Podcasts about behold him

“Demented? Demonic? Or Divine?”Mark 3:20-35Having recently completed our series “None Like Jesus” let's continue to “Behold Him” by embarking on a new study through the Gospel of Mark. Mark's Gospel is the shortest of the four Gospels and it is action-packed from start to finish – as evidenced by the word “immediately” used over 40 times. Mark wrote to believers, probably Roman believers, who were no strangers to persecution. And he wanted to disciple his readers to be strong in their faith by encouraging them to look to their Mighty Messiah, the Son of God, who remained steadfastly faithful even while becoming their Suffering Servant who died for them. Mark's Gospel is a call to all believers to fearlessly “Follow Jesus” because they can trust Him completely.

In this episode, Brad gives a more devotional message centered around Encountering the King. We specifically examine Proverbs 16:15, Luke 10:38-42, and primarily the story of Esther. Brad breaks down four focus points, Prioritizing Being with the King, Embracing Jesus's Viewpoint, Positioning to Behold Him, and Hearing His Word. 

“The Making of Kings”Mark 3:13-19Having recently completed our series “None Like Jesus” let's continue to “Behold Him” by embarking on a new study through the Gospel of Mark. Mark's Gospel is the shortest of the four Gospels and it is action-packed from start to finish – as evidenced by the word “immediately” used over 40 times. Mark wrote to believers, probably Roman believers, who were no strangers to persecution. And he wanted to disciple his readers to be strong in their faith by encouraging them to look to their Mighty Messiah, the Son of God, who remained steadfastly faithful even while becoming their Suffering Servant who died for them. Mark's Gospel is a call to all believers to fearlessly “Follow Jesus” because they can trust Him completely.

Join us as we dive into John 1:19-51. Here we encounter Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! We encounter Christ as One who comes to seek and save the lost through many different means—preaching, invitation by friends, and supernatural encounter! The Christ who was at work 2,000 years ago is the same Christ at work in our lives today! Let us BEHOLD HIM and FOLLOW HIM like the disciples in this powerful chapter of John do!

“Mighty Messiah” Mark 3:7-12Having recently completed our series “None Like Jesus” let's continue to “Behold Him” by embarking on a new study through the Gospel of Mark. Mark's Gospel is the shortest of the four Gospels and it is action-packed from start to finish – as evidenced by the word “immediately” used over 40 times. Mark wrote to believers, probably Roman believers, who were no strangers to persecution. And he wanted to disciple his readers to be strong in their faith by encouraging them to look to their Mighty Messiah, the Son of God, who remained steadfastly faithful even while becoming their Suffering Servant who died for them. Mark's Gospel is a call to all believers to fearlessly “Follow Jesus” because they can trust Him completely.

“Imposter or Son of God?” - Easter Weekend 2025 Mark Having recently completed our series “None Like Jesus” let's continue to “Behold Him” by embarking on a new study through the Gospel of Mark. Mark's Gospel is the shortest of the four Gospels and it is action-packed from start to finish – as evidenced by the word “immediately” used over 40 times. Mark wrote to believers, probably Roman believers, who were no strangers to persecution. And he wanted to disciple his readers to be strong in their faith by encouraging them to look to their Mighty Messiah, the Son of God, who remained steadfastly faithful even while becoming their Suffering Servant who died for them. Mark's Gospel is a call to all believers to fearlessly “Follow Jesus” because they can trust Him completely.

Sermon: Because He Lives! 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 20-23 Worship & Praise - Are You Washed in the Blood, He is Lord, Living Hope Solos: In Christ Alone, Behold Him, Rise Again, Remember & Proclaim

Sermon: Because He Lives! 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 20-23 Worship & Praise - Are You Washed in the Blood, He is Lord, Living Hope Solos: In Christ Alone, Behold Him, Rise Again, Remember & Proclaim

Following Jesus to the Cross - Good Friday 2025Mark 1-15Having recently completed our series “None Like Jesus” let's continue to “Behold Him” by embarking on a new study through the Gospel of Mark. Mark's Gospel is the shortest of the four Gospels and it is action-packed from start to finish – as evidenced by the word “immediately” used over 40 times. Mark wrote to believers, probably Roman believers, who were no strangers to persecution. And he wanted to disciple his readers to be strong in their faith by encouraging them to look to their Mighty Messiah, the Son of God, who remained steadfastly faithful even while becoming their Suffering Servant who died for them. Mark's Gospel is a call to all believers to fearlessly “Follow Jesus” because they can trust Him completely.

“A Man of the People”Mark 2:23-3:6Having recently completed our series “None Like Jesus” let's continue to “Behold Him” by embarking on a new study through the Gospel of Mark. Mark's Gospel is the shortest of the four Gospels and it is action-packed from start to finish – as evidenced by the word “immediately” used over 40 times. Mark wrote to believers, probably Roman believers, who were no strangers to persecution. And he wanted to disciple his readers to be strong in their faith by encouraging them to look to their Mighty Messiah, the Son of God, who remained steadfastly faithful even while becoming their Suffering Servant who died for them. Mark's Gospel is a call to all believers to fearlessly “Follow Jesus” because they can trust Him completely.

“Feasting or Fasting”Mark 2:18-22Having recently completed our series “None Like Jesus” let's continue to “Behold Him” by embarking on a new study through the Gospel of Mark. Mark's Gospel is the shortest of the four Gospels and it is action-packed from start to finish – as evidenced by the word “immediately” used over 40 times. Mark wrote to believers, probably Roman believers, who were no strangers to persecution. And he wanted to disciple his readers to be strong in their faith by encouraging them to look to their Mighty Messiah, the Son of God, who remained steadfastly faithful even while becoming their Suffering Servant who died for them. Mark's Gospel is a call to all believers to fearlessly “Follow Jesus” because they can trust Him completely.

“Healing Sick Sinners”Mark 2:13-17Having recently completed our series “None Like Jesus” let's continue to “Behold Him” by embarking on a new study through the Gospel of Mark. Mark's Gospel is the shortest of the four Gospels and it is action-packed from start to finish – as evidenced by the word “immediately” used over 40 times. Mark wrote to believers, probably Roman believers, who were no strangers to persecution. And he wanted to disciple his readers to be strong in their faith by encouraging them to look to their Mighty Messiah, the Son of God, who remained steadfastly faithful even while becoming their Suffering Servant who died for them. Mark's Gospel is a call to all believers to fearlessly “Follow Jesus” because they can trust Him completely.

“More Remarkable Faith!”Mark 2:1-12Having recently completed our series “None Like Jesus” let's continue to “Behold Him” by embarking on a new study through the Gospel of Mark. Mark's Gospel is the shortest of the four Gospels and it is action-packed from start to finish – as evidenced by the word “immediately” used over 40 times. Mark wrote to believers, probably Roman believers, who were no strangers to persecution. And he wanted to disciple his readers to be strong in their faith by encouraging them to look to their Mighty Messiah, the Son of God, who remained steadfastly faithful even while becoming their Suffering Servant who died for them. Mark's Gospel is a call to all believers to fearlessly “Follow Jesus” because they can trust Him completely.

John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” What a wonderful truth we have here from which to take great comfort. If we look at it from our own perspective, we have our own personal sin-bearer. He removes our sins from us so we can be made right with God. He's the Lamb of God, pointing to His sacrificial ministry on our behalf. Behold Him! Look at Him! Be amazed at Him! Thank Him. If we look at it collectively, the statement is even more stunning. He has taken away all of the sins of everyone in His body with whom He's related. Therefore, we have a basis for total forgiveness for those who sin against us. Indeed, we can pray, “Forgive us our sins, debts, and trespasses as we forgive those who sin, trespass, and are indebted to us.” We may share the blessing of the Lamb of God with others. If we look at this statement for insight into Jesus and His character, we can be encouraged that His sin-bearing wasn't thrust upon Him; He actively took up our sins. He went after it with the full intention of removing it and setting us free from sin's penalty. His life wasn't taken from Him, He gave it up willingly. The apostle John rightly defined God's love in this statement and echoed it in his first epistle. 3:26. “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” And, 4:10. “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” So what should our response be to this verse and the ones in 1 John? John tells us. “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 Jo. 4:11). Living to love with Jesus means we willingly take up the sins of others who sin against us and lay down our lives that they might live before us. We don't call them toxic and cast them into the outer darkness of our lives. Whoever does that does not know God. No, for the glory of God through Jesus Christ, we intentionally, willingly, knowingly, repeatedly take up their sins and recognize Jesus has already taken away their sins to bring that person to God, just like He has with us. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of “giving it forward,” so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

“How to touch a leper”Mark 1:40-45Having recently completed our series “None Like Jesus” let's continue to “Behold Him” by embarking on a new study through the Gospel of Mark. Mark's Gospel is the shortest of the four Gospels and it is action-packed from start to finish – as evidenced by the word “immediately” used over 40 times. Mark wrote to believers, probably Roman believers, who were no strangers to persecution. And he wanted to disciple his readers to be strong in their faith by encouraging them to look to their Mighty Messiah, the Son of God, who remained steadfastly faithful even while becoming their Suffering Servant who died for them. Mark's Gospel is a call to all believers to fearlessly “Follow Jesus” because they can trust Him completely.

“A Prayerful Heart In A Busy Life”Mark 1:29-39Having recently completed our series “None Like Jesus” let's continue to “Behold Him” by embarking on a new study through the Gospel of Mark. Mark's Gospel is the shortest of the four Gospels and it is action-packed from start to finish – as evidenced by the word “immediately” used over 40 times. Mark wrote to believers, probably Roman believers, who were no strangers to persecution. And he wanted to disciple his readers to be strong in their faith by encouraging them to look to their Mighty Messiah, the Son of God, who remained steadfastly faithful even while becoming their Suffering Servant who died for them. Mark's Gospel is a call to all believers to fearlessly “Follow Jesus” because they can trust Him completely.

“… And With Authority!”Mark 1:21-28Having recently completed our series “None Like Jesus” let's continue to “Behold Him” by embarking on a new study through the Gospel of Mark. Mark's Gospel is the shortest of the four Gospels and it is action-packed from start to finish – as evidenced by the word “immediately” used over 40 times. Mark wrote to believers, probably Roman believers, who were no strangers to persecution. And he wanted to disciple his readers to be strong in their faith by encouraging them to look to their Mighty Messiah, the Son of God, who remained steadfastly faithful even while becoming their Suffering Servant who died for them. Mark's Gospel is a call to all believers to fearlessly “Follow Jesus” because they can trust Him completely.

Our final session at the “Behold Him” conference, featured local pastor Serena Backues. Serena brought a word inspired by the “Jesus Wept” piece in the collection (re John 11:35). This session brought forth an exhortation to draw near to the heart of God in sorrow, in grief, and in the wrecking and reckoning seasons of life that often feel much like the occurrence of a caterpillar experiencing a complete metamorphosis. To view the related art piece before or after you listen, click here: https://www.mindioaten.com/pages/mindi-oaten-art-bible-art-collection

“Welcome to the Wilderness”Mark 1:12-20Having recently completed our series “None Like Jesus” let's continue to “Behold Him” by embarking on a new study through the Gospel of Mark. Mark's Gospel is the shortest of the four Gospels and it is action-packed from start to finish – as evidenced by the word “immediately” used over 40 times. Mark wrote to believers, probably Roman believers, who were no strangers to persecution. And he wanted to disciple his readers to be strong in their faith by encouraging them to look to their Mighty Messiah, the Son of God, who remained steadfastly faithful even while becoming their Suffering Servant who died for them. Mark's Gospel is a call to all believers to fearlessly “Follow Jesus” because they can trust Him completely.

In this episode, artist Mindi Oaten shares details about the role and history of Christianity and art, as well as information on pieces from her Behold Him: The One Who Transforms Collection.  Behold Him was shown at Entourage Ministries in November 2024, where this session was recorded live. Mindi also equips believers with tools to view/ critique art with the Lord and His Word. Aspects of this session do reference a slide deck which. To view the Behold Him collection, click here: https://www.mindioaten.com/pages/mindi-oaten-art-bible-art-collection

“The Day Heaven Tore Apart”Mark 1:9-11Having recently completed our series “None Like Jesus” let's continue to “Behold Him” by embarking on a new study through the Gospel of Mark. Mark's Gospel is the shortest of the four Gospels and it is action-packed from start to finish – as evidenced by the word “immediately” used over 40 times. Mark wrote to believers, probably Roman believers, who were no strangers to persecution. And he wanted to disciple his readers to be strong in their faith by encouraging them to look to their Mighty Messiah, the Son of God, who remained steadfastly faithful even while becoming their Suffering Servant who died for them. Mark's Gospel is a call to all believers to fearlessly “Follow Jesus” because they can trust Him completely.

“The Last Old Testament Prophet Speaks”Mark 1Having recently completed our series “None Like Jesus” let's continue to “Behold Him” by embarking on a new study through the Gospel of Mark. Mark's Gospel is the shortest of the four Gospels and it is action-packed from start to finish – as evidenced by the word “immediately” used over 40 times. Mark wrote to believers, probably Roman believers, who were no strangers to persecution. And he wanted to disciple his readers to be strong in their faith by encouraging them to look to their Mighty Messiah, the Son of God, who remained steadfastly faithful even while becoming their Suffering Servant who died for them. Mark's Gospel is a call to all believers to fearlessly “Follow Jesus” because they can trust Him completely.

Having recently completed our series “None Like Jesus” let's continue to “Behold Him” by embarking on a new study through the Gospel of Mark. Mark's Gospel is the shortest of the four Gospels and it is action-packed from start to finish – as evidenced by the word “immediately” used over 40 times. Mark wrote to believers, probably Roman believers, who were no strangers to persecution. And he wanted to disciple his readers to be strong in their faith by encouraging them to look to their Mighty Messiah, the Son of God, who remained steadfastly faithful even while becoming their Suffering Servant who died for them. Mark's Gospel is a call to all believers to fearlessly “Follow Jesus” because they can trust Him completely.

Come & Behold Him

Come & Behold Him

Behold Him: Part 2, Piercing the Darkness During Advent, we remind ourselves of the arrival of Jesus into Bethlehem. This is the story that has warmed and changed hearts for thousands of years. While his coming was unexpected, the rumors and prophecies were made hundreds of years in advance. This advent season, we want to Behold Him by looking at prophet Isaiah's foretelling of the event. Teaching Text: Isaiah 9:2, 9:6-7. Preached by Jeff Patrick

Come & Behold Him

Behold Him: Part 1, The Promise of "With" During Advent, we remind ourselves of the arrival of Jesus into Bethlehem. This is the story that has warmed and changed hearts for thousands of years. While his coming was unexpected, the rumors and prophecies were made hundreds of years in advance. This advent season, we want to Behold Him by looking at prophet Isaiah's foretelling of the event. Join us this fall at Woodmark Church, as we dive into the Sermon on the Mount. Teaching Text: Isaiah 7:10-14; Matthew 1:20-23. Preached by Paul Khochay

Come & Behold Him

Come & Behold Him

Come & Behold Him

(August 27, 2024) On this third evening of 40 Hours, Father Jonathan Sawicki reflects upon the words of the Mass: "Behold the Lamb of God. Behold Him who takes away the sins of the world." 

What an incredibly inspiring word we heard this morning from both Pastor Wade and Pastor Matthew! “Behold Him…Again” is exactly what we are being called higher to do. To have a pursuit and relationship with our King as a man would have with his best friend. Our hearts desire is this; nothing else matters, nothing else is more important than having eyes for Him and Him alone. He is the one who calls our name, walks with us, and calls us higher into fellowships with Him. We are learning to initiate a pursuit of Him with faith that He will meet us again as He first did. Let this message inspire you to pursue your King with all of your heart, soul, and strength. Because when you behold Him again, you become exactly what He is.

