Podcasts about Behold

If someone asked you to explain the big story of the Bible, what would you tell them? Pastor Kevin DeYoung has some ideas for you. Nine to be exact! We'll learn about threads woven throughout Scripture.

“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”   Isaiah 1:18–20 (ESV)   If you want to know that "the LORD He is God! the LORD, He is God!" (1 Kings 18:39) your search for confirmation finds its best resolution in the book of Isaiah. I would argue that Isaiah, more even than Elisha, "wore the prophetic mantle" of Elijah. Only John the Baptist was a greater merely human incarnation of the role of prophet (Matthew 11:11). Isaiah 42:9 tells us: "Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” Below find two articles that discuss fulfilled Old Testament prophecies. By any objective measure, only God could do this. As with other books of the Bible, we suggest this brief overview of Isaiah. May your listening to this great OT prophet be as blessed by God as was our reading of it!   https://youtu.be/d0A6Uchb1F8?si=Nhsvg2DCZgWRZq_7   Check out these two articles on calculations of the probability of one first-century man, Jesus, fulfilling so many OT prophecies! https://nickcady.org/2020/02/18/the-statistical-probability-of-jesus-fulfilling-the-messianic-prophecies/ https://firmisrael.org/learn/how-many-messianic-prophecies-did-jesus-fulfill/#:~:text=After%20all%2C%20Jesus%2

Chad Schapiro (Regional Representative, Texas Baptists), "What's In Your Hand?".       1.  Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.'”  2.  The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.”  3.  And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it.  4.  But the Lord said to Moses, “Put out your hand and catch it by the tail”—so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand—  5.  “that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”  6.  Again, the Lord said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.”  And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow.  7.  Then God said, “Put your hand back inside your cloak.” So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh.  8.  “If they will not believe you,” God said, “or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign.  9.  If they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.”       10.  But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.”  11.  Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?   12.  Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”  13.  But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.”  14.  Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.  15.  You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do.  16.  He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him.  17.  And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.”       (Exodus 4:1-17 ESV)To view a video version of the Sermon please click on the following link:   https://youtu.be/q_QJCxQvA6g(The audio version of the Sermon will most likely have to be stopped from playing or else it will be heard as well as the audio track of the video version.)

What if I told you the Bible is a story about children . . . and clothes . . . and coming home? It's true! The Bible is telling one cohesive story, and Kevin DeYoung shows us it's woven through with threads that stretch from Genesis to Revelation.

7:18 And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things. 7:19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? 7:20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? 7:21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. 7:22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. 7:23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. 7:24 And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 7:25 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts. 7:26 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. 7:27 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 7:28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. 7:29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. 7:30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. 7:31 And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? 7:32 They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. 7:33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. 7:34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! 7:35 But wisdom is justified of all her children. 7:36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. 7:37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 7:38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 7:39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. 7:40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 7:41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 7:42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 7:43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 7:44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 7:45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 7:46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, He...

“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”   Isaiah 1:18–20 (ESV)   If you want to know that "the LORD He is God! the LORD, He is God!" (1 Kings 18:39) your search for confirmation finds its best resolution in the book of Isaiah. I would argue that Isaiah, more even than Elisha, "wore the prophetic mantle" of Elijah. Only John the Baptist was a greater merely human incarnation of the role of prophet (Matthew 11:11). Isaiah 42:9 tells us: "Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” Below find two articles that discuss fulfilled Old Testament prophecies. By any objective measure, only God could do this. As with other books of the Bible, we suggest this brief overview of Isaiah. May your listening to this great OT prophet be as blessed by God as was our reading of it!   https://youtu.be/d0A6Uchb1F8?si=Nhsvg2DCZgWRZq_7   Check out these two articles on calculations of the probability of one first-century man, Jesus, fulfilling so many OT prophecies! https://nickcady.org/2020/02/18/the-statistical-probability-of-jesus-fulfilling-the-messianic-prophecies/ https://firmisrael.org/learn/how-many-messianic-prophecies-did-jesus-fulfill/#:~:text=After%20all%2C%20Jesus%2

