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JOHN 7:1-24 - FEAST OF TABERNACLES - BRIAN SUMNER - 2025"1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. 2 Now the Jews' Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. 3 His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. 4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him.6 Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” 9 When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.10 But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. 11 Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?” 12 And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.” 13 However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.14 Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. 15 And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?”16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. 19 Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?”20 The people answered and said, “You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?”21 Jesus answered and said to them, “I did one work, and you all marvel. 22 Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? 24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”To support this channel and partner with Brian in Ministryhttps://www.briansumner.net/support/For more on Brianhttp://www.briansumner.nethttps://www.instagram.com/BRIANSUMNER/https://www.facebook.com/BRIANSUMNEROFFICIALTo listen to Brians Podcast, click below.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Purchase Brians Marriage book at https://www.amazon.com/Never-Fails-Da...Brian is a full time "Urban Missionary" both locally and internationally with a focus on MISSIONS - MARRIAGES - MINISTRY. Since coming to faith in 2004 doors continued opening locally and internationally to do more and more ministry with a focus on Evangelism, Outreach Missions, Marriage, Counsel, Schools, Festivals, Conferences and the like. Everything about this ministry is made possible because of people personally partnering through the non profit. God Bless and thank you. †Support the showSUPPORT THE SHOW
Luke 13:22-30Jesus passed through towns and villages,teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.Someone asked him,"Lord, will only a few people be saved?"He answered them,"Strive to enter through the narrow gate,for many, I tell you, will attempt to enterbut will not be strong enough.After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,then will you stand outside knocking and saying,'Lord, open the door for us.'He will say to you in reply,'I do not know where you are from.And you will say,'We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.'Then he will say to you,'I do not know where you are from.Depart from me, all you evildoers!'And there will be wailing and grinding of teethwhen you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacoband all the prophets in the kingdom of Godand you yourselves cast out.And people will come from the east and the westand from the north and the southand will recline at table in the kingdom of God.For behold, some are last who will be first,and some are first who will be last."
Luke 13:22-30Jesus passed through towns and villages,teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.Someone asked him,"Lord, will only a few people be saved?"He answered them,"Strive to enter through the narrow gate,for many, I tell you, will attempt to enterbut will not be strong enough.After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,then will you stand outside knocking and saying,'Lord, open the door for us.'He will say to you in reply,'I do not know where you are from.And you will say,'We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.'Then he will say to you,'I do not know where you are from.Depart from me, all you evildoers!'And there will be wailing and grinding of teethwhen you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacoband all the prophets in the kingdom of Godand you yourselves cast out.And people will come from the east and the westand from the north and the southand will recline at table in the kingdom of God.For behold, some are last who will be first,and some are first who will be last."
August 24, 2025. Fr. Tyler's homily for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time. Enjoy! Gospel Luke 13:22-30 Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" He answered them, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, 'Lord, open the door for us.' He will say to you in reply, 'I do not know where you are from. And you will say, 'We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.' Then he will say to you, 'I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!' And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."
Reading 1Isaiah 66:18-21Thus says the LORD:I know their works and their thoughts,and I come to gather nations of every language;they shall come and see my glory.I will set a sign among them;from them I will send fugitives to the nations:to Tarshish, Put and Lud, Mosoch, Tubal and Javan,to the distant coastlandsthat have never heard of my fame, or seen my glory;and they shall proclaim my glory among the nations.They shall bring all your brothers and sisters from all the nationsas an offering to the LORD,on horses and in chariots, in carts, upon mules and dromedaries,to Jerusalem, my holy mountain, says the LORD,just as the Israelites bring their offeringto the house of the LORD in clean vessels.Some of these I will take as priests and Levites, says the LORD.Reading 2Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13Brothers and sisters,You have forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as children:"My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lordor lose heart when reproved by him;for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines;he scourges every son he acknowledges."Endure your trials as "discipline";God treats you as sons.For what "son" is there whom his father does not discipline?At the time,all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain,yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousnessto those who are trained by it.So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees.Make straight paths for your feet,that what is lame may not be disjointed but healed.GospelLuke 13:22-30Jesus passed through towns and villages,teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.Someone asked him,"Lord, will only a few people be saved?"He answered them,"Strive to enter through the narrow gate,for many, I tell you, will attempt to enterbut will not be strong enough.After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,then will you stand outside knocking and saying,'Lord, open the door for us.'He will say to you in reply,'I do not know where you are from.And you will say,'We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.'Then he will say to you,'I do not know where you are from.Depart from me, all you evildoers!'And there will be wailing and grinding of teethwhen you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacoband all the prophets in the kingdom of Godand you yourselves cast out.And people will come from the east and the westand from the north and the southand will recline at table in the kingdom of God.For behold, some are last who will be first,and some are first who will be last."
