-dive. When their isn't enough food to feed the family. When people betray us. This is life. It's real life. Let me ask you something. When the enemy is so much bigger and so much stronger than anything that you or I could ever handle, what do we do? Some people panic and they run around in ever decreasing circles wasting their precious energy on panicking. You've seen it I've seen it. You know we've both probably been their too. Some people pull over and stop because they're immobilised by fear. That's what happens you know. But neither of those things cut the mustard. Neither of them help. Running around like a headless chook. It's exhausting. Wallowing in self pity is destructive. What do we do? See I'm a pretty self-reliant kind of guy. I like to think that I can handle most things. BUT – there are times when things happen that are completely and utterly beyond anything I can handle. And in those times to hang on to this notion of self-reliance, this delusion of "I can do anything", that will only make it worse. It's OK to believe in ourselves but the reality is that sometimes, maybe this time, we can't swim against this tsunami. It's too big. It's too scary. I was talking the other day with a young woman. She's extremely competent and confident in her field. Professionally she's a class act in every way that you can imagine. We got onto the fact that she had a couple of young kids. And her demeanour changed. See, as someone who's got kids and now they're all grown up, I'm well and truly past the stresses and the strains of bringing up young children. I love telling parents, "Don't worry it's the first 25 years that are the hardest. After that it's a piece of baklava!" It's my, I guess it's my gift of encouragement. Right?" But like any young mother, this motherhood thing was a struggle for this competent, professional woman. It's so tiring. There is so much that is new and is challenging. There's so much in bringing up kids. It's beyond our control. That's the key isn't it. When we're dealing with things that are under our control and we happen to have the skills and the ability and the inclination to control them, well, it's all good isn't it. But the further things are out of our control the more they look like that tsunami and that wave that we can't ride. Then, then it gets scary. I want to introduce you today to one of the kings in Israel's history. Actually he's the king of a couple of the tribes of Israel, Judah and Benjamin. His name was Jehoshaphat. Ok it's a long name. We don't use that kind of name these days. But he was definitely one of the good guys. And there was a time when he was confronted with an enemy that was way, way, way beyond his ability to fight and defeat. Let's pick up the story in 2nd Chronicles Chapter 20 verse 1. After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, "A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; already they are at Engedi. Jehoshaphat was afraid; See this was an army much bigger than his own. The odds were completely overwhelming and Jehoshaphat were facing absolutely certain defeat. To the king that meant death for his people it meant death or slavery or loss of all their possessions and land. Probably rape for the woman. The higher the stakes are the scarier it gets, doesn't it? And for Jehoshaphat the stakes couldn't have been higher. He was in that place well and truly that you and I find ourselves in for time to time. I just want to establish here that old king Jehoshaphat, well he was human like you and me. He's not some super-human king. There were armies coming in against him. He was completely outnumbered and outgunned. This was a life and death situation and it says Jehoshaphat was afraid. Jehoshaphat is just one of us. I remember as a young boy going to the dentist. I'd walk in the front door and there was this staircase leading up to the dentist. And the smell of the dental surgery the moment you walked in the door. And their was a knot in my stomach sitting in the waiting room. Fear is something that disables us. It's not good for anyone when we're disabled by fear. It's not good for ourselves, it's not good for God. It's not good for those who need our help. Jehoshaphat was afraid. But it's what he did in his fear that made all the difference and we're going to take a look at that in just a moment   What Happens When I Can't? Well let's get back into God's word and take a look at what happened king Jehoshaphat. What he was facing in this completely overwhelming odds. Have a listen. We're starting, if you have a bible grab it, in 2 Chronicles chapter 20 beginning at verse 3: Jehoshaphat was afraid; he set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. Judah assembled to seek help from the LORD; from all the towns of Judah they came to seek the LORD. Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, and said, "O LORD, God of our ancestors, are you not God in heaven? Do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? In your hand are power and might, so that no one is able to withstand you. Did you not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? They have lived in it, and in it have built you a sanctuary for your name, saying, 'If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house, and before you, for your name is in this house, and cry to you in our distress, and you will hear and save.' See now, the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy— they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession that you have given us to inherit. O our God, will you not execute judgment upon them? For we are powerless against this great multitude that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." Meanwhile all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. See Jehoshaphat didn't let his fear immobilise him. He didn't get into a flap or into a panic in the face of overwhelming odds he turned to God. Sometimes that's the only way that God gets our attention. I'd like to be able to tell you that I first turned to God because I was wise and loving and understood that Jesus is the Son of God. But if I told you that I would be lying. I needed to be hit across the back of the head with a lump of four by two for God to get my attention. Overwhelming odds. That's what did it for me. I turned to God in the middle of fear. And for me it was the last resort but for Jehoshaphat God was his first port of call. Now a king is supposed to have all the answers. A King like Jehoshaphat should have a powerful army and contingency plans based on a comprehensive threat assessment. He should be self-reliant. A man for the people to respect and to follow and to trust for their safety and their future, but listen again to what Jehoshaphat says when he's praying to God in 2nd Chronicles Chapter 20 verse 12: O our God, will you not execute judgment upon them? For we are powerless against this great multitude that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you. I relate to this. When I stepped out of the secure, well-paid job as a consultant into full time ministry, that was a step of faith. Leaving security behind to serve God and I can't begin to tell you how many times since then I have