Podcasts about Behold

10:15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 10:16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. 10:17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, 10:18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. 10:19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. 10:20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

Pastor Jordan Boyce is continuing our Acts of the Apostles series with The Unknown God, preaching from Acts 17:22–34. Paul walked into a city searching for God without truly knowing Him and declared that the God they were looking for was closer than they thought.Wherever you're watching from, join us as we look to Jesus, the One who makes the unknown God known.Paul stood in the heart of Athens surrounded by altars, idols, philosophy and religion, yet the people still did not know the God they were searching for. Pointing to their altar “To the unknown god,” Paul proclaimed that the God they were reaching for was not far from them. God uses the world around us to point us toward Jesus, and through Jesus, He reveals Himself. Jesus is the image of the invisible God. If you want to know what God is like, look to Christ. And the ultimate assurance of who Jesus is comes through the resurrection. Christianity ultimately confronts each of us with the same question Jesus asked Martha: “Do you believe this?”Key Highlights:• The Athenians knew gods, religion, philosophy and worship, but they did not know Jesus.• Creation points to the Creator, art points to the Artist and the shadow points to the One casting it.• God meets people in ways they can recognize. Our passions, relationships, creation, joys, struggles and questions can all point us toward Him.• Paul declares that God “is actually not far from each one of us.” Like feeling your way through an unfamiliar room toward the door, God is closer than we may realize.• The goal is not simply to know about God, but to know Him and be known by Him.• Jesus is the Man who makes the unknown God known. He is “the image of the invisible God.”• If you want to know the personality of God, look at the person of Jesus: the Father who runs toward the prodigal, the One who touches the leper, lifts the paralyzed and opens the eyes of the blind.• Jesus said, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”• Pilate presented Jesus to the crowd and declared, “Behold the Man!” The question for us is: Have you beheld Him?• When you are stung by sin, bitten by betrayal or caught in the stranglehold of shame, look to Jesus.• Paul points Athens beyond philosophy and religion to the resurrection. God has given assurance of who Jesus is by raising Him from the dead. • Christianity ultimately comes down to more than believing Jesus was a good man, moral teacher or prophet. Do you believe He is God?• Jesus told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life,” and then asked her, “Do you believe this?” That same question remains for us today.• Jesus died, was buried and rose again. The resurrection changes every decision that follows.• If the tomb is not empty, we are fools. But if it is empty, we are free indeed.Scripture References:Acts 17:22–34, Colossians 1:15, John 14:9, John 19:5, Zechariah 12:10, Hebrews 12:2, John 11:21–27, Psalm 34:8

Ryan Kelly | John 1:6-18 | 1. Believe the Witness (6-8) 2. Receive the Light (9-13) 3. Behold the Glory (14-18)

This podcast is supported by MaxFun Members! Go to maximumfun.org/jointights for more information about how you can become one too. For as little as $5 a month, you'll earn great gifts and help this show continue.There's been a lot to appreciate lately about the title scenes in WWE.Everyone has wanted the best for Chelsea Green ever since she became the WWE Champion. She's well on her way to being a top baby face, but what happens when Rhea Ripley is healthy and challenges for the title she never lost?Trick Williams quickly regained his fuzzy belt from Baron Corbin, so let's celebrate!Penta and Roman Reigns absolutely tore the house down in a brilliant World Heavyweight championship match. And this was shortly after Stephanie Vaquer defeated Liv Morgan for the world title… at a house show of all places.The Main Event: Sami Zayn wins the WWE Championship.CM Punk had enough of Sami Zayn's antics. And he allowed Sami one more shot at the WWE Championship. And after interference from Johnny Gargano, Candace Lerae and Kevin Owens… Sami stood tall and is now a two time WWE Champion.The Three Count: Danielle put over a top to bottom good RAW.Lindsey put over a guy named Kiyoki.Hal put over The latest pew pew shirt.Keep up with this show all week long on instagram, tiktok and bluesky.This show was produced by Julian Burrell for Maximumfun.org Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/jointights

  We wait for God's harvest!Listen to what the Bible says, from James.(click for podcast)taH patient vaj, loDnI'pu', until the choltaH vo' the joH'a'. yIlegh, the farmer waits vaD the precious baQ vo' the tera', taH patient Dung 'oH, until 'oH receives the early je late rain.Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it receives the early and late rain.Online BibleListen to the Word, it helps us navigate the stars and beyond.

John 3:14-18Matt's book, The Lightning-Fast Field Guide to the Bible is available NOW! - here's a link that gets TMBH a little kickback: https://amzn.to/4pEYSS9Thanks to everyone who supports TMBH at patreon.com/thetmbhpodcastYou're the reason we can all do this together!Discuss the episode hereMusic by Jeff Foote