Jesus passed through towns and villages,teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.Someone asked him,"Lord, will only a few people be saved?"He answered them,"Strive to enter through the narrow gate,for many, I tell you, will attempt to enterbut will not be strong enough.After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,then will you stand outside knocking and saying,'Lord, open the door for us.'He will say to you in reply,'I do not know where you are from.And you will say,'We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.'Then he will say to you,'I do not know where you are from.Depart from me, all you evildoers!'And there will be wailing and grinding of teethwhen you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacoband all the prophets in the kingdom of Godand you yourselves cast out.And people will come from the east and the westand from the north and the southand will recline at table in the kingdom of God.For behold, some are last who will be first,and some are first who will be last."
This week, we discuss what it means when Christ says "I do not know where you are from", as it relates to alienation, attention, and Gabriel Marcel's idea of availability. The Sunday readings discussed can be found here: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082425.cfm -- Follow Us: https://linktr.ee/basicallyrelated Basically Related is a Catholic podcast hosted by L.A.Benson and Matt Hylom, discussing scripture, culture, psychology, religion, and philosophy. New episodes are released every Monday and Friday. L.A.Benson is an OCDS Carmelite with an MTS in Theology Matt Hylom is an artist, singer-songwriter, and music producer A few names frequent our discussion, with saints such as Bonaventure, Dionysius the Areopagite, Maximus the Confessor, John of the Cross, Augustine, Gregory of Nyssa, Thomas Aquinas, and John Henry Newman. Other thinkers (philosophers, theologians, psychologists, artists, etc.) discussed include Plato, Aristotle, Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, Dante, Josef Pieper, Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger), Hans Urs von Balthasar, Carl Jung, Victor Frankl, Fr. Victor White, Jordan Peterson, Jonathan Pageau, John Vervaeke, Ian McGilchrist, and Bishop Barron.
Preview: Africa Aid. Colleague Caleb Weiss in East Africa comments how the China aid agents are moving in where US and allies aid agents depart. More later.
Jesus prophesied that on Judgment Day many would say to Him, “Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy, and preach, and cast out devils in your name? And to their shock, He will respond, “I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work lawlessness.” In Ep. 07 of our series, "Resisting the Rise of Lawlessness" we'll face the uncomfortable reality that many in the Church are actually in the same spirit of lawlessness as the godless world around them.
The Black Ferns side has just departed for their Rugby World Cup defence in England. Sports reporter Jonty Dine was there, and spoke to Lisa Owen.
If there was any passage in the Bible that appears to be a contradiction from what we read in other books of the Bible, it is James 2:24, which states: You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. This verse seems to contradict what Paul wrote in his epistle to the Ephesians: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast (2:8-9). So which is it? Is salvation a gift from God that can be received apart from anything we do, or is salvation something you have to work hard at keeping? In the 1980s these questions were popularized and brought to the forefront of theological discussions had in many homes and churches. At the heart of these discussions was the question: What does it means to believe in Jesus? Zane Hodges wrote his book, Absolutely Free arguing that nowhere in the Bible does it teach that belief in Jesus for eternal salvation requires a person to repent of his/her sins. Hodges went as far to say that a person can be a Christian and at the same time not love God. In response to Zane Hodges book, John MacArthur wrote The Gospel According to Jesus; in his book, he argued that true salvation involves a lifelong commitment to Jesus, which is the evidence of true biblical belief. Those who agreed with Zane Hodges labeled the teachings of people like John MacArthur as Lordship Salvation. Those who agreed with John MacArthur labeled the teachings of people like Zane Hodges as Easy Believism. Far from being a modern controversy, the argument between Hodges and MacArthur was simply an old theological debate dressed in newer garb. I do not have the time to give a history lesson as to what led up to Hodges and MacArthur duking it out in the form of books, but you should know about the idea if you just believe and say a prayer, that you will be saved. There is a theological stream that led to language you are probably familiar with, such as: Ten said Yes to Jesus! Or you may have had someone in your life encourage you to repeat a prayer, for if you just say the words, you can be saved just so long as you believe the words to be true in your mind. In 1763, a well-known Scottish author and pastor named Robert Sandeman (17181771) arrived in Danbury, Connecticut. His central teaching was that bare assent to the work of Christ alone is necessary for salvation. In other words, Sandeman argued that simply believing in Jesus was enough to be savedyou didnt have to follow Him or demonstrate love for Him. In Sandemans view, requiring evidence of love or a changed life made works a necessary part of salvation, which he firmly rejected. By the time Sandeman set foot in Connecticut, his writings and ideas had already spread widely through American churches. Ezra Stiles, who befriended Sandeman and would later become president of Yale University, remarked, I believe he has sown a seed in America which will up and grow, though I have no apprehension of any great ill effect.[1] Sandemans doctrine, which came to be known as Sandemanianism and is now often labeled easy-believism, was more than a theological curiosityit ignited debate and concern that ripple through the church to this day. What academic circles now call Free Grace Theology became the very ground upon which Zane Hodges and John MacArthur sparred. The warnings of giants like John Wesley (an Arminian) and Andrew Fuller (a Calvinist), echo through history: Sandemanianism, they cautioned, might lull the church into a shallow faith, one that confuses mere intellectual agreement with living trust. Its legacy remains, challenging and shaping the contours of American evangelicalism across generations. My hope today is not that you are more informed, but that you are more grounded in the Bible. At the end of the day, it doesnt matter what I think; what matters is what does the Bible have to say about it! So, let us turn to our text this morning to find out. A Grounded Faith is an Active Faith (vv. 14-17) James askes a question in verse 14, What use is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? He