been in that place that Jehoshaphat and his people were in. See I started out with this naive notion that if I was going to be about God's work, well lit should be easy. And yet so many times people and circumstances have conspired to be against God's work. Every couple of years our board gets together to do some strategic planning. That's important and the strategic plan always looks good on paper. Gives us a sense of what direction we think that God wants us to head in. And then invariably all hell breaks loose because the enemy wants to overwhelm us. He doesn't want to see God's will done here on earth as it is in heaven. And that's what's going on with Jehoshaphat and Judah. Remember these are God's chosen people. The king honoured God and by all accounts and by all accounts he was wise and competent. But in the face of overwhelming odds he admitted to God, "We do know what to do." So was the solution How did he cope with this? And the same sentence, the same breath, he says "but our eyes are on You." I wonder sometimes when I see people who profess to believe in Jesus running around in panic wasting so much of their energy complaining and worrying and being afraid. See, it takes a lot of energy to be afraid, you realise. I wonder if they spent even half that amount of their energy having their eyes on God, how much better off they'd be. You and I, we can't help but be afraid. Jehoshaphat was afraid. It's a natural human, reaction. I'm not here to tell you somehow to pretend that you're not afraid when fear is rocking you to the very core. That's ridiculous. But it's what we do when fear strikes that makes all the difference. When we panic we burn energy, when we frozen and immobilised that's probably the end of us. That's what fear does. Stop's us dead in our tracks. We go nowhere. Had Jehoshaphat done that, he and all his people would have been dead literally. Or we can just turn and look at God. "You know something Lord, this is so huge, I just know what to do but my eyes, my eyes are on you. I'm just going to wait on you. I don't know what you are going to do, I don't even know if you are going to show up, but no matter what, my eyes are on you." And here's the bit that blows me away about this story. It's this. That God wasn't Jehoshaphat's last resort. God was his first port of call. He trusted in the sovereign grace of God. Jehoshaphat was afraid, but he set himself to seek the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. I wonder how different if things would be amidst our fear, if instead of running around and spending all that energy on panic or instead of running to the phone to talk to a friend, if we first ran to God. If the very first thing we did was to take stock and in our hearts, deep inside somewhere – decided to set ourselves to seek the Lord? God, the first point of call, rather than the last resort!   A Powerful Outcome So how did it end? Was Jehoshaphat's trust misplaced or well placed? Let's take a look. 2 Chronicle 20 beginning at verse 14: Then the spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the middle of the assembly. He said, "Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you: 'Do not fear or be dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God's. Tomorrow go down against them; they will come up by the ascent of Ziz; you will find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel. This battle is not for you to fight; take your position, stand still, and see the victory of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you." Then Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice. They rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God and you will be established; believe his prophets." When he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy splendor, as they went before the army, saying, "Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever." As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the Ammonites, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. For the Ammonites and Moab attacked the inhabitants of Mount Seir, destroying them utterly; and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another. When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; they were corpses lying on the ground; no one had escaped. When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take the booty from them, they found livestock in great numbers, goods, clothing, and precious things, which they took for themselves until they could carry no more. They spent three days taking the booty, because of its abundance. Unbelievable I hear you say. How could this possibly happen?? I'll tell you how. Because Jehoshaphat decided that he would stand and wait on God - no matter what the outcome! That's the key. That's the faith that God was looking for. No matter what the outcome. Let's take another look. 2 Chronicles 20:9-12: If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house, and before you, for your name is in this house, and cry to you in our distress, and you will hear and save. See now, the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy – they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession that you have given us to inherit. O our God, will you not execute judgment upon them? For we are powerless against this great multitude that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you. This is the do or die faith that God is looking for. When we place our faith in God in this way – for things that are completely out of our control – right when that tsunami hits His Spirit and His Word come along and witness His truth to us: This battle is not for you to fight; take your position, stand still, and see the victory of the LORD on your behalf.' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you." (2 Chronicles 20:17) Listen to me. Have you put your trust in Jesus Christ? Have you? Then those times of fear are times when we discover what a beautiful thing it is to trust in the Lord, no matter what is coming against us. No matter what the world throws at us. No matter how overwhelming the odds might be. Those times are the times that we get to stand still and discover in our very own experience that the battle isn't our it's not ours at all. But the battle belongs to the Lord. Can I encourage you that if you feel right now that you're on death row, as though there is no tomorrow, to listen to the words of apostle Paul from his dungeon as he writes in Philippians Chapter 4 beginning at verse 6: Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you. See that's the word of the Lord for us today. Jehoshaphat knew it and learned it again in his experience. The people of Judah learned it again under the leadership of Jehoshaphat. This overwhelming army came against them. They couldn't win. It was a no win situation. And they discovered afresh and anew the battle was not theirs but the battle belonged to the Lord. And they listened to God through His prophets when he said, "Stand still to see and to watch what the Lord would do for you." Can I encourage you today to remember the battle is not yours. The battle belongs to the Lord. Stand still and watch to see what the Lord will do for you.