Christ Manifested in Us (1) (audio) David Eells - 11/5/25 A Manifestation is About to Take Place Abigail P. – 2/14/25 1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:  Word from the Lord: “I come in Flesh. This is a part of life that you must confess and come to terms with. I come in your flesh, yes in your hearts and minds but also in all parts of your flesh. Do you truly understand this? The ones that have spent many hours with Me meditating on My Word will understand and it is their job to turn you around. You will understand when the power and might from on high descends. These will be the misunderstood, the rejected in society, the illiterate and others who have had Me in their hearts but have not been known by the world. They will not turn against Me and will do My desire. They are NOT ashamed to speak My Name and call it how it is. These are My wise sheep that have followed Me. You will not know them unless you TRULY know My Voice. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. 1Pe 4:11  if any man speaketh, speaking as it were oracles of God They are about to come forth within weeks. They will stand before Me and bow at the sound of My Name. Do you know them? Will you see them for the humble servants that they have become? They are not flashy, smooth, and slick-talking prophets. They are humble servants who have copped a lot of abuse from the ‘churches.' THIS IS OVER My full power and anointing will be upon them in full display. Do not reject such ones. They have My Covering, they are Anointed and the devil knows this; he will try to attack them. Thus, be safe under the shelter of My Wings. The full anointing of My People will come forth and they will be radiant in a picture. You will be able to see them and the blessing I have poured out on them. They are My Chosen Few. Be My Anointed Child, with Grace and Endurance. That is all My Child 1Jn 4:3  and every spirit that confesseth not Jesus is not of God: and this is the spirit of the antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and now it is in the world already.  Ephesians 3:16-17 that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man; 17  that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,  Joh 14:17  even the Spirit of truth: whom the world cannot receive; for it beholdeth him not, neither knoweth him: ye know him; for he abideth with you, and shall be in you.  Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God.    30-, 60- & 100-Fold Paths Anonymous - 10/25/2007 (David's notes in red) I saw three different groups of believers (star glory: 30-fold; moon glory: 60-fold; sun glory: 100-fold) and we had to decide which pathway we all wanted to take. There was a very huge boulder or rock, like what you see in a mountain. (Representing Jesus and the Kingdom of God.) There were three pathways to choose from to go to the other side. The first was to take a pathway around the rock, which looked fairly flat, on level sandy ground. This pathway looked off-white, exactly like the sand you see on some beaches. (This represents the easy way on the flesh and is not the crucified life and may not bear fruit much beyond 30-fold or star glory. It is from this place that many will fall away. This may represent the born-again in spirit, but not completely crucified in the soul, life. Many avoid fiery trials that burn up the flesh by not walking in the steps of Jesus. The garment for such an individual if they did not fall away would be off-white, reflecting their works. To many, the rock is too great to hope to walk on, reflecting their immature understanding of the Gospel and God's plan of recreating Christ in us. These choose the unstable, impure, off-white sand of man's traditions on which to stand. As Jesus said, the house on sand will fall.) The second path was to climb up that rock. The steps were carved out of the rock and it was a steep and high climb. (This represents walking in the steps already set in stone by the Word, which is also standing on the rock of Christ's Word. This will bear more fruit even to 60-fold or moon glory but some important things are not emphasized on this path.) The third path was to enter into a very narrow opening into that rock and walk down steep steps also carved out of the rock. (This is also standing on the rock in the steps of the Word. It suggests more the abiding in the cleft of the rock of safety by entering into Christ's suffering through death to self, spiritually beneath the earth. Through this method we can transverse the fullness of moon glory and enter 100-fold or Sun glory, Christlikeness.) We were all outside that rock, looking at these 3 paths and deciding which pathway to take. This place had grass and trees and was flourishing and not barren. The pathway into the rock was directly in front of us. The pathway climbing the rock was to my left (from the rock's perspective, it would have been right (representing those who walk more as sheep on Jesus' right) and the pathway going around the rock was to my right (from the rock's perspective, it would have been left (representing those who walk more as goats on Jesus' left). Both of these paths were detours to the straight pathway into the rock. (Which is God's perfect will -- His chosen path, which few will find.) We could view all believers taking the different pathways. The vast majority turned to my right (the rock's left) because that way seemed bright, flat and sure, which could be easily negotiated. (“There is a way that seemeth right unto man” but is really left unto God. Many are comfortable with the worldly “Christian” life where discipleship is considered unattainable, unnecessary or something that has passed away.) There were some turning to my left to climb the rock. Again it was bright and the steps seemed visibly carved out from the rock, though the ascent was very steep and the height was frightening. (This is the life of faith without the emphasis of the crucified life.) However, the pathway into the rock was not as visible as the pathway outside; it seemed the scariest. (Because it represents ‘self' being swallowed up by the life of Christ through death to the old man and walking by faith.) I saw one believer from my church wearing white, calling me to follow her. Most took the pathway around the rock, whilst there were very few people who climbed on top of the rock or went into the rock. (It is always a few who take the best paths.) The believer from my church started climbing the rock. I did not follow her but went into the rock. (We cannot follow others' individual path or that of the churches. God has a scriptural plan for each of us.) One could not see the steps before you -- you had to descend by faith, but as you descended, it got easier and I remember thinking that from the outside it looked like a difficult, narrow, dark and unknown pathway, but when you walk by faith, God's grace is sufficient to hold your footing in the steep descent. I felt tremendous confidence and joy whilst going on my journey; it was not scary. (The descent represents death to self, buried with Jesus. The more we die to self the easier life becomes because we have more of Christ and less of us.) This path was not taken by most people and the dream ended here. The two paths: to the right of the rock mountain and into the rock mountain. Both point out scriptural needs in our lives and paths in which the most glorious will major. The easy path of star glory is the one the greatest falling away will come from. (Rev.6:13) and the stars of the heaven fell unto the earth, as a fig tree casteth her unripe figs when she is shaken of a great wind. And (12:4) And his tail draweth the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth… When I shared this interpretation with [“Anonymous”] she had just received this confirmation from the Lord: “I too was told that this is the 30-fold pathway where a lot of people will fall.”   God's New Creation K. H.- 9/14/2008 (David's notes in red) The night before I had this dream, I was making my first plum cake. I watched my mom the last time she made it, and it was my turn to make it. To my amazement, God then used that knowledge in this dream: I saw these enormous hands with a large piece of dough in them, which the Spirit then let me know that I was seeing God's hands and that the dough represented each one of us. As the dream continued, I watched God add all the ingredients to the dough. He let me know that each ingredient represented the gifts, talents and abilities that He has equipped each one of us with to be used for His glory. He then showed me that from the beginning, He knew which ingredients each one of us needed and if one were to be left out, we would be incomplete. God then revealed to me that this is why it is so important for His saints to use everything that He has given them for His glory and purpose. After all the ingredients were added, God started kneading the dough in order to mold and shape it. As He shaped the piece of dough into a uniform ball of dough, the Spirit showed me that this represented God creating each one of us in His image, in His likeness. He then told me that this process of “kneading” began from the moment that He knit us in our mother's womb and would only be complete when we, the dough, surrendered all that it had to give for the uniform dough to be formed. I felt this represented us denying ourselves, taking up our cross and following the Lord. Then God began to roll the dough out on the baking sheet and began to place all of the plums in their ordained spots and He then took a step back and let it rise. The Spirit revealed to me that the rolled out dough represented the crushing of our old life, the plums represented the fruit from the trials, persecutions and sufferings we would go through as followers of Christ, and when God took a step back to let the dough rise that represented God allowing us to be tested in those trials, persecutions and sufferings so the leaven of the Word could do its work in us. (Leaven is used negatively in some parables, but in some it is the true Word of the Kingdom, as in Mat.13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal (spirit, soul, and body), till it was all leavened.) As the dough rose, some of the plums fell off, which the Spirit revealed that those fallen plums represented the times that we: do not glorify God with the ingredients He has equipped us with; do not glorify Him with the plums that He brings us through and/or do not allow Him to use the plums to bring us to our cross. After the plums fell off the dough, God pushed His hands down into the cake and placed each one of the plums back where they had been placed in the beginning. The Spirit then revealed to me that this represented us humbling ourselves before God, which then allowed Him to once again use all of the gifts, talents, abilities, trials, persecutions, and sufferings to glorify Himself in us. When I woke up I was in awe of what God had shown me and it touched me that He used something, like making a plum cake, that I knew how much love and work went into making. I was speechless! Praise God! I was then reminded of the scripture in Isaiah 64:8, which says But now, O Lord, thou art our Father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.   Man-child Resurrects Fruit in the Wilderness E. D. - 11/22/2007 (David's notes in red) In a dream, David Eells called me and said he was coming to my area to visit the brethren. (David here represents the David Man-child reformers.) I called other friends and they told me that they knew because David had called them also; so we started calling everybody else and the word spread. We started getting calls from brethren we didn't even know from other states, asking if they could come too. The local fellowship decided to rent out a restored three-story mansion with many rooms to accommodate the brethren who were coming. When David arrived, he started teaching us in the main parlor of the mansion, where there must have been more than 50 adults (remember this 50), plus all their children. He taught us from the word all day long, and then David said, “I am very tired now and need to go to sleep”, so we showed him to his room. (This represents a lapse of time where the Man-child slept as Jesus did. He will awaken or come back in our day at the latter rain, as He said, for a marriage feast as we will see.) Back in the parlor, it occurred to us that we never offered David breakfast, lunch or dinner; so we knocked on his door and said that we were preparing a feast for him; would he like to attend? He said he would love to attend. So the group sent me to the grocery store to buy supplies. I went to the second story of the house, climbed out of the window onto the roof, and jumped to the ground; a drop of more than 25 feet, but I was not hurt. Then I went to a very large supermarket that was very white with bright lights, to buy all manner of breads, meats, and fruits and vegetables. As I went to the register to pay, I noticed a bottle of wine, and I thought in my head, “This one bottle of wine will be enough for 100 people”; (Jesus, the Man-child type, at the marriage feast, multiplied the wine, representing His blood or life.) so I bought it too, and returned to the mansion, walking through the front door. So the brethren made the feast and we all sat together, all the adults and their children and David Eells, each of us, all on throne-like chairs at a huge table; and we were eating and drinking and rejoicing in the Lord together. Then we all went to sleep for the night. (Feasting on the body and blood of Christ will bring us all to a sleep and awakening or a death and resurrection.) The next morning, David came into the parlor and said, “Greetings brethren”, but we all ignored him; we were huddled around the children, particularly around one child who was dying. Whose child it was, I don't know. Then someone said, “What was the point of the Lord sending you here if He's going to kill our children?” (This is almost a quote from the woman concerning Elijah resurrecting her son as we will see. He had prophesied this fruit to her and now it appeared he was taking him back.) David said, “It will not be so”. And I heard a voice that said, “I will bless those who blessed him, and curse those who cursed him”. (The accusation to Elijah and David was wrong.) And David rushed over to the child, laid his hands on him, and prayed in tongues over the child. The rest of the parents repeated the same thing David did over their own children. The child revived and everybody was relieved. (A type of the Man-child resurrecting the fruit of the woman in the wilderness tribulation.) Then David said, “I hope you all have learned something through this. I have to go now, but I will return to you. (What did we learn? Jesus, the Man-child, left but will return in the corporate Man-child reformers to resurrect the woman Church's fruit.) Continue steadfast in prayer together”. We all said “Amen”. (Col.4:2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving.) David here represents Elijah the Man-child who had spoken about a famine at the beginning of chapter 17, symbolizing the beginning of the tribulation seven years of famine interpreted by Joseph to pharaoh. 