In this solo episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Tony Arsenal opens with a personal update on Jesse's wife Jen, who is recovering from a major surgery and facing ongoing complications. Rather than a typical episode, Tony turns this moment of real pastoral weight into an opportunity to explore James 5:10–18 — a passage about suffering, patience, and the mysterious power of intercessory prayer. Drawing on the examples of the Old Testament prophets, Job, and Elijah, Tony argues that suffering and God's mercy are not in tension but are deeply intertwined throughout Scripture. He also addresses the cessationist convictions he and Jesse hold while affirming the continuing call to bring the sick before the elders of the church in prayer. This episode is brief, earnest, and pastorally rich. Key Takeaways Suffering and divine mercy are not opposed — James holds them together deliberately, using Job as the paradigm case of patience that ultimately reveals God's compassion. The Old Testament prophets model faithful patience — Most prophets never saw visible fruit from their ministry, yet they continued to preach and trust, making them exemplars for suffering believers today. Intercessory prayer is a command, not merely a comfort — When suffering, James does not point believers to self-help or circumstantial remedies first; the primary command is to pray. The prayer of a righteous person has real efficacy — Without attributing change or passibility to God, Tony affirms that prayer moves God to act in a manner consistent with classical theism and biblical revelation. Elijah's humanity is the point, not his exceptionalism — James deliberately identifies Elijah as a man "with a nature like ours," anchoring the power of prayer in God rather than in the pray-er's personal greatness. Cessationism and the call to elder-led prayer coexist — The sign gifts have ceased, but the practice of calling elders to pray over the sick remains a living, binding ordinance for the church. Caregiver suffering is real and deserves intercession — Tony broadens the application beyond physical illness to recognize the spiritual and emotional weight borne by those who care for the sick. Explanatory Paragraphs Suffering and Divine Mercy Are Not in Tension One of the most counterintuitive moves in James 5 is the juxtaposition of Job's suffering with the declaration that "the Lord is compassionate and merciful." For most readers, Job's story feels like the last place you would look for evidence of divine mercy — it is a story of devastating, layered loss. But James insists that the very narrative of Job, with all of its pain, is where the mercy and purpose of God are most clearly displayed. Tony highlights this as "counterintuitive but really quite beautiful." The suffering does not negate the mercy; it is, in some mysterious sense, the vessel through which mercy is revealed. This is not stoic resignation — it is a theologically grounded confidence that God's purposes are always working toward the good of His people, even when circumstances seem to contradict that. The Efficacy of Prayer and Classical Theism Perhaps the most theologically careful section of the episode is Tony's treatment of what it means for prayer to "move" God without compromising classical theistic commitments to divine immutability and impassibility. Tony is careful here: he affirms that God does not change, does not undergo emotional mutation, and is not subject to creaturely pressure. And yet, he insists — with the Bible — that prayer does something. He describes this as God acting in "accommodated, creaturely language," a concession to our finite understanding of an infinite God who, in His sovereign wisdom, has ordained prayer as a genuine means through which He accomplishes His will. This is not open theism or Arminian concession; it is a mature Reformed affirmation that God's decrees include the prayers of His people as real instruments of His providential governance. Elijah as Everyman The closing appeal to Elijah is rhetorically powerful precisely because James refuses to let Elijah remain on a pedestal. The instinct of the reader is to think, of course Elijah's prayers worked — he was Elijah. But James dismantles that escape route immediately: "a man with a nature like ours." The miracles associated with Elijah — the drought, the rain, Mount Carmel — were not the product of Elijah's superhuman spiritual constitution. They were the product of a God who moves when His people pray. This democratizes intercessory prayer in the most profound way. The ordinary believer who kneels beside a sick friend's hospital bed is operating in the same spiritual economy as Elijah on Mount Carmel. The power belongs to God; the call to pray belongs to all of us. Memorable Quotes There's something about the prayer of God's people that in an accommodated, analogous way, an anthropomorphic way — there's something about the prayers of God's people that moves Him to act on their behalf. We hold those to be true, but we also see that the Bible reveals a God who moves when His people pray. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. But that power is not coming from the righteous person — because even Elijah, even as amazing as Elijah was, he was a man with a nature like ours. Full Transcript [00:00:47] Welcome to this special episode of The Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Tony, and tonight this is the podcast that's just me. Hey, brothers and sisters. It's just Tony tonight. [00:01:00] Um, you'll hear in a little bit why that is, but, uh, just wanted to come this week and do a real quick episode. We're gonna dive into, uh, James chapter five. [00:01:10] We're gonna talk a little bit about some suffering, some patience, and what the prayer of faith does. And rather than do an affirmation or denial tonight, uh, as you know, Jesse is not on the show tonight, uh, but I wanted to give you a quick update.  [00:01:25] Update on Jen [00:01:25] Tony Arsenal: Uh, several episodes ago, maybe, I don't know, 10 episodes ago, Jesse's wife Jen, uh, must have been longer than that actually. [00:01:32] Jesse's wife Jen, uh, joined the podcast, uh, to share a little bit about what's going on in her life and some medical challenges she's been having. And as you all know, uh, Jen had a, a rather extensive surgery, it was about 11 hours, back in May, and her recovery has been, uh, challenging to say the least. Um, so the reason Jesse's not with us tonight is Jen has had a s- a little bit of a setback. [00:01:58] Um, she's okay. [00:02:00] Jesse and, uh, Jen gave me permission to give this little update. Uh, I won't go into too many details, but, uh, Jesse's, um, Jen has had some ongoing, uh, complications with some infection and just some other general challenges that have made recovery a lot slower than we'd hoped. So I know that Jesse, uh, appreciates your prayers. [00:02:21] Jen appreciates your prayers.  [00:02:22] Pause and Pray [00:02:22] Tony Arsenal: So before we, um, before we go on to the podcast tonight, if you would take a few minutes, pause this, say a quick prayer for, uh, Jen, that her recovery would be governed and supervised by God, that the doctors would have wisdom. Uh, and say a quick prayer for Jesse. Uh, caregiver stress is a real thing, and Jesse is, uh, doing a lot to try to support Jen and make sure that she has what she needs. [00:02:47] Uh, and even in the midst of that, he has typically got more than enough energy to, uh, even compensate for me when I'm too tired to do a podcast. That's why you guys get solo episodes with him. Uh, but tonight he just needed an extra little bit of a dose of [00:03:00] rest, and I thought that we would take this opportunity to, to pray for him. [00:03:03] So go ahead and hit pause, say a quick prayer, and then join me back up here in a second.  [00:03:08] Reading James 5 [00:03:08] Tony Arsenal: So as I said, we're gonna jump into James chapter 5. Uh, this is a, a passage that I know is near and dear to Jesse's heart. Uh, he's shared a little bit about this passage on the show before, and kind of that it's been a, sort of a boon to his soul. [00:03:23] So I'm gonna start reading... Uh, I'm gonna make a connection here that I don't know is always made with this passage. So I'm gonna start reading here in verse 10. Uh, normally we would wanna start a little bit before that, and, and of course, the whole letter is an ongoing sustained argument, so it's not like you can just chunk one part out. [00:03:41] But because of the way our English translations are sometimes, uh, divided up, we tend to separate verses 10 through 12 from what follows, and I hope as we chat for just a little while tonight, it'll be a short episode, I hope we'll understand why these two are actually, uh, quite connected. So James chapter 5, [00:04:00] starting in verse 10. [00:04:01] "As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remain steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. And above all, my brothers, do not swear either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, or let... [00:04:24] but let your yes be yes and your no be no, so that you may not fall into condemnation. Is any one of you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. [00:04:44] And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power in [00:05:00] its working. Elijah was a man like us, with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain. [00:05:07] And for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins." [00:05:28] So we're gonna zero in here right on verse 10, and kinda how it connects with, uh, what follows here.  [00:05:36] Prophets and Patience [00:05:36] Tony Arsenal: So this passage as a whole, starting in the beginning of verse, uh, verse five, sorta brings... Or chapter five, brings us into sort of an eschatological framework. James is talking about the sort of final judgment against the proud rich who are persecuting the church and who are, uh, sort of offending the Lord by, um, persecuting His people. [00:05:58] And so in verse seven [00:06:00] now James turns to encourage the, um, the believer not to, um, not to despair because the coming of the Lord seems slow. It's very similar to what Peter does when he, he talks about how, um, God does not will that any of His people perish, but He's seemingly delaying His coming so that all may come to repentance. [00:06:23] James is doing something very similar here, and so it's in that context that we get to verse 10. He's... In verse seven he's commanding them, or he's encouraging them to be patient, and in verse 10, he gives this example of patience and suffering. And the, the example is, uh, broadly speaking, is the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. [00:06:46] If you think about most of the prophets in the Old Testament, their message was not widely received. Probably the most outwardly successful prophet in the Old Testament was Jonah, uh, and he didn't even wanna be [00:07:00]successful. Um, but most of the prophets, uh, thinking particularly of, like, Jeremiah, uh, who, you know, throughout, even in his own recorded books, uh, was, uh, persecuted and ostracized. [00:07:13] People tried to kill him. Uh, we think of Isaiah who, you know, church history tells us he was sawn in two. Um, and most of the prophets did not see, uh, uh, any sort of real revival during their ministry. But they patiently continued to preach and come to the Lord and trust that what they were prophesying was, was worth it, that it was going to have its effect. [00:07:37] Job and Mercy [00:07:37] Tony Arsenal: So he, uh, he then turns kinda to the ultimate, uh, example of patience. Uh, and, and we would think... We don't necessarily always think of Job as a prophet, but there's definitely prophetic elements there- And it says, "You've heard of the steadfastness of Job." And of course, we know that Job, uh, had everything taken away from him. [00:07:58] So he, he lived this life where he [00:08:00] was immensely successful. He had a, a large family. He had lots of wealth. He had servants. Uh, religiously, he seemed to be on track. He seemed to have the Lord's favor. He certainly had the Lord's attention. Um, and it was all taken away from him. This is the part that I think is really, uh, counterintuitive but really quite beautiful, is he says, "You've heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you've seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful." [00:08:29] And we've commented many times on the show that this sort of juxtaposition between, uh, sort of temporal woes or temporal trials and the Lord's mercy and compassion, how they're interrelated in scripture in a way that doesn't really feel intuitive to us. And so we're gonna skip down a little bit here. [00:08:51] He talks about, um, not swearing oaths, talks about letting your yes be yes, you know, we know. That's obviously connected to this, but we're, we're gonna just pass by that a little [00:09:00] bit.  [00:09:00] Suffering and Prayer [00:09:00] Tony Arsenal: 'Cause back in verse 13 now, he returns to this subject of suffering. He says, "Is any among you suffering? Let him pray." So there's this call for those of us who are suffering, and if we're being honest, most of us are suffering in one form or another. [00:09:17] Uh, we either have some sort of illness, or we're struggling with finances, or maybe we have some kind of depression or some other life circumstance that is making things challenging. And it says... Doesn't say, "Let him seek out the newest self-help trend." Doesn't say, "Let him, uh, let him fixate on the, the most current, up-to-date medical things." [00:09:40] It doesn't say, "Let him, uh, pursue Financial Peace University." Now, that's not to say those things are not good and important, but the command here is to let him pray. So when we face suffering, we should recognize that that suffering and the patience that comes with it is connected [00:10:00] to the mercy and the compassion of the Lord. [00:10:02] This is probably the main point and theme of James' whole letter. So you go back to verse-- or chapter one, I think it's verse 24, right? It says, um- Let it be counted all joy when you face trials of many different kinds, right? So James' whole purpose in this letter is to speak to those suffering, uh, persecuted Jewish Christians that have been scattered out into the, uh, Judean wilderness and the, the countryside, who had been scattered out into the, you know, into the country and were being preyed upon probably by wealthy Jewish landowners. [00:10:39] And the whole point of this letter is to encourage them and for them to recognize that the suffering that they're undergoing, whether there's a natural suffering, a natural evil, which obviously would be something like sickness or some sort of natural tragedy, what, what the old insurance language calls like an act of God, which is literally an act of God, something like a, like a storm that [00:11:00] ruins your crop or an earthquake that destroys your home, or m- or moral evil, which is what the, the, um, those Christians in James' audience were, were suffering under, was moral evil. [00:11:12] Says, "If any of you are suffering, let him pray." Well, how could we ever think about praying in the midst of suffering if we did not recognize, as James says, that this suffering is related to the mercy and the compassion of the Lord? That, uh, when we think of the steadfastness of Job, we see the mercy and the compassion of the Lord. [00:11:40] And then it goes on to say, "Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises." Well, what did, what did James command in the beginning of his book or what did he, he say? "Count it all joy when you face suffering of any kind." And so now we have, "Are you suffering?" Well, then you, you count it joy. "Well, are you [00:12:00] cheerful? [00:12:00] Elders and Healing [00:12:00] Tony Arsenal: Let you sing praise." And that brings us now to verse fourteen: "Is any among you sick?" Well, what do we do or what should we do when we're sick, when we're suffering, when we recognize that that suffering is to... unto our salvation, it's unto our sanctification? Well, we're cheerful and we praise, and we come and we join the church. [00:12:20] We come and call for the elders. We have them pray over us. They anoint us in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith, verse fifteen, the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick. Now, we know that, um, God moves in all sorts of ways Uh, Jesse and I are both committed cessationists, convicted cessationists. [00:12:43] We don't believe that the sign gifts, that, that the miracles that marked the, the Revelation period of the New Testament and the Old Testament, we don't believe that those sign gifts continue. But what we do know is that the Lord, through his servant [00:13:00] James, commands his people to seek out the elders of the church when they're sick and for them to pray over them. [00:13:06] And I know that Jen, uh, and Jesse have really, really great elders. They've got great support at their church. I know that there are people praying for both of them. Um, and, and this podcast is not a church, and our listeners are not the elders of the church, although some of our listeners are elders, but they're not elders... [00:13:22] I don't think there's any of them at Jesse's church.  [00:13:24] Powerful Prayer Explained [00:13:24] Tony Arsenal: Um, but there is a principle here in this passage that I think is important for us as we, as we lift Jesse and Jen up in prayer, as we think about others in our life who need prayer, who need support, who are sick, who are suffering, is that the prayer, and this is where it comes in, uh, at towards the end here, the prayer of a righteous person, verse 16, "The prayer of a righteous person has great power in its working." [00:13:49] There's something about prayer, and I don't fully understand it, this is something w- I will spend the rest of my life trying to understand. There's something about the prayer of God's [00:14:00] people that in a, an accommodated, analogous way, an anthropomorphic way, there's something about the prayers of God's people that moves him to act on their behalf. [00:14:12] And of course, you know, you go back, you listen to all of our episodes on divine simplicity and aseity and divine immutability. We're, we're classical theists. We don't think that God changes. But the, what the Bible teaches us, what it reveals to us in accommodated, creaturely language is that when the elders of the church specifically, and then God's people generally, when we pray, God moves. [00:14:39] And so that's what I'll leave you with tonight. Um, again, this, this may seem melodramatic or severe. Um, Jen's doing okay. She's, she's sick, and she's recovering. Um, m- but, but it's important for us to pray. So whether it's for Jesse and Jen, and I hope that it is, I hope that you take some more time after this episode to pray [00:15:00] for them and to pray for her specifically. [00:15:02] But I think we all have people in our lives that we know who are suffering, who are sick, who need the prayers, the powerful prayers of righteous persons to move the heart of God to orient himself to their restoration and to their glory, whether that's restoration from a physical illness in the context here of this passage, and in some senses, it's restoration from spiritual sickness. [00:15:26] Elijah Like Us [00:15:26] Tony Arsenal: Um, and he closes, and this is the most encouraging part. We think of Elijah as sort of the supreme prophet of the Old Testament Uh, that title might be arguable, uh, to go to, uh, Moses, um, although Moses tends to fall in a different category. But we think of Elijah as this man, this miracle worker, right? We think of Mount Carmel, we think of the other miracles that are associated with Elijah. [00:15:53] Uh, a- and the Bible here makes the point, James makes the point that Elijah was a man with a nature [00:16:00] like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain for three years and six months, and it did not rain. And so what we see here, and this is what I'll close with, James is reminding us that the power, right, the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. [00:16:18] But that power is not coming from the righteous person, 'cause even Elijah, even as amazing as Elijah was, he was a man with a nature like ours. So when we look to God, we see that, that He is the one that moves in prayer, but somehow mysteriously, somehow in His special, uh, special wisdom and special guide- counsel, somehow when we prayer- pray, that does something. [00:16:46] And again, we have to, we have to hold everything else that we understand to be true about God's immutability, His impassibility, His simplicity, all of those things. We hold those to be true, but we also see that the Bible reveals a God who [00:17:00] moves when His people pray.  [00:17:01] Final Prayer and Sendoff [00:17:01] Tony Arsenal: So we can trust that if we seek God and we pray agreeably to His will, that He will comfort and encourage and heal His people, and He will bring them back and restore them. [00:17:13] So that is my prayer and my hope for you tonight, that you would spend some time thinking about the people in your life that could benefit from you taking time to pray for them. Definitely pray for Jesse and for Jen as they're r- as she's recovering and as Jesse is supporting and caring for her. Um, it's a big burden, and he's, he's bearing it her- heroically, but, uh, he, he could use your prayer just as much, uh, as the rest of us. [00:17:39] So I will leave you with that, brothers and sisters, and until next time, honor everyone, love the brotherhood. [00:18:00]

‘Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.'—John 19:27‘Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.'—John 20:10

When Prayers Seem To Go UnansweredJeremiah 32:27 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too hard for me?”I liked this verse for today because this idea has been on my mind lately. The Lord has been telling our prayer group a lot over the last several years that we are not asking for too much; we are asking for too little. Just last November, He said, "My children, I want you to call out to me. I long to bless you, to bless your families, to bless your communities, to bless your world. When you call to me, you open the floodgates of my love and my mercy. Ask for more; you are asking for too little. I have much to give you. I have much to bless you with. Trust in me.” Isn't that amazing? The fact that God is telling us we are asking for too little. I have been thinking about this a lot lately because I don't know about you, but I have been asking God for some pretty big things lately. Just recently, I asked God to heal my friend miraculously. He had surgery that seemed to go well, but then, when taking the instruments out, the surgeons nicked an artery. Then he seemed to be doing better, and then all of his organs shut down, and he didn't make it. I was really surprised, as God said we were asking for too little, and this definitely wasn't little. If I can be honest with you, I don't understand this. I don't understand when we pray and our prayers aren't answered. I wonder if you struggle with this too? I wonder if you have some pretty big prayers that seem like they weren't answered either.When I asked the Lord about this, He told me my prayer was answered, just not in the way I wanted it to be. My friend Brian is completely healed now. He no longer has the disorder that was attacking his body and making life so hard for him. He no longer needs to be on oxygen and have surgery after surgery. He is no longer suffering. I understand that. I also know God could have healed all of that on this side of Heaven also, so that is where I get lost sometimes. I heard a speaker this weekend. Sister Tracy Dougas, who is a nun with the Daughters of St. Paul.She said something during her talk that helped me understand this a little better. She brought our attention to 1 John 5:14, “And this is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” Sister Tracy encouraged us to consult the Holy Spirit and ask Him how to pray for whoever or whatever we are praying for. For instance, before I prayed for my friend, I could have stopped and asked the Holy Spirit how I should pray for this person. What should I pray for for this person? She reminded us that God knows so much more than we know. He can see the whole picture, whereas we can only see a tiny fraction of the picture.She reminded us of Luke 11:11-13: “What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” The Lord knows what we need better than we do. If we try to give our kids the best we can in our flawed state, how much better will the Lord give us what is best for us?God's ways are higher than our ways, and God's thoughts are not our thoughts. Sister Tracy said God is probably looking down at us and thinking we are asking for a whole lot of serpents. We don't see all the twists and turns that are ahead of us. We don't realize that if we get that job we want, then we will be working more than we thought or commuting more than we thought. We don't know that if we buy that house that we thought we really wanted, we won't actually be able to afford it and will end up stressed out with no money. We don't know that if we go on that trip, we will get into a car accident. We can't see the future; only God can. When our prayers aren't answered in the way we want them to be, it is because God has something better planned for us, or because He is preventing us, or those we are praying for, from something. God knows what He is doing. He is working all things for our good. That doesn't mean that He doesn't allow bad things to happen. That doesn't mean that we have to like everything that is happening. It does mean that we don't have to lose all hope and fall into despair when something happens or when our prayers aren't answered in the way we want them to be. It means that we can be sad and also be assured that God is in the situation, working it for good in some way. I heard an analogy once from Pamela Crim during an episode of the Big Life Devotional Podcast that really stuck with me. She said God uses all things for our good, but that doesn't mean he makes that thing that happened good. Her analogy was using crap as fertilizer. It stinks and is not pleasant. Yet farmers use that crap to fertilize their land. It helps beautiful things grow. Fertilizers are applied to replace the essential nutrients for plant growth in the soil after they have been depleted. So, fertilizer replaces the nutrients that have been lost so crops, flowers, grass, and whatever you are trying to grow can grow better. However, that fertilizer is still crap. It doesn't all of a sudden become a beautiful plant. It doesn't all of a sudden smell better. The crap still remains crap; however, the farmer is able to use that crap to make something good grow out of it.This is similar to the crap that happens in our life. God isn't turning that bad thing into good. However, he is able to help good grow from it. For instance, I do not look back at all the really difficult times with my boys and think they were good times. I still think they were really hard times. Yet, now I can see the beautiful fruit I got out of those hard times. I am a much more patient person. I can give control over to the Lord much more easily. I have a trust I might not have otherwise had. I have a persistence and determination that I might not have otherwise had.I still don't know why God didn't heal my friend on this side of heaven. I think we aren't necessarily supposed to understand everything God does. He says we should approach Him as little children. Little children don't always need to know the why. I do know that although I am really sad that my friend lost her husband and my other friends lost one of their best friends. I know God did answer my prayer. My friend's husband is healed and no longer suffering. I know God will use this situation for good, and there will be beautiful fruit that comes out of it. I was talking to my friend the other day, and I said, “God, can't you give her a break?” And she said He has been giving her breaks all along the journey. She said she could see Him all over this. So, I am looking forward to hearing her testimony as to where she saw God in all of this hardship. I honor her and admire how she can see God in the middle of all her suffering. I pray that we can all be that lucky!Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening to this episode. Lord, help us to see you in everything. Help us to trust that if you don't answer our prayers the way we would like, it is because you have something better in mind. Help us to ask for more, Lord, even when we don't understand. When we feel you haven't answered our prayers, help us to see how you have. Help us to keep asking for more, Lord. Lord, help us to stop and ask the Holy Spirit to show us how to pray in each and every situation. We love you, Lord! We ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus ' holy name. Amen!Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk Boldly with Jesus. “If there's something you've been praying and waiting for, and you feel comfortable sharing it, I'd love for you to reach out and let me know. I would be honored to pray with you and for you during this Hope in the Waiting series.” I look forward to meeting you here again tomorrow. Remember, Jesus loves you just as you are, and so do I! Have a blessed day! Today's Word from the Lord was received in February 2026 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email CatholicCharismaticPrayerGroup@gmail.com. Today's Word from the Lord is, “Let's walk together. Hold my hand if you need to. That's fine. I'm with you. I love you. And I walk with you.” www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