Jesus Is Coming In Believers (2)   David Eells – 3/24/24  (audio)  He Wants Us All In Him   Anonymous 2/12/24  (David's notes in red) I had been really battling with a deep-rooted fear of God rejecting me and self-rejection, self-hatred and self-condemnation. Although it was easy to see and feel God's love for others, it's been extremely difficult to accept His love for me (Jesus in me). (Your fiercest enemies are being removed. Father addresses the problem below.)  I had this experience while I was still in my physical body. I could see and was fully aware of the physical realm but my spirit and soul were in a room in Heaven where the Father was sitting down and Jesus was standing to His right. There were others all around them and I knew or recognized Enoch and Noah. (A good sign - Both were escapees) There were so many others there that my spirit knew but those two were the ones I looked at. And everyone there was filled with God's Spirit in their individual vessel or soul.   There was only purity and holiness there. It is so difficult to describe in words and physically what it looked like. The presence of His Holy Love was extremely strong and more than I felt I could bear. I was crying immensely in the natural because of His Love. I just never had experienced or accepted it although it has always been there. Being there in His presence, I had no choice but to accept His Love and it was all present. I went to look for fear, self-condemnation and self-rejection as they had been a comfort and safety mechanism my whole life. They were not there but I knew they were extremely far down, deep and low. They were deeper than underground or in a pit and their presence was so far from here.   The Holy presence was greater words than I could describe but my crying was from the unfamiliarity of this overwhelming love and I begged God to take me back to normal. It seemed too much but He said He wouldn't ever make me experience more than I could handle even though it seemed so overwhelming.   This place was up so high above everything and you could see everything not physically but spiritually. I could see all the truth and understand supernaturally what was and is going on around me.   There was nothing hidden but everything was seen spiritually and I could see all this truth relating to myself. I saw how that I had been friends with self-condemnation and fear for so long that when they are taken away it does hurt even though it's what's best for me.  Being in this wonderful place I could see the authority it had over all creation physically and spiritually and that everything in existence was under this place. It was all light and darkness was so very far away that you couldn't even feel the presence of it although you knew it existed. It literally couldn't touch you even if you wanted it to. You would have to leave this place to experience it. 1Jn 1:5 And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  It was as if I had been in this place the whole time but I wasn't aware of it but I was now aware of it. Fear, condemnation, self-hatred etc. had been separating me and stopping me from realizing or acknowledging being here. (This was accomplished at the cross but it needs to be realized.) Eph 2:5-6 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved), 6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus:  The enemy throws everything at us every day and every moment to blind us from seeing where we really are. I understood that He desires this place to manifest through us while on earth and for us to be in this place constantly on earth. It was understood that we are all in Heaven in this place all of the time but we get distracted by anything that is other than holiness and can't see clearly. (We are saved, healed and delivered at the cross.)  But when the lies and fear are removed, we see this place and connect with Him clearly. We then see Him and hear Him so closely as if one's own breath is His Spirit and He is closer than we can comprehend.   I understood that He wants all of us to be constantly communing with Him as one in this place in Heaven while we are physically on earth. We are to be in this place with Him no matter what is going on in the physical. (We are seated with Him in heavenly places in Christ.) This place was more real than anything familiar to me and more real than anything in the physical. After this experience I was able to see back to this place the rest of the day no matter what I was doing in the physical. Even though the evil spirits were and are still moving around on the earth, I was able to be in this place with Him at the exact same time.   He desires this closeness and oneness with us now and forever. We are to have this intimacy right now and for eternity. We are to accept His voice and love constantly and reject all other voices, thoughts, and spirits. We are to have His Spirit dwelling in our spirit and soul over our flesh for eternity. In this way He will manifest through our physical bodies for His Glory and praise. This will enable us to overcome while going through all our trials, the evil and judgements being poured out on earth. Our vessels are to be physically preserved by being completely aligned with His Spirit.   I heard the other day when I was asking why I am experiencing so many new, crazy, unfamiliar things and I heard this word. Luk 21:26 men fainting for fear, and expectation of the things coming on the inhabited earth; for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.   I knew He is preparing all our hearts and souls so that we will have faith and peace when witnessing all the evil things about to be manifested. He is preparing us to go through it all for His Glory. He wants to live in us and keep us stable. This stability will enable us to resist and reject everything the enemy says. The fallen angels don't want us to be in this Heavenly state manifesting Christ. Jesus has already paid the price for us to live in this place constantly while on earth. He has already paid the price and given us all grace to manifest Him fully.        Jesus IS in the Mirror   Prophecy of Gary Carpenter (David's notes in red) Reminder Note from David: {2Co.3:18} But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. ... {4:6} Seeing it is God, that said, Light shall shine out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. {7} But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves. ... {10} always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body. {11} For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. {Gal.2:20} I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that [life] which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, [the faith] which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. {Rom. 6:11} Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. {12} Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof.      None Diminished  Now do you perceive My wisdom in providing you with the image of Him Who is to fill your hope? (This image is only seen in “the sum of thy words”, which is truth.) Allow no image provided by religion. (Which has always been wrong. The Sanhedrin, leaders of all their religions did not recognize the Image and so it is today.) Permit no image diminished by the reasonings of man. Receive the image I have provided for it is into that likeness that My Spirit shall conform you.  "None diminished! None diminished!" is the word I am imparting to your spirit this day, says the Lord. "None diminished" is My plan. "None diminished" is My will. "None diminished" from the image I provided. That IS the plan of the Father. As you behold the glory of Him Whom I have sent, as you behold that image I have provided to fill your hope, you are changed into that same image, that same hope, that same likeness by the seed of Him Who was planted within you.  "None diminished!" I say again, "None diminished!" This is My plan. This is My purpose. Receive not the counsel, nor the religion, nor the vain speaking of men who would oppose My will. (Do the dead religions conform to the pattern and image of the Book of Acts?) I counsel you this day to incorporate hope with all your speaking. Truly I have spoken unto you, "These things only come by the saying". But where there is no vision, My people shall surely perish. The saying apart from the vision is as futile as the vision apart from the saying. Both are required, says the Lord. (So read it, say it, and believe it.) I counsel you to step higher than religion. I counsel you to step higher than the ways of man. I counsel you to step above the darkened reasonings of those who speak as leaders of My people. I counsel you to receive the simple truth that I have sent in Jesus Christ. He IS the image provided for all men to be conformed to. I intend for them to be conformed to that image "none diminished, none diminished, none diminished" says the Spirit of your Father.  His life, the life of Christ in fullness, is the "Land of Promise" which I have given unto My children. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread to appropriate that life in its fullness as your own, I will surely give it unto you. His life, in its fullness, IS your inheritance! Receive the abundance of this grace. Receive it as your own. Possess it as your land to be inherited. Receive the abundance of this grace which I have provided for My children. Receive the abundance of His righteousness for it is truly yours.  All that I have given Him, the Holy Spirit shall show unto you as being your inheritance to possess. He will lead you step by step. He will go before you and drive your enemies out from before your face and you shall inherit the very life of Christ in fullness, says the Lord. This is My plan. For this purpose I provided the image that you are to be changed into. For this purpose I sent Him Who is the express image of Myself, that you may see the land before you and possess it as your own. For it is yours as a gift. It is yours by inheritance. It is yours to possess by My Spirit, says the Lord. By My Spirit, by My Spirit, it shall be yours! (The liars say it passed away with the Apostles.) For I have already given you this land. The work has already been accomplished in Him. The only thing remaining is for you to possess it by faith. But as I am teaching you in this day, first you must fill your hope with the image of Him Whom I have provided. Fill your hope with that image. Think it not impossible. Think no longer these things are impossible. Think no longer this is not My plan, for it is My plan. It is My plan to repopulate the earth with sons who walk as Him, talk as Him, act as Him, who have the same results He had. This IS My will, says the Spirit of your Father.  You will learn, as did those of old, that the battle is not yours, but the Lord's. It is by My Spirit that the transformation is accomplished. For man's efforts are vain and futile to bring forth the life of Christ. The instructions I give are easy for man to do. First, son, fill your hope with the image of Him Whom I have provided. Your hope must become "possessive hope"! Hope that possesses as its own the life of Christ in its fullness. See, see that life in fullness in you. See it, son. This is My plan, it is My gift unto you. It is My gift to My children; His life imparted free by grace to you.  I say again, have possessive hope. Hope that sees His life as your own, for without Him you can do nothing. His life has been given freely by My grace. I have imparted that same life into you. See it as your own. Every attribute of His, see it as your own. (2Pe 1:3-4  seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue;  4  whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.)  See yourself as beholding Him in a mirror of your own life. As you behold Him as in a mirror, the mystery of Christ in you is brought forward by the power of My Spirit and not your labor. Your labor is to see Him! To behold Him! To possess Him in your hope! To hold that image and not be swayed by religion nor the doctrines of men who claim these things are not My mind.  See Him! Behold Him! Possess Him! Know Him! Love Him! Receive Him! He IS your life! His life IS your inheritance, in all of its fullness, says the Spirit of your Father.  Then partake by saying. Be as Abraham of old who spoke what I said concerning himself and would not speak contrary to it. As you speak forth the words of faith, "As He is, so am I, in this world", coupling your words with Godly Hope which possesses the image, the transformation and the change into that image is wrought by My Spirit and not by the work of man.  Enough! Enough! Enough, says the Lord. Enough of religion! Enough! It has been enough! It is past time to cast off the doctrines of men who would speak in the place of God. This very day My Spirit is circumcising from your heart the doctrine of men whose counsel has been darkened to say that the life of My Son is an image to be worshipped afar off and not to be appropriated by every believer who calls upon His name. They do not find such counsel in My Word.  They have chosen according to man's ways and man's reasonings. They have chosen the path of religion which I cannot anoint with life. They have chosen that path which will never lead to dominion. They have chosen the path of religion instead of life. Hear them no more. Hearken to them no more, for their words are not the mind of the Father.  As I have spoken unto you, wisdom is the image of Christ woven upon the tapestry of your spirit. The speaking of My word weaves that image upon your spirit. But by that method alone, the process of transformation is slow. I am instructing you this day to incorporate hope with all your speaking. (The scriptural word for hope means a firm expectation for the promises given to come to pass for us.) As you incorporate hope of the image with the speaking of My Word, the image of Him Whom I have provided is woven upon the tapestry of your spirit much more rapidly.  You cannot possess a land that you cannot see. Neither can you possess a land that you see afar off if you deem it not part of your inheritance. Understand this day and never forget, says the Lord, that His life IS your inheritance! I desire that you possess that life to the full. (When we see Him in the mirror we are saying His life, holiness, deliverance, health, immunity, love, gifts, power, etc. are all in me.) Behold the land of His life that I have spread before you, says the Lord. Behold it with possessive hope that understands His life IS your inheritance. Possess the land by faith as you go forth seeing and beholding His life, saying "As He is, even so am I, in this world".  Incorporate hope with all your saying, says the Spirit of Grace, and I will weave the image of Him Whom the Father has provided upon the tapestry of your heart in such rapid measure it shall astound you. This is the Father's plan. For this purpose I have been sent. Few have known His mind. Few have understood His purpose in re seeding the earth with LIFE! The Father is restoring all things according to His original intent and purpose. His intent and purpose is that all who name the name of Christ should walk as He walked, possessing in fullness His life, which is their inheritance.  Why would you fill your hope with images provided by man when I have provided for you the image of life itself! He Who IS life has come in the flesh that you may behold that life. That you may receive that life into yourself and appropriate it as a land to be possessed, for I have surely given it unto you, says your Father.  Have not I said thou shalt have no graven images before thee? A graven image is that which has the mark of man upon it. I have provided the image which has the mark of God upon it. Behold the image of life, Who IS Christ come in the flesh. Behold Him! Behold the image I have provided, says the Lord. Fill your hope with that image.  Fill your mouth with My Word that says His life is yours and you shall surely possess the height and depth, the length and breadth of His life. For I have given you to have life in yourself as I gave to Him to have life in Himself. Possess the life of Christ for His life is your promised land to be inherited. His life is your land of inheritance to be possessed.  My children have become so accustomed to affliction, to mourning, and to hopelessness that on those occasions when they have received the smallest measures of joy and peace from My Spirit, they have tended to camp there and set up monument stones by writing books giving testimony ...as though they had received the fullness of My measure of grace to them. How sad. How sad. How My heart grieves over the smallness of the heart of their Father in their sight.  I intend for My children to possess continents of joy and oceans of peace. Did not My Son say that His joy was to be in you? Did not My Son say that His peace was to be your peace? The land of inheritance is vast, enormous, beyond the capacity of the carnal mind to comprehend. But I have set this life to be inherited before you in the image of My Son that you may behold His glory, and with possessive hope and words of faith, possess the land as My Spirit drives out every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.  You shall possess this land, says the Lord, in a more rapid manner, as you learn to incorporate hope with all your speaking. I give you counsel and instruction this day, says the Spirit of Grace; "Slow down!" During your times of possession as you confess the Word, incorporate hope with all your speaking. I Myself, by the power resident within Myself, will move to restore the will of the Father in every realm of your life.  The life in the image of Him Whom God has sent is yours for the possessing. It is the gift of grace. His life IS the gift of grace unto you, says the Father. Receive the abundance of this grace and the gift of righteousness and you shall reign in life by Him. The very life of My Son is My gift of grace unto you. His life is yours. His anointing is yours. His joy is yours. His peace is yours. It is a vast land of promise to be enjoyed by those who will take up the Sword of the Spirit and go forth in the name of Jesus to possess all that life which is your inheritance.  Did I not say to Abram, "Lift up thine eyes", that he might see all the land that was spread before him? Did I not say, "All that you can see, I shall give unto thee and thy Seed"? I did not say, "Behold this land which thou shall not receive as an inheritance". No, I said "This land IS your inheritance".  So I say to you this day, and so I say to all My children. I have spread before you the life of My Son, Jesus Christ, as a land to be possessed by inheritance. I have given this life unto you. It is not a life to be worshipped from afar without hope that it may be possessed. No, I have sent the image of life on purpose that you may behold that image and understand that this life is your land to be inherited. All that you can see, I will give unto you as your faith possesses it. (For this reason the Apostles were called Christians  because they manifested Him.) You cannot possess that which you cannot see, says the Lord. See, behold Him, behold the glory of that life. See it as in a mirror. Possess that life as your own. By My Spirit, I will give it unto you in fullness, says the Lord your God.  Remember the Word I spoke to you saying, "Four hours spent developing godly hope is more productive than four years of mindless confession where there is no hope". That ratio is correct. Those numbers are accurate. (When you read scripture of the life of Christ begin to say, this is mine and that is mine and let your imagination take hold of these things.) I gave them not by chance unto you, says the Spirit of Grace. That IS the measure by which the rate of transformation shall be increased as you learn to incorporate hope with all your speaking. I am able to do a quick work in those whose hope stands as an image in full measure for faith to give substance to. Learn to incorporate hope, Godly Hope, with all your speaking.  Forget not the course that He has set for you, My son. Incorporate hope with your speaking regarding the Gifts of the Spirit. You shall arrive at that clearing more rapidly than you ever thought. Let hope and faith join together that I may manifest the life of Christ in you. From glory to glory, you shall be changed into that same image. Incorporate hope with all your saying, says the Spirit of Grace.      Our Dominion Through the Last Adam  David Eells   1Co 15:22 As in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.  Rom 5:17 For if by the trespass of the one death reigned through the one much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one even Jesus Christ.  The first Adam and his children were given dominion over the earth, but he gave it away through sin. The second Adam and His children were given dominion over the earth, too, but He didn't give it away; it is just that a lot of His children are not receiving by faith this dominion that the Lord has given us. The Lord ordained that His people would reign in life. It is not because of our great ability, or power, or wisdom, or even sinlessness, but through what Jesus did at the cross that we have this authority to reign in life. It is a wonderful thing to realize, and I don't think that any of us yet realize the extent of the dominion that God has really given us over this earth, and we never will realize it unless we reach out, stretch out our faith, and begin to exercise faith and really see things change.   We have this authority that Jesus had to exercise power. The bible says in Rev 5:10 And he madeth them to be unto our God a kingdom and priests and they reign upon the earth. This isn't in the next life, or even after the tribulation. The bible says, “...they reign upon the earth.” We have the authority to reign as Jesus reigned because He lives in us through the Word that we put in our heart. The more of His word you accept, the more He can live through you because He is the Word.  Jesus exercised dominion in His kingdom. Not the kind of dominion that some people want. Actually some people would like to have the kind of dominion that the Pharisees had. The kind that glorifies man. Jesus exercised dominion over God's creation. He didn't exercise dominion over people who wanted to put to death His flesh. We go through many things in order to put to death our flesh. That is what the world was created for, to bring us into sanctification. The world is putting to death the old man, the flesh, the carnal nature. Even while the world around us is spiritually putting us on our cross, we have to exercise dominion. Jesus exercised the dominion but He resisted not the evil, and turned the other cheek.   While the world was crucifying Him, even before He came to the cross, His spiritual man was exercising dominion and delivering this old world from the curse. He went everywhere delivering this world from the curse. So, you can get mixed upon when to exercise this dominion and when not. We don't want authority to let the old man live, we don't want to keep our old life; we want our new life. Jesus said that unless you lose your life you wouldn't gain your life, so this dominion that God has given us is the same type of dominion that Jesus had. This dominion is not to get rich in this world to live the high life, but it is to have all we need to do God's will. God gave me my house and car free in order to do His will. “My God shall supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phl 4:19).  Some people say that Jesus had this dominion just because He was the Son of God, but that is not what Jesus Himself said, as we shall see. It is true that Jesus was the Son of God (spiritual man) dwelling in, and empowering the Son of man (natural man - Rom.1:3). I'm going to show you why Jesus always called Himself the Son of man. They did not have the New Testament when Jesus was administering God's salvation, they had the Old Testament. Jesus always did things to fulfill the Old Testament. “...so the scripture might be fulfilled”, He called Himself “the son of man.” I'm sure the Jews caught on to what He was saying, because they heard that phrase, “the son of man” in the Old Testament. Jesus said of Himself in Joh 5:27, “and he gave him the authority to execute judgment because he is a son of man.”  Jesus didn't have authority to execute judgment because He was the son of God; He had authority to execute judgment because He is the son of man. You say, “what is he talking about?” First of all, God gave authority to execute judgment on this earth to man. The bible says so. Not only did Jesus turn to His disciples and say to them things like, “what you bind on earth is bound in heaven and what you loose on earth is loose in heaven”; and “I give you authority over all the power of the enemy”; and “all things whatsoever you ask in prayer believing you shall receive”; and “whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou taken up and cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart ...he shall have it.” This is the kind of authority that Jesus passed on to His disciples. But it is not because they are sons of God that they have the authority to exercise God's power, it was because they were the sons of man. Why is that? Because that is who God gave His authority too. Turn to Heb 2:5 “For not unto angels did he subject the inhabited earth.” The Greek says, “the inhabited earth.” He didn't put the inhabited earth under the authority of the angels. Who did He put it under? He put it under Adam. The bible says He gave this authority unto Adam, not the angels. I want to point out to you that Adam was given this authority, and one of the angels, the Devil tried to usurp that authority. Gen 1:26 says, “...and god said, “Let us make man in our image after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds in the heaves, of the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. And God created man in his own image. In the image of God created he him, male and female created he them. And God blessed them and God said unto them “be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it,” (that means to have dominion over it).   Adam and his children were to have dominion over all the earth. Adam lost that dominion for himself and his children. He actually gave it away. Rom 6:16 says, “...know you not that to whom you present yourself as servants unto obedience his servants you are whom you obey.” That is what happened to Adam. He obeyed the Devil through Eve and gave him his own lordship. He obeyed and became the servant of unrighteousness, the servant of sin, and the servant of the Devil. The Devil ruled over him, the curse ruled over him, and the Devil through the curse ruled over him. So the first Adam failed but the second Adam didn't. Heb 2:6 says “...but one has somewhere testified saying “what is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that thou visiteth him?”   Now this is a quote from Psalm 8. When Jesus kept relating to the Jews that He was the son of man, I'm sure that a few of them caught on. Actually when He was saying this, He was applying Psalm 8 to Himself. 1Cor 15:45-47 tells us that He was the second man, the last Adam. Psalm 8 was spoken of both Adam and the second Adam. Notice that the Lord didn't give authority to just Adam, He gave authority to His children. Man and the son of man are mentioned here. Gen 1:26 says, ...Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion. Adam lost it for himself and his children, when he fell under the dominion of the devil. The second Adam overcame and took back dominion. “...What is man that thou art mindful of him or the son of man that thou art visiteth him…” This is talking about Jesus and His children just as much as it's talking about Adam and his children.   Everybody thinks that Jesus did His great wondrous works because He was the Son of God. God gave this authority to the son of man. Jesus passed on His same authority to His disciples, who were sons of man and sons of God. They were not born sons of God, they had to be “reborn sons” of God. They were sons of men and that's why He passed it on to them, because God gave dominion over the earth to the sons of men. “Thou madest him a little lower than the angels, thou crownedst him with glory and honor and didst set him over the works of thy hands, “Thou didst put all things in subjection under his feet,” which clearly means that man was meant to be a king on this earth and rule for God over His creation. The works of God's hands here means the elements, not just things that occur in nature. Even the things that man makes are made of God's elements.   