1 Kings 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the sojourners of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As Jehovah, the God of Israel, liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. After this, during the famine, the widow woman fed Elijah in the first three years of the tribulation, just like the brethren in this dream fed David. The widow represents those whose apostate leadership is dead and they now follow the Man-child. Here, Elijah multiplied the meal and oil so that the widow had a continuous supply during the wilderness famine just as Jesus the Man-child multiplied the needs of the woman church in the wilderness. This is similar to E.D. thinking that the bottle of wine was going to stretch a long way to feed 100 people. Going through the second-story window to be fed represents 60-fold fruit. We are the house individually and corporately to be perfected: spirit - 30, soul - 60 (the second-story), and body -100. Then we see a very similar story concerning the resurrection of the children. Those who had blessed Elijah and David as types of the Man-child were blessed to have their fruit sustained in the famine, for as God said in the dream, “I will bless those who blessed him, and curse those who cursed him”. Verse 17 And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. 18 And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? thou art come unto me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son! (This is as in the dream above. Also, in these days the woman church has been born again with initial fruit that was lost under dead religious teachings.)19 And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into the chamber, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed. (Bringing her fruit into the rest through the true gospel.) 20 And he cried unto Jehovah, and said, O Jehovah my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? 21 And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto Jehovah, and said, O Jehovah my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again. 22 And Jehovah hearkened unto the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23 And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother; and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth. 24 And the woman said to Elijah, Now I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of Jehovah in thy mouth is truth. Both Elijah and David did not accept that the fruit of God's own would die during a famine of the Word. The proof that Elijah was “a man of God” was that he resurrected the widow's fruit during the famine. The verse after that chapter shows that after the widow's son was resurrected, the third year of a famine came. 1Ki.18:1 And it came to pass after many days, that the word of Jehovah came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, Go, show thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth. 2 And Elijah went to show himself unto Ahab. And the famine was sore in Samaria. At this time, Jezebel the harlot was killing the prophets, symbolizing the two witnesses, making this the coming second half of the tribulation. 4 for it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of Jehovah, that Obadiah took a hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water. In this dream there was wine enough for 100 people but there were only 50 adults in that particular house. Notice the prophets were in two groups of fifty, symbolizing two witnesses. In the rest of this chapter, Ahab, king of the 10 apostate tribes (10-horned beast) was ridden by Jezebel the harlot, who had all the false prophets fed from her table. As the true woman of God fed the true prophets so the false woman fed the false prophets.   Resurrection Earthquakes Divide the Country Deb Horton - 11/19/2015 (David's notes in red) In my dream, I was warning people about a coming earthquake but they were pretty much ignoring me and really, I wasn't very urgent about it myself at that point. During the whole dream, I kept looking for a sign that the quake was imminent and the way I did that was by repeatedly going to a place “upstairs” somehow (Representing abiding in Heavenly places is to be abiding IN Christ Jesus where everything is provided, even revelation, as in this case. Eph.1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ:), and checking on the alignment of four flat slabs of concrete where they came together. (The four different slabs are the four groups who received the seed of the Sower, but only one brought forth fruit. We are supposed to be living stones. 1Pe.2:5 Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.) The concrete slabs were laid in a square and formed a square, like a sidewalk; (i.e., they were “foursquare”.) Rev.21:16 And the city (Which John said was the bride and whose head is the Man-child) lieth foursquare, and the length thereof is as great as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs: the length and the breadth and the height thereof are equal. Each time I went “upstairs” to wherever it was I went, I looked at the center of the slabs where they came together in the middle and made an “X” or cross. (It was the cross where Jesus was lifted up. He said, “If I be lifted up from the earth I will draw all men unto me”. The cross was their common union, the Church.) Finally, the last time I checked the center, I saw that one of the four slabs, the one at the top right, had raised up at the center just under ½ inch. Not the whole slab was raised, just the center of the slab, so that slab was now slightly canted at an angle. (The verse I received today actually fits with the center of the slab being raised up. Jer.31:6 ... Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto Jehovah our God.) That means the other three slabs were no longer foursquare (rejected from the Bride), but the slab that was raised up was the only part that was still a square. (A square is a standard for buildings like a chief corner stone and this city is a building that is being born from above like the bride and is a standard to the rest of the Church.) Word received: Gen.49:26 The blessings of thy father Have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors Unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: They shall be on the head of Joseph, And on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. (Joseph was a type of the Man-child ministry and was “raised up” as the head of the bride, as David was. Jesus was raised up as head of the bride. The highest of the right will rise above their brethren to be chosen. Jesus, as the Man-child type said, “If I be lifted up from the earth I will draw all men unto me” - This happened when Jesus was crucified and died and then came the earthquake. The Man-child has been going through crucifixion for many years. Their resurrection to the throne and anointing is now near. When Jesus was resurrected, as a type of the Man-child reformers, a great earthquake happened. Mat. 28:1 Now late on the sabbath day, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it.  I believe the great earthquake will be the New Madrid at the spiritual resurrection and anointing of the Man-child in whom Jesus lives by Word and Spirit.) Jesus is also the chief cornerstone. Eph.2:20 being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone; 1Pe.2:6 Because it is contained in scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone (the one raised up), elect, precious: And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame. Many Christians do not yet believe on the Jesus of the Bible. As such, they are about to be put to shame. Jesus is the stone that the builders rejected and will once again be “lifted up,” like He is in the Man-child ministry coming now. Mat.21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner; This was from the Lord, And it is marvelous in our eyes? 1Pe.2:7 For you therefore that believe is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner. As types, Moses, Joseph, David, and Jesus were persecuted by their own brethren and rejected by these builders and were lifted up to become their head.) That made me excited because now I knew that the quake was coming and that the slab was going to be raised up and completely separated from the others by the quake. (Our dreams and the Word have already told us the Lord will come manifested in the Man-child ministry by the latter rain and the transforming of the Word of God. And this will happen at the great earthquakes. The New Madrid will split the country but not as bad as has been prophesied because of God's mercy.) I ran downstairs and started telling people with great urgency, “This is it. You have to get ready. The quake is coming”. I think I also told people that there wasn't time to do more than grab a few things. (When the Man-child is anointed, it will be time to run to the wilderness tribulation behind Him.) Word received: Eph.3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man; 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God. 1Ti.6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses. But there still didn't seem to be many people who did more than look at me. (Few will have eyes to see or ears to hear but the things that come will get their attention. Their anointed ministry will bring attention.) I asked the Lord if the dream meant anything, for Him to give me an earthquake verse. Here's what I received by faith at random: Luk.23:48 And all the multitudes that came together to this sight, when they beheld the things that were done, returned smiting their breasts. (They saw the crucifixion of Jesus in this text and saw it as a travesty of justice and a shame to God's people. Exactly as in this text, this was the time of the rending of the veil of the temple in verse 45 and the earthquake. Mat.27:50 And Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit. 51 And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake; and the rocks were rent. This death quake was a sign of the larger earthquake at the resurrection.) Here it is in context: Luk.23:44 And it was now about the sixth hour, and a darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour (the three hours of darkness which brings the quake), 45 the sun's light failing: and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. 46 And Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said this, he gave up the ghost. Jesus said, “If I be lifted up from the earth I will draw all men unto me” -This is where the earthquake happens and the great earthquake happens at the resurrection. 47 And when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. 48 And all the multitudes that came together to this sight, when they beheld the things that were done, returned smiting their breasts. 49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed with him from Galilee, stood afar off, seeing these things.   I AM Your God of the Impossible Debbie Fenske 10/6/2025 Listen to Me, My children. I AM the God of the impossible. And I say to you, My children, called to be My highly anointed ones. All things you have learned from Me, and heard from My servant, David, things I have given him to speak and to do that have come to pass, and things I have given him to speak and to do, yet have not come to pass, are My doing, and My plan. I make no mistakes. Believe in Me! All that has come about, things that nominal and unbelieving Christians would not dare to believe, have all been My plans, even before the beginning of time. I AM your God who has chosen you, and many more, to hear and to receive and believe, to use you mightily in prayer and great spiritual warfare. Am I not the only God, the only God of the impossible? I Am your God who does things, allows things to be, and to take place all for My purposes for My Elect and My Kingdom, for My great Name. Things too impossible for the unbelieving, unregenerated mind to even receive. You know this is a war against Satan himself, our enemy. And all those he has taken over are as he is. Evil. Doing evil, corrupt and revolting deeds of darkness. But I see it all. And I reveal it all to those whom I choose to reveal it to. I have chosen to reveal it to David. And I have revealed it to you through him, My servant David. You must continue to have strong belief. Do not question. Take everything directly to prayer if you have an inkling of a question. Any questioning left open in reasoning of your mind is an open door for the enemy to answer you and to draw you away from all I have called you to be a part of, which is being by Me, and My true, worthy, holy and anointed Bride and Manchild on this earth, to fight with Me in this mighty end-time work in setting captives free, bringing many into My Eternal Kingdom. Stay in the realm of belief and faith in what I Am accomplishing right now. There is so much more. I know what I Am doing in this end-time scene. It is I Who moves Trump in all he has accomplished. And things that he has not been able to accomplish have not been by mistake. Nothing is by mistake with what I Am doing. Everything that I dictate to him to do, or to not do, is My plan. And everything I dictate to My servant, David, and move him to do, or to not do, is My plan, My voice to him. He has been faithful, allowing Me to be voice to him in so many ways. I Am not through with him yet. Nor am I through with Trump and all of his and our enemies. Right now, I've laid them wide open and bare, weaklings who think they are so strong. So, My children see all things with the end in view, being a part of the end in view, which is My Eternal Kingdom. You all are part of this end-time plan. Behold, I Am making all things new.