John 19:13-14 “Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, ‘Behold, your King!'" The Pavement was a judgment seat outside the Praetorium, and there Pilate presented Jesus once again to the Jewish officials. He still had nothing by which to condemn Jesus. The Jew's accusation that He was an imposter portraying himself to be their king didn't seem to be worthy of the death penalty. Nevertheless, Pilate made one last fruitless appeal. Behold your king. There Jesus stood robbed in purple, crowned with thorns, blood steaming down His face and torso. The blood of the eternal covenant between the Father and the Son had begun to be spilled. Every drop that hit The Pavement declared the love of God for His people—an everlasting love, sustained by the will of God through the incomprehensibly brutal beating. The will of God the Father authorized it, and the will of God, the Son, received and endured it. In this the definition of the love of God is revealed: the sustained direction of the will, toward the highest good of another, no matter what the cost. This kind of love flows out of the lives of those in whom Jesus lives. And in a way, very different from what Pilate meant that morning, we say to the world, “Behold my King!” Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

(This podcast was previously published on, October 29, 2021)    Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...    Please read these written scriptures before you hear this podcast for these scriptures set the foundation for the recording on this podcast.   God led the children of Israel for 40 years through the wilderness.  God provided all their needs.  There was no lack.   Exodus 15:13   Thou in THY mercy hast led forth the people which THOU hast redeemed: THOU hast guided them in THY strength unto THY holy habitation.   17 THOU shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of THINE inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which THOU hast made for THEE to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which THY hands have established.   Psalm 78   7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep HIS commandments:   14 In the daytime also HE led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.   15 HE clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.   16 HE brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.   20 Behold, HE smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can HE give bread also? can HE provide flesh for HIS people?   23 Though HE had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,   24 And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.   25 Man did eat angels' food: HE sent them meat to the full.   26 HE caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by HIS power HE brought in the south wind.   27 HE rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:   28 And HE let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.   29 So they did eat, and were well filled: for HE gave them their own desire;   30 They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,   31 The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.   32 For all this they sinned still, and believed not for HIS wondrous works.   33 Therefore their days did HE consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.   40 How oft did they provoke HIM in the wilderness, and grieve HIM in the desert!   41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.   51 And (God) smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:   52 But made HIS own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.   53 And HE led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.   54 And HE brought them to the border of HIS sanctuary, even to this mountain, which HIS right hand had purchased.   55 HE cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.   56 Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not HIS testimonies:   57 But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.   58 For they provoked HIM to anger with their high places, and moved HIM to jealousy with their graven images.   59 When God heard this, HE was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:   60 So that HE forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which HE placed among men;   61 And delivered HIS strength into captivity, and HIS glory into the enemy's hand.   62 HE gave HIS people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with HIS inheritance.   63 The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage.   64 Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.   65 Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.   66 And HE smote HIS enemies in the hinder parts: HE put them to a perpetual reproach.   72 So HE fed them according to the integrity of HIS heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of HIS hands.   Psalm 105:37  HE brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.   God brought more than 600,000 men plus women and children out of Egypt and provided for their needs during the 40-years that HE led them through the wilderness.   They lacked nothing!  

Rest in the brief but powerful prayer of Psalm 54, read from the King James Version and accompanied by the gentle sound of ocean waves.Psalm 54 is a Psalm of urgent prayer, trust, and deliverance. David begins with the plea, “Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.” In a time of trouble, betrayal, and danger, he turns his heart toward the Lord as his helper and defender.In this episode of Psalms and Tides, the steady rhythm of the sea creates a quiet space for Scripture, reflection, prayer, and rest. As you listen, may Psalm 54 help you bring your needs honestly before God, trust Him with what feels threatening or uncertain, and remember that He is near to those who call upon Him.Whether you are settling down for sleep, praying through a difficult season, or seeking comfort in God's faithful care, may this gentle reading remind you of David's confidence: “Behold, God is mine helper.”Psalm 54, King James Version.

The Vision gets his turn in the MCU spotlight next month with the Disney+ series VisionQuest, so it seems like the perfect time to turn the Comics Canon spotlight on the origin of everyone's favorite synthezoid with a look at "Behold … The Vision!" from Avengers #57 and "Even an Android Can Cry" from Avengers #58, published by Marvel Comics! When Janet Van Dyne is attacked by a strange, unearthly being, she enlists the aid of her fellow Avengers to figure out who he is and why he's been programmed to kill Earth's mightiest heroes! Joining forces with the newly christened Vision, the team confronts the villainous robot Ultron-5 and begins to unravel the mystery of their new friend's murky past! What in the world does the late Wonder Man have to do with all of this? Will the Avengers accept their new friend, who just recently tried to kill them, into their ranks, without even running a background check? And will Curt and Kevin invite him to march with them in that Robot Parade known as … The Comics Canon? Also in This Episode: Matthew Modine as the Vision Kevin's favorite Shakespeare play Percy Bysshe Shelley OWNS Ultron Stop trying to make synthezoid happen! Curt makes a promise for 2027 My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante Atomic Robo and the Fightin' Scientists of Tesladyne Furious on Hulu Join us in two weeks as we get ready for spooky season with a look back at the first five issues of Jack Kirby's The Demon! Until then: Please consider donating to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise! Rate us on Apple Podcasts! Send us an email! Hit us up on Facebook or Bluesky! And as always, thanks for listening!

John 19:13-14 “Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, ‘Behold, your King!'" There isn't time to go through all the various explanations of the “sixth hour” mentioned by John in this verse. After reading many of them, I think this one seems most plausible, reconcilable to all accounts, and meaningful. Jesus was the sacrificial Passover lamb. The Greek word pascha, here translated Passover, is also used elsewhere to refer to the Passover meal or the lamb of sacrifice. Before the lamb was offered it had to be examined by the high priest and prepared. The only timeline that makes sense is this. Jesus was arrested around 2 a.m., taken to Annas' and the Caiaphas' houses for examination. Then He was taken to Pilate around 6 in the morning, then to Herod for further questioning and execution. When Pilate proclaimed to the Jews, “Behold your king” at around 8 a.m., 6 hours of examination and preparation had transpired—from 2-8. This explanation brings this account into the timelines of the other gospel accounts, but it also explodes with meaning. John revealed that God prepared His Passover Lamb according to the Law to fulfill all righteousness. The Lamb of God was prepared on the preparation day of Passover, and the Lamb was ready for sacrifice. He was presented one last time to the high priests and Jewish officials. Behold the love of God! His blood on your life means His death angel will passover your life and not destroy you. Look now at Jesus in the moment recorded here in John 19:14 and recognize and receive God's gracious and merciful provision so He could passover your sins. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

Revelation 1: 1-8 1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. 4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