By God's grace I have commanded cars, washing machines, refrigerators, air conditioners, microwaves, boat motors, lawn mowers, etc. etc. to be repaired and seen it happen. Jesus came down here and took on the likeness of sinful flesh and any angel in heaven had power and ability not limited by flesh. Jesus was limited by flesh. The bible says He got tired, He hungered, and He thirsted. He was “tempted in all points, like as we”, but didn't give into sin.   The reason Jesus had to come in the likeness of sinful flesh and become a man is because God wanted Him to have this dominion and to pass it on to His spiritual children. The bible says in 1Co 15:21 “...as in Adam all died, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” When Adam died all the seed of mankind was in him and they died too. When Jesus died and was resurrected, all the seed of the sons of God were in Him because He was the Word of God, and the Word of God was the Seed that the Sower went forth and sowed. The word seed there in the Greek is sperma.   So the seed of all His children was in Him when He was resurrected. “...As in Adam all died, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” Everybody who abides in Christ is resurrected above sin to die no more. What we are finding out is who it is that was chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. His children are His seed, the word. They are the word in flesh. Heb 2:6-8 But one hath somewhere testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? Or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Notice everything was put under the feet of the sons of men, including Jesus who was a son of man.  7  Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; Thou crownedst him with glory and honor, And didst set him over the works of thy hands:  8  Thou didst put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he subjected all things unto him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we see not yet all things subjected to him. Because men are ignorant of this authority. There are people of God that have learned to exercise dominion over many and various things. What is going to happen in the end time is that God's people are going to enter into more dominion. He says, “...they reign upon the earth.” Jesus didn't give us an example of what the Son of God could do; He gave us an example of what man was sent to do with God's word in him. He gave us an example of exercising dominion over the earth. He gave us that authority. If we don't know it and we don't believe it, we'll never stretch out our faith to enter into it. Jesus didn't tell His disciples to “ask Me to do this”, He sent His disciples and gave them authority to do it. “...As the father sent me, so send I you.” “Go ye therefore and make disciples.” “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons, freely you have received, freely give.” He just gave them this authority. Jesus in Mat 28:19 told His disciples to teach disciples to “observe all things whatsoever I commanded you.” Notice, we have to obey all these commands that Jesus gave the first disciples. That is our authority from the Lord. The great commission has been passed on to us from the Lord.  If we understand our authority and begin to exercise it over the curse, we'll see things happen. We are not seeing this great dominion that God gave manifested except in small ways. If people begin to exercise the authority that God gave them, and exercise their dominion that they were crowned with, we are going to see this dominion exercised more and more.   Soon people will begin to take this seriously and begin to stretch their faith for things that they have never done. Down the road a wilderness experience is going to thrust many people into a position of need. Not only that but it's going to thrust them into a position where they are going to be fellowshipping with disciples with different experiences. This is the place where God is going to destroy religion, He is going to bring people into close fellowship with people who have exercised their faith in other areas. This dominion is going to come forth because the need is going to be so great. People are going to put their trust in God, but we don't have to wait!  It said He didn't leave anything that was not subject to man. The dominion is already given. God wants you to exercise your dominion over everything. God is giving you this dominion and He wants you to use it to glorify Him. Joh 15:7,8 says, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my father glorified, that ye bear much fruit, and so shall ye be my disciples.” Remember from the first verse we read in Romans chapter five, it's not because you are perfect, it is because you are a disciple of Christ. No one who begins to exercise this dominion is perfect. We are sons of God through God the Father, and we are sons of man through Adam. God gave dominion to Adam, who then gave it to the devil. Then Jesus took it from the devil and gave it to us. Begin to exercise it now for everything. We don't have any authority outside of God; our authority comes through Jesus Christ.  Psa 8:2 says “...Out of the mouths of the babes and sucklings have thou established strength. Because of thine adversaries that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.” It's amazing because God can use little children to do this. Not just physical little children, but children in the Lord. This was spoken about Adam, and his children. So He put everything under the feet of Adam and his children. They lost this dominion because Adam sinned, but our sins were taken away. Look in Rom 6:14, “for sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the law but under grace.” And He goes on to say that you are the servants of those that you obey. In verse 17 He said that “you are made free from sin.” In Colossians chapter 1 He said that He “delivered you out of the power of darkness.”   All the things that the bible says about the curse as in Deu 28, we have been delivered of, if you believe it. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation for those who believe it… (Rom 1:16) But we have to know that we have this dominion, not because we have manifested perfection, but because of what Jesus did. Exercise faith and go out and do it. Exercise dominion over sickness, demons, and all forms of the curse. You'll be rejoicing if you stand in faith and do it because you're going to see that what God says is true. There are Christians all over the world who have exercised dominion in so many different ways. We exercise dominion not by prayer but by command as Jesus and His disciples did.   Did you ever notice that they did not ask God to heal, deliver, etc. They commanded these things because they knew these things were guaranteed by God to His covenant people. “And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phl 4:19). You may say, “David these things only happen for people with gifts of healings or miracles or faith.” No, Mar 11:23 says, “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it.” Notice that it is whosoever commands without doubt shall have it.   By the grace of God I have commanded eyes restored, broken bones mended, cancers gone, diseases gone, bleeding stopped, blood pressure normal, demons out, dead resurrected, those in comas to come out, water pumps to stop leaking, alternators to have new bearings, smoking engines to be rebuilt, hurricanes to stop or change directions, property protected, storms to stop and back up, moles to get out of my yard, mole crickets to die, gas in my tank, engines to start, etc. Yet it was not I but Christ living in me through the word.  Jesus came to restore our dominion. Jesus was promoted “...far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named, not only in this world but in the world that is to come” (Eph 1: 21). That's total authority, and that's what Jesus has. …All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. (Mat 28:18). Our spiritual Father has this authority and He has passed it on to His children. Verse 22 says, “and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and he gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him which filleth all and in all.” So you know He's talking about His body here. Not His physical body, but His corporate body. God gave all things to be in subjection under the Body of Jesus and He gave Him to be the head. In this case you can see that even if you are the lowest member of the body, the feet, you have dominion.   This dominion is when you are abiding in the body. It is being in the body that gives you this dominion. Joh 15:7,8 says, “If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so shall ye be my disciples.” Disciples are those who bear fruit in the area of answered prayer because the word abides in them. Rebellious Christians and those who have not yet come into the body of the resurrected Christ, lost their dominion when the first Adam lost his. They still don't have that dominion. We have to be educated into the understanding that we have this dominion because the Word must abide in you. This dominion starts here but continues for eternity. It starts over the earth; the earth is just the training ground for this dominion. It is here where the Lord teaches us how to be kings over His creation.   In the next world or in the age to come, we are still going to have this dominion. 1Co 6:1 says, “...dare any of you having a matter against a neighbor go to law before the unrighteous and not the saints for know you not that the saints shall judge the world. And if the world is judged by you are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters, know you not that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life if than ye have to judge things pertaining to this life, do you set them to judge who are of no account in the church? I say this to move you to shame...” If we have authority to judge angels in the next life, how much more do we have authority to judge things in this life?   Jesus taught His disciples to pray like this, “thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” The Lord pointed out to me one time that this is a command. Our work here is to bring God's kingdom down, to manifest His kingdom in the earth. At the last trump it says, “that the kingdom of this world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior.” (Rev 11:15) Who did God do that thru? The bible gives credit to the saints. For instance, in Dan 7:26,27, “The judgment shall be set and they (the saints) shall take away his (the Beast) dominion to consume and destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom, and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given unto the people of the saints of the most high,” God's people are going to be running around here destroying the devil's kingdom!  As the last Adam Jesus passed on His authority in promises such as Mat 18:18 Verily I say unto you, what things soever ye shall bind (forbid) on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose (permit) on earth shall be loosed (permitted) in heaven. Mat 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Could God have given such authority unto men? Isn't that dangerous? Not at all. Lost men and most Christians have not put enough word in their heart to believe these promises. “Faith cometh of hearing and hearing by the word.” A person has to have a renewed mind to believe this. If he has the renewed mind of Christ he is totally dependable. Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you.   When I was a baby Christian I loved the word and I was convinced it was all true. Before any religious folks got to me to tell me you couldn't believe these things I started exercising them. When these people did speak to me it was too late. I had discovered the power. So you do not have to be in the Lord for years to exercise faith. You just have to be convinced that what you read once is the Word of a totally faithful God. Also stay away from those who have “been in the Lord”, so called, for years and still don't believe these verses. 2Ti 3:5 holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof, from these also turn away. I have seen many who will not obey this verse stay double minded all their life.  That spiritual dominion that Jesus exercised and passed on to His disciples to exercise is going to become even greater at the end of time. The reason being is because we are going to come into secular dominion too. The Pharisees had dominion over the people of God. Jesus commanded the people not to do what they do, but obey them because they sit in the seat of Moses. He gave the Pharisees secular dominion over the people. He exercised dominion over the curse, over the devil's kingdom, and He was destroying the works of the devil everywhere He went. They had no kind of authority like that. They had only physical, secular authority like in the churches today but He had spiritual authority.   In the end of time we are going to take personal authority even over the secular matters as only the government does now. They are not going to retain that authority; their kingdom is going to fall. We are going to have all authority in Christ. We are going to reign and rule with Christ for 1,000 years, just for a beginning! The dominion that God currently permits the world to have, and the devil as the god of this world to have through the governments, we are going to get. Right now we have to be satisfied to exercise dominion over these governments by dominating principalities and powers. There is a dominion coming that is both secular and spiritual.   Remember I told you that we don't have dominion to not go to the cross. Jesus exercised dominion while He was going to the cross over His flesh when He said, “Not my will but thine be done.” He gave them authority to crucify His flesh. He had been given authority to destroy the devil's kingdom. Our flesh (the carnal man) is part of the devil's kingdom.   In Esther, Haman had been given authority by Ahasuerus (who represents the King of kings, the Lord) to destroy the people of God. Esther, who is a type of the Bride, had been given authority to save the people of God, at the same time. One authority had not been taken away when the other had been given. They were both given that authority at the same time. The king's authority could not be annulled in anything. This of course puts us in a trial with the forces of darkness but through faith we win. We are coming to the end when all authority is going to be given to us. Authority has been restored through Jesus Christ that was lost by Adam, over all the works of God's hands. We are going to ultimately see this over everything that God created. Right now we need to start exercising that authority because all the way up to the end we are going to see it manifest more and more, until we see total dominion.   So we have been given our number one job here, to lose our life. If you don't lose your life, you don't gain your life. Well the world is in total cooperation with that. They are there to help us to lose our life. They are our enemies to nail us to our crosses. Jesus didn't resist men who took physical authority over Him, until He died. I believe that is a sign of when we die and give our life over to God. There is going to come a time in the tribulation period when God is going to take authority and grace away from the wicked. He is going to permit Christians at that time to exercise their authority over these people like the two witnesses did.   Fire went forth from the Witnesses' mouths destroying their enemies, smiting the Earth with every plague and stopping the rain for three and a half years are examples of that (Rev.11:5,6). They exercise dominion over people, to destroy the kingdom of the Beast. However they will not “wrestle” with the flesh and blood but it will be by the power of God. From here to the end we are going to see the spiritual authority and the physical authority manifested more and more until this world becomes God's Kingdom and He personally takes control. Personal control is different from control by proxy. God still runs everything, but He puts somebody on that throne that is a pagan and He is going to use him to test and purify the righteous. Then his purpose is over. God is running this world by proxy; in other words through evil vessels. We are coming to the time when He's not going to do that anymore. He is going to personally take control through His sons and daughters. He has always had control, but He is going to personally take control. That is the only difference in the authority.  Look at Mic 4:6, “...In that day, sayeth the Lord,” I will assemble that which is lame, gather that which is driven away and that which I have afflicted, and I will make that which was lame a remnant and that which was cast off a strong nation.” He is talking about a spiritual nation here. “And the Lord will reign over them in the Mount Zion and henceforth forever. (This is the mount Zion that is forever, not that one over in the Middle East) ...and thou oh tower of the flock the hill of the daughter of Zion, under these shall it come yeah the former dominion shall come the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.” You see just as at one time Jerusalem ruled the known world, this New Jerusalem is going to rule the known world. The former dominion is going to come.   Paul says in Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. God is going to rule through His people that live in spiritual Zion. Mic 4:9 goes on to say, “Now why doth thou cry aloud? Is there no king in thee? Is thy counselor perished that pangs hath taken hold of thee as a woman in travail.” Obviously the people of God are not living up to their stature that's been given to them. Verse 10 says “...Be in pain and labor to bring forth oh daughter of Zion like a woman in travail for now shalt thou go forth out of the city and shall dwell in the field and shall come even unto Babylon.” Even though dominion had been given to Zion they lost it and were taken to Babylon just like God's apostate people of today. The Christians have been taken captive to apostate religion, that's Babylon. “There shalt thou be rescued.”  See God is going to do this, and at the point in history that we are in. God is about to rescue His people out of Babylon, out of the hands of religious apostasy. “…there will the Lord redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.” See how God is going to do that? The next beast came and delivered God's people out of Babylon's world persecution. “And now many nations are assembled against thee that say let her be defiled. let our eyes see our desire upon Zion, but they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his counsel. For he hath gathered them as the sheave to the threshing floor. Arise and thresh oh daughter of Zion, for I will make thy horn iron and I will make thy hoofs brass. And thou shalt beat in pieces many peoples and I will devote their gain unto the Lord and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.”   Do you see something? God is going to gather the beast against Zion and then command the people of God to destroy the beast kingdom. That is when full dominion will be exercised. It has already been given. The Beast kingdom is not a man; the Beast kingdom is all the people on the face of the earth whose spirit doesn't confess according to 1John chapter 4, that Jesus Christ is come in the(ir) flesh. Who is going to destroy that kingdom? It is a mighty kingdom, but there are only two kingdoms in the earth. The Kingdom of God and the kingdom of the Beast. Jesus said there are only two men in the field (world), and that is Christ and Anti-Christ. There are only two corporate men in all the earth. What the Lord is telling us is that Zion is going to exercise God's dominion and destroy all the nations that come against it. Do you believe it? We need to start exercising that dominion now!  That is what the Lord wants to teach us right now. He wants to show us that even though we aren't manifestly perfect, we have been given this right and this authority. Adam wasn't a perfect man; he was a natural man the bible says. He was very ignorant concerning many things. He walked around naked, not that it was sin in those days because he was in a dispensation of innocence and he didn't have the knowledge of the tree of good and evil. But he was innocent and God gave him this dominion over the beasts. Do you realize that you can be innocent in God if you are doing what you know to do? Even as a baby in God, not knowing a lot of knowledge of good and evil and yet this dominion is yours! Don't let the devil deceive you into thinking that you have to manifest perfection before you can exercise this dominion. That is not true! Sin always hinders this because you have no boldness toward God if you have sin in your life. So 1Jn tells us, “If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  I think that Sampson was a really good example. Look at Judges chapter 16. Sampson had dominion. He was ignorant of a lot of things and he made big mistakes even while he was exercising his dominion? But God gave him this dominion. He ultimately lost this dominion because he lost his submission to God. What was the secret of Sampson's power? The bible tells us that the secret was his long hair, and as soon as he lost his long hair he lost his power. Sampson was not a big musclebound man.   Judges 16:17 says that if he shaved his head he would be like any other man. They wanted to know the secret of his power because it was not obvious. They were not saying, “How did you get such big muscles?” They knew that was not the reason for his power. Sampson was given dominion. When he lost his submission to God is when he ultimately lost his dominion. In 1Corinthians chapter 11, the long hair was given unto the woman as a sign of submission. That is how we know that this is talking about submission. The long hair is given to the woman as a sign of her submission to her husband. The Lord is our Husband. He sowed the seed of the Word in the womb of our heart in Mat 13.   But Sampson had long hair as a Nazarite. One who took the Nazarite vow couldn't cut their hair. But it was a sign of power. Like I said, He used this as a type and a shadow in the Old Testament. We don't bring types and shadows over literally into the New Testament. We have to see what it's a type and shadow of. It's a parable and you have to discern the parable. The point is that this great dominion was given to Sampson from the Lord and he ultimately lost it because he lost his submission to the Lord. What happened to Adam? The same thing. Samson laid his head or mind in the lap of the Jezebel, Delilah, and lost his submission and dominion. The moral of that story is don't let the wicked have your mind or you will have no power. The religious systems of man, or Babylon have deprived God's people of their power. If you have been there and decide to repent God will restore your dominion. In bondage to the Philistines Samson repented and his hair began to grow. As you know his dominion returned and he smote the Philistines with a greater slaughter.  Few who exercised dominion in the earth for God were perfect including Sampson. But he refused the dominion of the Lord over himself and he ultimately lost the dominion that he had over the earth. “To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” The baby Christian has little knowledge of good and evil, but is innocent in God's eyes if he is doing what he knows to do. That baby has this authority. All authority comes from exercising faith. Zec 10:3 says, “...Mine anger is kindled against the shepherds, and I will punish the he-goats, for the Lord of host hath visiteth this flock.” Did you notice that here He has a flock of sheep and there is a goat leading them? This happened in Jesus' day and in ours. Pharaoh's army is coming after God's people to restore them under his dominion much like the DS is. God's people under Moses, a type of Jesus became the rulers. God's people ruled at the Red Sea didn't they? Especially through Moses they ruled. Now I will grant you that some of God's people are like the northern ten tribes, they are worshiping the golden calf, they just don't realize it. They call him, the Lord but he is not for he has no power or holiness. Their submission is to a false Lord. If you come into your dominion you are His vessel but this dominion has been given to all the people of God.  It is really easy for us to just depend upon the world and the world's way of doing things, but it not discipleship, meaning learning and following in the steps of the Lord. It is necessary to reach out and exercise our faith. “The righteous shall live by faith,” which is a radical departure from the normal everyday Christian life. We should learn to do things with our faith for no other reason than to grow in the authority of the Lord as a disciple walking in His steps doing His works. 1Jn 2: 5  but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him:  6  he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked. It is clear that Jesus walked in the power of God to save heal and deliver the people of God. According to this, If one is not doing this they do not abide in him. Joh 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto the Father. If we do not His works but rather those works of man and his ways of flesh we do not abide in Him who has spoken from the beginning. 1Jn 2:24  As for you, let that abide in you which ye heard from the beginning. If that which ye heard from the beginning abide in you, ye also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father. So if we were a disciple of Jesus “in the beginning” we would walk as His disciples did, in authority and power. If we do not abide in Jesus' words “from the beginning” we are not abiding in the Son and we will not bear His fruit. 2Jn 1:9 Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son. Paul said that he would not dare to speak a powerless gospel that could not be demonstrated. Rom 15:18-19 ASV  For I will not dare to speak of any things save those which Christ wrought through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,  19  in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and round about even unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ; 1Co 2:4-5  And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:  5  that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Jesus didn't take away these promises of power and authority. But in the falling away from these truths through false shepherds they no longer had boldness to do His works. 1Jn 3:21 “Beloved if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness towards God, and whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.”  You see if you do not serve God, your own heart will condemn you so you will have no faith to exercise dominion. He is still not talking to perfect people here, but He does expect us to be disciples. Jesus said, “...He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne.” The throne is a place of dominion by authority. Spiritually speaking, a person that has authority is sitting down on that throne with Jesus, like a queen sits next to her King. We have that authority that Jesus has given us to rule, for “…they reign upon the earth.”      Where Do We Start? Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. If you have not received power you have not received the Holy Spirit. The most common evidence of when someone received the Holy Spirit in the book of acts is it is accompanied with gifts, especially tongues and prophecy, Mar 16:17  And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; 18  they shall take up serpents (demons), and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. … 20  And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen. 