Are you hungry for God's Word? Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth says the more you eat of it, the more hungry you'll become. Join Nancy in Psalm 119 to cultivate a delight in God's Word that transforms us.

God desires his church to be in tune with himself and with one another. Nothing interrupts the work of God and discredits the church like disunity. A church that is not in unity with God and one another is dysfunctional and ineffective. Disunity prohibits our message from being a beautiful sound to the community. But when a church comes together in unity, our message is compelling and contagious.Main Points:1. The goal is not unity in everything. Being humans, it's normal to have differing ideas and opinions. We won't always see eye to eye, and that's not a bad thing.2. The goal, as Paul tells us in Ephesians 4 is to make every effort to keep the “unity of the Spirit.”  When a group of believers comes together in unity around the scripture, the work of the Spirit, and the great commission, that church will have an impact for Christ.3. Let's unite around the purpose of God, the mission of the church, the inerrancy of scripture, the power of the Holy Spirit, and a prevailing love for one another. If we can commit to this kind of unity, we will be in tune with one another and together we will make beautiful music for the world to hear. Today's Scripture Verses:1 Corinthians 1:10 - “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”Ephesians 4:2-3 - “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”Psalm 133:1  - “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

Behold within, the existential horror of your own mind… -Neuroscientist, Pentagon advisor, and author of the book Warhead join the show to discuss why and how our minds are wired for conflict -What are Models and why are ours primed … Continue reading →

In Chapter 73 of Brunkhollow, our friends meet Big Tiny.Support the show and get access to the monthly "Notch & Soda" talkbacks! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tabletopnotch/subscribeFeaturing Matt (the Dungeon Master), Anthony Cascio (T.C. Welker), Erica Ito (Kayt), Deirdre Manning (Annabel M'illay), Talon Ackerman (Illien Tyrun), and Jordan McDonough (Doxley Tyrun).View the Brunkhollow Intro theme here on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/tZ-62xkBN88⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"Welcome to Brunkhollow" theme music by Ian Fisher: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ianfishercomposer.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠View the character art here on Imgur: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://imgur.com/9Kybs4x⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Character art by BoneDust: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bonedustreborn/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behold! We have a new website! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tabletopnotch.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Community made Talespire maps in this episode include...⁠⁠⁠"Beaver Dam Encounter Map" by Eiven"Forgotten Toll Gate" by Exile

“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”   Isaiah 1:18–20 (ESV)   If you want to know that "the LORD He is God! the LORD, He is God!" (1 Kings 18:39) your search for confirmation finds its best resolution in the book of Isaiah. I would argue that Isaiah, more even than Elisha, "wore the prophetic mantle" of Elijah. Only John the Baptist was a greater merely human incarnation of the role of prophet (Matthew 11:11). Isaiah 42:9 tells us: "Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” Below find two articles that discuss fulfilled Old Testament prophecies. By any objective measure, only God could do this. As with other books of the Bible, we suggest this brief overview of Isaiah. May your listening to this great OT prophet be as blessed by God as was our reading of it!   https://youtu.be/d0A6Uchb1F8?si=Nhsvg2DCZgWRZq_7   Check out these two articles on calculations of the probability of one first-century man, Jesus, fulfilling so many OT prophecies! https://nickcady.org/2020/02/18/the-statistical-probability-of-jesus-fulfilling-the-messianic-prophecies/ https://firmisrael.org/learn/how-many-messianic-prophecies-did-jesus-fulfill/#:~:text=After%20all%2C%20Jesus%2

Send us a textThe devotion for today, Tuesday, November 04, 2025 was written by Donald (Luke) Day and is narrated by Larry Carter. Today's Words of Inspiration come from James 5. 1-6Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.  Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person.  Support the show

Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth read an article that included the Bible in a list of books you don't need to read. In response, she unashamedly declared God's Word as her greatest treasure. Join her to behold the wonder in Psalm 119.

“Behold, he prayeth.” — Acts 9:11 Prayers are instantly noticed in heaven. The moment Saul began to pray the Lord heard him. Here is comfort for the distressed but praying soul. Oftentimes a poor broken-hearted one bends his knee, but can only utter his wailing in the language of sighs and tears; yet that groan […]

November 3, 2025 Dan. 10:1-11:1; Ps. 120:1-7; Prov. 26:28; I John 3:1-6

Welcome to Arcade Church's Online service. We are so glad you are watching this week's sermon! The service is at 10 AM on Sundays. Watch our last sermon series, "Waiting in Him":  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhBJrLsRRcp8Vz-kYenMphAljCLG9R3tR Want to watch more of our sermons? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhBJrLsRRcp_POrw1b1XCBnG2Jrpv1hbO Check Out the Behold Podcast:   @behold.podcast   Do you have a prayer request? https://www.arcadechurchonline.com/prayer.  If you want to know more about Jesus, email us info@arcadechurchonline.com. Follow us on Social Media Instagram: @arcadechurch   Facebook: Arcade Church Visit us at www.arcadechurch.com

As Veterans Day approaches, Scottsdale is finding new ways to honor and connect with the men and women who've served. One of those efforts is the Veterans Community Series, a monthly program from the City of Scottsdale's Veterans Advisory Commission in partnership with the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce and Scottsdale Leadership. Joining me today are two people leading that mission — Justin Layman, U.S. Army veteran and Veterans Advisory Commissioner, and Barbara Hatch, founder of Imprints of Honor, which has spent more than 20 years helping students honor veterans through storytelling in the book series Since You Asked. Plus, checking in with our sponsor Jeremy Mueller from Jeremy Mueller Insurance.    Calendar of Events: The Veterans Community Series: Storytelling event is happening Wednesday, November 5th at 5:30 PM at Scottsdale's Community Design Studio. It's free to attend with registration, and everyone is welcome. Holiday Lights 2025 At McCormick Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale November 28 - December 30 Behold a magical world adorned with dazzling lights and captivating displays, creating a breathtaking winter wonderland.  You can also take a delightful ride on theCharros Carousel or savor the warmth of a comforting cup of hot cocoa from Hartley's General Store. https://www.therailroadpark.com/event/holiday-lights/ Vineyards in the Valley happens Saturday, December 6th at the Charro Lodge in Scottsdale Stadium.  Grab your tickets early, because this event will sell out! You can find all the details at VineyardsInTheValley.org.   It's Scottsdazzle time The Annual Holiday Extravaganza runs November 29th thru December 31st Throughout Old Town Scottsdale Events include: Jingle & Jazz: Tree Lighting Spectacular, Meet Santa at The Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market   Scottsdazzle Stroll and Shop  And SO MUCH MORE!    Head to https://scottsdazzle.com/ for all of the info