Thought to share? Send me a text...Are you faithfully doing all the "right" things spiritually, yet feeling disconnected from God?We go back to Episode 39 today.  Psalm 50 confronts a struggle that's just as relevant today as it was for Israel: the temptation to substitute religious routines for genuine devotion. In this episode, we explore Asaph's powerful words as God reminds His people that He isn't looking for empty rituals—He's looking for grateful hearts, faithful obedience, and lives marked by authentic worship. We'll also consider why God's patience shouldn't be mistaken for indifference and how gratitude can transform the way we endure life's hardest seasons. Discover what Psalm 50 teaches about the difference between authentic worship and simply going through the motions of faith.  Learn why thankfulness is described as a sacrifice that honors God and how gratitude reshapes our perspective during difficult circumstances.  Be encouraged to trust God's patience, grace, and sovereignty while renewing your commitment to walk faithfully with Him. Press play to discover how Psalm 50 can help you move from routine religion to a life of grateful, wholehearted faith.New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday mornings.To connect with Betsy for speaking, resources, or curriculum head to https://betsymarvin.com/contact-me/For access to past podcasts and transcripts, head tohttps://betsymarvin.com/podcasts/A Christian podcast centered on Jesus, the Bible, and God explores faith through the Old Testament and New Testament, sharing Bible stories and Bible explained insights to help women of faith and Jesus followers grow in faith, strengthen their relationship with God, and know God more deeply through Bible study, women Bible study, and practical Christianity, all while encouraging spiritual growth, understanding identity in Christ, and learning to understand Bible teachings to become closer to God.