This is repentance season—and before God pours out revival through the church, He is calling the church to return to Him.Maybe you are hungry for God to move, but you cannot understand why breakthrough seems delayed. Maybe you want to see an outpouring of the Holy Spirit—not only on a large scale, but in your own life and family. Maybe you know you have drifted, but you do not know what returning to God really looks like.Or perhaps when you hear the word repentance, you immediately think of condemnation. You think repentance is only saying, “I am sorry,” or enduring God beating down His people.But repentance is not God beating down His people. Repentance is the doorway back into fellowship, freedom, restoration, renewing, refining, and revival.By the end of this post, I want you to understand four things:* First, why repentance must begin with the house of God.* Second, what true biblical repentance actually means.* Third, what a lifestyle of repentance opens in your life, your family, and the church.* Fourth, how to return to your first love and do the first works again.And I need you to stay with me, because I am also going to share a Word from the Lord that I believe is for this moment.REPENTANCE BEGINS WITH THE HOUSE OF GODThis is a moment when the Lord is calling people back!He is calling us back to Himself. The Lord is calling the hurting, the weary, the broken, the battered, and the bruised. He is calling those who have wandered away and become lost again in their sins.Jesus is seeking to save that which was lost. With great compassion, He is calling those who have strayed to RETURN to the Lord.But it is an hour for the church first to return and come to repentance.I cannot get away from this thought from the Lord: it is REPENTANCE SEASON.* For the church, it is time to come home.* For the church, it is time to repent.* For the church, it is time to get our hearts back in line with our God.He longs to pour out among His people great power, overwhelming victory, and the goodness of His name. But it all begins with us humbling ourselves and returning to a place of repentance.And to those whose first thought is, “What do I need to repent of?”—you are the very ones He is speaking to!When we, in any way—whether in large ways or small ways—TURN AWAY and depart from the paths of righteousness, there is a great need to return.Listen to what Scripture declares:1 Peter 4:17–18 NKJV-For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? [18] Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”We have to understand that our repentance affects more than us alone. Our repentance is a witness of hope to the world. It declares that God saves, God restores, God renews, God replenishes, and God refines.Our repentance speaks hope to people who lost their hope long ago and laid it aside. It tells the world that the Lord is a God of great mercy and grace, who forgives and redeems people from iniquity and from the places where they have wandered and strayed.In fact, if we are going to experience the outpouring of God, WE MUST REPENT.Whether your desire is to experience an outpouring from the Holy Spirit on a large scale, or simply to see Him move in your own family, it all starts with repentance.#1: repentance must begin with the house of God because God intends for His people to become a living testimony of His saving, restoring, renewing, replenishing, and refining grace.REPENTANCE MUST BECOME OUR LIFESTYLE.It must become the WAY we live every day. We must begin to care more about what the Lord thinks of us than what the world wants from us.Psalm 51:16–17 NKJV-For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. [17] The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart- These, O God, You will not despise.The Hebrew word for “sacrifice” is זֶבַח—zevach—which refers to offerings made to God.“Broken” in Hebrew is שָׁבוּר—shavur—implying something shattered or crushed and symbolizing deep humility.“Contrite” is נִדְכֶּה—nidkeh—meaning crushed or deeply penitent and emphasizing a heartfelt sorrow for sin.Each of these words foreshadows what Jesus would provide for us on the cross. These are expressions that Jesus is the ultimate and only sacrifice for sins that can ever save. When we place our faith in Jesus, He becomes FOR US the ultimate sacrifice on a personal level, allowing us acceptance with the Father.The sacrifices the Lord desires are a heart shattered and crushed in deep humility, along with a spirit crushed to the point of deep sorrow for sin. These things are the basis for true repentance, and without repentance we will not be born again.* To say that we have no need for repentance or for a lifestyle of deep repentance...* To say that we no longer need to search our hearts for sin and wrongdoing...* To say or think that we are so good that we do not need the Lord to cleanse us daily...* Is to accept and come into union with a religious spirit and a self-righteous spirit that stands obstinate against the Lord.For the church to become the bride of Christ He is returning for will require EACH OF US to search our hearts and ask the HOLY SPIRIT to search our hearts.I SAY AGAIN WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THE LORD: THIS IS REPENTANCE SEASON.WORD FROM THE LORD — This is the season, says the Lord, for my people to humble themselves and return to me, the living God, and see if I will not pour out my Spirit, blessing, and power upon you and among you. For I long to move in my people and pour out my Spirit. I long to send you FREEDOM that comes to those who submit to my hand, but you must SUBMIT. With conviction from my Holy Spirit, you must repent and come back to me in ALL your ways and stop turning to the right hand and to the left. You must allow me to lead and guide your steps and stop pursuing your own pleasure; instead, seek my face and the pleasure of my ways. For soon I come, says the Lord. I am returning for a people who have made themselves pure and clean in my eyes—those who have not given themselves over to their own ways and pleasures. I am returning for those who find their pleasure and their purpose in serving me and opening their hearts to the goodness of my name and the power of my Spirit.RETURN TO THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEARTFriends, it is repentance season!Joel 2:12–17 NKJV-“Now, therefore,” says the LORD, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” [13] So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. [14] Who knows if He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him- A grain offering and a drink offering For the LORD your God? [15] Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; [16] Gather the people, Sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and nursing babes; Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, And the bride from her dressing room. [17] Let the priests, who minister to the LORD, Weep between the porch and the altar; Let them say, “Spare Your people, O LORD, And do not give Your heritage to reproach, That the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?'”* Where is our fasting?* Where is our weeping over our sins?* Where is the mourning heart that grieves for the wrong it has done?* Where are those who rend their hearts?* Where is our consecration and separation unto the Lord?Even in my own self, I search and ask the Lord, “Have I done what I am supposed to do? Have I declared all the Word of God? Have I cried out enough, ‘Spare Your people'?”I feel deeply that this is the word for the moment.Suddenly, the Lord is returning.Also, suddenly the Lord is coming back to His temple.Suddenly, He will come in to those who have prepared their hearts.Suddenly, He will say, “The time is now and the time has come.”We do not want to be unprepared and miss the move of God!We do not want to be unrepentant, with obstinate hearts full of our own ways, and be left behind.The people of God are the first fruits of the Kingdom. God is looking for hearts that want HIM MORE THAN ANYTHING!The deepest reason we repent is because we understand that He is the treasure. We develop a longing for Him over everything else, and we want NOTHING that hinders our relationship with Jesus.It is time for the people of God to stop trying to see just how much of our own pleasure He will allow, and instead pursue just how much of HIS pleasure we can receive.WHAT TRUE REPENTANCE MEANSLet me be clear about what repentance means.* REPENTANCE IS NOT ONLY SAYING, “I AM SORRY.”* REPENTANCE IS WHEN WE LITERALLY CHANGE OUR MIND AND ALIGN WITH GOD'S MIND, AND WE WALK IN A NEW DIRECTION BY OUR CHOICE AND FAITH.* REPENTANCE IS A CHANGE OF MIND THAT LEADS TO A CHANGE OF HEART, THAT CREATES A CHANGE OF ACTION.* God grants repentance.* Repentance always leads us to confession of sin.* Confession of sin leads to forgiveness of sin.* WE must confess AND forsake our sins.#2: true repentance is not merely an emotional apology. It is a God-granted change of mind that changes the heart, changes our actions, leads to confession, and causes us to confess and forsake our sins.WHAT REPENTANCE OPENSRepentance is not GOD BEATING DOWN HIS PEOPLE.Repentance is not just SOMETHING TO BE ENDURED.It is time for the church to understand that a lifestyle of repentance OPENS THE DOOR for the Lord to move in our lives!Repentance brings revival, restoration, renewing, and refining!Look at the results of repentance:Joel 2:18–29 NKJV-Then the LORD will be zealous for His land, And pity His people. [19] The LORD will answer and say to His people, “Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil, And you will be satisfied by them; I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations. [20] “But I will remove far from you the northern army, And will drive him away into a barren and desolate land, With his face toward the eastern sea And his back toward the western sea; His stench will come up, And his foul odor will rise, Because he has done monstrous things.” [21] Fear not, O land; Be glad and rejoice, For the LORD has done marvelous things! [22] Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field; For the open pastures are springing up, And the tree bears its fruit; The fig tree and the vine yield their strength. [23] Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the LORD your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you- The former rain, And the latter rain in the first month. [24] The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. [25] “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. [26] You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, And praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame. [27] Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the LORD your God And there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame. [28] “And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. [29] And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.Do you see what repentance opens?* The Lord becomes zealous for His land and pities His people.* He sends grain, new wine, and oil.* He brings satisfaction and removes reproach.* He drives the enemy away.* He causes the land to spring up and bear fruit.* He sends the former rain and the latter rain.* He fills the threshing floors and causes the vats to overflow.* He restores the years the locust has eaten.* He removes shame and makes His presence known.* And afterward, He pours out His Spirit on all flesh.#3: a lifestyle of repentance opens the door to the Lord's pity, provision, victory, fruitfulness, restoration, presence, and outpouring. Repentance brings revival, restoration, renewing, and refining.RETURN TO YOUR FIRST LOVEThis is the season for the bride of Christ to RETURN and REPENT, and do the first works again!Revelation 2:4–5 NKJV-Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. [5] Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place-unless you repent.Here is how we return:* Remember where you were before you drifted.* Repent of every way you have turned from the Lord.* Return to Jesus as your treasure and first love.* Do the first works again—seek Him, obey Him, consecrate yourself, and walk in His ways.* Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart.* Confess and forsake what He reveals.* Stop pursuing your own pleasure and seek His face and the pleasure of His ways.#4: we return to our first love by remembering, repenting, returning, and doing the first works again.Friend, this is not a message for somebody else. This is a moment for every one of us to put our own heart before the Lord.Ask Him right now: “Holy Spirit, search my heart. Show me where I have turned away. Show me what I need to confess and forsake. Bring me back to my first love, and help me do the first works again.”God is not calling you back so He can beat you down. He is calling you back because He loves you. He longs to send freedom to those who submit to His hand. He longs to restore, renew, refine, and pour out His Spirit. But we must humble ourselves, repent, and return to Him with all our hearts.The Lord is calling the hurting, the weary, the broken, the battered, the bruised, and the wandering. It is time to come home.It is time for the church to repent.It is time to get our hearts back in line with our God.THIS IS REPENTANCE SEASON.If the Lord is speaking to your heart through this word, write “I am returning” in the comments. Let that be your declaration: “I am returning to my first love. I am opening my heart to the Holy Spirit. I am choosing a lifestyle of repentance.”And if you know someone who is hurting, weary, broken, or has wandered away from the Lord, share this video with them. Do not send it in condemnation—send it with compassion. Let them know that Jesus is still calling them home.If you want to keep growing in strong faith, prayer, revival, repentance, and obedience to the voice of God, subscribe to the channel and turn on notifications. We are going to keep seeking the Lord together, standing for His Word, and preparing our hearts for everything He wants to do.Subscribe to the PodcastI am praying for you. Return to the Lord with all your heart. He is gracious. He is merciful. And He is calling His people home. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.strongfaith.co

Today’s Topics: 1) Gospel – John 19:25-27 – Standing by the Cross of Jesus were His mother and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple there whom He loved He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3) Drew Mason joins Terry to discuss how to financially protect your family from the coming economic crisis through the purchase of precious metals 4) Knowledge is not enough, you must do the will of God.

Original Airdate: September 15, 2023 === Gospel  Luke 2:33-35 Jesus' father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Reflection What Simeon and Anna had told Mary and Joseph about their son was that he was the one to come. He was the Messiah. And they must have had some sense of that because of the way his birth took place. But they also said his message is going to be contradicted by the temple. He's going to be the enemy of the temple. And you also will see him suffer intensely. Yet he's doing something that you must understand, he's revealing people's hearts, he's revealing who all of us are. Closing Prayer Mary and Joseph became aware of their destiny. Their child was called to save the world, would be rejected and would be put through a painful, painful death. And Mary had to begin her journey of acceptance. That's the key. Accepting our destiny. It calls for great authenticity, it calls for us recognizing and spending time wondering about who we are and why we're here. When those two things are in sync with God's plan we are a powerful source of life to ourselves and everyone around us. Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen.Stabant autem juxta crucem Jesu mater ejus, et soror matris ejus, Maria Cleophae, et Maria Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother: Woman, behold thy son.Cum vidisset ergo Jesus matrem, et discipulum stantem, quem diligebat, dicit matri suae : Mulier, ecce filius tuus. 27 After that, he saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own.Deinde dicit discipulo : Ecce mater tua. Et ex illa hora accepit eam discipulus in sua.

MATTHEW 20:29 – 21:16 – BEHOLD YOUR KING by Pastor Dan Esh | The Gospel of Matthew https://s3.amazonaws.com/podcast.calvarycentral.org/mat-20c-21a-dan2026.mp3 Description: “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.' ” Matthew 21:5 Download Outline