Family Pastor Aaron Trahan led us today with a sermon titled, So Now What. Pastor Aaron gave us a challenge of "Now What?" after the amazing video, Behold Him, which was a 2023 recap of what the Lord has done at Bethel this year.

Our advent series continued at our Carol service where we considered how the Magi came to CELEBRATE the birth of Jesus. What does their example of a joy-filled, worshipful response to Him show us about our need to 'Come and Behold Him' too?You can watch this message via: https://youtu.be/mu1v7JafUzo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Where is the most beautiful place you have ever been? Maybe it was the Grand Canyon, or Niagara Falls, or a mountaintop on a Caribbean island overlooking the ocean. Great artwork gives us a desire to learn more about the artist who made it, and it is no different when it comes to creation. There are so many things we can learn about God by looking at the world he has made. But while creation tells us so much about God's greatness, it is the incarnation that informs us of his goodness. God becoming a man in the person of Jesus tells us that God is not only great and holy and magnificent, but also that he is relational, kind, and loving. In this message on the Christmas story, Brock urges us to cultivate a faith that clings tightly to both of these ideas. God is great, and God is good, and it is at Christmas that we see the two fully.This is an audio recording from our 2023 sermon series titled, "Behold Him." For a video of the full service, check out the White Stone Church app, or visit www.whitestonechurch.org

Come, let us BEHOLD Him through the eyes of those who were there at the first Christmas. Thanks for watching our annual Special Christmas Worship Service-

Drew continues our Advent series, 'Come and Behold Him' by considering John 1:1-18. In this text we see that Jesus is indeed the DIVINE One - Immanuel, God with us.Watch this message at https://youtu.be/im5JW1mlbtQ (audio recording only) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Come, let us BEHOLD Him through the eyes of those who were there at the first Christmas. Thanks for watching our annual Special Christmas Worship Service!

Figuring out how and where to start a story can be tricky. In telling the story of Jesus, the Gospel of John opens very differently than the other three gospels. While Mark starts with the beginning of Jesus' ministry, and Matthew and Luke start with the beginning of Jesus' life, John starts with a different perspective entirely.Cody leads us through the prologue of the book of John in this week's Advent sermon, and in it, John makes the claim that Jesus's story doesn't even have a beginning. He has always been. The opening verses of John reveal a whole lot about the identity of Jesus, and it extends to us the invitation to behold him for who he really is.This is an audio recording from our 2023 sermon series titled, "Behold Him." For a video of the full service, check out the White Stone Church app, or visit www.whitestonechurch.org

Our theme for our celebration of Advent this year is simply, “Behold Him.” Brock begins this year's Advent series by going through the story of the Transfiguration in Matthew chapter 17. While that story isn't your typical Christmas reading, Brock uses it to invite us to slow down, to be present, to be careful not to miss the beauty in front of us; to Behold, to look for a deeper glimpse into God's glory in the person of Jesus, just like Peter, James, and John, as well as Moses and Elijah did on the mountain of Transfiguration. Because seeing Jesus in his glory represents thousands of years of God keeping his promises. And also, because seeing Jesus in his glory leads to our own transformation.This is an audio recording from our 2023 sermon series titled, "Behold Him." For a video of the full service, check out the White Stone Church app, or visit www.whitestonechurch.org

Episode 81: "Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you" (1 Kings 19:7). Christmas is coming! In this episode, author and host Julia Monnin encourages listeners to pay particularly close attention to the invitations the Lord sends this Advent to REST IN HIM as we prepare our hearts to welcome our newborn King. Julia opens this show by reflecting on some words from St. Teresa of Avila (below) and closes it by reading Reflection #232, "A Moment to Rest" from her book "The World Is Noisy - God Whispers: Volume II, My Trials and Tribulations." /// “If our nature or health doesn't allow us to think always about the Passion, since to do so would be arduous, who will prevent us from being with Him in His risen state? We have Him so near in the Blessed Sacrament, where He is already glorified and where we don't have to gaze upon Him as being so tired and worn out, bleeding, wearied by His journeys, persecuted by those for whom He did so much good . . . Certainly there is no one who can endure thinking all the time about the many trials He suffered. Behold Him here without suffering, full of glory . . . our companion in the most Blessed Sacrament.” – St. Teresa of Avila, The Book of Her Life (Chapter 22, 6) --- Learn more at --> theworldisnoisy.com | journeysrevealed.com

Isaiah 6:1-8 "Come and Behold Him" by Anchor Church Palos

Love the gift of God and Behold Him with awe and gratefulness

February 19, 2023 Today's Reading: Matt. 17:1-9Daily Lectionary: Job 14:1-22, John 6:41-59 “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” (Matthew 17:5) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. It's important for us to ponder the eyewitness testimony of Jesus' transfiguration before we ponder His suffering. There is plenty of human suffering around us. We wake up with it. We see it in the lives of those around us—our family and friends, the ambulance rushing by, the people sleeping in makeshift shelters. We hear about it in the news. But Jesus is not merely one more victim of the injustice and cruelty of this world. Peter, James, and John were given front-row seats so that they would know the whole of Jesus—truly God and truly man. This is who Jesus is. Unlike Moses, whose glow would fade after he left the mountain, in Jesus, “the fullness of deity dwells bodily” (Colossians 2:9). The fully-divine, fully-human Jesus goes down from the mountain with His disciples. This is who He is, whether we can see it in Him or not. This is true, even as He is betrayed, condemned, carrying His cross, dying, and breathing His last. Hold this image in your faith as you behold Jesus. Hold onto this during the Lenten journey to the tomb. He is not just another suffering victim under the cruel reign of human wrath, the devil's oppression, and the prison of death. He came to conquer them! Today, we hear one of those eyewitnesses, Peter, tell us, “we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place.” (2 Peter 1:19). We don't see this victory with our eyes very much, if at all. So like the disciples watching Jesus being condemned, carried away, and crucified, we have to believe the Word that is spoken of Him. “This is Jesus, King of the Jews” is what hung above His cross. This is Jesus, Savior of the World, King of Kings, and final Judge. In this Transfiguration vision, we also see (by faith) our future. Who is with Him? Moses and Elijah in glory. Can you see your future life with the Lord? Not with your eyes. But it will be there. This Jesus will also command your lowly body—even if it's decayed in the ground—to be transformed to be like His glorious body (Phil. 3:21). Behold Him by faith, and even now hear His voice! In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. O God, in the glorious transfiguration of Your beloved Son You confirmed the mysteries of the faith by the testimony of Moses and Elijah. In the voice that came from the bright cloud You wonderfully foreshowed our adoption by grace. Mercifully make us co-heirs with the King in His glory and bring us to the fullness of our inheritance in heaven; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.-Pastor Michael A. Miller is Pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lebanon, OR.,Audio Reflections Speaker: Patrick Sturdivant, Development and Marketing Executive at Higher Things.Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.