2 Chronicles 29:30 NLT King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to praise the LORD with the psalms written by David and by Asaph the seer. So they offered joyous praise and bowed down in worship.

Are there times when it feels like God might be good, but he's not good to you? Asaph was one of the main worship leaders in Jerusalem during David's reign, and he felt like there was a gap between God's goodness and his experience. Psalm 73 is Asaph's account of what changed the weather in his soul—he went into the sanctuary.

Psalm 73 confronts one of the most corrosive forces in our spiritual lives: envy. This ancient song reveals how a worship leader named Asaph nearly abandoned his faith, not because of persecution or intellectual doubt, but because of envy toward the wicked and prosperous. The psalm takes us on a journey from bitter comparison to radical contentment. Asaph confesses that while he preached God's goodness, his feet had almost stumbled as he watched ungodly people thrive while he struggled. He describes their apparent freedom from trouble, their pride, and their complete lack of fear of God. The turning point comes with a single word: until. Until he entered the sanctuary of God, his vision remained clouded. But in God's presence, everything shifted. He saw with an eternal perspective that the wicked stand on slippery ground, destined for destruction, while those reconciled to God inherit eternal riches. The sanctuary for us is Jesus Christ Himself, the true meeting place between God and humanity. When we realize that we have Christ, we have everything. This psalm challenges us to examine what we believe will finally make us content. Is it wealth, health, status, or someone else's life? Or is Jesus our rare jewel of contentment? Envy is a hole in the heart that leaks joy, but Christ alone fills that hole completely and eternally.

July 12, 2026John SyversonPsalm 77: 1-20

Do Christian comforts last for life and evaporate at death? According to Asaph in Psalm 73:24, addressing the Lord, he says, "You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory." A Christian's life is not easy, but it is secure, and our death is full of hope, our confidence grounded in the Christ who has overcome death. So we here consider death without Christ, death in Christ, and death for a Christian, full of grace and hope, leading to glory.

This Sunday, during our outdoor service, studied Psalm 73. In this psalm, the psalm writer, Asaph, sings about a great struggle that almost ruined him. He started comparing himself to those who didn't seek after God or live for God but still seemed happy and prosperous. He fell into the deadly sin of comparison.  Psalm 73 reminds us that the greatest treasure in our lives is not possessing the gifts but being the treasured possession of the Giver. It's not having all the so-called blessings of this life but rather, it is knowing that you belong to the Giver of every good and perfect gift. One of the greatest needs of every child of God is to learn the secret of godly contentment. The apostle Paul writes to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:6 - “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” Do you struggle with the sin of comparison? At some point, don't we all? Is it killing your joy and making you miserable? Do you know how to possess what the puritan writer Jeremiah Burroughs called “The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment”? Come this Sunday as we study another wisdom Psalm.   Come, worship, stay and be encouraged (and bring a friend)!

Do Christian comforts last for life and evaporate at death? According to Asaph in Psalm 73:24, addressing the Lord, he says, "You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory." A Christian's life is not easy, but it is secure, and our death is full of hope, our confidence grounded in the Christ who has overcome death. So we here consider death without Christ, death in Christ, and death for a Christian, full of grace and hope, leading to glory.