Read OnlineCommingling of Love and SufferingJesus' father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:33–35It is no liturgical coincidence that the day after we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, we honor Our Lady of Sorrows. This close liturgical connection highlights the inseparable union between Christ's Passion and His Mother's compassion.The passage above is one of the two optional Gospel readings for today. The other is taken from the foot of the Cross: “Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene” (John 19:25). In both passages, we are invited to gaze with reverent love upon the overflowing charity found in the Blessed Mother's Immaculate Heart. Though she experienced countless moments of profound joy, today we contemplate the holy sorrow she endured as she accompanied her divine Son.From the first moment of her Immaculate Conception, the Blessed Mother's heart was full of grace. She was preserved from the stain of Original Sin and remained sinless throughout her life by freely obeying every prompting of the Holy Spirit who overshadowed her. For this reason, her Immaculate Heart is unique—no other motherly heart has ever loved so purely, and no other heart has ever suffered so deeply.It is easy to imagine that pure love would exempt a soul from suffering. But all we need to do is look upon the Son of God to know that this is not so. Suffering, sorrow, and the perfection of love are not opposed; they are perfectly united in every holy soul conformed to Christ, as exemplified in His Mother.When we contemplate the Exaltation of the Cross, we behold Jesus crucified—naked, humiliated, and in excruciating agony. Yet that suffering held no power over Him. He conquered it by embracing it, enduring it, and transforming it into the very foundation of Divine Mercy.Likewise, as the Mother of God stood before the exalted Cross of her Son and beheld Him in His final agony, her heart was pierced by the sword that Simeon prophesied on the day of Jesus' Presentation in the Temple. In that moment, sorrow and love became one. How could she feel otherwise? Had she not loved her Son so deeply, she would not have suffered so profoundly. It was precisely because her love was so pure that her sorrow was so great.There is much to learn from the Sorrowful Heart of the Immaculate Virgin Mary. From her we learn that holy love enables us to suffer with others. This is the essence of the word compassion—to suffer with. When we witness the sins of others—for which Christ suffered—or when we ourselves experience rejection, betrayal, or injustice, we are faced with a choice. We can turn inward in bitterness and self-pity, or we can imitate the Blessed Mother and choose holy compassion, loving even in the midst of pain, rejection, and abuse.Why did our Blessed Mother choose this holy sorrow, this loving compassion? Because love expressed in this way draws sinners back to God. Her compassion, united with Christ's, became a silent yet powerful invitation for all souls to repent, to believe, and to be healed.Reflect today on the sorrow within your own heart. It is easy to be saddened by loss, hardship, or trials. But sadness is not the same as holy sorrow. Does suffering lead you to compassion and empathy, or does it turn into self-pity? As we ponder the sorrows of our Blessed Mother, pray for the grace to imitate her holy compassion. Embrace your trials with love, and allow mercy to flow from your wounded heart. The Blessed Virgin perfectly exemplifies this sacred charity, and through her intercession and example, we are called to do the same. Our Lady of Sorrows, you stood by your divine Son in His joys and in His sufferings. You felt what He felt, loved with His love, and had compassion for all. Please pray for me, that as I gaze upon the exalted triumph of your Son's Cross, I may never look away, but look with love, uniting my own crosses with His. Sorrowful Heart of Mary, pray for us. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image via Adobe Stock: Main; Featured Source: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Restoring Kingdom Authority:  What Adam Lost Jesus Restored | BLTV092026 Biblical Life TV DESCRIPTION Did Jesus come only to save humanity from sin—or did His redemptive work also restore something Adam surrendered in the Garden? In this edition of Biblical Life TV, Dr. Michael Lake examines the biblical theology of KINGDOM AUTHORITY. From Genesis to the Great Commission, Scripture reveals that humanity was created not merely to exist upon the earth but to represent God, exercise stewardship, guard sacred space, and function under the authority of the King. Adam was given everything he needed to fulfill that assignment. Yet the serpent did not begin by attacking Adam and Eve with overwhelming force. He began with a question: "Did God actually say…?" — Genesis 3:1 That question remains one of the enemy's most effective weapons. Has God really said this is sin? Has God really said believers have authority over the kingdom of darkness? Has God really said we can resist the devil? Has God really said His Word can be trusted? The moment the believer begins questioning what God has clearly established, the enemy attempts to separate authority from its source. Adam surrendered ground. But Jesus came to restore what was lost. This teaching examines the biblical restoration pattern: Adam lost fellowship—Christ brings reconciliation. Adam brought condemnation—Christ brings justification. Adam brought death—Christ brings resurrection life. Adam lost access to God's presence—Christ restores access. Adam corrupted humanity's calling as God's image-bearers—Christ restores the image. Adam surrendered ground to the serpent—Jesus crushes the serpent's head. Adam failed to guard sacred space—Jesus defeats the powers of darkness. Adam's dominion became corrupted—Jesus declares that ALL AUTHORITY in heaven and earth belongs to Him. Humanity lost its royal-priestly vocation—Christ creates a Kingdom of priests. Creation entered corruption—Christ ultimately brings the new creation. The Gospel is therefore not merely about getting people into heaven. It is about restoring redeemed humanity to proper relationship with God and bringing believers back under the government of Jesus Christ. ALL AUTHORITY HAS BEEN GIVEN TO CHRIST Before issuing the Great Commission, Jesus makes an extraordinary declaration: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." — Matthew 28:18 Then He says: "Go therefore…" — Matthew 28:19 The commission flows from His authority. Jesus commands His disciples to make disciples, baptize believers, and teach them to observe everything He commanded. This means discipleship itself is an exercise of Kingdom authority. Baptism is an act of allegiance. Obedience is spiritual warfare. Standing upon Scripture is spiritual warfare. Sanctification is spiritual warfare. Choosing righteousness instead of sin is spiritual warfare. Every time the believer chooses God's Word over the enemy's deception, another string of manipulation is cut. THE FIRST DIMENSION OF AUTHORITY: YOU CAN SAY NO The teaching explores the Greek word exousia, translated "authority." One of its important dimensions involves the right or freedom to act. Before redemption, humanity is enslaved to sin. In Christ, the believer can finally say: NO. No to sin. No to temptation. No to deception. No to the manipulation of the enemy. And: YES to God. YES to righteousness. YES to obedience. YES to the Word. YES to the Kingdom. Learning to exercise that choice is part of learning Kingdom authority. JESUS SHOWS US HOW AUTHORITY WORKS Matthew 4:1–11 records Satan tempting Jesus after forty days of fasting. The enemy attacked at a moment of tremendous physical weakness. Yet Jesus did not defeat temptation through emotion, physical strength, religious excitement, or a dramatic display. Three times His response was essentially: IT IS WRITTEN. The authority of the believer is therefore not based upon how powerful the believer FEELS. Authority rests upon Christ, His victory, His Word, and our obedient submission to Him. If Heaven stands behind the Word, Hell must yield to the authority of that Word. AUTHORITY OVER THE POWER OF THE ENEMY Jesus tells His disciples: "Behold, I have given you authority…over all the power of the enemy." — Luke 10:19 The episode examines an important distinction between exousia—authority—and dunamis—power. The kingdom of darkness may attempt to intimidate believers through manifestations of supernatural power. But supernatural manifestations do not cancel the authority Christ has delegated to obedient believers. The enemy wants Christians to become impressed by his power so that they forget their authority. Jesus teaches precisely the opposite. Do not become fascinated with demons. Do not become intimidated by supernatural manifestations. Do not build your identity around spiritual warfare. Rejoice that your names are written in heaven. — Luke 10:20 AUTHORITY GROWS THROUGH TRAINING David did not begin with Goliath. Before the giant came the lion and the bear. In the same way, God can use smaller battles to train believers in obedience, faith, discernment, and Kingdom authority. Every temptation presents a choice. Every spiritual conflict provides an opportunity to stand upon Scripture. Every act of obedience strengthens the believer's ability to remain faithful when greater battles arrive. God trains His people before the Goliath moment. BINDING AND LOOSING This episode also examines two important passages concerning binding and loosing: Matthew 18:15–20 Matthew 16:13–19 Matthew 18 concerns authority and discipline within the believing community. Matthew 16 takes place in the region of Caesarea Philippi, against the backdrop of Mount Hermon and the "gates of Hades." The teaching connects this location with the spiritual rebellion associated with Genesis 6 and presents Jesus' declaration as a direct challenge to the kingdom of darkness: "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." — Matthew 16:18 THE BREAKER SWITCH One of the strongest illustrations in this episode compares spiritual authority to an electrical breaker. Enormous electrical power can flow through a system. Yet a relatively small breaker can interrupt that power—not because the breaker possesses greater raw energy, but because it has the AUTHORITY and function to interrupt the circuit. The enemy may display power. The believer has been given delegated authority in Christ. The question is: Will we believe what God has said? THE BATTLE RETURNS TO GENESIS 3 The enemy still whispers: "Has God really said?" The believer must answer: YES, HE HAS. God has spoken. His Word remains true. Jesus Christ has triumphed over the kingdom of darkness. All authority belongs to Him. And believers who submit themselves to the King are called to carry out His Kingdom assignments under His authority. The closing prayer asks God to teach His people their authority, establish confidence in the validity of His Word, and deepen their trust in His righteous character so that they can be used for His glory. KEY SCRIPTURES DISCUSSED ·      Genesis 2:15 ·      Genesis 3:1 ·      Deuteronomy 32:4–5 ·      Psalm 145:17 ·      Matthew 4:1–11 ·      Matthew 16:13–19 ·      Matthew 18:15–20 ·      Matthew 28:18–20 ·      Luke 10:17–20 ·      Isaiah 40:29–31 ·      Isaiah 41:10 ·      1 John 1:6 ·      Daniel 11:32 ·      Jude 1:9 ·      1 Corinthians 5:1–5 CALL TO ACTION The enemy's question has not changed: "Has God really said?" Our answer must not change either: YES, HE HAS. Now is the time to learn the Word, trust the character of God, pursue holiness, close doors to the enemy, and learn to exercise the authority Jesus Christ has given His people. If this teaching has strengthened you, please LIKE this video, SUBSCRIBE to Biblical Life TV, and SHARE this episode with believers who need to understand their Kingdom authority. COMMENT BELOW: What Scripture has helped you most in understanding the believer's authority in Christ? PARTNER WITH BIBLICAL LIFE TV Biblical Life TV exists to provide Spirit-filled biblical teaching designed to nurture, prepare, and empower the remnant for the days ahead. The program opens by emphasizing the need for believers to study the Word, pursue the Kingdom, and become "ablaze with the fire of God" in this generation. Kingdom Intelligence Briefing and Biblical Life TV are made possible through the prayers and financial support of our partners worldwide. If these teachings have strengthened your walk with God and helped prepare you for the days ahead, please prayerfully consider supporting Biblical Life TV. Biblical Life P.O. Box 160 Seymour, Missouri 65746-0160 Online giving is also available through the Biblical Life store. Thank you to everyone who prays, gives, shares these programs, and stands with us as we work to prepare the remnant for the unfolding of end-times prophecy. HASHTAGS #KingdomAuthority #KingdomIntelligenceBriefing #BiblicalLifeTV #SpiritualWarfare #AuthorityInChrist #BelieversAuthority #JesusChrist #Genesis3 #GreatCommission #ArmorOfGod #Remnant #BiblicalTruth #KingdomOfGod #ChristianDiscipleship #EndTimes

Welcome to Part 3 of my series on Christian Discipleship: We've already covered Stay in the Book and Stay on Your Knees. Today we'll address the last imperative: Stay after Souls. So let's discuss what that means and what evangelism should look like in the life of a born-again Christian. So today, I want to tackle that last imperative: “Stay after souls.” This has the idea of evangelism at its heart, but it really goes far beyond simply sharing the gospel. And that's what I'd like to examine with you today. Show Notes RELATED LINKS: EP 115: Stay in the Book (Part 1 of this series) EP 116: Stay on Your Knees (Part 2 of this series) The Singing Bible (unique Bible reading app) “Now Entering Mission Field” Sign (free printable) A Prayer for the LOST (free printable prayer guide based on Scripture)- The Five Solas (illumined coloring page) The Roman Road Printable (in your choice of five different languages) Free printable gospel tracts (including the trick-or-treat tracts I mentioned) VERSES CITED: Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you….” Matthew 28:19-20 – “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations….” Deuteronomy 11:18-19 – “Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart….” Luke 16:10 – “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much….” Ephesians 5:33 – “…and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7 – “These commandments that I give you today are to be…” Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go….” James 2:8 – “If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law….” 1 Samuel 15:22 – “…Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice….” Matthew 10:37 – “who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me….” Deuteronomy 13:6-8 – “If your very own brother, or your son or daughter….” Philippians 2:5-8 – “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus….” 1 Corinthians 11:1 – “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” Exodus 20:7 – “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain….” Colossians 3:23  – “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart….” Ecclesiastes 9:10 – “Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might…” Romans 12:1 – “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy….”  Philippians 2:14 – “Do all things without complaining or arguments….” John 13:35 – “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 1 John 4:19 – “We love because he first loved us.”  Matthew 5:44 – “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor' and ….” Luke 6:27-28 – “… Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who….” Luke 19:10 – “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”                        John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave ...” John 15:12-14 – “This is My commandment, that you love one another….” James 2:15-16 – “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food… Philippians 2:3-4 – “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with….” Matthew 25:40 – “…whatever you did for one of the least of these… you did for Me.'” John 14:6 – “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes….” Romans 10:14 – “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed?” 1 Peter 3:15-16 – “Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks….” Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith….” James 2:26 – “… faith without works is dead.” Roman 3:10 – “As it is written, ‘THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE.'” Romans 3:23– “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 5:8 – “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is….” Romans 10:9 – “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe….” Romans 10:13 – “… for ‘whoever will call on the name of the LORD will be saved.'” 1 Corinthians 3:7 – “So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters….” Ecclesiastes 11:6 – “Sow your seed in the morning, and do not rest….” Isaiah 55:10-11 – “… so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty.” Colossians 2:13 – “You were dead because of your sins….” 1 Peter 2:12 – “Conduct yourselves with such honor that….” Titus 2:7-8 – “In everything, show yourself to be an example….” Romans 15:6 – “so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify….” 1 Corinthians 10:31 – “… whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Mathew 5:16 – “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see….” John 15:8 – “This is to My Father's glory, that you bear much fruit….” 1 Timothy 5:25 – “In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even….” SATY CONNECTED: Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -weekly themed link lists of free resources Instagram: @flanders_family - follow for more great content Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life - parenting tips, homeschool help, printables Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home- encouragement for wives, mothers, believers My Books: Shop Online - find on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, or through our website

9:10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 9:11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 9:12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 9:13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 9:14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

Who Is The Greatest - Matthew 18:1-9

1 Kings 18:1-191 After many days the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth.” 2 So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria. 3 And Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly, 4 and when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.) 5 And Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the valleys. Perhaps we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, and not lose some of the animals.” 6 So they divided the land between them to pass through it. Ahab went in one direction by himself, and Obadiah went in another direction by himself. 7 And as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. And Obadiah recognized him and fell on his face and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?” 8 And he answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your lord, ‘Behold, Elijah is here.'” 9 And he said, “How have I sinned, that you would give your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me? 10 As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you. And when they would say, ‘He is not here,' he would take an oath of the kingdom or nation, that they had not found you. 11 And now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here.”' 12 And as soon as I have gone from you, the Spirit of the Lord will carry you I know not where. And so, when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, although I your servant have feared the Lord from my youth. 13 Has it not been told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, how I hid a hundred men of the Lord's prophets by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water? 14 And now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here”'; and he will kill me.” 15 And Elijah said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.” 16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him. And Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” 18 And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father's house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals. 19 Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table.”

This week, Alan continues our His House, His Presence series with a call to take our place in the house God is building and behold the great King. We were never created to stand at a distance or simply observe what God is doing—we are living stones, invited to find our place, bring our praise, and become a people marked by His presence. When we truly see the King for who He is, worship becomes our natural response. Our hearts awaken, our voices rise, and our whole lives begin to answer His greatness. This message invites us to let our sound rise, to move beyond passive or partial worship, and to give the King the response He is worthy of. As we behold Him, may wonder rise again in His house. Take your place, lift your voice, and give the King your whole response.  