When we BEHOLD HIM we are changed every time. Enjoy! NEW to Hopeland Church? Text "NEW" to 323-405-3232 WAYS WE GIVE: - Text "Hopeland" to 833-767-5698 - Venmo: @Hopeland-Church - CashApp: $HopelandChurch - Zelle: shawn@hopelandla.com Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/steinbot-519314947 FB: @hopelandla IG: @hopeland.church

Behold Him. God has placed in our hearts a desire to seek Jesus! Enjoy! NEW to Hopeland Church? Text "NEW" to 323-405-3232 WAYS WE GIVE: - Text "Hopeland" to 833-767-5698 - Venmo: @Hopeland-Church - CashApp: $HopelandChurch - Zelle: shawn@hopelandla.com Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/steinbot-519314947 FB: @hopelandla IG: @hopeland.church

Transcript:Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective.One of the most difficult things in life is having an accurate self-assessment. Knowing who you are (and who you are not) is foundational to everything in your life. However, achieving this is very difficult because we tend to have a high view of ourselves. We play a game of puffing up and polishing up our image. We do this on Facebook, and we do this face-to-face. Then, in order to maintain this image, we are in constant scramble-mode to make sure no one finds out the truth. It's really quite miserable.Now, in his day, John the Baptist was a very popular figure. We would say, “He had a lot of followers on social media”. He was the hottest ticket in all the Jordan River valley, and people were coming from miles around. But what's interesting is how John responded to this fame. He did not draw attention to himself but directed it to Jesus. John knew who he was; and he knew who he was not. As a matter of fact, when the religious leaders came to John and asked, “Who are you?” John basically replied, “I am not who people think I am…. I am just a voice directing people to Jesus.” In so many words, John was saying, “I'm not called to impress you with myself. I'm called to point you to Christ. Don't look at me. Look at Him. Behold Him, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.” My friends, what a relief not to have to bear the miserable burden of keeping up a false (and idolatrous!) image of oneself. John found his identity not by looking at himself but by looking at his Savior.Where do you find yours?Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said.” (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.'”~ John 1:19-29 (ESV)

Behold Him. When we see Him we see everything else as it should be. Enjoy! NEW to Hopeland Church? Text "NEW" to 323-405-3232 WAYS WE GIVE: - Text "Hopeland" to 833-767-5698 - Venmo: @Hopeland-Church - CashApp: $HopelandChurch - Zelle: shawn@hopelandla.com Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/steinbot-519314947 FB: @hopelandla IG: @hopeland.church

For more than 30 years, Paul Baloche has written songs for the global church. Let's be real, "Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord" is sheer poetry! Now as one of the stalwarts in the industry, he tells Jess about Integrity Music's new collective Anchor Hymns, and deep dives into cultivating integrity and authenticity in Christian music. Plus, we chat about the polarisation of the Evangelical church. Just a light conversation, right?! Connect @PaulBaloche and PaulBaloche.com Buy/stream Anchor Hymns "All I Have Is Christ" here: slinky.to/AllIHaveIsChrist?tl=instagram Buy/stream Paul's album "Behold Him" here: https://apple.co/3G47UUR MUSIC Behold Him feat Kim Walker Smith by Paul Baloche Altogether Good feat. Paul Baloche and Lucy Grimble by Anchor Hymns Hosanna (Praise is Rising)by Paul Baloche Be Unto Your Name feat. Dee Wilson & Mission House by Anchor Hymns The Same Love by Paul Baloche Open The Eyes of My Heart Lord by Phil Baloche Ark feat. Vanessa Hill by Leeland GET PODCAST MERCH HERE: tee.pub/lic/YOUMEPOD SPONSORS JesusWired is your number 1 source for Christian music news, reviews and interviews. Visit them now at JesusWired.com. Are you a creator? Soundstripe gives you unlimited access to royalty free music from some of the world's best composers. Go to SOUNDSTRIPE.COM and enter YOUMEPOD to get 10% off at checkout. SUBSCRIBE/CONNECT/LET'S BE FRIENDS: linktr.ee/betweenyoumepod Produced by Joshua Norman Media

YOU HAVE AN ANOINTING | Preaching Aug 21   INTRO   Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”   BUT what does that really mean. What is God's standard for Fathering? If you have my history or my wife's history…   Psalm 68:5-6 “A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads the prisoners with singing.   We bear witness   EVEN IF YOU HAD A GOOD FATHER, GOD IS PERFECT   When I inquired about His heart for today He reminded me: 

Tyler Lynde shares a seasonal message about lifting our heads and focusing on and worshiping our Savior. The post Behold Him appeared first on Trinity Community Church.

Kate Battistelli shares meaningful Christmas traditions, easy recipes, and reads a scene from A Very Bavarian Christmas. Disclosure: Affiliate links are used below. If you choose to purchase through the links, we may be compensated at no additional cost to you. See full disclosure policy. Today's Guest:Kate Battistelli is an author, speaker, former actress/singer in the New York Broadway musical theatre. She wrote The God Dare and inspires others to let Jesus pick their future. She's been married to her husband Mike for thirty-five years and loves being near her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren. Theme Music: “I'll Dream of Christmas” written by Lisa Troyer and Dawn Yoder, courtesy of Circle of Friends. Show Sponsor: A Very Bavarian Christmas by Katie M. Reid, access the book club kit. Things We Talk About: Chocolate Almond Butter Crunch Candy-Cane Crisps Cookies From Broadway to The God Dare Episode A Very Bavarian Christmas book “Defender” performed by Francesca Battistelli “Everything” performed by Jillian Blair, written by Katie M. Reid “He is the YES of Christmas” lyrics The Christmas Story in Luke 2 “Behold Him” by Francesca Battistelli A Very Bavarian Christmas Spotify playlist The God Dare book by Kate Battistelli A Very Bavarian Christmas audiobook A Very Bavarian Christmas album releases on Nov. 26th across streaming platforms!  Connect with Us: The Martha + Mary Show webpage Podcast Group on Facebook: Martha and Mary Show Sisterhood IG Handles: @leenienhuis @katie_m_reid @katebattistelli Show Hashtag: #marthamaryshow  Producer: Jeanna Lesausky Subscribe to the show and leave a rating and review.

Quite the "Famous Friday Show" today, with John Brazer (Director of Fun & Games for the Philadelphia Phillies) calling in to give a heads-up about the happenings at the ballpark this weekend. In addition to it being a big series versus the New York Mets, the Phillies are honoring longtime president & CEO David Montgomery (Friday), Manny Trillo (key member of the 1980 World Series championship team) with his Phillies Wall of Fame induction on Saturday, and "Number Retirement Day" for Roy Halladay (Sunday). Worship leader (and Camden-born, Maple Shade, NJ-raised) Paul Baloche joins the show too. He'll be doing a free concert this Sunday August 8 at the Ocean City Tabernacle (www.octabernacle.org) following former MLB World Series champion & All-Star Darryl Strawberry who speaks at the 830am & 1030am services. Baloche has written and collaborated on hundreds of songs including "Open The Eyes of My Heart," "Above All," "Hosanna" and "Your Name." We discuss this weekend's event, his new album entitled "Behold Him," and worship music as a whole. You can find out more about the work he is doing at leadworship.com. Last but not least, the lovely and talented Tessa DeMoss celebrates her 18th birthday today by teaming up with her dad on the show for "Now THAT'S Punny." Featured sports clips: Joe Girardi, Rhys Hoskins, Bryce Harper & J.T. Realmuto (Phillies) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our series, PREEMINENT: Hope For A Confused World From Colossians, we'll uncover how we should see, feel, and think about Jesus.Paul's letter to the Colossians boldly declares how we should see, feel, and think about Jesus. Jesus is supreme over all! Existence itself was created by Him and for Him. Who He is and what He has done liberates us to live every day by His power and in His presence.In Part Six of this series, Caleb Culver unpacks verses 24-27 and explains how Paul went from making others suffer greatly, to suffering greatly for others. Don't miss this timely word!Focus Scripture // Colossians 1:24-27 (NKJV)“I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”Sermon HighlightsPaul went from making others suffer greatly, to suffering greatly for othersThe glory on the other side was greater than the suffering he was enduring in thepresentWe cannot increase God's glory, but we can magnify itNothing magnifies the glory of God more than a response to suffering1. We wouldn't see God's glory if not for suffering2. We wouldn't know that we love God if not for suffering3. We wouldn't be here if Jesus ended suffering at the cross4. Suffering humbles us5. Suffering gives us deep purpose and meaning6. It builds courage and valor on the insideThe cross = the glory of the suffering God revealedBehold Him on the cross. Christ in us, the hope of glory

Transcript: Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective. One of the most difficult things in life is having an accurate self-assessment. Knowing who you are…and who you are not is foundational to everything in your life. However, achieving this is very difficult. The reason it's so difficult is we tend to have a high view of ourselves. We play a game of puffing up and polishing up our image. We do this Facebook, and we do this face-to-face. Then, in order to maintain this image, we are in constant scramble-mode to make sure no one finds out the truth. It's really quite miserable. Now, in his day, John the Baptist was a very popular figure. We would say, “He had a lot of followers on social media.” He was the hottest ticket in all the Jordan River valley, and people were coming from miles around. But what's interesting is how John responded to this fame. He did not draw attention to himself but directed it to Jesus. John knew who he was…and he knew who he was not. As a matter of fact, when the religious leaders came to John and asked, “Who are you?” John basically replied, “I am not who people think I am…. I am just a voice directing people to Jesus.” In so many words, John was saying, “I'm not called to impress you with myself. I'm called to point you to Christ. Don't look at me. Look at Him. Behold Him, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.” My friends, what a relief not to have to bear the miserable burden of keeping up a false (and idolatrous!) image of oneself! John found his identity not by looking at himself but by looking at his Savior. Where do you find yours? Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective. And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said.” (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.'” ~ John 1:19-29 (ESV) Thank you for listening to and supporting The Kingdom Perspective! The Kingdom Perspective is a ministry of Christ Redeemer Church of Hanover, NH. To hear more episodes you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts. To donate or to find out more about the ministry and resources offered by Christ Redeemer Church visit www.christredeemerchurch.org.

Julie is the award-winning author of several books, including 365 Days of Celebration and Praise and Creative Sleepovers for Kids! She has co-author of Come and Behold Him. Her work has appeared in several anthologies and curricula, as well as many magazines, such as the Upper Room, Guideposts, Homeschooling Today, Parent Life, Clubhouse, Today’s Christian Woman, and Focus on the Family. Julie gives her readers a gazillion ways to show love to a child by keeping things simple. Her suggestions in her book, 365 Ways To Love Your Child, is such a great resource for anyone wanting to turn moments into lasting memories with a child. Keep reading...

This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and behold Him! He has risen. He has risen indeed. A few months back you would have thought your day to be different than it is; expecting to celebrate Easter at church with family and friends gathered around in joyous harmony. Desire to be supported and encourage by other like-minded women? Join us at Women of IMPACT. http://bit.ly/WomenofIMPACT Yet today looks mighty different. Or does it? Just two days ago was Good Friday; a day that changed the world. But then Saturday came and all was quiet. Somewhat of a silent Saturday. Not much to rejoice about and trying to stay moving about in the normal. Now soon, you had hoped to be celebrating in church. But here you still sit in silence; a silent Sunday. Where is the rejoicing? Where is the celebration? Well, let's go back in time. (Matthew 28:1-10 NIV) After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. Have you ever in your life experienced an earthquake? Some might have literally. But everyone has figuratively. You've experienced that hurt and pain, struggles and trials, to the point of giving up at times. And in these seasons, you try to control so the doubt and fear will melt away. And still, here you sit on silent Sunday with a heavier heart trying to figure it all out. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were headed to the tomb not knowing what they would find. There was a violent earthquake for there was an angel of the Lord who came down and rolled the stone away. God is in control. Behold Him! The K.I.S.S. ~ Behold Him!  3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. What have you been trying to control in your life? You see, control is a way to deal with doubt and fear. We don't know what Mary Magdalene and the other Mary felt, but what they did was do something they could control. And that was going to the tomb to prepare Jesus' body with oil. If you are in control, at least you feel like you can do something about your situation. But to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary's surprise, they were met by an angel. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you.” God is always in control. Behold Him! As much as we hold onto what our eyes can see, our faith shows our heart what will be. So today may seem a little quieter. But don't let that fool your heart. He has risen. He has risen indeed. 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” Today may seem a little different. The songs held closer to heart and whispers of thanksgiving for a day that changed the world. You are not alone. God sees your struggles. He hears your cries. God knows your heart. He knows your whys. So don't let today fall into the silence. Celebrate with laughter and cheers. Share the love with those so dear. For this is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and behold Him. "He has risen. He has risen indeed."   #SweetSpirit #CreateYourNow #SoulfulSunday TAKE A.I.M. ~ Action Ignites Motivation  - This is a complimentary (FREE) coaching call with me. You will be able to discuss your specific situation and gain tools and strategies to move you forward. Live. Love. IMPACT!  "One step at a time leads to miles of greatness!"   Subscribe to Create Your Now TV on YouTube. Listen to Create Your Now on Spotify and Pandora. Listen to Create Your Now on iHeart Radio. Click here. The Create Your Now Archives are LIVE!! You can subscribe and listen to all the previous episodes here.  http://bit.ly/CYNarchive1 and http://bit.ly/CYNarchive2 and http://bit.ly/CYNarchive3 and http://bit.ly/CYNarchive4 and http://bit.ly/CYNarchive5 and http://bit.ly/CYNarchive6 and http://bit.ly/CYNarchive7 Contact me at YourBestSelfie@CreateYourNow.com THE NO FUSS MEAL PLAN Instagram @CreateYourNow @Kristianne Wargo Twitter @KristianneWargo @CreateYourNow Facebook www.facebook.com/TheKISSCoach www.facebook.com/CreateYourNow   PERISCOPE USERS!!! 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You can subscribe and listen to all the previous episodes here. http://bit.ly/CYNarchive1 4. Create Your Now Archive 2 is LIVE! You can subscribe and listen to all the previous episodes here. http://bit.ly/CYNarchive2 5. Create Your Now Archive 3 is LIVE! You can subscribe and listen to all the previous episodes here. http://bit.ly/CYNarchive3 6. Create Your Now Archive 4 is LIVE! You can subscribe and listen to all the previous episodes here. http://bit.ly/CYNarchive4 7. Create Your Now Archive 5 is LIVE! You can subscribe and listen to all the previous episodes here. http://bit.ly/CYNarchive5 8. Create Your Now Archive 6 is LIVE! You can subscribe and listen to all the previous episodes here. http://bit.ly/CYNarchive6 9. Create Your Now Archive 7 is LIVE! You can subscribe and listen to all the previous episodes here. http://bit.ly/CYNarchive7 10. NEW Website! Go check it out and tell me what you think. http://www.createyournow.com 11. Sign Up for The A.I.M. Academy! You will be the first to learn all about it. http://createyournow.com/m-academy-2 12. Schedule a Discovery Call. This is a free 30-45 minute call for those serious about coaching with me. 13. Newsletter and Library: If you desire to get weekly emails, be sure to sign up here so you can stay connected. http://createyournow.com/library   Cover Art by Jenny Hamson   Music by Mandisa - Overcomer http://www.mandisaofficial.com Song ID: 68209 Song Title: Overcomer Writer(s): Ben Glover, Chris Stevens, David Garcia Copyright © 2013 Meaux Mercy (BMI) Moody Producer Music (BMI) 9t One Songs (ASCAP) Ariose Music (ASCAP) Universal Music -  Brentwood Benson Publ. (ASCAP) D Soul Music (ASCAP) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Today Dana shares her thoughts on Paul Baloche's song, "Behold Him." https://open.spotify.com/track/6Gj4kfHYdXw7Cl2xYja85Z?si=6G3CSrYVS0ioTQa_x72jJg

Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Psalm 73:23, 24. Before you engage in any important work, remember that Jesus is your counselor, and that it is your privilege to cast all your care upon Him.... Do not keep Jesus in the background and never mention His name, never call the attention of your friends to Him who is at your side to be your counselor. Would not your friends look upon you as disrespectful were they at your side, and you never spoke to them or of them? ... Many complain that Jesus seems a long way off. Who has placed Him a long way off? Has it not been your own course of action that has separated you from Jesus? He has not forsaken you, but you have forsaken Him for other lovers.... It is when you wander from His side, and are charmed with the voice of the seducer, and fasten your affections upon some trifling thing, that you are in danger of losing your peace and trust and confidence in God.... Then it is that Satan presents to you the thought that Jesus has forsaken you; but is it not that you have forsaken Jesus? ... We dare not let His name languish on our lips, and His love and memory die out of our hearts. "Well," says the cold, formal professor, "this is making Christ too much like a human being"; but the Word of God warrants us to have these very ideas. It is the want of these practical, definite views of Christ, that hinders so many from having a genuine experience in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This is the reason that many are fearing and doubting and mourning. Their ideas of Christ and the plan of salvation are vague, dreary, and confused. If they had, like David, set the Lord ever before them, ... their feet would be upon solid rock. Behold Jesus crucified for you. Behold Him grieved with your sins; and when you pray, repent, and earnestly desire to see Him as your sin-pardoning Redeemer, ready to bless you, and to hear your acknowledgment of Him. Keep close to His side.45The Youth's Instructor, July 19, 1894 OHC 30.1 - OHC 30.4 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/tawasv/message

Come and Behold Him Pastor Lisa Preaches 12-20-20

Übersetzer: „Behold Him“ von Francesca Battistelli.

Übersetzer: „Behold Him“ von Francesca Battistelli.

| Sermon by Pastor Kim | The theme for this year is "Behold Him". The idea behind this theme is that God is constant. No matter the difficulties we face, or the distractions that undoubtedly are constantly popping up in our lives–beyond all these things, BEHOLD HIM; He is the only thing that matters! Check Out Our Website https://htcfamily.org/ Building Lives For Life Change. "I came so that they could have REAL and eternal life." John 10:10

Humanity is desperately thirsty and nothing in creation can quench our thirst. God is the only reliable anchor we have. He longs to save. He is able to save. Jesus declares: I am the source of living water to all who believe. Behold Him and live!

Hey Friends! Joining me on the show today is author Wendy Speake, who is passionate about pointing others to Christ through the power of storytelling. She's written many wonderful books on how we can help take back our lives from things that have power over us. So it's safe to say we covered a lot of ground in our conversation, including how setting healthy boundaries with both sugar and social media can lead us to a deeper connection with God and how the stress of 2020 has impacted mothers especially. Plus, I'm sharing my best advice for handling overwhelm this season and the seemingly endless stream of information and opinions we've been bombarded with over the past few months.   Things we discussed:  1. How staying connected online can keep us distant from the ones who matter most   2. How triggering situations affect relationships and lines of communication between moms and their kids   3. How social media can act as a crutch to ignore our relationship with God   Favorite quotes: 1. God never asked us for a sugar sacrifice. He asked us for a living sacrifice. So we lay down sugar in order to feast on Him like we're fasting but the whole goal is feasting. We're taking a break from what we usually shove in our mouths, in our lives to say I want to consume you Lord. 2. The fast is so much more than a detox because we are lifting our eyes to see Christ, to see our people and then to see others.   3. If your device is your vice, if your device is divisive. It is separating you from God and others in real life. Take those details to the Lord.   4. It's possible that when we turn to our pantries and our freezers to get us through our stress, that is actually causing us more stress. In this episode I answer this question: How do you not let information overwhelm you? (49:17)   Great things we discussed:  1. Wendy Speake (Website and Facebook)2. 40 Day Social Media Fast  3. Behold Him 4. Fresh Prince of Bel-Air5. The God Dare 6. Muscle milk chocolate powder  7. Mrs. Doubtfire 8. First Love  9. The 2020 Christmas Gift Guide  10. Standing Strong    Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :) xo, Alli  www.alliworthington.com/wendyspeake

In this episode, Josh, Lindsay, and Brent discuss updates on the Capitol Hill Baptist Church court case, SCOTUS hearings, world COVID-19 updates, Barron Trump and Nick Saban test positive for coronavirus, Kamala Harris pausing her campaign travel, a huge fundraising update from Biden's campaign, the cancelation of the second presidential debate, and the Los Angeles Lakers winning their 17th title. Lindsay also gives a rundown of this week's ERLC content including The Pearl Brown Story, Lindsay Nicolet with "How churches and civic leaders can work together during the pandemic," and Russell Moore with "Why life should be viewed as a miracle." Also in this episode, the hosts are joined by Benjamin Watson for a conversation about life and ministry. About BenjaminBenjamin Watson is a former American football tight end. He was drafted by the New England Patriots 32nd overall in the 2004 NFL Draft and later he would win Super Bowl XXXIX with the team over the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at Georgia. Watson has also played for the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, and New Orleans Saints. Benjamin is the author of Under Our Skin: Getting Real about Race-and Getting Free from the Fears and Frustrations that Divide Us and The New Dad's Playbook. Benjamin has been a long time friend of the ERLC and has spoken at our Evangelicals Life Conference. He is known for being a very vocal opponent of abortion and just released a documentary Divided Hearts of America which aim to bring empathy and understanding to all sides of the abortion debate. Benjamin has been married to his wife Kirsten for fifteen years and together they have seven children. You can connect with him on  Twitter: @BenjaminSWatsonERLC ContentThe ERLC with The Pearl Brown StoryLindsay Nicolet with How churches and civic leaders can work together during the pandemic: An interview with Rolland Slade, a pastor in CaliforniaRussell Moore with Why life should be viewed as a miracle: The little book by Wendell Berry that reshaped my vision of Christian ethicsCultureCapitol Hill Baptist gains religious liberty win in courtSCOTUS hearings: Barrett answers questions on healthcare, voting rights and presidential powersSen Ben Sasse tells Dems to follow basic civics during Judge Barrett's confirmation hearing.Italy and U.K report record coronavirus surgesParis Under Curfew: Europe Reacts As Countries See Highest-Ever Coronavirus NumbersHunker down': The fall Covid-19 surge is hereKids struggle with Covid-19 and its months of aftermathMelania Trump reveals son Barron had COVID-19, opens up about diagnosisKamala Harris pausing campaign travelAlabama football coach Nick Saban tests positive for Covid-19Major coronavirus vaccine trial is paused to investigate unexplained illnessAmericans' Readiness to Get COVID-19 Vaccine Falls to 50%Biden says campaign raised $383 million in SeptemberThe Latest: 2nd presidential debate is officially canceledNOBTS and NAMB partner for church planting center in New OrleansLos Angeles Lakers win 17th NBA titleLunchroomLindsay:New Christmas song by Francesca Battiselli, “Behold Him.”“My real Indian dad” interrupts on social media.Josh: A Real LighsaberBrent:  Is this real life? Or a simulation?Connect with us on Twitter@ERLC@jbwester@LeatherwoodTN@LindsNicoletSponsorsCaring Well Hiring Guide - Download your free copy now and strengthen your efforts to make your church safe for survivors and safe from abuse.Courage and Civility Church Kit - Pastors and church leaders download your free copy today to help guide your congregations through this polarized moment.

Song: His Mercy is MoreWhat love could remember, no wrongs we have doneOmniscient, all-knowing, He counts not their sumThrown into a sea without bottom or shoreOur sins they are many, His mercy is more What patience would wait as we constantly roamWhat Father so tender is calling us homeHe welcomes the weakest, the vilest, the poorOur sins they are many, His mercy is more What riches of kindness He lavished on usHis blood was the payment His life was the costWe stood ‘neath a debt we could never affordOur sins they are many, His mercy is more Praise the LordHis mercy is moreStronger than darknessNew every morn’Our sins they are many, His mercy is moreSong: Before the Throne of God AboveBefore the throne of God aboveI have a strong and perfect pleaA great High Priest whose name is LoveWho ever lives and pleads for meMy name is graven on His handsMy name is written on His heartI know that while in heav'n He standsNo tongue can bid me thence departNo tongue can bid me thence depart When Satan tempts me to despairAnd tells me of the guilt withinUpward I look and see Him thereWho made an end of all my sinBecause the sinless Savior diedMy sinful soul is counted freeFor God the Just is satisfiedTo look on Him and pardon meTo look on Him and pardon me Behold Him there the Risen LambMy perfect spotless RighteousnessThe great unchangeable I AmThe King of Glory and of graceOne with Himself I cannot dieMy soul is purchased by His bloodMy life is hid with Christ on highWith Christ my Savior and my GodWith Christ my Savior and my GodSong: O Come to the AltarAre you hurting and broken withinOverwhelmed by the weight of your sinJesus is callingHave you come to the end of yourselfDo you thirst for a drink from the wellJesus is calling O come to the altarThe Father's arms are open wideForgiveness was bought withThe precious blood of Jesus Christ Leave behind your regrets and mistakesCome today there's no reason to waitJesus is callingBring your sorrows and trade them for joyFrom the ashes a new life is bornJesus is calling Oh what a SaviorIsn't he wonderfulSing alleluia Christ is risenBow down before himFor he is Lord of allSing alleluia Christ is risenBear your cross as you wait for the crownTell the world of the treasure you've foundConfession & ForgivenessPsalm 139:1-71 O Lord, you have searched me and known me!2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? Psalm 139:23-2423Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Question #1: Is there any place in my life where I haven't received forgiveness?Question #2: Is there any person in my life I won't release in forgiveness?Song: Jesus Paid it AllAnd I hear the Savior sayThy strength indeed is smallChild of weakness watch and prayFind in Me thine all in all 'Cause Jesus paid it allAll to Him I oweSin had left a crimson stainHe washed it white as snow(It's washed away)(All my sin and all my shame) Lord now indeed I findThy pow'r and Thine aloneCan change the leper's spotsAnd melt the heart of stone And when before the throneI stand in Him completeJesus died my soul to saveMy lips shall still repeat Oh praise the One Who paid my debtAnd raised this life up from the dead(Jesus)Song: Who You Say I AmWho am I that the highest KingWould welcome meI was lost but He brought me inOh His love for meOh His love for me Who the Son sets freeOh is free indeedI'm a child of GodYes I am Free at lastHe has ransomed meHis grace runs deepWhile I was a slave to sinJesus died for meYes He died for me In my Father's houseThere's a place for meI'm a child of GodYes I am I am chosen not forsakenI am who You say I amYou are for me not against meI am who You say I am (Oh) (Yes) I am who You say I am

On this episode we talk with Paul Baloche. Paul is such a major influence in worship music and has penned many songs we sing in the church. We talk about his song “Your Name” and how that song came about. Check out Paul’s new record, “Behold Him” along with his songwriting video series on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1CuH2wINIanS15e_s0yPsXILZp1ZyYDO.

Before the throne of God above I have a strong and perfect plea. A great high Priest whose Name is Love Who ever lives and pleads for me. My name is graven on His hands, My name is written on His heart. I know that while in Heaven He stands No tongue can bid me thence depart. When Satan tempts me to despair And tells me of the guilt within, Upward I look and see Him there Who made an end of all my sin. Because the sinless Savior died My sinful soul is counted free. For God the just is satisfied To look on Him and pardon me. Behold Him there the risen Lamb, My perfect spotless righteousness, The great unchangeable I AM, The King of glory and of grace, One in Himself I cannot die. My soul is purchased by His blood, My life is hid with Christ on high, With Christ my Savior and my God!

In this episode, Todd and Paul discuss his recently released project, “Behold Him”. They also discuss the power of leading new and older songs as a way of connecting people with God's faithfulness and lastly discuss Paul's experience as a Worship Circle Coach.

‘Open the Eyes of My Heart' has been sung by millions of Christians across the globe. Writer Paul Baloche, who has also penned many other hit worship songs including ‘Hosanna' and ‘Our God Saves', never expected his music to travel as much as it has. Ahead of the release of his new record Behold Him, Paul talks about the tension found in promoting his own music (admitting the publicity side is his “least favourite part” of the album making process). He also talks about the importance of discipleship and mentoring, and explains his philosophy of giving other Christians the benefit of the doubt, or in his words, ‘a grace pass'. The Profile is brought to you in association with Premier Christianity magazine. For a free sample copy of the latest issue visit premierchristianity.com/freesample

Episode 1 features special guest, Paul Baloche! The highly acclaimed multiple award-winning singer, songwriter, worship leader and world traveler joins WJTL DJ Kristi Leigh. They talk about his new single "Behold Him" and taking it around the globe with a new worship team at each stop. Plus, his unusual spot to meet with God and sing his heart out. He shares what keeps his career going strong, shares some of his favorite restaurants in Lititz PA, a glimpse into his new record out next month and encouragement for the season. (Bonus: he breaks into song multiple times! Even in French!)

Monday, December 23, 2019 | Christmas at the Barn 2019 | Michelle preaches from the Christmas text in Luke 2 in a Christmas message entitled "But..." at the barn at Nalls Produce. Bret and the band lead us in two contemporary Christmas hymns: "Light of the World" and "Behold Him."

This message was preached by Rob Willey, Senior Pastor at Coram Deo Bible Church, on December 24, 2019. The message came from various scripture and was titled "In the Presence of the King... Behold Him!"

Behold Him, Yeshua. The glory of Your people Israel, is Yeshua the Messiah. He is the Light, He shines in the darkness, and He is the One True Light. After praise and worship, Christopher opened up Bereshit, In The Beginning, with Genesis 1:1 – 6:8. Elohim, and His Son Yeshua, are part of the alpeh [...]