X2M.257 — ALLÉE: The Fathered Habitation Corridor Allée means a path, avenue, or ordered way of approach, often bordered by living rows that give direction to the traveler. It follows Débouché within Esplanade. Débouché opens the field; Allée establishes the way through it. What was released from the interregnum now receives a relational architecture: a fathered corridor through which identity, inheritance, wisdom, and habitation can pass from eternity into embodied life. Psalm 78 supplies the generational pattern. Asaph opens ancient mysteries and commands that the works of God be told from fathers to children, including generations not yet born. The psalm moves through failure, forgetfulness, provision, judgment, awakening, and finally Davidic shepherdhood. Within the Stardyne allegorical reading, Qedem becomes the Father's ancient counsel within Olam: the originating heart from which the knotted riddle of identity is opened. Allée is the transmission path by which that counsel reaches the rising generation.¹ The central problem is the separation of image from likeness. David carries the relational heart: belovedness, repentance, worship, and return to the Father. Solomon carries royal likeness expressed as wisdom, administration, construction, and mature sonship. Ordinarily, these qualities unfold across successive lives. X2M.257 asks how the Davidic heart and Solomonic mind can be integrated within one person without waiting for another generation. The answer is not human compression but union with Christ, who has become the believer's wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.² This integration requires a fathered environment. Discernment without rest can distort into hypervigilance. Compassion can become compulsive caretaking. Excellence can become approval addiction. Prophetic sensitivity can become continual threat-scanning. Allée identifies these patterns without making diagnosis the destination. They are field indicators showing where the soul has moved from beloved dependence into anxious performance. Proverbs portrays Wisdom beside God as master craftsman and daily delight. The image joins mature capacity with childlike nearness: wisdom builds because wisdom first abides beside the Father. Solomon likewise begins his commission by confessing that he is a little child who cannot govern alone. Childlikeness is therefore not immaturity. It is the dependency that permits divine craftsmanship to operate without self-exhibition.³ At the deepest level, Allée moves beyond both ontology and phenomenology. God does not merely repair the believer's concept of being or improve the atmosphere surrounding the believer. He seeks habitation. Through the Spirit, the divine life takes up residence within the whole person, integrating heart and mind, belovedness and sonship, image and likeness. Identity is received from the Father in Christ, not manufactured from gifts, wounds, roles, preferences, or public recognition.⁴ Allée, then, is the fathered corridor of the new humanity. Ancient counsel enters generational transmission; Davidic heart joins Solomonic wisdom; the gifted child becomes the dependent craftsman; and diagnosis yields to habitation. Along this living avenue, the Father's house advances from Qedem into the physical field until humanity becomes a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. ⸻ Glorification | The Final Frontier Going boldly where the last man has gone before! Decrease time over target: Venmo / PayPal @clastronaut Cash App $clastronaut ⸻ ¹ Ps. 78:1–8, 52–72. ² Gen. 1:26–27; Ps. 17:15; 1 Cor. 1:30. ³ 1 Kings 3:7–12; Prov. 8:22–31. ⁴ Matt. 3:16–17; John 14:8–11; Eph. 2:19–22.

John 16:31 “Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe?'” The disciples had just declared that they believed that Jesus came from God. Yet, Jesus knew what they were about to face and knew that they nor He could trust their hearts. Our flesh and our hearts may fail, even though we are well-intentioned and think we stand in the moment. Jesus asked this penetrating question, “Do you now believe?” He knew the hour had come for their faith to be tested, and that they would act as if they did not believe that He came from God. There's a lesson in this for us that is vital if we are to live to love with Jesus. We must not trust in our own hearts or faith. Proverbs 28:26, “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered.” Rather, we must trust 100% in Jesus' heart and righteousness. Remember what He had said only minutes before this. “I am the vine, you are the branches. Apart from Me you can do nothing.” Asaph, the Psalmist, wrote in Psalms 73:26 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” He said it well, didn't he? Even though we believe, we can still have an “evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God” as the writer of Hebrews warned in 3:12. We need daily encouragement to abide in Christ and place our entire confidence in the fact that our lives are hidden with Christ in God. He is our righteousness and our peace in this troubled world. His love abides in us, and He will love through us today. “Do you now believe?” Our answer is, “Lord, You know all things, and my hope is in You, today.” Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