Today, we are so excited to bring to you, for the first time ever, our Sunday Service morning message and Sunday Night Bible Study combined into a single, 2-hour time of prayer, prayer, preaching and Bible teaching! At the bottom of every article announcing the Sunday Services, you will find all the notes used in the course of the messages and Bible Studies we bring ro you weekly. Today my message and teaching is entitled "That Stumbling Stone', Jesus of Nazareth. “Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” Romans 9:32,33 (KJB)All through the Bible, Jesus Christ is revealed as That Stumbling Stone—the tried Stone laid by God, the precious Corner Stone, the Stone rejected by the builders and the Rock of offence over which unbelieving men continue to stumble. Israel had been entrusted with the oracles of God and should have recognized its Messiah, yet the builders examined the Stone and cast Him aside. When Pilate presented Jesus Christ alongside a robber, insurrectionist and murderer, the people cried, “Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas.” But the Gentiles were equally guilty: Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles and the people of Israel gathered together and crucified the Lord of glory. At Calvary, the religious world and the political world united in choosing a guilty criminal over the sinless Son of God. Behold that stumbling Stone!

Matthew Week 153     Luke 23:20-22 ESV   22 A third time he said to them, "Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him."       John 19:1 ESV   Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him.       Matthew 27:27-30 ESV   Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. 28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" 30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head.             John 19:4-5 ESV   4 Pilate went out again and said to them, "See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him." 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Behold the man!"       John 19:6a ESV   6 When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!"       Matthew 27:24-26 ESV   24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves." 25 And all the people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!" 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.       Deuteronomy 21:6-8 ESV   6 And all the elders of that city nearest to the slain man shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley, 7 and they shall testify, 'Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it shed.8 Accept atonement, O Lord, for your people Israel, whom you have redeemed, and do not set the guilt of innocent blood in the midst of your people Israel, so that their blood guilt be atoned for.'       Genesis 9:6 ESV   6 "Whoever sheds the blood of man,   by man shall his blood be shed,   for God made man in his own image.       Psalm 26:6-7 ESV   I wash my hands in innocence   and go around your altar, O Lord,   7 proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,   and telling all your wondrous deeds.       John 19:11 ESV   11 Jesus answered him, "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin."       John 19:16-17a ESV   16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, 17 and he went out, bearing his own cross       Matthew 27:32 ESV (with Mark 15 and Luke 23)   32 As they went out, they found {luke they seized} a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. {mark and luke who was coming in from the country}, {mark the father of Alexander and Rufus} They compelled this man to carry his cross. {luke They laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus}     Acts 2:8-10 ESV   8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome       Acts 11:19-21 ESV   19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.       Romans 16:13 ESV   13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.    

Dr Kenneth Bruce So That You May Believe Behold Your King John 12:12-19

Audio Recording Behold the Glory of God Rev. Scott Strickman Download Sermon OutlineSpeaker: Rev. Scott StrickmanSermon Series: Behold the Glory of God2 Corinthians 3:4-18 (ESV)4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.Sermon OutlineAs a church, we are beginning a season of seeking God to gain insight on how lives are transformed by beholding God's Glory.1. Gloryv18 “beholding the glory of the Lord”2. Veil v18 “with unveiled face”3. Transformed Imagesv18 “are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.”v14 “the same veil remains unlifted…through Christ it is taken away”v18 “Beholding”v12 “since we have such a hope, we are very bold”Prayer of ConfessionOur glorious, radiant God: we bow before you, aware that the kingdom, power and glory are yours. We admit our lack of understanding, our unbelief, our disinterest. We admit our sin that prohibits us from seeing, acknowledging and experiencing your glory. We have looked to created thing to satisfy us. We have given our devotion and energies to people, things and ideas that have ensnared us. We have not walked the path of grace and truth that you have set before us. Forgive every sinful thought, word and deed. We thank you for Jesus, who has come near to make you known, has opened the way, and who calls us to follow him in the paths of life. Transform us by the work of your Spirit; show us Jesus so that we may behold your glory. Amen.Questions for ReflectionWhat does glory mean? What do you think of? How would you describe glory?Do you ever experience glory (or have you ever)? Describe the experience.Why do you think God wants us to behold His glory?What makes beholding God's glory so difficult?How have you tried to behold God's glory? What has worked? What hasn't?What happens to us when we behold something or someone else, in the place of God?What did Jesus do that makes it possible for us to behold God's glory?How is looking to Christ a central part of the Christian method of transformation? How does one “fix their eyes” on Jesus?How are other aspects of the Christian life (ethics/behavior, spiritual disciplines, theology, etc.) integrated with beholding God's glory? What happens if we pursue them apart from looking to Christ? What role does Sunday worship with God's people play in a lifestyle of seeking God and beholding His glory? Why is it important? How can you make the most of each worship service towards this goal?

"Behold the Lamb of God" – John 1:29-34 *Mt. 3:13-17 I. Jesus' baptism II. Behold the Lamb of God (Is. 53:3-7; 1 Pet. 1:17-19) III. The Lamb who takes away the sin of the world (2 Sam. 12:13; Is. 6:5-7; Ps. 32:1-2; Heb. 9:24-26; 1 Jn. 2:1-2; Rom. 5:18; 1 Cor. 13:7; Phil. 4:13) IV. Application (Mt. 11:28-30; Jn. 7:37-38)