The Christmas story – from Zacharias and Elizabeth, to Mary and Joseph, to the shepherds, to Simeon and Anna - heavenly declarations were being made. Through a string of supernatural events, God was announcing His most extravagant gift of all – His only Son, Jesus would be sent to Earth to redeem mankind. With the help of angels and the Holy Spirit, the revelation of the Savior was being made known. Each one involved was given the opportunity to respond to the message and to “behold Him”. Each one was humbled and filled with wonder and praise. Enjoy this beautiful journey and begin to “Behold Him” fully this Christmas!

Bible Text: Luke 1 & 2 | Preacher: Pastor Dawn McCann | Series: Podcast, Sunday Sermons | The Christmas story – from Zacharias and Elizabeth, to Mary and Joseph, to the shepherds, to Simeon and Anna - heavenly declarations were being made. Through a string of supernatural events, God was announcing His most extravagant gift of all – His only Son, Jesus would be sent to Earth to redeem mankind. With the help of angels and the Holy Spirit, the revelation of the Savior was being made known. Each one involved was given the opportunity to respond to the message and to “behold Him”. Each one was humbled and filled with wonder and praise. Enjoy this beautiful journey and begin to “Behold Him” fully this Christmas!

Tim Grade leads us through the 4th week of advent looking at the line "Come and Behold Him." Tim talk about the word "behold" and the difference between seeing something and truly beholding it.

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ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ ਮਹਲਾ 5 ਛੰਤ Siree Raag, Fifth Mehl, Chhant: ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru: ਮਨ ਪਿਆਰਿਆ ਜੀਉ ਮਿਤ੍ਰਾ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਮਾਲੇ ॥ O dear beloved mind, my friend, reflect upon the Name of the Lord of the Universe. ਮਨ ਪਿਆਰਿਆ ਜੀ ਮਿਤ੍ਰਾ ਹਰਿ ਨਿਬਹੈ ਤੇਰੈ ਨਾਲੇ ॥ O dear beloved mind, my friend, the Lord shall always be with you. ਸੰਗਿ ਸਹਾਈ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਈ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਜਾਏ ॥ The Name of the Lord shall be with you as your Helper and Support. Meditate on Him-no one who does so shall ever return empty-handed. ਮਨ ਚਿੰਦੇ ਸੇਈ ਫਲ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਚਰਣ ਕਮਲ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਏ ॥ You shall obtain the fruits of your mind's desires, by focusing your consciousness on the Lord's Lotus Feet. ਜਲਿ ਥਲਿ ਪੂਰਿ ਰਹਿਆ ਬਨਵਾਰੀ ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਨਦਰਿ ਨਿਹਾਲੇ ॥ He is totally pervading the water and the land; He is the Lord of the World-forest. Behold Him in exaltation in each and every heart. ਨਾਨਕੁ ਸਿਖ ਦੇਇ ਮਨ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਭ੍ਰਮੁ ਜਾਲੇ ॥1॥ Nanak gives this advice: O beloved mind, in the Company of the Holy, burn away your doubts. ||1|| Photo Credits: @banniart

Live, spontaneous worship from All Things Restored! This song is an invitation to turn your attention to the heavenly realm where you are seated with Christ, to come up higher, far above all the things that distract, to behold Him face to face.   Come … Continue readingCome and Behold Him

This is it, our last week of Advent. In just four days from today Jesus will be celebrated around the world. Even though many who celebrate Christmas may not necessarily celebrate Jesus, or even acknowledge Him, they operate in His spirit of love. Gifts are given, families and friends dine together, laughter is shared. This is the Advent week of Love, God's love for all humanity. As I read from Luke 1:67-79 (TPT) along with the Advent Devotional, Come and Behold Him by Dr. Brian Simmons, we hear Zechariah’s Song. Let us shout for joy as God has given us the greatest gift in the history of all eternity, His son Yeshua. Our great deliverer who has given us the knowledge of salvation. 

This Sunday ushers in the third week of Advent. Just a mere eleven days from now it will be Christmas; it's amazing how close it is. As we count down the days, we do so with joyful anticipation. Coincidentally enough our theme this week is Joy. The joy of knowing God never forgets to love us. He never forgets and He always fulfills His promises. This is where we draw our joy from, the promise God made to us through His son Jesus. Rejoice, shout aloud, and jump for joy! God never forgets and He keeps every promise He makes. I read from Luke 1:46-55 (TPT) along with the Advent Devotional, Come and Behold Him by Dr. Brian Simmons.

December 10th marks the second week of Advent and the theme we're meditating on is Peace. This week we look to the story of Mary. She's just been told by the angel Gabriel how she will become pregnant but not by man. In her day and age, this news could have brought reason to be fearful and guilt-ridden but that's not how Mary reacted. She was filled with a Peace that surpased all understanding. That same Peace is extended to you. What obstacles will you overcome this week because of the Peace that dwells within you? I read from Luke 1:26-38 (TPT) along with the Advent Devotional, Come and Behold Him by Dr. Brian Simmons.

Today is the last day of November which means the start of Advent is just a few days away. December 3rd marks the beginning of Advent, a time for reflection on hope, peace, joy, and love. Four themes rooted and grounded in the fact that God became a man, entering into His own creation. The story of Joseph, a man who stands in the shadow of his wife and son is a story abounding with hope. His story is such a powerful source of inspiration for us all. When life delivers news that isn’t the most convenient, think of Joseph and be filled with a hope that downs out all noise. This week I read from Matthew 1:18-24 (TPT) along with the Advent Devotional, Come and Behold Him by Dr. Brian Simmons.

We take a short break from "The Story" to give you some of the music and message from Holy Week 2016.  In this podcast you will hear the message from Maundy (Holy) Thursday and parts of the worship service, as well.  Including the choir anthems "Drop, Drop, Slow Tears" and "Behold Him in Dark Gethsemane".  