On today’s edition of SUFTT, Mary takes a look at Psalm 73 as a much-needed answer to the wrestling we all do in the face of a world gone awry. Levite, prophet and worship leader Asaph, author of a dozen Psalms, takes us on a tour through his heart and mind over the seeming success of the rich and famous of his time. We wonder at times what he all struggled with, since we have all the knowledge of good and evil at our fingertips through global media. Nevertheless, he certainly had his share of wrestlings when it came to being distracted by those who had it all, and gave no thought to their own eternity. Why do people who know they will die at some point seem to not even care how it all ends? Asaph knew that God is good, and He has a covenant with Israel – but he still had lots of deep questions for His Maker. But has God ever taken away those who vex us with instant relief? No, the rich and carefree have been with us always, it is US who change after being with our God, in His house. A great lesson for us all who struggle with cultural issues and how to respond in our hearts with a life of contentment.   Stand Up For The Truth Videos: https://rumble.com/user/CTRNOnline & https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgQQSvKiMcglId7oGc5c46A

"Psalm 73 gives voice to one of the hardest questions people ask: Why do the wicked seem to prosper while those who seek God struggle? In this sermon, we explore the honest doubts of Asaph, who wrestled with envy, discouragement, and the apparent unfairness of life. Rather than ignoring these questions, Scripture invites us to bring them before God, where our perspective begins to change. As Asaph enters God's presence, he discovers that lasting hope isn't found in earthly success but in God's faithful presence. This message reminds us that faith doesn't require pretending everything makes sense—it calls us to trust the One who remains our strength and our portion forever. Whether you're wrestling with disappointment, comparing your life to others, or searching for deeper confidence in God, Psalm 73 points us toward the hope that endures beyond every circumstance."

Psalm 77 is for anyone who has felt anxious, overwhelmed, frustrated, depleted, or desperate for hope. In this message, we see Asaph cry out to God, wrestle honestly with his distress, and learn to reframe his prayer by remembering the deeds, miracles, and works of the Lord. When anxiety makes the future feel uncertain, remembering what God has done gives us confidence to trust Him again.

July 5, 2026Alex KretzschmerPsalm 75: 1-10

This sermon explores Psalm 73 to address the crisis of faith arising from the apparent prosperity of the wicked. The preacher explains how Asaph's initial envy and doubt are resolved through entering the sanctuary of God, which provides a fresh perspective on divine love and eternal judgment. By focusing on the gospel and the reality of eternity, believers can recognize that their suffering is under God's loving care rather than His anger. The message encourages Christians to find true satisfaction in God alone, trusting in His guidance and ultimate glory despite present circumstances. Ultimately, the sermon asserts that drawing near to God through Christ restores faith and confirms His goodness.

Nehemiah: Rebuilding What Matters Most • Friday Service Website: www.PastorTodd.org To give: www.ToddCoconato.com/give 1. Prayer Must Come Before Action Nehemiah 1:4 (NKJV) “So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.” 2. God Uses People Who Care Nehemiah 1:3-4 (NKJV) “And they said to me, ‘The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.' So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.” 3. Favor Comes Through Faithful Obedience Nehemiah 2:8 (NKJV) “And a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he must give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel which pertains to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house that I will occupy. And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me.” 4. Vision Requires Courage Nehemiah 2:17 (NKJV) “Then I said to them, ‘You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.'” 5. Opposition Is Often Confirmation Nehemiah 2:19 (NKJV) “But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, ‘What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?'” 6. Stay Focused on Your Assignment Nehemiah 6:3 (NKJV) “So I sent messengers to them, saying, ‘I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?'” 7. Work and Warfare Often Happen Together Nehemiah 4:17 (NKJV) “Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon.” 8. Unity Accomplishes Great Things Nehemiah 4:6 (NKJV) “So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.” 9. Repentance Leads to Renewal Nehemiah 9:2 (NKJV) “Then those of Israelite lineage separated themselves from all foreigners; and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.” 10. God's Word Must Remain Central Nehemiah 8:8 (NKJV) “So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.” Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV) “Then he said to them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.'”