The Long Journey from the Head to the Heart Dr. Eric J. Gilchrest, Pastor | September 13, 2026 Check out the weekly sermon here or on our SRBC podcast on Apple Podcast and Spotify. While you're at it, check us out on Facebook and Instagram too. Like what you hear? We'd love to know.At South Run, we read every message personally. Whether you have a question, want to share how God is moving in your life, or are thinking about visiting in person, this is the place to start. If you click the link below, Pastor Eric will personally reach out to you. Listening online? Let us know. Sermon Transcript The Long Journey from the Head to the HeartDr. Eric J. Gilchrest, Pastor. . . are few. And so for this last season of Church Life, we've been talking about these two different paths, right? There's this one way to live a life in which you find yourself down roads of destruction that you should never have walked down. And then there are ways of living a life that lead to real life. And Jesus warns us, he says, the way to life is not easy, It's narrow. It's probably going to cause you some difficulty at times. This isn't to say it's the easy road at all. If anything, the other Rd. is the easy one. But it is a road that leads to life. And so I've been talking about different ways that this gets played out and different topics. This sermon is A little bit like if you've ever watched a television show where you're watching these characters unfold over a span of time, and then the storyteller goes back in time, right? And the storyteller starts to tell you about the roots of the character. I remember the first time I maybe encountered this completely was the show Lost. They tell you about the various characters, Jack and Kate and a guy named John Locke. And then you're like 3, four, five seasons into it. And then you're finding out about John Locke as a little kid or something and like what happened to his life. Or if you've read good books, maybe, I'm blanking on this, Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, right? He does this well. He gives you not just like the world therein, but he builds the world out. This sermon's a little like that, where we've been focused on what Jesus offers these two ways in Matthew 7. But truth be told, Jesus is not making this up whole cloth. He's actually pointing to the passage that Dave just read for us back from Deuteronomy chapter 30. And it's worth knowing this because there's actually a whole history of this that's sitting in your Bible that predates anything that Jesus says or does. And it's worth knowing what's really happening in these scriptures. And so today my hope is to kind of walk you through a few of them to show you what Jesus is pulling on and then to show you that Jesus' intent is to actually fill all of that out and to make a way where before there had not been a way. Let's begin with prayer. God our Heavenly Father, we thank you. for sending your Son Jesus Christ to die on a cross for our sins, to cleanse us from our iniquity, that we might have new life. We thank you for raising him from the dead, that he might defeat death once and for all, and offer true life, eternal life for all of us. And Lord, we thank you for sending your Holy Spirit. And we ask right now, here and now, that you send your spirit into this place, that Lord, you speak through my words to the hearts of those listening, that they might know what you are trying to tell them this morning. We pray this in Christ's holy name, amen. So if I were to ask you what is Jesus' famous sermon, you would probably say, the Sermon on the Mount. Is there another one? It's kind of the only one that I am aware of that maybe gets a title, like the sermon something or other, right? If you were to go home today and want to read the Sermon on the Mount, you would go to Matthew chapter 5 through 7. It's long. It's 3 whole chapters long, right? And in Matthew 5 through 7, If I were to ask a follow-up question, like what's the text Jesus is preaching his sermon from, what would you say to that? No, nothing? Okay. Yeah, that's fine. Because here's the truth, right? I would say it this way. He's preaching from the whole of the law. And he's teaching us how to read the whole of the law, which is to say the first five books of the Bible, Genesis and Exodus and Leviticus and Numbers and Deuteronomy. This is where you find the Torah. Another word for law, by the way, frankly, a translation I would prefer is instruction. These are instructions on how to live a life. both communally, for Israel as a whole, like how Israel as a whole is supposed to live a life, and then for the Israelite himself or herself, or for you, yourself, like how you're to live a life. These are the instructions. And so Jesus is kind of flipping through the instruction manual, and he's then preaching through this sermon of chapter 5 and then 6 and then 7, and he gets to the end of seven, and then he delivers the line that I just read earlier about the two different ways. perhaps not surprisingly, he's doing precisely what Moses did. You see, Moses delivers the law, and he gives us things, the memorable ones like the Ten Commandments, right? And then he gives all these other little laws, and if this happens, well then do that, and if this happens, well then do that, and you shouldn't do this over here, and you should definitely do this over here, and then he gets to the end of it all. In Deuteronomy 30, is kind of the capstone of it. And then he says, he's kind of looking back on all the commandments. And in brief, he says, look, I've laid before you two options. The one option leads to life and the other option leads to death, which is precisely what Jesus does, right? He says, I've preached my sermon, my most famous one, the Sermon on the Mount, and I get to the end of it all and I'm offering you two things. There's the one way that leads to life, and there's the one way that leads to death. So let's take a look at Deuteronomy 30. We'll start in verse 15, though. Deuteronomy 30, starting in verse 15, and we'll see what Moses says. Because this again is filling out this backstory that predates what Jesus is doing a few thousand years later. And so in verse 15, he says, see, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. And if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today. And then he explains like how to obey these commandments. There's 3 parts to it. So if you obey these commandments by one, loving the Lord your God, two, by walking in His ways, and three, by keeping His commandments and His statutes and His rules, well then you shall live and multiply. It's interesting to me, and I think it should be to you, that what Moses gives us here is, here's how to obey the commands. And he doesn't get around to actually telling you to obey the commands until.3. He starts with, you obey the commands by, right here, loving in your heart, loving the right thing, namely the Lord your God. And then the next part is you move from loving to doing the thing, to like walking in his ways. And then finally third, When you're doing that, you are finally keeping the commandments and the statutes and the rules and the instructions and all the things that Moses just laid out in the first five books of your Bible. And if you do those, well, that leads to life. This sounds a lot like what Jesus says, doesn't it? Like you should do these things. And Jesus knows, and frankly, Moses knows, and I'm gonna guess you all know too, that actually doing the thing is a whole lot harder than it seems. It's a whole lot harder. We'll finish up the passage here starting in verse 17. If your hearts turn away, and you will not hear, but you're drawn away to worship the other gods and you serve them, well, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you're going over the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today. I have set before you again two options, life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore, choose life, that you and your offspring, your kids and their kids and their kids. they might live, loving the Lord your God, and here they are again, by the way, loving the Lord your God, obeying His voice and holding fast to Him, for He is your life, He is your length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob to give to them. Now I'll say, if I'm preaching a sermon like Jesus on the Sermon on the Mount, this is a great text to draw from because it's stirring, right? He's putting before you, like, are you going to choose the way to life or are you going to choose the way that leads to death? And then he gives us some ways to actually do this. But what Moses knows And what Jesus definitely knows and what you probably know too is that knowing the thing that you should do and having it sitting here in your heart to do it, two very different things. They say that the 18 inches from your head to your heart is the longest journey you can possibly take. To get something that you know to be true Down inside here, this is a lifetime of a journey. Turns out that knowing the law and doing the law are two entirely different life tasks. If I were to ask you right now, should you lie to your neighbor or your kids or to your pastor? You would most certainly say, of course not. I'm not going to do that. And if I were to say, should you steal from your workplace? should you take things from there? And no. Who's going to do that? Why would I do that? Should you defraud people out of their money? No. I'm not going to steal from somebody. Should you cheat on your spouse? No. way. Should you beat up your little brother, right? No, I shouldn't do that. But somehow the knowing of it is very different from the doing it. And you find yourself in places and doing things that you thought, I shouldn't be doing this. How did I get here? Why? am I here? And for some of you, it's why am I here again? And then again. And then again. You've probably met the doctor who dispenses all the advice and tells you, well, you shouldn't drink and you shouldn't smoke. And then you walk outside after your appointment and there's the doctor smoking away, right? Or I like to I know some ethicists who have PhDs in ethics, and I like to say that these are some of the most clever people knowing how to get around ethics and doing all the wrong things because in their mind they can make the mental gymnastics. Or maybe the lawyers who know all the rules, right? They know the laws, But do they keep them? That's a different thing. And here again, it's this length from the head down into the heart that we're trying to examine this morning. And it's the problem that Moses poses. Moses poses. And Jesus poses and I'm posing to you. What did Moses expect though? If we just back up a few verses to the beginning of what we were reading this morning. Starting in verse 11, Deuteronomy 30, 11, he says this. He says, the commandment that I'm commanding you today, it's not too hard. These are his words, not mine. This commandment, these set of laws, it's not too hard for you. And it's not far off. It's not in heaven up there somewhere that you should say, who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us that we may hear it and do it? And neither is it beyond the sea. It's not like way out there somewhere that you've got to say, who's going to go over the sea to find these commands and to tell us what it is to do? He says, no, it's none of that. The word is very near to you. It is in fact, it's in your very mouth, and it might even be in your heart, so that you can do it. And so Moses is clearly expecting these people, the Israelites, and frankly us, to do the right things. And he's saying it's not too hard. But if you know the Israelite story, What happens to these folks? Well, you just fast forward a few books and you get to the prophets and what is happening to them is the exact thing that's foreshadowed here at the end of Deuteronomy, which is that they are being ushered out of this promised land into a place called Babylon. And they're told very clearly why, which is that they weren't capable and they didn't keep the Mosaic law. They did all things that they shouldn't have done. And there's a people group that did things that they shouldn't have done. And now, well, now they're being ushered out of the promised land, the land of the living, and they are in exile. And this brings us to two more passages that connect deeply with what is happening both here and what Jesus will pick up on later. The first is Ezekiel, chapter 36, 26, and 27. Here, the Israelites are in this foreign land where they can't get back. It seems the promises have been broken. It seems the covenant between them and Yahweh is toast. And yet, God's not done with them. And he says the following. He says, I'll give you a new heart, and I will put this new spirit within you, and I'll remove the heart of stone from your flesh, and I'll give you a new heart of flesh, and I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. And he's basically saying here, a time will come when I will show you how to get this law in here. So it's not just up here in your head, but it's made its way into your heart somehow. And it appears that there's some sort of movement of the spirit that is involved in all of this. Well, then there's this other prophet, Jeremiah, speaking about the same time. Israel is in exile. They're in Babylon. And he too comes saying some promises about what's to come. And in verse 31, 31 and 33, Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. This won't be like the old covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. The very covenant, by the way, I was talking about in Deuteronomy chapter 30. And so Jeremiah is saying, it's not going to be like that one. That one was in stone. That one mostly lived up here in their heads, if it lived anywhere at all, but it never made its way down into their heart. And so he says, I've got to make a new covenant. And Jeremiah promises that God is making a new covenant. By the way, if you don't know, maybe you're new to all of this or maybe I just need to teach a little better, but we're going to take communion momentarily. We're going to use these exact words, so pay attention to what's happening here. And Jesus from that upper room is going to say to his disciples in the moment he's handing the bread and the cup to them, he's going to say, this is the new covenant in my blood. And he's using Jeremiah 31. He's directly echoing it. And he's saying, what's happening right now in this upper room? This is the new covenant. And this is where All of these promises back in your Old Testament are finally coming to fruition. Back to Jeremiah 31, 33 now, for this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord. I will put my law within them and I will write it on their hearts and I will be their God and they will be my people. And so the problem back in Jeremiah's day is we need to know how to put the law in our hearts. This is the same problem today. I don't want you to think that you get scot-free out of here without somehow getting it inside of you. I know plenty of people who go by the name Christian and they got all the right things up here, but none of the right things sitting here and the way they live their life is not shaped by the law or by Christ or by anything connected to either of those. The big question for the day is, how does one get the law out there to in here? I want to point you to another passage in Scripture. By the way, if you want, you can just write these down and really dig into them later. But for now, I'll just keep burning through them. This is New Testament this time. This is Romans chapter 10. It's a very famous passage. You've probably heard it before, but if not, we'll certainly read it together. And I want you to notice that Paul here is quoting directly from our passage. He is quoting directly Deuteronomy chapter 30. And he says this, Moses writes, about the righteousness based on the law. That the person who does the commandments will live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, and here's the quote from Deuteronomy 30, don't say in your heart, who will ascend into heaven? You remember this part of Deuteronomy 30? You can go back and read it again. But then Paul adds what's in the parentheses here. He says, that is to bring Christ down. And then he goes on, he says, who will descend into the abyss? This is the way Moses had written it was who will go out to the seas or beyond the seas, right? And then Paul says, that is to bring Christ up from the dead. But what does it say? And here's still Moses, right? The word is near you. It's in your mouth and in your heart. And this is Precisely. I mean, he's quoting directly from Deuteronomy chapter 30. But he's doing something very unique and you need to know precisely what he's doing. Do you see what he's done? When Moses is talking, Moses is talking about the law. Who will go up to the heavens and find the law up there to teach us how to live a life, right? Who will instruct us on the way we should live? And Moses says, you don't need to go up there. I'm giving it to you right now. And Moses says, you don't need to go over the seas to find the law and to bring it back because I'm telling you right now it's been given to you. But that's not what Paul does. Paul substitutes out the law for Christ. It's A radical move. You have to believe the Jews hearing this might be a little scandalized, But if they've been around the church for a few years, they will know Paul makes this kind of move on a regular basis. He reads his Old Testament and he sees Jesus on these pages. And specifically, he sees Jesus where the law is sitting. Jesus tells us in Matthew chapter 5, the very beginning of his most famous sermon, he says, I have not come to abolish the law, I have come to fulfill it. I've come to fill it out. And then Paul tells us what this looks like. He's telling us that if you want to know how to live a life and what it means to live abundant life and what it means to have eternal life and the way we were designed to be in this world, well then look no further than the person of Jesus. Paul has a very interesting take on the law generally speaking. But what he definitely does is he says, look at Jesus because Jesus fills out how this law was always meant to work. And if you want to know how this law was always supposed to bring you life, well then just simply do the kinds of things Jesus does. Paul doesn't stop here though. You see, Paul keeps going with this Deuteronomy passage and says something, again, very interesting and now this time very familiar to some of you. Verse 9, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and you believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. But the scripture says everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame. We're still left with the question, how does one get the law from their head into their heart? And there are two ways I would want to offer you. One is far more important than the other way. The one way is God. This is an act of grace, a gift that God gives to you. And the other way is your part, the part you play in all of this. And both of these are really important. So what Paul is doing in this passage and what Jesus is teaching us is that in order to have this gift of the Spirit, And to get the law and the person of Jesus into your heart, it requires an act of grace on the part of God. And that we must confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord. And we must believe in our hearts that He has been raised from the dead. And if we do these things, then yes, we will be saved. Which is to say that the movement from the head down into the heart has begun. But then there's also the part that you play. And this is the part where you have to step in and you have to step up and you have to do the things that the law commands of you and that Jesus desires from you. And so if you want to get that 18 inches from the head down into the heart, what we're really saying is that you've got to make the faith that you have really real. It's got to mean something. It can't just stand out here somewhere. It's got to pierce your heart. This is not something I can do for you. I can teach you about it. I can speak to you, hopefully inspire you. But at the end of the day, this is a you thing. And you've got to want it. You've got to desire it. You've got to, use the scriptural term, you've got to love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength. In just a few seconds, we're going to take communion. The external and the internal are miles apart, and there will be people in the room who take the same bread and cup and they are taking it as an external act, a rote thing that you've done hundreds of times and let's go ahead and get this done so we can head off to lunch and all will be well. And then there are some of you who want to make it really real. who want to actually experience the body and the blood of Christ, who want to take communion because you want to encounter the living God. My prayer for you this morning is that you're in that second camp, is that you are doing what you need to be doing to get God in here. Quick word of warning, Some of you will say to me in private moments, God, or Eric, I've been trying this thing. Maybe you're praying, God, I've been trying this thing where I want to know you're in here and sometimes I just don't know. And I would say to you if you told me this, I get this. And I'm sorry that it doesn't feel real just yet. But I would encourage you to keep showing up. and to show up in this place and to show up reading your scripture, show up reading or praying to God and meeting with others who have a spiritual life that has clearly transformed them in some way and asked them, what was it like for you? What is it like for you? What is it like to follow Jesus for real along the way? And I assure you, over time, the small steps and acts of faith that you participate in will begin to seep its way down into the very core of who you are. Before you know it, you are being transformed and you are being changed into the Christ-like person that you were always meant to be. When we take the bread and the cup, we say, this is the body of Christ and it's broken for you. And this is the blood of Christ and it is shed for you. And this is for the forgiveness of your sins. We do ask for one more step. You and me, that is. And it's the Pentecost step. Pentecost is the day where the Spirit comes down. Because the tradition says that Jesus was raised from the dead and ascends to the Father and is seated at the right hand of God. And that's great and all, but we want the Spirit. We want something closer. We want God here with us. And so the promise is not just that Jesus is far off, but He sends His Spirit with us, to live in us, to participate in our transformation. So this is my prayer for you and for me this morning. Let us pray together. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as we gather around your table this morning, we ask for clean hearts and clean hands because we come with hard hearts and dirty hands. We know that we need you. We know that we have failed you and ourselves and the ones we love. But God, we know that forgiveness is available at this table. We know that you welcome us home with the open arms of the Father with his prodigal son. And so this morning, we come running. We come running back to you, God. But we also ask for a movement of the Spirit so that as we take these elements, or meet us in this place, meet me, meet each person who will walk up and will receive the body of Christ broken for them, the blood of Christ shed for them. Meet them, Lord. And when we eat and drink together, Lord, we will celebrate together what you have done. We pray this in Christ's holy name. Amen. If my communion service would come forward, we will begin. We have some new folks here with us today. The way we take communion goes like this. We come forward down the center aisle and there will be two stations. One will have, well, Each person will have a bread and a cup and you'll simply put your hands out and they will give you the body of Christ, which is broken for you. And then you'll grab the cup. Now if you need gluten-free or if you want a wafer that's not been touched by one of their hands, we have those where the cups are located as well. But then you'll take that back to your seats. We will take communion together as one body. While you're waiting in the pew with the bread and the cup in your hands, I would encourage you to do some reflecting, some praying, and see if we can't make this really real this morning. On the night he was betrayed, Jesus took the bread, he gave thanks, he broke it. The body of Christ broke it for you. And he took the cup And he said, this is the new covenant in my blood for the forgiveness of your sins. Please come forward the table is open.

26 And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,In mense autem sexto, missus est angelus Gabriel a Deo in civitatem Galilaeae, cui nomen Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.ad virginem desponsatam viro, cui nomen erat Joseph, de domo David : et nomen virginis Maria. 28 And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.Et ingressus angelus ad eam dixit : Ave gratia plena : Dominus tecum : benedicta tu in mulieribus. 29 Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.Quae cum audisset, turbata est in sermone ejus, et cogitabat qualis esset ista salutatio. 30 And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.Et ait angelus ei : Ne timeas, Maria : invenisti enim gratiam apud Deum. 31 Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus.Ecce concipies in utero, et paries filium, et vocabis nomen ejus Jesum : 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever.hic erit magnus, et Filius Altissimi vocabitur, et dabit illi Dominus Deus sedem David patris ejus : et regnabit in domo Jacob in aeternum, 33 And of his kingdom there shall be no end.et regni ejus non erit finis. 34 And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?Dixit autem Maria ad angelum : Quomodo fiet istud, quoniam virum non cognosco? 35 And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.Et respondens angelus dixit ei : Spiritus Sanctus superveniet in te, et virtus Altissimi obumbrabit tibi. Ideoque et quod nascetur ex te sanctum, vocabitur Filius Dei. 36 And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren:Et ecce Elisabeth cognata tua, et ipsa concepit filium in senectute sua : et hic mensis sextus est illi, quae vocatur sterilis : 37 Because no word shall be impossible with God.quia non erit impossibile apud Deum omne verbum. 38 And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.Dixit autem Maria : Ecce ancilla Domini : fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum. Et discessit ab illa angelus.John Sobieski, king of Poland, gained a great victory against the Turks under the walls of Vienna, which caused the Pope Innocent XI to make this Feast obligatory throughout the whole Western Church as a yearly act of thanksgiving for the deliverance of Christian Europe.