“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”   Isaiah 1:18–20 (ESV)   If you want to know that "the LORD He is God! the LORD, He is God!" (1 Kings 18:39) your search for confirmation finds its best resolution in the book of Isaiah. I would argue that Isaiah, more even than Elisha, "wore the prophetic mantle" of Elijah. Only John the Baptist was a greater merely human incarnation of the role of prophet (Matthew 11:11). Isaiah 42:9 tells us: "Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” Below find two articles that discuss fulfilled Old Testament prophecies. By any objective measure, only God could do this. As with other books of the Bible, we suggest this brief overview of Isaiah. May your listening to this great OT prophet be as blessed by God as was our reading of it!   https://youtu.be/d0A6Uchb1F8?si=Nhsvg2DCZgWRZq_7   Check out these two articles on calculations of the probability of one first-century man, Jesus, fulfilling so many OT prophecies! https://nickcady.org/2020/02/18/the-statistical-probability-of-jesus-fulfilling-the-messianic-prophecies/ https://firmisrael.org/learn/how-many-messianic-prophecies-did-jesus-fulfill/#:~:text=After%20all%2C%20Jesus%2

As Veterans Day approaches, Scottsdale is finding new ways to honor and connect with the men and women who've served. One of those efforts is the Veterans Community Series, a monthly program from the City of Scottsdale's Veterans Advisory Commission in partnership with the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce and Scottsdale Leadership. Joining me today are two people leading that mission — Justin Layman, U.S. Army veteran and Veterans Advisory Commissioner, and Barbara Hatch, founder of Imprints of Honor, which has spent more than 20 years helping students honor veterans through storytelling in the book series Since You Asked. Plus, checking in with our sponsor Jeremy Mueller from Jeremy Mueller Insurance.    Calendar of Events: The Veterans Community Series: Storytelling event is happening Wednesday, November 5th at 5:30 PM at Scottsdale's Community Design Studio. It's free to attend with registration, and everyone is welcome. Holiday Lights 2025 At McCormick Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale November 28 - December 30 Behold a magical world adorned with dazzling lights and captivating displays, creating a breathtaking winter wonderland.  You can also take a delightful ride on theCharros Carousel or savor the warmth of a comforting cup of hot cocoa from Hartley's General Store. https://www.therailroadpark.com/event/holiday-lights/ Vineyards in the Valley happens Saturday, December 6th at the Charro Lodge in Scottsdale Stadium.  Grab your tickets early, because this event will sell out! You can find all the details at VineyardsInTheValley.org.   It's Scottsdazzle time The Annual Holiday Extravaganza runs November 29th thru December 31st Throughout Old Town Scottsdale Events include: Jingle & Jazz: Tree Lighting Spectacular, Meet Santa at The Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market   Scottsdazzle Stroll and Shop  And SO MUCH MORE!    Head to https://scottsdazzle.com/ for all of the info

Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2  And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3  They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4  But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5  While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6  And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7  Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8  And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9  But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 

Why do Christians have to go through hardship? Well, trials are like God’s gym. In them, we're broken down so we can be built up. Pastor Greg Laurie shares more in his message focused on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Notes: Focus verse - Daniel 3 / James 1 Jesus walking with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego through the fiery furnace. Do not despair! You are not alone in your hardship! 1 Peter 4:12Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through,as if something strange were happening to you. 1 Peter 4:14Be happy if you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God will come upon you. There are different kinds of trials and testings in the life of the Christian.The devil tempts us to destroy our faith, but God tests us to develop our faith. A faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted.This is clearly shown in the story before us of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego stood up for what was right, even at the risk of losing their own lives. The stand you make today will determine what kind of stand you will make tomorrow. The most important time of our life is the time of our youth.It is when we set our course and habits are developed. The evening of our life is determined by the morning of it,the end from the beginning. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego made a stand in a small area.This is why they had the character and strength to make their stand in a larger one. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were captured along with Daniel and placed as counselors to the king. One night King Nebuchadnezzar had a troubling dream.When he awoke, he called in all the astrologers and magicians. The prophet, Daniel, humbly gave glory to God, and told the king he had dreamed of a giant statue. Daniel 2:47 (NLT)The King said to Daniel, "Truly, your God is the God of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret." As chapter 3 opens, around 16–20 years have passed.King Nebuchadnezzar has a 90-foot-tall statue erected, covered in gold of himself! The King ordered that everyone gather for a big celebration.They had an orchestra in place and when they played you better bow, or else! The Lord was very clear about that in the Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:4–5"Do not make idols of any kind; you must never worship or bow down to them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any.” Thousands of Israelites apparently bowed, but not these three.Someone estimated 300,000 people were present. Read Daniel 3:14–18 King Nebuchadnezzar was choosing off God, when he asks,“What god will be able to rescue you?” Nebuchadnezzar had quickly forgotten the God who gave him a dream. Because of his pride, Nebuchadnezzar would soon be brought to his knees. Everybody is a worshipper. The question is not if we worship or not.It’s who we worship. Because Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego worshipped God, they could not worship the statue. You will end up serving who you worship. Daniel 3:18”Your Majesty can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up." A moment at the altar of sexual experimentation can lead to a lifetime of regret. Moments spent worshipping God can lead to a lifetime of service. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were adamant, they were not going to bow. This will happen in the life of every Christian.Sooner or later, you too will be asked to bow before some idol. These boys were facing peer pressure on an epic scale. Despite the fact that everyone in Babylon bowed,Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego stood up straight. They figured, "Better to burn on earth and bow in Heaven, than to bow on earth, and burn in Hell!” One day, the Disciples came to Jesus, excited that they could cast out demons. Luke 10:20 (NLT)“But don't rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven." Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were not sure they would survive this, but they were sure of God’s promises.Daniel 3:17–18 Either God would preserve them, or He would be waiting on the other side. Upon hearing of this insubordination on the part of these three teens, the King flies into a rage. Read Daniel 3:19–25 Nebuchadnezzar said the fourth man looked “like the Son of God!” In this Christophany, Jesus walked with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego through this fiery furnace. Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Jesus is there with you, each step of the way. Jesus said, "Lo, I am with you, even until the end of the world." James 1:2–4When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, don't treat them as intruders but friends! Realize that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on, until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become men of mature character, men of integrity with no weak spots. Staying cool, when things get hot. How do you do that? It’s similar to going to the gym and working out. A lot of folks find themselves getting tired and lethargic and say, “I’m just getting old!”Yes, and it maybe you are just out of shape too. Maybe you need to get busy and do something with your faith. Jesus said, “Give and it shall be given unto you.” Trials take our faith from the realm of theory to reality. James 1:3 (NKJV)Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. Perseverance! (Greek: Hypomonē) We know about the suffering of Joseph. Psalm 105:18 (NLT)They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. “As he was laid in iron, iron entered his soul.” The very thing you want out of your life may be the thing you need in your life. If you want to grow spiritually, iron must enter your soul. James 1:4 (NKJV)Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. We may pray, “Lord, use me for Your glory! Bless me, Lord!”Then a trial comes. James 1:2 (NKJV)My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,No two experiences are alike. How did they do this?By the decisions and commitments they made years earlier. An idol is anyone or anything that takes God’s place in our life. 1 John 5:21 (NKJV)Little children, keep yourselves from idols. One day another world leader will come along and demand worship.The bible calls him Antichrist. He too will erect an image and demand worship, placing the image in the temple. Jesus promises to deliver us from this time of tribulation. Revelation 3:10 (NKJV)"Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” Revelation 3:11 (NKJV)"Behold, I am coming quickly! Jesus says, ”Behold, I am coming quickly!”Revelation 3:11 Nebuchadnezzar saw God work. Maybe God is trying to get your attention today! Jesus died on the cross for your sin so you could know God. Looking for hope or know someone who is? Join Greg Laurie at the Harvest Crusade: Hope for America on November 16! Get event information here. — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do Christians have to go through hardship? Well, trials are like God’s gym. In them, we're broken down so we can be built up. Pastor Greg Laurie shares more in his message focused on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Notes: Focus verse - Daniel 3 / James 1 Jesus walking with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego through the fiery furnace. Do not despair! You are not alone in your hardship! 1 Peter 4:12Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through,as if something strange were happening to you. 1 Peter 4:14Be happy if you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God will come upon you. There are different kinds of trials and testings in the life of the Christian.The devil tempts us to destroy our faith, but God tests us to develop our faith. A faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted.This is clearly shown in the story before us of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego stood up for what was right, even at the risk of losing their own lives. The stand you make today will determine what kind of stand you will make tomorrow. The most important time of our life is the time of our youth.It is when we set our course and habits are developed. The evening of our life is determined by the morning of it,the end from the beginning. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego made a stand in a small area.This is why they had the character and strength to make their stand in a larger one. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were captured along with Daniel and placed as counselors to the king. One night King Nebuchadnezzar had a troubling dream.When he awoke, he called in all the astrologers and magicians. The prophet, Daniel, humbly gave glory to God, and told the king he had dreamed of a giant statue. Daniel 2:47 (NLT)The King said to Daniel, "Truly, your God is the God of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret." As chapter 3 opens, around 16–20 years have passed.King Nebuchadnezzar has a 90-foot-tall statue erected, covered in gold of himself! The King ordered that everyone gather for a big celebration.They had an orchestra in place and when they played you better bow, or else! The Lord was very clear about that in the Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:4–5"Do not make idols of any kind; you must never worship or bow down to them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any.” Thousands of Israelites apparently bowed, but not these three.Someone estimated 300,000 people were present. Read Daniel 3:14–18 King Nebuchadnezzar was choosing off God, when he asks,“What god will be able to rescue you?” Nebuchadnezzar had quickly forgotten the God who gave him a dream. Because of his pride, Nebuchadnezzar would soon be brought to his knees. Everybody is a worshipper. The question is not if we worship or not.It’s who we worship. Because Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego worshipped God, they could not worship the statue. You will end up serving who you worship. Daniel 3:18”Your Majesty can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up." A moment at the altar of sexual experimentation can lead to a lifetime of regret. Moments spent worshipping God can lead to a lifetime of service. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were adamant, they were not going to bow. This will happen in the life of every Christian.Sooner or later, you too will be asked to bow before some idol. These boys were facing peer pressure on an epic scale. Despite the fact that everyone in Babylon bowed,Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego stood up straight. They figured, "Better to burn on earth and bow in Heaven, than to bow on earth, and burn in Hell!” One day, the Disciples came to Jesus, excited that they could cast out demons. Luke 10:20 (NLT)“But don't rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven." Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were not sure they would survive this, but they were sure of God’s promises.Daniel 3:17–18 Either God would preserve them, or He would be waiting on the other side. Upon hearing of this insubordination on the part of these three teens, the King flies into a rage. Read Daniel 3:19–25 Nebuchadnezzar said the fourth man looked “like the Son of God!” In this Christophany, Jesus walked with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego through this fiery furnace. Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Jesus is there with you, each step of the way. Jesus said, "Lo, I am with you, even until the end of the world." James 1:2–4When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, don't treat them as intruders but friends! Realize that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on, until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become men of mature character, men of integrity with no weak spots. Staying cool, when things get hot. How do you do that? It’s similar to going to the gym and working out. A lot of folks find themselves getting tired and lethargic and say, “I’m just getting old!”Yes, and it maybe you are just out of shape too. Maybe you need to get busy and do something with your faith. Jesus said, “Give and it shall be given unto you.” Trials take our faith from the realm of theory to reality. James 1:3 (NKJV)Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. Perseverance! (Greek: Hypomonē) We know about the suffering of Joseph. Psalm 105:18 (NLT)They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. “As he was laid in iron, iron entered his soul.” The very thing you want out of your life may be the thing you need in your life. If you want to grow spiritually, iron must enter your soul. James 1:4 (NKJV)Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. We may pray, “Lord, use me for Your glory! Bless me, Lord!”Then a trial comes. James 1:2 (NKJV)My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,No two experiences are alike. How did they do this?By the decisions and commitments they made years earlier. An idol is anyone or anything that takes God’s place in our life. 1 John 5:21 (NKJV)Little children, keep yourselves from idols. One day another world leader will come along and demand worship.The bible calls him Antichrist. He too will erect an image and demand worship, placing the image in the temple. Jesus promises to deliver us from this time of tribulation. Revelation 3:10 (NKJV)"Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” Revelation 3:11 (NKJV)"Behold, I am coming quickly! Jesus says, ”Behold, I am coming quickly!”Revelation 3:11 Nebuchadnezzar saw God work. Maybe God is trying to get your attention today! Jesus died on the cross for your sin so you could know God. Looking for hope or know someone who is? Join Greg Laurie at the Harvest Crusade: Hope for America on November 16! Get event information here. — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeremiah 6:10–17 (Listen) 10   To whom shall I speak and give warning,    that they may hear?  Behold, their ears are uncircumcised,    they cannot listen;  behold, the word of the LORD is to them an object of scorn;    they take no pleasure in it.11   Therefore I am full of the wrath of the LORD;    I am weary of holding it in.  “Pour it out upon the children in the street,    and upon the gatherings of young men, also;  both husband and wife shall be taken,    the elderly and the very aged.12   Their houses shall be turned over to others,    their fields and wives together,  for I will stretch out my hand    against the inhabitants of the land,”      declares the LORD.13   “For from the least to the greatest of them,    everyone is greedy for unjust gain;  and from prophet to priest,    everyone deals falsely.14   They have healed the wound of my people lightly,    saying, ‘Peace, peace,'    when there is no peace.15   Were they ashamed when they committed abomination?    No, they were not at all ashamed;    they did not know how to blush.  Therefore they shall fall among those who fall;    at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,”      says the LORD. 16   Thus says the LORD:  “Stand by the roads, and look,    and ask for the ancient paths,  where the good way is; and walk in it,    and find rest for your souls.  But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.'17   I set watchmen over you, saying,    ‘Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!'  But they said, ‘We will not pay attention.' (ESV)