“Water has tremendous erosive power, particularly when carrying large amounts of sediment and rock, like the Colorado River does with flooding.” So says the National Park Service when explaining the role the Colorado River has had in the forming and carving out of the Grand Canyon. They go onto describe; “When large amounts of water are moved through a river channel, large rocks and boulders are carried too. These rocks act like chisels, chipping off pieces of the riverbed as they bounce along.”Isn't that how life feels at times? Trials come our way like a flood followed by doubts, discouragements, and despair chipping away at our faith causing us to lose our footing. In Psalm 73, Asaph begins; “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.”The cause of Asaph's struggle was seeing how those who love Jesus suffer while those whose worship and love are for themselves seem to prosper. It is a real and raw question – if we have found favor in the Lord's sight, why then is life so dang hard? The thing that lifts us up out of the flood and sediment that follows is to gaze on our Shepherd. He is our sanctuary, He is our strength, He is near and He is good. How wonderful it is to know that our faith may falter, our hope may dim and our strength may fail, but God is steadfast, His love is unfailing, His grip is strong. Jesus alone is able to keep us from falling and to present us before His glorious presence without fault and with great Joy. Jude 24-25Let us shift our gaze onto the Comfort and Care of our Shepherd who promises us mercy and grace to help us in our times of need. Hebrews 4:16Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Psalm 73 

“Water has tremendous erosive power, particularly when carrying large amounts of sediment and rock, like the Colorado River does with flooding.” So says the National Park Service when explaining the role the Colorado River has had in the forming and carving out of the Grand Canyon. They go onto describe; “When large amounts of water are moved through a river channel, large rocks and boulders are carried too. These rocks act like chisels, chipping off pieces of the riverbed as they bounce along.”Isn't that how life feels at times? Trials come our way like a flood followed by doubts, discouragements, and despair chipping away at our faith causing us to lose our footing. In Psalm 73, Asaph begins; “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.”The cause of Asaph's struggle was seeing how those who love Jesus suffer while those whose worship and love are for themselves seem to prosper. It is a real and raw question – if we have found favor in the Lord's sight, why then is life so dang hard? The thing that lifts us up out of the flood and sediment that follows is to gaze on our Shepherd. He is our sanctuary, He is our strength, He is near and He is good. How wonderful it is to know that our faith may falter, our hope may dim and our strength may fail, but God is steadfast, His love is unfailing, His grip is strong. Jesus alone is able to keep us from falling and to present us before His glorious presence without fault and with great Joy. Jude 24-25Let us shift our gaze onto the Comfort and Care of our Shepherd who promises us mercy and grace to help us in our times of need. Hebrews 4:16Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Psalm 73 

June 28, 2026Robert KoehnPsalm 73: 1-28

Jun 21st  | Fathers day | Psalm 78:1-8In this powerful Father's Day message, Derrick Jackson opens with the remarkable story of his grandfather, a World War II veteran who landed in Normandy just days after D-Day and carried both the scars of battle and a legacy of quiet faithfulness. Through that story, Derrick draws a compelling connection to Psalm 78, where Asaph reminds God's people that every generation is responsible for passing on the stories of God's faithfulness.Why do stories matter? Because the most important stories are always one generation away from being forgotten. In Psalm 78, we discover that faith rarely dies in open rebellion—it usually dies in silence. Derrick challenges parents, grandparents, church leaders, and every believer to embrace their calling as storytellers of God's grace, mercy, provision, and salvation.This message explores three timeless truths: the stories must be heard, the stories must be told, and the stories must produce hope. Along the way, listeners are reminded that the greatest story ever told is the Gospel of Jesus Christ—the story of a Savior who lived, died, and rose again to redeem sinners and transform families for generations to come.Whether you're a parent seeking to leave a spiritual legacy, a believer who has grown silent about God's work in your life, or someone searching for hope in Christ, this message will encourage you to make sure the story survives.Do you know JESUS? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbgilmer.org/do-you-know-jesus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Need PRAYER? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbgilmer.org/pray⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support through GIVING: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbbctx.org/giving⁠ 

Psalm 73 shows how comparison can cloud our faith and distort the way we see God, ourselves, and others. Asaph wrestles with envy, confusion, and the feeling that life is unfair, but everything begins to change when he enters the presence of God. This message reminds us that looking to God restores our perspective and helps us see what matters most.