John 19:6 “So when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out saying, ‘Crucify, crucify!' Pilate said to them, ‘Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.'" Again we see Pilate trying to wiggle out of the guilt of executing an innocent man. It wasn't that he had any mercy, empathy, or sympathy for Jesus. “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him,” he said. He didn't want to be responsible for His death. How about us? According to Isaiah, we are responsible. It was our sins that fell upon Him. Isaiah 53:5-6 “But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.” Behold the man. To live to love with Jesus means we will have to die daily. May God give us grace to bear the weight and consequences of other's iniquities, sins, and hostilities. When we must be crushed for another's wellbeing may His comfort and peace reign as it did in Jesus when Pilate presented Him to the Jews. Jesus, manifest Your glory through our lives today. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

Friday Night Service (8/28/26) // *Genesis 29:31* (ESV) // *Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel* // 1 Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east. 2 As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep lying beside it, for out of that well the flocks were watered. The stone on the well's mouth was large, 3 and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place over the mouth of the well.4 Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where do you come from?” They said, “We are from Haran.” 5 He said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.” 6 He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!” 7 He said, “Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered together. Water the sheep and go, pasture them.” 8 But they said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.”9 While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10 Now as soon as Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the well's mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud. 12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's kinsman, and that he was Rebekah's son, and she ran and told her father.13 As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister's son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and ...15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” 16 Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah's eyes were weak,[a] but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. 18 Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19 Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.” 22 So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and made a feast. 23 But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her. 24 (Laban gave[b] his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.) 25 And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” 26 Laban said, “It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.” 28 Jacob did so, and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 29 (Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.) 30 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.*Jacob's Children*31 When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32 And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben,[c] for she said, “Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” 33 She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon.[d] 34 Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me,

Maximize the Moment: 7 Keys to Stepping Into Your God-Given Season • Friday Service Website: https://www.PastorTodd.org Support the Ministry: https://www.ToddCoconato.com/give Esther 4:14 — “For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Ephesians 5:15-16 — “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Matthew 25:1-13 — “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!' Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!' But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” John 5:6-8 — “When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, ‘Do you want to be made well?' The sick man answered Him, ‘Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.' Jesus said to him, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk.'” 2 Timothy 1:7 — “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Ecclesiastes 9:10 — “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 — “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” Joshua 1:9 — “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Today,in verses 15 through 18, Paul gives us more details about what will happen whenJesus comes again.Paulbegins in verse 15: “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord.” Ilove that expression. Paul wants them to understand that what he is about totell them isn't speculation. It isn't Paul's personal theory about the future. Hesays it is “by the word of the Lord.” Then Paul says: “That we whoare alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precedethose who are asleep.” Verse16 says: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, withthe voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.” The Lord Himself is coming! The same Jesus who left this earth is comingagain. Acts chapter 1 tells us that when Jesus ascended into heaven, two angelstold the disciples: “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven,will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”  Thensomething incredible happens: “And the dead in Christ will rise first.”  ThenPaul says in verse 17: “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught uptogether with them in the clouds.” That expression “caught up” means to besuddenly seized or taken away. It is from the Latin translation of thisexpression that we get our familiar word “rapture.” Someone might say, “Theword rapture isn't in my English Bible.” That's true, but the truthdescribed by that word certainly is. Paul says believers who are alive whenChrist comes will be “caught up.” First Corinthians 15:51–52 describesthe same wonderful event: “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not allsleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.”  Butnotice something else that I especially love. Paul says we will be caught up “togetherwith them.” Remember what the Thessalonians were worried about? Their lovedones who had died. Paul says there is going to be a reunion! The dead in Christwill rise, living believers will be changed, and together we will meet theLord. I've often thought about what that reunion will be like. Parents reunitedwith children. Husbands reunited with wives. Brothers and sisters togetheragain. Friends and fellow believers separated by death embracing once more. Whata day that will be! Butas wonderful as that reunion will be, it isn't even the greatest part of thepromise. Paul continues: “To meet the Lord in the air.” We are going to seeJesus! The One we have believed in but never physically seen. The One we haveprayed to. The One whose Word we have read. The One we have worshiped. The Onewho loved us and gave Himself for us. One day, we are going to see Him face toface. And then comes what I believe may be the greatest phrase in this entirepassage: “And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” Forever withJesus. Never separated again. No more death. No more funerals. No more hospitalrooms. No more cancer. No more heartache. No more goodbyes. No more temptation.No more sin. Forever with the Lord. Andnotice how Paul finishes this great prophetic passage. He doesn't say: “Therefore,argue with one another about these words.” He doesn't say: “Therefore,speculate about dates and times.” He says in verse 18: “Therefore comfortone another with these words.” Bible prophecy isn't given merely to satisfyour curiosity. It is given to produce hope, holiness, faithfulness, andcomfort. When we stand beside the grave of a believer, we can comfort oneanother with these words. When the world seems increasingly uncertain, we cancomfort one another with these words. When our bodies grow older and weaker, wecan comfort one another with these words. When we miss those who have gonebefore us, we can comfort one another with these words.Jesusis coming again. The dead in Christ will rise. We will be caught up together. Wewill see Jesus. And best of all: “We shall always be with the Lord.”

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Father Charles Murr joins Terry Gospel – Luke 6:20-26 – Raising His Eyes toward His disciples Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor,  for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.  For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way. But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false  prophets in this way.” Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest Saint Peter, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day

Original Airdate: September 11, 2024 === Gospel Luke 6:20-26 Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way. But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.” Reflection The prosperity gospel was a big part of the Old Testament. During this time people were told, if you follow the law, everything goes well for you. But the truth is, that Jesus wants to reveal is, if you follow him, if you do the work he's calling you to, the sign that you're engaged in it is the experience of feeling poor and hungry and sad and feeling neglected by the people around us. That's when God works, most especially within us, to open us to wisdom that we don't yet see. It's a beautiful promise that God is there when we are at our lowest and lifts us higher than we ever had been before. Closing Prayer Father, when things are not going the way we hoped, we often doubt your presence. Free us from that. Help us to trust in you in all things. When things are good and when things are not good, let us always believe that you are there, working through whatever it is to bring us more into the Kingdom of God. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please Subscribe To:https://www.heatherbaxter.com/We've made it to the final week of our Stand Tall & Wear Your Crown Bible Study, and today we're talking about what our lives are producing—the Fruit of the Spirit.Join Heather Baxter as we explore love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, while connecting these fruits to Colossians 1:11 and Ephesians 3:16–17.What if true strength isn't always about being strong on the outside? What if strength looks like patience, gentleness, endurance, forgiveness, and choosing love when life gives us every reason not to?As we become rooted and established in God's love, He strengthens us from the inside out. And what is growing within us eventually becomes visible through the way we live, love, respond, and serve others.The world may not remember every detail of your story, but it may remember your sweetness.This episode is an invitation to stop striving for perfection and start paying attention to what God is growing in you.As we close this study, we leave with three simple words:Believe. Behold. Become.Believe who God says you are.Behold who He is.And continue to become the woman He created you to be.Stand tall. Wear your crown. Stay rooted in His love. And let your fruit speak.

Rev. Dan Kim Isaiah 1:1-8, 18; 2:2-5 ESV September 6, 2026

Help Persecuted Christians TODAY: https://csi-usa.org/quickstart/ Christian Solidarity International On today's Quick Start podcast: NEWS: What's next for Lindsay Clancy after her murder trial ended in a mistrial, plus Sweden's political and economic course correction. FOCUS: A mother is charged in a horrific Illinois case authorities say was inspired by the Lindsay Clancy killings. MAIN THING: Twenty-five years after 9/11, could America ever come together like that again? Kelly Wright and David Brody reflect on the unity after the attacks and the division and distrust gripping the country today. BIBLE VERSE: Psalm 127:3 — “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.” SHOW LINKS Radical Revelations with Raj Nair https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/radical-revelations/id1888511250 Faith in Culture: https://cbn.com/news/faith-culture Heaven Meets Earth PODCAST: https://cbn.com/lp/heaven-meets-earth NEWSMAKERS POD: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/newsmakers/id1724061454

Read OnlineA Paradigm Shift“Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.” Luke 6:20–23Normally, we do not consider poverty, hunger, grief, or being denounced and insulted by others to be good things. Yet at the very heart of His Sermon on the Plain, Jesus declares that those who experience such trials are truly blessed—that is, deeply joyful and spiritually fortunate. To be “blessed” in this sense is to be happy in the truest sense of the word. In contrast, those who are rich, well-fed, laughing, and socially esteemed face a serious spiritual danger. Most likely, as the vast crowd of disciples listened to Jesus preach this sermon, many were at least perplexed—if not outright shocked—by what they heard.Throughout the rest of the week, we will continue reading from this powerful sermon in which Jesus teaches about the necessity of loving one's enemies, refraining from judgment and condemnation, showing mercy, and building one's life upon the solid foundation of His words. These teachings were deeply countercultural and demanded a radical reorientation of the values that many of Jesus' disciples held dear. In order to accept His message, a paradigm shift was necessary—a complete reordering of their lives and foundational beliefs.The path of the Beatitudes leads through the Cross to the glory of God's Kingdom. To walk that path—marked by trials and tribulations—divine wisdom is essential. The disciples needed to shed their shallow and incomplete moral and spiritual convictions so that they could understand, embrace, and live a much deeper and richer way of living.Because we are quite familiar with Jesus' teachings and the Beatitudes, His words might not leave us shocked or even perplexed—unless we truly hear them, allow their meaning to take root in our lives, and permit them to effect the change they are meant to bring about. For this to happen, we must approach these teachings with humility, openness, and a willingness to let go of worldly values, so that the wisdom of the Cross may become the foundation of our lives. The Christian life is so much more than acting with kindness and gentleness, helping others, and making a difference within the community. Though those are essential qualities and duties, living the Beatitudes draws us much deeper into a life of holy and sacrificial love.The process of embracing the Beatitudes begins with our minds; we must understand their message. Poverty, hunger, grief, persecution, and every other trial we encounter must be faced and embraced with hope and with the firm belief that God can and will bring about a far greater good from the crosses we carry than if our lives were entirely free of suffering. This truth—that God brings good out of every cross—challenges us to the core of our thinking and must reshape our preconceived notions about what we prefer and dislike. We are blessed if we come to love every trial we are permitted to endure, even those very sufferings Jesus identifies in His sermon.Once we begin to see life through the lens of divine wisdom, as it is revealed in the Beatitudes, grace enables us to choose what we once would have avoided. The crosses we are given not only begin to make sense, they become objects of our desire because we recognize them as the means by which God brings about true and lasting happiness.Reflect today on one trial you are currently facing, and ask God to help you see it through the lens of the Beatitudes. Rather than running from the trial, what would happen if you embraced it with hope, trust, and even joy, knowing that it has the potential to lead you to holiness and eternal reward? Let the wisdom of Jesus' words penetrate your heart, and allow Him to reorder your thoughts and desires according to His perfect and merciful will.Lord of perfect Wisdom, Your Word shatters the wisdom of the world and reveals the true path to happiness and holiness. Help me to hear Your voice, understand Your wisdom and act upon it, making Your Truth the foundation of my life. Reorient my whole life according to Your will, and work all things for good—even the trials I endure. Jesus, I trust in You!  Image via Adobe StockSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”' And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. (Genesis 50:15-21)

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel – Matthew 1:18-23 – This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this Child has been conceived in her. She will bear a Son and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall be with Child and bear a Son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary O Blessed Mother, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day

Original Airdate: September 8 2023 === Gospel  Matthew 1:18-23 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means "God is with us.” Reflection The Old Testament is filled with truth, but the New Testament adds so much to what it was teaching. The prophecy is that God one day will be with us. His name will be Emmanuel. But then when He comes the name given to him is Jesus, and it's the image of the reason God is going to become part of our life in a more intimate way, because He's there to save us from evil, from sin, from destruction. He's not just with us, but He's in us. Closing Prayer God, it's only with your grace that were able to dig deeply into the fullness of who God is in this world with us. Keep us open to the realization of something so amazing that it's hard for us to comprehend. We tend to work on our own to please God, but the key is to allow God to work through us. And we ask this In Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrew, Isack, and Edwin discuss what stood out to them in Luke 1. They discuss multiple points. The title of the episode is from the written devotion to which you can link below.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here.    Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org.    Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here.   Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=26717The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/ 

Mathas takes Alex and Jesse on a journey through the dumbest ideas in the world to the birthplace of modern conspiracy theories in America, Bill Cooper's infamous book, Behold a Pale Horse.CHILLUMINATI is a weekly comedy podcast hosted by Mike Martin, Jesse Cox and Alex Faciane. Hold on to your tin-foil hats and traverse the realms of the mysterious, supernatural, spooky and sometimes truly horrible - and your third eye will never be the same!Subscribe to our Patreon to support us and for extra content like full video episodes, weekly Minisodes, exclusive art, and more at http://patreon.com/CHILLUMINATIPODThank you to our sponsors:FACTOR: Head to www.factormeals.com/chill50off and use code chill50off to get 50 percent off and 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year, while supplies last until 10/31/2026.OFFICIAL MERCH: https://theyetee.com/chilluminatiMike Martin - http://www.youtube.com/@themoleculemindset Jesse Cox - http://www.youtube.com/jessecox Alex Faciane - https://www.youtube.com/@StarWarsOldCanonBookClub/Editor: DeanCutty Producer: Hilde @ https://bsky.app/profile/heksen.bsky.social Show Art: Studio Melectro @ http://www.instagram.com/studio_melectro Logo Design: Shawn JPB @ https://twitter.com/JetpackBragginEpisode SourcesBehold The Pale Horse by Bill Cooper Pale Horse Rider by Mark Jacobson