Introduction I believe it still ranks as one of the stupidest things that I’ve ever done (what a way to begin a sermon). I was on a summer evangelism project with a parachurch group in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire. A tropical storm had sat off the coast for a day or so, and it whipped the waves into a frenzy. The next day, right in the middle of the summer, there was no one on the beach. The beach wasn’t closed, but it didn’t need to be. Nobody in their right minds would swim in the ocean that day, except for me and a friend of mine. I had never seen the waves so high. I enjoyed body surfing, and it looked like Oahu. It was the closest I was ever going to get to those kinds of waves. So, the two of us went out and we started swimming and body surfing. What a time we had! We had a great time until we started to notice that we were getting further and further away from the shore. We were caught in a riptide, and we started getting scared. I said, kind of lightly, to my friend (his name was Chaz), “Don’t you think we oughta start heading in?” He said, “Good idea.” It took us 45 minutes just to get in. I’ll never forget that. We’d ride a wave about halfway in, and then swim as hard as we could just to maintain our position more or less in that place. Then we’d ride another wave halfway in. In this way, we dropped exhausted on the sand, glad to be alive. And I resolved never to swim again after a tropical storm or hurricane in the ocean, no matter how dramatic the waves. There are times when we look at current event, and I think we as Christians can feel very much like that. We’re caught in a riptide. We have little or no control over where we’re going. Even death could face us, depending on the magnitude of the trial. We can feel very insecure in those situations. We like to have control and the fact is, that’s an illusion. We have very little control. And frankly, for the most part, since the church is made up of not many who are wise, not many who are influential, not many of noble birth, we have even less control than average people. We are not the king-makers of the world. I’m talking about the church as a whole, around the world. We are more passive when it comes to current events than even those great people of the world who think that they are in charge but really aren’t. But we know we’re not in charge. So we have to look, more than ever before, to the sovereign God who rules over history. Look at this CNN age that we live in. That’s something that’s really just come on in the last few decades, where something negative, something significant, can happen anywhere in the world and we can know about it almost while it’s happening. I still remember during the first Gulf War, seeing Peter Arnett and some other CNN correspondents standing on the roof of the Al-Rashid Hotel in downtown Baghdad, while the bombing started, starting the war. This kind of gave you a ‘you are there’ feel, like we had never experienced before. CNN has continued since then, whether it’s a typhoon, a hurricane, an earthquake, a war, or something like that, you can be there and you can see it. I think it gives you a sense of the verses in Isaiah 17 that we’re going to look at today. Look at verses 12-13. It says, “Oh, the raging of many nations – they rage like the raging sea! Oh, the uproar of the peoples – they roar like the roaring of great waters! Although the people roar like the roar of surging waters, when he rebukes them they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweed before a gale.” The Raging of the Nations Described (v 12) Timeless Context: The Churning of Evil in the Heart Those verses speak of the churning of the nations, the great power and convulsive effect of one nation after another, crashing into each other. Each of them is vying for supremacy in the world, for oil drilling rights, or for gold, or for control over a piece of property, something like that. It’s the surging, the raging of the nations. The church, the believers in Christ, are really like flotsam and jetsam, something floating on the surface that can do very little about it. Therefore, it’s good to know what this verse, this passage, and what we’ve seen in Isaiah teaches: God is sovereign over the nations, He sits on His throne and rules over all of these things. We can believe that there is nothing random happening on the face of the earth, that everything is for a purpose and that God is ruling over all things, though we don’t understand it, though we can’t know it. So we have the ragings of the nations described here, and I think the root cause, really, comes down to the heart of man. Because we are not at peace with God within our own hearts, we are not at peace with each other. Because of man’s original fall into sin, the world, the climate, the earth is at war with us and we with the earth. And so we’re in trouble because of sin. It says in Isaiah 57:20-21, “The wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud. ‘There is no peace,’ says my God, ‘for the wicked.’” Since the year 2000, one website tells us that there have been one hundred and forty-two riots in the world. One hundred and forty-two riots. Many of us don’t know that in April of this year, there were riots in Haiti and Bangladesh and Mozambique over the spiraling cost of food. And what is just kind of an annoyance for us was desperate for them in terms of even getting enough to eat and survive, probably all of it tied to the rising cost of oil. There have been many other causes of riots over the years. There’s political unrest. Many of us can remember the demonstrations in Tiananmen Square in 1989 and what happened there as hundreds of thousands of Chinese crowded in, clamoring for political change. Race and racial tensions can be the cause of riots. In 1998, there were race riots in Jakarta, Indonesia between native Indonesians and ethnic Chinese. Religion can be a cause of riots. I think since 1979, when the hostages were taken by Iranian students, we’ve seen images of Muslim demonstrations almost every week, fists in the air and anger. So, religion can be a cause of it. In 2007, in the town where the Taj Mahal is, there were angry mobs stirred up because there was an accidental death of an Islamic youth. There were riots between Hindus and Muslims. Anti-war demonstrations, food shortages, unemployment, housing shortages, grievances among prison inmates, gang violence, natural disasters leading to other physical problems and shortages, excessive pollution, and even sports can cause riots. There are soccer riots in Europe all of the time. It’s very nationalistic, but it goes on. Lots of violence, lots of anger, the seething rage of the nations. They rage like the roiling turbulent sea after a hurricane or tropical storm. It comes from the fact that we’re not at peace with God, and, therefore, we’re not at peace with each other. More potently, you see the rise and fall of the world, the rise and fall of one controlling regime after another, one empire after another, the invasion by one seething power of another country’s territory. “The raging of many nations – they rage like the raging sea; … they roar like the roaring of great waters.” (Is 17:12) They are like the relentless ocean, undulating and frothy, whipped by the eternal drives of sinful human nature, by what they want. Satan’s Rage Imitated … and for the Same Reason James 4:1-3 says, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” This is what’s whipping the nations into a frenzy. Behind it all is the rage of Satan. We’ve already learned this from Isaiah 14, of Satan’s fall and how Satan was ambitious, not content, not satisfied with what God has assigned to him. However great his personal beauty, and his personal wisdom, and his powerful position, it wasn’t enough for him. He was ambitious and covetous, and wanted to rise up. He gave us those five “I wills,” the ambitions of Satan. Satan rebelled against God and therefore God cast him down to the earth. He put him on a timetable for his ultimate destruction, as we saw. Revelation 12:12 says, “Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.” When Adam, our federal head, our representative, ate the fruit of the forbidden tree, he, in effect, joined Satan in his rebellion against God. Therefore, he also, man, put a timetable on his ultimate destruction. We, as a race, are like Satan, filled with rage because we know our time is short. Hence, the uproar of the nations. Ultimate Rage Directed at Christ: Psalm 2 The ultimate rage is directed toward God and toward His Christ. That’s where the real raging comes. Psalms 2:1 makes this plain, “Why do the nations rage and the people plot in vain?” The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One, His Christ, His Messiah. “Let us break their chains asunder,” they say. “Throw off their fetters.” The One enthroned in heaven laughs. He laughs at it, but that’s where it is. It’s a hatred against God and against His rule, against Christ, and against His authority. That’s the nature of this raging that goes on. Immediate Context: the Assyrian Invasion Now, the immediate context here in Isaiah 17 is the Assyrian invasion, as we’ve seen. In the oracle of the nations here from chapter 13 of Isaiah up through 23, in the oracles of the nations, this Jewish prophet is describing political situations that would be alien to us. We wouldn’t care that much about them, perhaps. They happened a long time ago. They were resolved a long time ago. But there are two things you need to know about the Bible that make it immediately relevant and applicable. First of all, God never changes. He never changes. He’s the same yesterday, and today, and forever. What we can learn about God back in Isaiah’s time, twenty-seven centuries ago, is still true today. Now, He didn’t have to act in any given way. He can do whatever He chooses. I’m just saying He never changes. And if we can learn something about God’s character and His nature, His attributes, from something in the Bible, it’s still true today. Second of all, we don’t change either. I know we may wear different clothing, we may have advanced technology, but we have the same passions. We have the same lusts. We have the same drives and desires, the same thinking patterns. We’re the same. Judgment on Damascus and Ephraim (vs 1-6) First, Damascus Judged Therefore, when we see how God interacts with sinners twenty-seven centuries ago, it should matter to us today. We should take it as a warning to flee the wrath to come. The judgment on Syria here, Damascus and Ephraim, is a judgment on peoples that may seem obsolete to us, but these facts are still with us, the facts that God never changes and that man never changes. Assyria was to invade Damascus, the Arameans, and also Ephraim. In Isaiah 17:1-6, it’s described. Look at verse 1, “An oracle concerning Damascus: ‘See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins.’” Damascus was the capital of Syria, not to be confused with Assyria. They were also known as the Arameans. It was a small nation, along with all those others: the Moabites and Edomites, and the northern and southern kingdoms of the Jews. These were the Syrians, and Damascus was their capital city. Now, Damascus has the distinction, from what I’ve found, of being the longest continuously inhabited city on the face of the earth. People have been living there for centuries, for millennia. Rome is called “the Eternal City,” but Damascus, Syria was flourishing a couple of thousand years before Rome was founded in 753 BC. It was the capital of the Syrian nation in Isaiah’s day, also known as Aram. It was one of the most strategic cities in the ancient Near East. It stood at the mouth of a natural funnel through which ran the only convenient land route between Mesopotamia and Egypt. So everybody had to go down through Damascus. It positioned them very well for trade and for influence. Remember back in Isaiah 7, when King Ahaz was terrified by an alliance between these two countries, Syria and Ephraim? Ephraim, the northern kingdom of the Jews, and Syria allied themselves against Judah. And you remember that Isaiah at that time predicted their destruction. Here is the second prediction. It says in verses 1-2, “See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins. The cities of Aroer will be deserted and left to flocks, which will lie down, with no one to make them afraid.” Then, Ephraim Judged with Syria But it wasn’t just the Arameans that were going to be judged. It was also the ten tribes of the Jews, Ephraim. Ephraim was the name of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. They were apostate right from the beginning of their history. Remember that Solomon was led into idolatry by his foreign wives, and God chose to judge him in the next generation through his son Rehoboam. And so the twelve tribes were split up. Ten tribes went to the Northern Kingdom under Jeroboam, son of Nebat. Right from the beginning, he led the Israelites, the Northern Kingdom, into sin because he did not want those ten tribes going three times a year back to Jerusalem, the City of David. He didn’t want them going there because he thought that he would lose his power and his influence. So he set up his own religion, with his own priests and his own idols, golden calves in Bethel and Dan. He immediately led those ten tribes into idolatrous worship. Pretty soon after that, they were worshipping in whatever way the nations worshipped around them. They became literally no different than any of the pagan peoples around them. A godless nation, those northern ten tribes. They share in the destruction of the godless around them. Look at verse 3, “’The fortified city will disappear from Ephraim, and royal power from Damascus; the remnant of Aram will be like the glory of the Israelites,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” Verses 4-5 continue, “In that day the glory of Jacob will fade; the fat of his body will waste away. It will be as when a reaper gathers the standing grain and harvests the grain with his arms – as when a man gleans heads of grain in the Valley of Rephaim.” The picture here is of a formerly healthy man. Now he’s lost so much weight through illness, or perhaps like a prisoner of war. You come upon those that were in the Japanese concentration camps, or the Nazi concentration camps, with their skin barely hanging on their bones. They’re like living skeletons. That’s the image here, the fat of the body completely wasted away. That’s what the former health and prosperity of these two countries will be like. End Result: Desolation (v 9) And the end result in verse nine is desolation. “In that day their strong cities, which they left because of the Israelites, will be like places abandoned to thickets and undergrowth. And all will be desolation.” How Will the Judgment Come? How does this judgment come? It comes in the usual way. It comes through the invasion of the Assyrians. It’s what they do. The Assyrians coveted their land, and then they came. But we know what’s going to happen to the Assyrians, too. They’re going to be destroyed as well. So the nations, they rise, they fall, they come, they go, they covet, they invade, they win, they lose, all of it for earthly glory and earthly pleasure and earthly conquest, and none of it means anything eternally. All of them stand under the judgment of God, the real story of history, the real story of human beings’ relationship to Almighty God. That’s what causes everything. It’s because of that that we’re in the situations that we’re in now. The rise and fall of the nations is orchestrated because of that, because of human beings and their idolatry. Yet … Still a Remnant for Israel And yet, in the midst of all of that idolatry, look at verse six. Some gleanings will remain of Israel. This is a remnant for Israel that God promises. “’Some gleanings [of Israel] will remain, as when an olive tree is beaten, leaving two or three olives on the topmost branches, four or five on the fruitful boughs,’ declares the Lord, the God of Israel.” It says in Romans 11:29, “God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.” And no matter how godless those ten tribes were, they were still descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He’s going to leave a remnant by His sovereign grace, though they don’t deserve it. Who does? Judah doesn’t deserve it either, none of us does. But by His sovereignty, He’s going to leave this handful of sick-looking olives that nobody wants. Physically, what that looked like was, after the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles, there were just some of the poorest in the land left to kind of farm it and be there. In Jeremiah 39:10, it says, “Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard left behind in the land of Judah some of the poor people, who owned nothing; and at that time he gave them vineyards and fields.” So God doesn’t totally give the Jews over to destruction, even though they are no better than their Gentile neighbors. The Root Cause of Judgment: Idolatry Worshipping What you Do Now, as I’ve mentioned, the root cause of this judgment is clear. It’s idolatry. Verse 8 mentions their altars, the work of their hands, the Asherah poles, and the incense altars that their fingers have made. The essence of idolatry is worshipping and serving created things rather than the Creator, who is forever praised, Amen. To worship what you do, to worship what you make with your hands, now that’s idolatry, to worship and serve created things. It is the ultimate foolishness to exchange the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man, and birds, and animals, and reptiles, and to worship, ultimately, man in all his glory, in all of his creative power. Later on in this very book, Isaiah is going to lampoon idolatry with some of the most poignant sarcasm that you’ll find in any prophetic writing. Isiah 44:12 – 17 talks about the foolishness of crafting an idol and then falling down and worshipping it. This is what he says, “The blacksmith takes a tool and works with it in the coals; he shapes an idol with hammers, he forges it with the might of his arm. He gets hungry and loses his strength; he drinks no water and grows faint. The carpenter measures with a line and makes an outline with a marker; he roughs it out with chisels and marks it with compasses. He shapes it in the form of man, of man in all his glory, that it may dwell in a shrine. He cut down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress or oak. He let it grow among the trees of the forest, or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow. It is man’s fuel for burning; some of it he takes and warms himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. Half of the wood he burns in the fire; over it he prepares his meal, he roasts his meat and eats his fill. He also warms himself and says, ‘Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.’ From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, ‘Save me; you are my god.’” In the end, there are just two religions: the worship of the true living God and idolatry. For the longest time, even in my own ministry as a preacher, I underestimated the significance of the sin of idolatry. You read the Old Testament, and you think of totem poles and these odd-looking golden things and wooden things that people bow down to. But the fact of the matter is, if you’re not a genuine believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, in the living God through faith in Christ, you are an idolater. It’s a fact. That’s your religion. If you don’t have the true religion, you have idolatry. You’re worshipping and serving some created thing, maybe yourself. You could even be an atheist and you’re an idolater, worshipping yourself. We Americans, we struggle with our idolatries. Materialism is idolatry. Careerism is idolatry. Being in love with your achievements, your academic achievements or professional achievements, is idolatry. All of these things come close to home and it’s because of idolatry that God moves out in judgment. Crafting a Religion Around Idols These people crafted a system of religion that was handed down from generation to generation around their idolatry. It’s religious idolatry and you see elaborate systems of it in the east, in Hinduism and Buddhism and other types of idolatry. These people had Asherah poles, which represented the feminine side of deity. Goddesses were frequently worshipped along with the gods, usually through sexual immorality. They also had altars that their hands had made. They offered sacrifices to demon gods. They’re not true gods, they’re demon gods who do God impersonations. And these people bow down to that. But the Whole System is Empty The whole system, however, is empty. When the judgment comes, when the Assyrians come over the border, they forsake the idols and run for their lives. They say, “Save me, you are my god.” But their god can’t save them because he doesn’t exist. And in that day they will forsake it. They will run for their lives. They will turn away from the idols that they made and run away from them because they know that they cannot save. Deepest Issue: Rejecting God (v 10) But the deepest issue is rejecting God. Look at verse 10, “You have forgotten God your Savior; you have not remembered the Rock, your fortress.” Exchanging the glory of the immortal God for images, that’s exactly what they did. It’s especially tragic for those ten tribes, the northern tribes of Israel. Think of all that God had done through Moses and Aaron, how He rescued them from the land of slavery by the ten plagues that He demonstrated with a mighty hand and outstretched arm, and how He led them through the Red Sea when the water walled up to the right and to the left and they passed right through. Two million strong, right through by the power of God. They went through to the other side and there God provided water out of a rock, and manna came down. They just picked it up off the ground. God delivered them for forty years in the desert and carried them as a father carries his son on his shoulders. He brought them right across the Jordan River at flood stage when the water heaped up like a mountain, and they crossed on dry ground. They surrounded the walls of Jericho, that mighty walled city, and then they just cried out on the seventh day and the walls came falling down. They took over the whole promised land by miraculous power, taking over nations more powerful than they were. In this way, they came into a land flowing with milk and honey, and they ate from vineyards they didn’t plant, and they lived in houses they didn’t build. All of this done by the hand of God. And it wasn’t long after that, that they turned away, those ten tribes, from the God of their heritage, the God of their fathers, of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and worshipped and served foreign gods. It says in Jeremiah 2:11 that this is the greatest tragedy of all time. “’Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their glory for worthless idols. Be appalled at this, O heavens, and shudder with great horror,’ declares the Lord. ‘My people have committed two sins: they have forsaken Me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.’” Result: A Harvest of Incurable Pain The result of this idolatry, of this exchange, is a harvest of incurable pain. God puts a curse on everything they do. Everything they do, there’s a curse on the work of their hands. Look at verses 10-11, “You have forgotten God your Savior; you have not remembered the Rock, your fortress. Therefore, though you set out the finest plants and plant imported vines, though on the day you set them out, you make them grow, and on the morning when you plant them, you bring them to bud, yet the harvest will be as nothing in the day of disease and incurable pain.” What a dreadful, final end! What a terrifying thing it is to have Almighty God as your enemy, to have God fighting everything you do, to have Him not bless you when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, and when you rise and lie down, to have God not bless your kneading trough, and your calves, and all the agricultural images. You say, “We’re not farmers. Or, what do these vines have to do with us?” Well, alright, translate it then into the 21st century. You invest in a small business and it goes belly-up. You leave one job and go to another thinking things are going to go better for you and they go much worse. You have problems with material possessions. You have a flood in your home, or you have repairs to your car that you can’t afford, one thing after another. How can you fight God? Could it be that God is using all of these adverse circumstances to say, “Look, this is happening to you?” You may not have thought Isaiah 17 was relevant to you, but you set out vines and you planted them thinking good things were going to come. And nothing comes of it. Could it be you’re out of fellowship with God? That God himself is fighting you? Now, it mentions the day of disease and incurable pain. It is true that we can suffer in this world. We can have pain in this world. We can have incurable diseases. We think of AIDS as an incurable disease. You could bye laying there suffering from AIDS and wonder, “Is this a judgment of God on me?” Frankly, any disease that takes you out of the world was, in the end, incurable, wasn’t it? The doctor couldn’t cure it. He couldn’t save you from dying, and so you died. But I don’t think that’s the ultimate judgment of God, do you? “Do not be afraid,” said Jesus, “of those who kill the body and after that, there’s nothing more they can do. But be afraid of the one who has power to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Death isn’t the end. God has appointed for each one of us that we die and then face judgment day, in which we give an account for the things done in the body. So to me, the real day of disease and incurable pain is hell. It’s a day that will last forever. It is incurable because God will not cure it and any He casts to hell are cast there forever. There is no rescue. There is no refuge. That is the ultimate end of idolatry, it’s the ultimate end, the ultimate judgment of God that He will bring. The Effect of the Judgment: Genuine Faith in God A Ray of Hope: Judgment Brings Repentance God in His mercy, God in His kindness gives us samples of that future judgment while there’s still time to repent. You may not think of it as mercy, but we should think of it that way. When judgment comes on other people, like the Tower of Siloam fell and some people died, Jesus said that unless we repent we will all likewise perish. Hurricane Ike didn’t come our way. Well, we’re fine then. We have our power, we have our electricity. You’re not thinking rightly. When you turn on CNN and you see some misery for other people in another part of the world, you should say, “Unless we repent, we will all likewise perish.” That’s one message. Another is, “There but by the grace of God, go I.” What can I do with the grace that God’s given me to help them and reach out to them and love them? If you come to Isaiah 7 and say, “This is the Syrians and the Ephraimites, what do they have to do with me? Oh, they lived twenty-seven centuries ago,” you’re missing the point. God is still holy and we’re still idolaters. He hasn’t changed. And unless we repent, we will all likewise perish. The ray of hope in the middle of this is that God can bring about salvation for sinners like you and me. Isn’t that sweet? Isn’t that magnificent? Look what it says in verses 7-8, “In that day men will look to their Maker and turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel.” At last they look to him! “They will not look to the altars, the work of their hands, and they will have no regard for the Asherah poles and the incense altars their fingers have made.” They finally turn to the Lord and look to Him. Israel Finally Looks to God It says in Isaiah 4:22, “Look unto me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth.” It’s the look of faith. CNN’s not going to cover the look of faith, friends. But it’s going on all over the world, praise God! People from every tribe, and language, and people, and nation are hearing the gospel and they’re looking, at last, away from the work of their hands. They’re looking up to their Maker and they’re finding salvation in Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. Looking to Christ Before the Final Judgment Comes I think it’s my primary job, as a preacher, to make Christ crucified almost visible to your eyes. I think about that hymn, “Before the Throne of God.” At the end, it says, “Behold him there, the risen lamb, the perfect spotless, the great I Am.” Behold Him there. How do you see Him? By faith. It says in Galatians 3:1, “Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was portrayed as crucified.” The Apostle Paul says to the Corinthians, in 1 Corinthians 2:2, “I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” So behold Him there, the bloody Son of God who shed His blood for idolaters, for sinners like you and me. And in that day, it says they will have no more regard for the work of their hands. They’re going to look to their Maker, their Creator, their sustainer, and to their Savior, and they will find in Him salvation. Look to Him. Look to Him. The Raging of the Nations: Quieted at Last (vs 12-14) This is an assembly of Christian worship. Most of you who come in here with a profession of faith in Christ, are you done looking to Jesus? Are you finished being saved? Look unto Him and be saved. Keep looking. Look unto Him the rest of your life. Realize that there are still idolatries inside our divided hearts. Romans 7 talks about it, ‘The very thing we hate, we do.” Why? Because there are idols still there and we still bow the knee and give them allegiance. Look unto Him and be saved, all the ends of the earth. In this alone will the raging of the nations be quieted at last. This is where the peace comes from. It’s not coming from the United Nations. It’s not coming from military actions. It’s not coming from economic sanctions. It’s not coming from a new invention. It’s not coming from better food distribution systems. It’s not coming from the best negotiator that ever lived. None of that is going to bring peace between the nations. Not at all. You want to know what’s going to bring peace between the nations? The actions of our Sovereign God, actions in judgment and actions in salvation. We’ve talked about the judgment. He’s going to clean it all up. He’s going to come back in glorious power and He’s going to destroy the final regime, the final nation, that one world nation under the antichrist. And the dragon, the devil, stands by the sea, remember? And up out of the sea comes the beast. What does the sea represent? The raging sea, it’s right here in Isaiah 17. It’s the nations, the turbulent nations. Up out of the nations comes the antichrist. It’s the same image in Daniel 7. He has a dream and the winds are blowing over the turbulent sea and up out of it comes four beasts, one after the other. Up out of the sea comes the nations, the final form of that, the antichrist, doing the bidding of the dragon, of Satan. Up he comes. The nations will still be raging, still be turbulent until the Lord Jesus comes back in all His glory, amen? He destroys the antichrist and destroys the devil, and gets rid of the sea. It says in Revelation 21:1, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.” I really link that right back to Isaiah 17:12. The turbulent, crashing waves of rebellion against Almighty God is over and there’s going to be this quiet, peaceful, loving group of people from every tribe and language and people and nation who are all focused on the throne of Christ. He will reign forever and ever over a peaceful multitude. The time of rebellion will end and your heart will be at peace with God and with one another. Why? Because it says in Romans 5:1, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith,” What do we have? ”we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” As a result of that, we have peace with one another. Why? Because Jesus Christ paid our price for us. Isaiah 53:5 says, “He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” The punishment that brought us what? Peace. That’s where it’s going to happen, friends. That’s where the raging turbulence of the nations will end at last, at the end of the world when Jesus comes and establishes His throne. Then it will be true, what it says in Zechariah 1:11, “we have gone throughout the earth and found the whole world at rest and in peace.” Oh, how sweet will that be! So there are two looks. We’ll see Christ in two different ways. The first is the look of faith. That can happen right now. Close your physical eyes. If you look with your mind’s eye, then you can see Christ crucified. You can also see Christ resurrected. You can see Christ reigning on the throne. You can see Christ returning in glory. Alright, it’s the look of faith. You can see Him that way or you can wait and you can see Him with your eyes. “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.” Revelation 1:7. You’ll see Him either way. I urge you to see Him now, see Him today by faith so that all your sins can be forgiven. Close with me in prayer.