We hope you enjoy today's Scripture reading and devotional aimed at equipping you for moral and spiritual transformation. Today's Bible reading is 2 Co­rin­thi­ans 3. To read along with the podcast, grab a print copy of the devotional. Browse other resources from Jason C. Meyer. Follow us on social media to stay up to date: Instagram Facebook Twitter

Revelation 2:18–2918 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.19 “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

What does it look like for a woman to build the home in a way that honors the Lord? How does her personal relationship with Christ influence the way she sees her role as a builder of the home and a helpmate to her husband? 1. Embrace Your Unique Identity2. Prioritize Your Inner Beauty 3. Live Out Your Role As a Helpmate 4. Respect Your Husband5. Behold the Beauty of Biblical Submission 

Israel's Future in Bible Prophecy:  A Biblical Exposition   Introduction: The Setting from Luke 21 As we open our Bibles to the Gospel of Luke, chapter 21, we find Jesus standing on the Mount of Olives, overlooking the city of Jerusalem. His disciples marvel at the temple's grandeur, but the Lord turns their attention to far greater matters—the signs of the end times and the destiny of His people.    In Luke 21:20-24, Jesus declares: "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”   Here, the Lord Jesus foretells the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, a tragic fulfillment of judgment on unbelieving Israel.    Yet, notice the phrase "until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." This points beyond that historical event to a future restoration. The "times of the Gentiles" refer to the period when Gentile powers dominate Jerusalem, but it has an end. From this vantage, Jesus shifts in verses 25-28 to cosmic signs and His return:   "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”   Luke 21 sets the stage for our study: Israel's past rebellion, present trials, and glorious future under the Messiah's reign. God's Word promises that though Israel has stumbled, He will lift them up. Let us trace this thread through Scripture, seeing God's unchanging faithfulness to His covenant people. Israel's Past: From Abraham's Call to Repeated Rejection To understand Israel's future, we must first look back to her origins. God did not find Israel as a nation; He created her. In Genesis 12:1-3, the Lord calls Abram, a Gentile idol-worshiper from Ur of the Chaldees:   "Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”   Abram—later Abraham—became the father of the Jewish nation through Isaac and Jacob, whom God renamed Israel (Genesis 32:28). This was no accident of history; it was divine election. God promised Abraham an everlasting covenant in Genesis 17:7-8:   "And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”   This covenant is unconditional—based on God's promise, not Israel's performance. It includes land, seed, and blessing, and it stands today. God reiterated it to Isaac (Genesis 26:3-4) and Jacob (Genesis 28:13-15), forming the twelve tribes of Israel.   Yet, from the exodus onward, Israel repeatedly rejected her Creator. In the wilderness, they murmured against Moses and God (Exodus 17:3; Numbers 14:1-4). Entering the land, they turned to idols (Judges 2:11-13).    The kings, from Saul to the divided kingdom, led them into idolatry, culminating in Assyrian and Babylonian captivities (2 Kings 17:7-18; 2 Kings 25). Prophets like Jeremiah warned of judgment for covenant unfaithfulness (Jeremiah 3:6-10).   This pattern peaked in the rejection of the Messiah Himself. The Jewish leaders knew the Scriptures foretold His coming. Psalm 22:16-18 vividly describes His crucifixion:  "For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.”   Isaiah 53:3-6, 9-12 paints the suffering Servant: "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. ... And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”   Micah 5:2 pinpointed His birthplace in Bethlehem. Zechariah 9:9 described His humble entry on a donkey. The religious elite studied these texts daily. Yet, when Jesus fulfilled them—born in Bethlehem, riding into Jerusalem on a colt, bearing our sins on Calvary—they rejected Him defiantly, not blindly.   In John 1:11, we read: "He came unto his own, and his own received him not." They expected a conquering general to smash Rome, not a suffering Savior (Acts 1:6). But they knew. In Matthew 27:22-25, Pilate asks, "What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?" The crowd cries, "Let him be crucified." When warned of innocent blood, they shout, "His blood be on us, and on our children." This was open defiance. Peter charges in Acts 2:23: "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain."    And in Acts 7:51-52, Stephen indicts: "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers.”   Israel's history is one of gracious election met with stubborn rebellion. Yet God, in mercy, preserved a remnant through exile and diaspora, never forsaking His word.   Israel Today: A Tiny Nation Amid Global Hatred and Fleeting Peace Fast-forward to our day. Ethnic Israel—the Jewish people descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—numbers about 9.6 million worldwide, with roughly 7.3 million living in the modern State of Israel. This political entity, reestablished in 1948, occupies a land about 8,500 square miles—roughly seven times the size of Rhode Island, yet smaller than many U.S. states, squeezed between vast hostile neighbors. It's a miracle of survival: a people scattered for nearly 2,000 years, regathered to their ancient homeland against all odds.   But today, antisemitism surges like a tidal wave, especially in the United States. Reports show a 21% global rise in incidents in July 2025 alone, with the U.S. seeing nearly 70% of religion-based hate crimes targeting Jews. ADL surveys reveal antisemitism has woven into daily American Jewish life—on campuses, streets, and workplaces—spiking since recent Middle East conflicts. Why this hatred? Scripture unveils the roots.   First, it's divine judgment for rejecting the Messiah. In Matthew 27:25, their cry of "His blood be on us, and on our children" echoes through generations, as Jesus warned in Luke 19:41-44: "And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.”   This "visitation" was Christ, spurned. Zechariah 12:2-3 prophesies nations gathering against Jerusalem like a "burdensome stone," a future reality foreshadowed today.   Second, Satan fuels this enmity. As the father of lies (John 8:44), he hates Israel because through her seed comes the woman's offspring who crushes his head (Genesis 3:15). Revelation 12:13 depicts the dragon (Satan) pursuing the woman (Israel):    "And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child." Satan knows Israel's role in God's redemptive plan—birthplace of the Church, guardian of Scripture, and future throne for Messiah.   Why does God allow this? To humble His people, drive them to repentance, and fulfill prophecy. Deuteronomy 28:15, 64 warns of curses for disobedience:  "But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee. ... And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.”   Yet, this scattering has an end. God uses hatred to refine Israel, as Hosea 5:15 states: "I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.”   Amid this, Israel boasts more peace initiatives than any nation. The Abraham Accords under President Trump in 2020 normalized ties with Arab states, and in 2025, Trump unveiled a bold 20-point Gaza peace plan, signed in its first phase, aiming for enduring prosperity without forced displacements.    Trump's "peace through strength" approach—bolstered by U.S. resolve—has invitations from leaders like Egypt's el-Sisi for regional summits. Noble as these are, Scripture warns they are fragile. Daniel 9:27 foretells a future "prince that shall come" (the Antichrist) who "shall confirm the covenant with many for one week"—a seven-year peace deal with Israel, only to break it midway: "And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”   No human accord can thwart God's timeline. These deals set the stage for the ultimate betrayal.     We must distinguish: Ethnic Israel is God's covenant people, the physical descendants of Abraham (Romans 9:4-5).    Political Israel is the modern state—a vessel for prophecy, but not the full spiritual fulfillment yet.  God preserves the nation, but salvation comes to individuals who repent.   God Is Not Done with Israel: Insights from Romans 9-10 Turn to Romans 9-10, where Paul, a Jew of Jews, wrestles with his people's unbelief. He affirms God's irrevocable gifts in Romans 11:29: "For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance." But chapters 9-10 explain the tension.   In Romans 9:1-5, Paul's anguish pours out: "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.”   Israel has every advantage—covenants, law, promises—yet many reject Christ. Paul explains in Romans 9:30-33: "What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 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.”   Their zeal without knowledge (Romans 10:2) led to defiance.    Yet God hardens whom He will (Romans 9:18), not arbitrarily, but to fulfill mercy on both Jews and Gentiles (Romans 11:11-12, 25-27): "I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? ... For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.”   "All Israel shall be saved"—a national turning to Messiah at His return. Paul quotes Isaiah 59:20-21 and 27:9, confirming future restoration.     Beware of replacement theology, the dangerous error claiming the Church has permanently supplanted Israel in God's plan. It twists Romans 11 to say the "olive tree" is only the Church, erasing Israel's distinct promises. This denies the land covenant (Genesis 15:18), ignores prophecies like Ezekiel 37's dry bones reviving as a nation, and contradicts Paul's plea in Romans 10:1: "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved."    This desire points future, not past. God has two programs: one for the Church (the body of Christ, Jew and Gentile in one, Ephesians 2:14-16), and one for national Israel. To merge them robs God of His faithfulness and fuels antisemitism by devaluing the Jewish people. Though Israel has defied Him—from golden calf to crucifying the King—God loves His covenant people. Jeremiah 31:3 whispers: "The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."    He cannot break covenant; Numbers 23:19 assures: "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”   Israel's Future: Tribulation, Invasion, and Glorious Restoration The road ahead is stormy, but victory dawns. Zechariah 12:10 promises: "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.”   The Great Tribulation: Judgment and Awakening The Tribulation—a seven-year period of Jacob's trouble (Jeremiah 30:7)—brings global wrath, but especially on Israel. Why? First, to judge unbelieving Jews and the world for sin. Revelation 6-19 details seals, trumpets, and bowls of judgment. Second, to break Israel's defiance, as Zechariah 13:8-9 foretells:  "And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.”   Third, to prepare earth for Christ's return in Revelation 19:11-16, where He treads the winepress of wrath: "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. ... And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”   During this horror, Israel becomes a focal point—and unwilling host to the world. Revelation 12:6 describes: "And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days." Multitudes flee to Israel seeking refuge, only to face Antichrist's fury. Yet, salvation breaks through. God seals 144,000 Jewish evangelists from the tribes (Revelation 7:4-8)—12,000 from each—to proclaim the Gospel worldwide.    Two witnesses in Jerusalem, empowered, most likely Moses and Elijah, prophesy for 1,260 days, calling fire from heaven and striking with plagues (Revelation 11:3-6): "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. ... And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.” Their ministry awakens thousands. When slain, God resurrects them before a watching world (Revelation 11:7-12). Many Jews repent, fulfilling Romans 11:26. As Antichrist's abomination desecrates the temple (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15), believing Jews flee to Petra (Bozrah), the rose-red city of Edom. Jesus urged in Matthew 24:15-21:  "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: ... For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”   God supernaturally protects them there for 1,260 days (Revelation 12:14), as Micah 2:12 gathers a remnant to "Mizpah"—a stronghold.   The Ezekiel 38-39 Invasion: Gog's Futile Assault Before or early in the Tribulation, a massive coalition attacks a seemingly secure Israel. Ezekiel 38:1-6, 8-9, 14-16 describes: "And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. ... After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. ... Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.”   Gog (a title, perhaps Russia's leader) leads Magog (Russia), Persia (Iran), Ethiopia, Libya, Gomer (Turkey), and Togarmah. They invade for spoil, when Israel dwells "safely"—perhaps post-peace deal. God allows it to reveal His holiness (Ezekiel 38:16, 23).  But He intervenes supernaturally in Ezekiel 38:18-23; 39:1-6: "And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD. ... Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand. Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD. And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD.”   Birds and beasts feast on the dead (Ezekiel 39:17-20), and it takes seven months to bury them (39:12).  God uses this to turn Israel to Him (39:21-22, 29): "And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them. So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward. ... Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.”   The Antichrist's Treachery and Christ's Victorious Return The Antichrist emerges as a false peace-broker, confirming that seven-year covenant (Daniel 9:27). But midway, he betrays: halting sacrifices, setting up his image in the temple (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4): "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”   He persecutes Jews savagely (Daniel 7:25: "And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High"), demanding worship (Revelation 13:15).   But Christ returns! In Revelation 19:19-21: "And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.”   He binds Satan (Revelation 20:1-3) and crushes Israel's foes at Armageddon (Zechariah 14:1-4, 9): "Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. ... And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.”   The Millennial Restoration: Blessing Beyond Eden With enemies vanquished, Christ establishes His 1,000-year kingdom (Revelation 20:4-6). Israel, at last, fulfills her calling as head of nations (Isaiah 2:2-3). Zechariah 8:1-3, 7-8, 12-13 paints the joy: "Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain. ... Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness. ... For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.”   The desert blooms (Isaiah 35:1-2: "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing").    En-Gedi's shores overflow with fish (Ezekiel 47:8-10): "Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.”   Israel becomes the world's economic powerhouse, exporting blessings (Zechariah 8:13). Nations stream to Jerusalem for instruction (Micah 4:1-2). The wolf dwells with the lamb (Isaiah 11:6-9), pre-Edenic harmony restored.   Beyond the Millennium, after final rebellion and judgment (Revelation 20:7-15), God creates new heavens and earth (Revelation 21:1-4; Isaiah 65:17; 66:22). No more curse—eternal joy, with redeemed Israel and Church worshiping the Lamb forever.   Beloved, Israel's story is God's story: rebellion met with grace. Though they defied Him, He pursues with everlasting love. As Luke 21 urges, when signs unfold, "look up"—redemption draws near. May we, like Paul, pray for Israel's salvation, standing firm on God's unbreakable Word. Amen.

Bible StudyDon't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon: .Sermon Notes:I. The Fairness of God's JudgmentA. Our concern for fairnessWe instinctively ask: “Do they deserve judgment?”Judgment must be fair, just, and true.B. Pharaoh and Egypt's guiltPharaoh's policy: murder of Hebrew boys (Exodus 1).Enslavement and oppression of Israel.God's response: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7 ESV)The death of the firstborn = not random, but reaping what was sown.C. The hardening of Pharaoh's heartSometimes Pharaoh hardens his own heart; other times God does.Pharaoh's rebellion becomes irreversible — God confirms his self-chosen path.God's judgment is never arbitrary, always morally deserved.II. The Realms of God's JudgmentA. Judgment in both visible and spiritual realmsExodus 12:12 — God executes judgment “on all the gods of Egypt.”Not only Pharaoh and Egypt, but their false gods are judged.B. The spiritual dimensionEach plague confronts an Egyptian deity (e.g., darkness = judgment on Re, the sun god).Ephesians 6:12 — our struggle is not just “against flesh and blood.”C. Implications for usConflict perspective: our true enemy is spiritual, not human.Ultimate justice: final judgment must also occur in the spiritual realm — and that belongs to God alone.Christ's victory:The cross = God's judgment on “principalities and powers.”Revelation 20 — final judgment, evil cast down forever.III. Protection from God's JudgmentA. The universality of judgmentBoth Egyptians and Israelites were under threat.Only protection: homes marked with the blood of the lamb (Exodus 12:13).Not ethnicity, morality, or family — but faith in God's provision.B. The necessity of faith and obedienceBelief must lead to action.They didn't discuss the lamb's symbolism — they applied the blood.C. The principle of substitutionThe lamb dies in place of the firstborn.“One life for another.”God's mercy through a substitute.D. Fulfillment in Jesus ChristJohn 1:29 — “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”Jesus = true Passover Lamb — spotless, no broken bones (John 19:31-33), slain for sinners.His blood is the believer's protection from judgment.God's justice is satisfied; His mercy extended.Conclusion: The Cross Is Our PassoverGod is both Judge and Savior.To our sins he says: “this kind of offense cannot be tolerated in my Kingdom.”Yet God Himself provides the way — through the blood of His Son.At the Cross, justice is satisfied, grace is extended.Because of the Lamb, God's judgment passes over us forever.Discussion Questions:Does a God who judges evil make you uncomfortable? Why or why not?In what ways does it help us to understand that God executes judgment in the spiritual realm?What is the difference between making moral judgments and being "judgmental"? How does the idea of humanity being universally under God's judgment eliminate judgmentalism?How does the Cross of Christ bring together God's judgment and grace?Should we fear God's judgment - why or why not?Questions?Do you have a question about today's sermon? Email Randy Forrester ().

Send us a textZen Perry Project presents GMGF RADIO featuring interviews with and music from: Rosie Rebel of Typhoid Rosie,Vincent Blackshadow of YFYTYR,& Scott Mangino of chemical-x. Support the showIntrospective interviews with artistic individuals - an ongoing audiovisual journal of Zen Perry. Behold a wall of periodically updated webpages!Official Website: https://www.zenperryproject.com/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/breakingnorthInstagram: @https://www.instagram.com/zenperryproject/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakingnorthpodcastTwitter: @BreakingNorthTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/breakingnorth_Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@zenperryproject160Email: info@zenperryproject.comThanks for listening - hope you enjoy!

Behold the Glory of Christ & the church in marriage

Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14 (Behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages) 1 John 3:1-3 (We shall see God as he is)

Behold the Lamb - Part 23: Millennial Madness

1 The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel: 2 to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding; 3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; 4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man: 5 that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel: 6 to understand a proverb, and parables, the words and riddles of the wise. 7 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction. 8 My son, listen to your father's instruction, and don't forsake your mother's teaching: 9 for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, don't consent. 11 If they say, "Come with us. Let's lay in wait for blood. Let's lurk secretly for the innocent without cause. 12 Let's swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit. 13 We'll find all valuable wealth. We'll fill our houses with plunder. 14 You shall cast your lot among us. We'll all have one purse." 15 My son, don't walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path, 16 for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood. 17 For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird: 18 but these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners. 20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares. 21 She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words: 22 "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you. 24 Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention; 25 but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof; 26 I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you; 27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come on you. 28 Then will they call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me; 29 because they hated knowledge, and didn't choose the fear of Yahweh. 30 They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes. 32 For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them. 33 But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm." Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast

November 1, 2025Today's Reading: Matthew 5:1-12Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Matthew 21:1-22“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Imagine the disciples and the huge crowd gathered around Jesus for the Sermon on the Mount. They nod to each of the Beatitudes, maybe with a little less boldness as Jesus continues. Perhaps they even look around to see how the other 11 are reacting. “Maybe I'm not perfect, but I've been pretty good at this one or that.” “I think I'm good enough; I don't talk without thinking. Like Peter.” “I think I'm good enough; at least I haven't cheated people in the past, like Matthew.” But Jesus isn't talking about being good enough in other people's eyes, He is speaking of holiness before God – pure in heart – a holiness in the heart.The thing is, there is nothing pure in your heart. The Lord declares, “Out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,  coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.” (Mark 7:21-22)  There is One who is pure in heart. Jesus Christ, our Holy God in the flesh – He alone is truly pure in heart. At your Baptism, in the Blessed Exchange, the Lord cleansed you entirely, taking all of the filth and wretchedness from your heart and trading it for all the righteousness, holiness, and purity of Jesus' heart!That Baptism was “not just plain water, but it is the water included in God's command and combined with God's word.” (Small Catechism, Baptism, 1). So with God's Word, that water delivered Jesus and His forgiveness, rescue, and salvation. You were made blessed and holy by the Holy Spirit. There is daily war against the new creature – the saint that God made at your Baptism. You face horrible hardships all of the time; some of them known only to you in the recesses of your emotional health. Non-Christians harass the Church and her baptized saints. We are weak when facing temptations. We all have our great afflictions. Before Christ returns, the afflictions will increase.You are not good enough. But Christ is perfect and pure. And He gifts you with being pure in heart, holy, and blessed. You belong to Him as His baptized saint. You sing with those saints now in the Church Militant, and one day, Christ will resurrect you and gather you with all His saints to stand before Him, arrayed in white, washed in the Blood of Jesus, and singing His praises forever.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Behold a host, arrayed in white, Like thousand snow-clad mountains bright! With palms they stand; Who is this band Before the throne of light? These are the saints of glorious fame, Who from the great affliction came And in the flood Of Jesus' blood Are cleansed from guilt and shame. They now serve God both day and night; They sing their songs in endless light. Their anthems ring As they all sing With angels shining bright. (LSB 676:1)Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Harrison Goodman is the Executive Director of Mission and Theology for Higher Things.Step back in time to the late Reformation and learn about a divisive yet inspirational figure: Matthias Flacius Illyricus. His contributions to Lutheranism still echo in our teachings today, from the Magdeburg Confession to parts of the Lutheran Confessions. Learning about Flacius's life will help you understand more intricacies of the Reformation than ever before.

“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”   Isaiah 1:18–20 (ESV)   If you want to know that "the LORD He is God! the LORD, He is God!" (1 Kings 18:39) your search for confirmation finds its best resolution in the book of Isaiah. I would argue that Isaiah, more even than Elisha, "wore the prophetic mantle" of Elijah. Only John the Baptist was a greater merely human incarnation of the role of prophet (Matthew 11:11). Isaiah 42:9 tells us: "Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” Below find two articles that discuss fulfilled Old Testament prophecies. By any objective measure, only God could do this. As with other books of the Bible, we suggest this brief overview of Isaiah. May your listening to this great OT prophet be as blessed by God as was our reading of it!   https://youtu.be/d0A6Uchb1F8?si=Nhsvg2DCZgWRZq_7   Check out these two articles on calculations of the probability of one first-century man, Jesus, fulfilling so many OT prophecies! https://nickcady.org/2020/02/18/the-statistical-probability-of-jesus-fulfilling-the-messianic-prophecies/ https://firmisrael.org/learn/how-many-messianic-prophecies-did-jesus-fulfill/#:~:text=After%20all%2C%20Jesus%2

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Friday morning, the 31st of October, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We go to the Gospel of John 4:35:”Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!”Do not be unprepared for the greatest harvest the world has ever seen. The signs are all there. The question is, are you ready to bring it in? Are you prepared? Is your harvesting equipment in order? In this day and age, the scythe that they used in the old days to cut down the wheat and the corn is not sufficient. The harvest is too great and the time is too short. It is time for that huge four-row, six-row mechanical harvester that can harvest literally hundreds of acres in a day. Remember, we need to be ready.I remember as a young farmer, once passing a farm where a man had a beautiful crop of maize. Golden unto harvest. It was magnificent, but every day that I rode past that farm, nothing was happening and then I saw in the corner of the farm, he was planting a crop of cabbages but the time was running out. He could not see it, and the tragedy was that in the end, when he did start to harvest this beautiful crop of maize, it was too late. It was springtime and the rain began to come and blew the crop over and the crop rotted in the ground.Today is the day of salvation, not tomorrow. Tell that loved one today, they must be ready for the coming of the Lord. Tell those people who are sitting on the fence, you need to make up your mind. Are you going to be part of what God has prepared for us or are you not? Because you cannot be indecisive. We really need to get our act together. Get that harvester into the field. Get the crop in while there is still time left.Jesus bless you and have a wonderful harvesting day today,Goodbye.

It is easy to say we believe. Words come easy, but to practice our beliefs takes some effort. Romans 14:23 says that anything not done in faith is sin. Join us in this broadcast of Woman at the Well Ministries as Kim searches the scriptures bringing to light what it really means to believe. Do you want to connect with Kim and Erika? Visit us on our website, on Facebook, or on Instagram.  Mentioned in this Episode     John 14:1 – “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A1&version=KJV     Romans 14:23 – “...for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+14%3A23&version=KJV     Job – Referenced regarding enduring faith www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job&version=KJV     John 14:6 – “I am the way, the truth, and the life...” www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A6&version=KJV     Romans 14:12 – “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+14%3A12&version=KJV     Ephesians 2:8–9 – “For by grace are ye saved through faith...” www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A8-9&version=KJV     Revelation 20:15 – “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life...” www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+20%3A15&version=KJV     James 2:19 – “...the devils also believe, and tremble.” www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2%3A19&version=KJV     Luke 19:10 – “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save...” www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+19%3A10&version=KJV Revelation 3:20 – “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock...” www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+3%3A20&version=KJV Zechariah 2:8 – “...for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.” www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah+2%3A8&version=KJV 1 John 4:19 – “We love him, because he first loved us.” www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A19&version=KJV Romans 10:13 – “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+10%3A13&version=KJV Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+3%3A23&version=KJV Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God...” www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+6%3A23&version=KJV Romans 5:8 – “But God commendeth his love toward us...” www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5%3A8&version=KJV Romans 10:9–10 – “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth...” www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+10%3A9-10&version=KJV 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “...if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature...” www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+5%3A17&version=KJV Isaiah 1:18 – “...though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow...” www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+1%3A18&version=KJV Hebrews 11:6 – “But without faith it is impossible to please him...” www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+11%3A6&version=KJV Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ...” www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A13&version=KJV Philippians 4:19 – “But my God shall supply all your need...” www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A19&version=KJV Jeremiah 29:11 – “...to give you an expected end.” www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+29%3A11&version=KJV 1 John 4:4 – “...greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A4&version=KJV Mark 9:23 – “If thou canst believe, all things are possible...” www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+9%3A23&version=KJV John 10:10 – “...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+10%3A10&version=KJV Did you enjoy this podcast? Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can listen to us on all major podcasting platforms like Apple Podcasts,  Spotify,  Google Podcasts,  YouTube, and Podbean. Check out Kim's latest Bible Bit book on Amazon! Do you want to bring Kim Miller to your church, upcoming retreat, or conference? Contact us! This podcast is brought to you by Woman at the Well Ministries and is supported by our faithful listeners. To support this podcast, please visit our support page. 

Luke 19:1-10 - He [Jesus] entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received Him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Luke 13:31-35 - Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, "Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill You." He replied, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish My purpose. Yet I must continue on My way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.' "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling! Behold, your house will be abandoned. But I tell you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord." Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3, 4) Terry discusses what must be done to foster vocations to the Priesthood, and the influences of the Saints and others

Genesis 4:1-6:8   Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, “I have obtained a male child with the help of the Lord.” 2 And again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a cultivator of the ground. 3 So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the ground. 4 Abel, on his part also brought an offering, from the firstborn of his flock and from their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering; 5 but for Cain and his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his face was gloomy. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why is your face gloomy? 7 If you do well, will your face not be cheerful? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” 8 Cain talked to his brother Abel; and it happened that when they were in the field Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?” 10 Then He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying out to Me from the ground. 11 Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 12 When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a wanderer and a drifter on the earth.” 13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is too great to endure! 14 Behold, You have driven me this day from the face of the ground; and I will be hidden from Your face, and I will be a wanderer and a drifter on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 So the Lord said to him, “Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him seven times as much.” And the Lord placed a mark on Cain, so that no one finding him would kill him. 16 Then Cain left the presence of the Lord, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. 17 Cain had relations with his wife and she conceived, and gave birth to Enoch; and Cain built a city, and named the city Enoch, after the name of his son. 18 Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19 Lamech took two wives for himself: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and flute. 22 As for Zillah, she also gave birth to Tubal-cain, the forger of all implements of bronze and iron; and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah. 23 Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, Listen to my voice, You wives of Lamech, Pay attention to my words, For I have killed a man for wounding me; And a boy for striking me! 24 If Cain is avenged seven times, Then Lamech seventy-seven times!” 25 Adam had relations with his wife again; and she gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, for, she said, “God has appointed me another child in place of Abel, because Cain killed him.” 26 To Seth also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then people began to call upon the name of the Lord. 5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. On the day when God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female, and He blessed them and named them “mankind” on the day when they were created. 3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth. 4 Then the days of Adam after he fathered Seth were eight hundred years, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 5 So all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died. 6 Now Seth lived 105 years, and fathered Enosh. 7 Then Seth lived 807 years after he fathered Enosh, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 8 So all the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died. 9 Now Enosh lived ninety years, and fathered Kenan. 10 Then Enosh lived 815 years after he fathered Kenan, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 11 So all the days of Enosh were 905 years, and he died. 12 Now Kenan lived seventy years, and fathered Mahalalel. 13 Then Kenan lived 840 years after he fathered Mahalalel, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 14 So all the days of Kenan were 910 years, and he died. 15 Now Mahalalel lived sixty-five years, and fathered Jared. 16 Then Mahalalel lived 830 years after he fathered Jared, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 17 So all the days of Mahalalel were 895 years, and he died. 18 Now Jared lived 162 years, and fathered Enoch. 19 Then Jared lived eight hundred years after he fathered Enoch, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 20 So all the days of Jared were 962 years, and he died. 21 Now Enoch lived sixty-five years, and fathered Methuselah. 22 Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he fathered Methuselah, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 23 So all the days of Enoch were 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. 25 Now Methuselah lived 187 years, and fathered Lamech. 26 Then Methuselah lived 782 years after he fathered Lamech, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 27 So all the days of Methuselah were 969 years, and he died. 28 Now Lamech lived 182 years, and fathered a son. 29 And he named him Noah, saying, “This one will give us comfort from our work and from the hard labor of our hands caused by the ground which the Lord has cursed.” 30 Then Lamech lived 595 years after he fathered Noah, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 31 So all the days of Lamech were 777 years, and he died. 32 Now after Noah was five hundred years old, Noah fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth.  6:1 Now it came about, when mankind began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw that the daughters of mankind were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not remain with man forever, because he is also flesh; nevertheless his days shall be 120 years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of mankind, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. 5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. 6 So the Lord was sorry that He had made mankind on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 Then the Lord said, “I will wipe out mankind whom I have created from the face of the land; mankind, and animals as well, and crawling things, and the birds of the sky. For I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.     BIBLE READING GUIDE - FREE EBOOK - Get the free eBook, Bible in Life, to help you learn how to read and apply the Bible well: https://www.listenerscommentary.com     GIVE -  The Listener's Commentary is a listener supported Bible teaching ministry made possible by the generosity of people like you. Thank you! Give here:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com/give     STUDY HUB - Want more than the audio? Join the study hub to access articles, maps, charts, pictures, and links to other resources to help you study the Bible for yourself. https://www.listenerscommentary.com/members-sign-up   MORE TEACHING - For more resources and Bible teaching from John visit https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Gospel Luke 13:31-35 Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, "Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you." He replied, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose. Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.' "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling! Behold, your house will be abandoned. But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Reflection The most likely reason that Jesus says he must be killed in Jerusalem is the fact that Jerusalem was the place of most of the resistance to any of the messages of the prophets. So it was there between the temple and a prophetic voice, that this story unfolds in a very unfortunate way. They continue to resist the truth. And what is so touching about this passage is the way in which the truth is that God, through Jesus, has always longed to gather the children of Israel into a family, into a place of intimacy with him. And they've always refused. And today they still refuse. Closing Prayer Father, you ask us through the Holy Spirit's power to face so many things within us that we really don't want to look at. We don't want to face. Bless us with openness to your prophetic word, to your truth, so that we can feel the fruits of what it means to be cared for by you, loved by you, forgiven by you. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said,"Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you."He replied, "Go and tell that fox,'Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow,and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day,for it is impossible that a prophet should dieoutside of Jerusalem.'"Jerusalem, Jerusalem,you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,how many times I yearned to gather your children togetheras a hen gathers her brood under her wings,but you were unwilling!Behold, your house will be abandoned.But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say,Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."

One of the coolest scripture study skills is to place your name in the scriptures in place of another individual and see how it sounds. Well, there are 60 people mentioned by name in D&C 124 as Nauvoo is being organized.  Did all of them stay faithful to their promised blessings?If you'd like to view the video that goes with podcast, click here!

“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”   Isaiah 1:18–20 (ESV)   If you want to know that "the LORD He is God! the LORD, He is God!" (1 Kings 18:39) your search for confirmation finds its best resolution in the book of Isaiah. I would argue that Isaiah, more even than Elisha, "wore the prophetic mantle" of Elijah. Only John the Baptist was a greater merely human incarnation of the role of prophet (Matthew 11:11). Isaiah 42:9 tells us: "Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” Below find two articles that discuss fulfilled Old Testament prophecies. By any objective measure, only God could do this. As with other books of the Bible, we suggest this brief overview of Isaiah. May your listening to this great OT prophet be as blessed by God as was our reading of it!   https://youtu.be/d0A6Uchb1F8?si=Nhsvg2DCZgWRZq_7   Check out these two articles on calculations of the probability of one first-century man, Jesus, fulfilling so many OT prophecies! https://nickcady.org/2020/02/18/the-statistical-probability-of-jesus-fulfilling-the-messianic-prophecies/ https://firmisrael.org/learn/how-many-messianic-prophecies-did-jesus-fulfill/#:~:text=After%20all%2C%20Jesus%2

Read Online“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling!” Luke 13:34It's helpful to ponder the Sacred Heart of Jesus. His heart is one that is strong and gentle, compassionate and just, merciful and truthful. In this Gospel passage, we are given a glimpse of Jesus' love for the people of Jerusalem. He was not expressing His love for the city, but for the people in the city. It is clear that His deepest desire, His strong yearning, was that they allow Him to draw them close to Him so that He can protect them from all evil.Jesus begins by speaking the word “Jerusalem” twice. This expresses deep compassion for the people of that city. It also expresses a lament that they have not turned to Him, remaining unwilling to change. Their refusal began long before Jesus walked the earth when their forefathers rejected the call of the prophets to repent and turn back to God. The stubbornness of their fathers continued with the people of Jesus' day, and He experienced their rejection. This rejection did not lead Jesus to anger or condemnation as much as it led Him to holy sorrow.The image of a hen gathering her brood under her wings is a lovely image to meditate upon. A mother hen protects her chicks with great courage and without concern for her own safety. When danger approaches, she extends her wings and covers the vulnerable chicks to protect them. Jesus uses this motherly image to express His desire to protect not only the people of Jerusalem, but all of us.If Jesus yearned to gather the people together under his “wings” to protect them, then we should know, with certainty, that we need our Lord's protection. He would not desire something that was unnecessary. He is not an overly protective God Who irrationally worries about His children. His concern is real and necessary, and we must know that we need His protection.As you go about your daily life, do you feel as though you can handle life on your own? Do you act as an independent child who wants to separate yourself from the safety of your parents? Though we must all work to become responsible in life, we will never arrive at a point where we no longer need the protection of our loving God. The world in which we live is filled with dangers from which only God can protect us.At the beginning of today's Gospel, Jesus referred to Herod as a “fox.” That image must be seen in the context of Jesus desiring to act as a mother hen, protecting her brood. Jesus was told that Herod was trying to kill Him, but He clearly was not afraid of Herod. Of Herod's desire to kill Jesus, Jesus said, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.'” As a protector, Jesus took authority over demons, performed healings and opened the gates of Heaven by rising from the dead on the third day. As we go through life, there will be many demons who seek to attack us. We will need many forms of healing, and without the gift of Jesus' triumph over death itself, we will not be led to the glories of Heaven. Demons are real. Wounds are real. And the need for a Savior is real. Reflect, today, upon the image of Jesus acting as a mother hen, extending His wings over you to protect you from the many temptations and diabolical attacks you will encounter in this world. Ponder the fact that you need His daily protection. The demons will never stop their attacks. Mental, emotional and spiritual wounds need His healing. Jesus is the only one Who can protect you and heal you so that He can then pour forth the gift of eternal life. Remain under His protective care, and allow Him to fulfill the yearnings of His Sacred Heart. My compassionate Lord, You yearn to protect me from the many evils in this world. You yearn to heal me of the wounds my sins have caused. And You yearn to bestow upon me the gift of eternal life. I accept Your protection, dear Lord, and pray for the healing I need. Please cover me always and bestow upon me the gift of eternal life. Jesus, I trust in You.  Images via Adobe Stock: Main; FeaturedSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

(Joshua) "took a great stone and set it up there under the terebinth that was by the sanctuary of Jehovah. Joshua said to all the people, ‘Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of Jehovah that He spoke to us.” (Joshua 24:26-27) 

Genesis 3:1-24   Now the serpent was more cunning than any animal of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God really said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.'” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “You certainly will not die! 5 For God knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will become like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves waist coverings. 8 Now they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” 11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree from which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me some of the fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 Then the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all the livestock, And more than any animal of the field; On your belly you shall go, And dust you shall eat All the days of your life; 15 And I will make enemies Of you and the woman, And of your offspring and her Descendant; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise Him on the heel.” 16 To the woman He said, “I will greatly multiply Your pain in childbirth, In pain you shall deliver children; Yet your desire will be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.” 17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it'; Cursed is the ground because of you; With hard labor you shall eat from it All the days of your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; Yet you shall eat the plants of the field; 19 By the sweat of your face You shall eat bread, Until you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.” 20 Now the man named his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all the living. 21 And the Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. 22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might reach out with his hand, and take fruit also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— 23 therefore the Lord God sent him out of the Garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove the man out; and at the east of the Garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.     BIBLE READING GUIDE - FREE EBOOK - Get the free eBook, Bible in Life, to help you learn how to read and apply the Bible well: https://www.listenerscommentary.com     GIVE -  The Listener's Commentary is a listener supported Bible teaching ministry made possible by the generosity of people like you. Thank you! Give here:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com/give     STUDY HUB - Want more than the audio? Join the study hub to access articles, maps, charts, pictures, and links to other resources to help you study the Bible for yourself. https://www.listenerscommentary.com/members-sign-up   MORE TEACHING - For more resources and Bible teaching from John visit https://www.johnwhittaker.net