then gives us an example of what a faith devoid of works looks like in real-time: If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and be filled, yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that (v. 15)? What is James getting at in these verses? He is picking up on what He said in 2:1-13 and forcing us to take a long, hard look into the mirror of Gods word to examine our hearts. If you say that your faith is in Jesus as the One who died for your sins and rose from the grave, then how can you pass by a brother or sister who shares your faith in Jesus who is in need and do nothing to help that person? Genuine faith will result in genuine, although not perfect, love for those who share in your faith in Jesus? Just so you know, James is not the only one who asks this question. The apostle John had some things to say about a faith grounded in Jesus being an active faith: Beloved, lets love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. By this the love of God was revealed in us, that God has sent His only Son into the world so that we may live through Him. 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 (1 John 4:7-10). Where on earth did John and James get their understanding of genuine faith from? They both got it from Jesus, who said, I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another(John 13:34). Again, John wrote in his epistle, This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. The one who keeps His commandments remains in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He remains in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us (1 John 3:23-24). But, John and James are not the only ones who understood that a faith grounded in Jesus was an active faith, for the apostle Paul wrote: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them (Eph. 2:8-10). Listen, salvation is the free gift of God made available through His Son that you cannot earn or work for. However, when you are genuinely saved by Jesus, you are then born again (John 3:1-21). When you are born again you go from being spiritually dead, to being made spiritually alive with Jesus (Eph. 2:1-6). The evidence that you are alive with Christ is a faith that is living! In the words of Paul, and in light of our salvation that is from God, you are to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called... Paul did not stop there, he continued: walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love (Eph. 4:1-2). The clearest sign of being born again is a life transformeda faith that is alive, first in love for God and then in love for others. This is why Jesus described a coming day of judgment, when all people will be separated into two groups: the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. The difference between them will be revealed in how they responded, with love and compassion, to those in need. Jesus will say to the sheep, Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me (Matt. 25:34-36). Those who ignored the brother or sister who was hungry, thirsty, need shelter, needed clothing, was sick and needed care, or was in prison... will hear these words: Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.... Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for Me, either. These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life (25:41, 45-46). A Grounded Faith is a Sacrificial Faith (vv. 18-26) When it comes to what read in James and what we read in Pauls letters, Timothy Keller said when looking at something with only one eye, you lose depth perception. To appreciate something for what it really is, you need two eyes. Why? Because each eye is looking from a slightly different perspective at the same object, and as a result you see it better.[2] The problem with Robert Sandeman, Zane Hodges, and Free Grace Theology is that they are only looking at Scripture with one eye, and in doing so, their sermons and books suffer from a distorted theological depth perception problem. Do you want to know one way you can make sure you have both eyes open? Have one eye on the text you are reading and the other on the rest of Scripture. James is not saying works first then faith later; what he is saying is that a faith that has generated new life in God is a faith that acts on the belief it rests in. To say you believe is easy; to act upon your belief is evidence that you believe. This is James point in verse 18, But someone may well say, You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works. Let me share an illustration from our family that may help you understand what James is saying here. Recently our family went on an Alaskan cruse; we probably never would have gone on a cruise during this season in our lives had it not been for my mother and step-father inviting us to go with them with all expenses paid on our behalf. Not only was the cruise paid for, but all of our travel expenses were paid for too! The package that my mother and stepfather paid for included all of our meals, and that the cruise line provided a medallion that we could either wear around our neck, or our wrist, which functioned as a pass for just about everything, including anything we wanted to eat or drink. We were told that we could order anything we wanted from an app on our phones that was synced to our medallion and that a server would deliver the food to us no mater were we were. All of it was paid for and I did not have to do a thing to earn it. However, my belief that was true was evidenced by acting upon the gift that was bought and paid for on my behalf. The difference between my experience on the Alaskan cruise and being born again, is that with my salvation came a new nature that involved a heart change. So what happened when I genuinely believed the gospel of Jesus Christ? I received the promise of Ezekiel 36:26, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I received the circumcision of the heart promised in Deuteronomy 30:6 that frees me up to Love God with all my heart and all of my soul, so that I may live. Here is how the NLT translates this verse: The Lord your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live! James is saying that if you really believe what you say you believe, then the evidence that you really do believe will be seen in your actions. But James is not just talking about acting in light of what you believe, no... he is talking about something more than intellect and actions. Notice what he says in verse 19, You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. Do you see what James is doing here? The demons do not have a theological problem when it comes to their intellect, but they do have a heart problem! The fruit of genuine belief that involves the mind and heart are actions that reveal that a spiritual resurrection has taken place and that you have gone from death to life. Faith without action reveals a deeper issuea problem of the heart. If faith shows no signs of life, it isnt truly alive. To illustrate this, James points to two powerful examples from Scripture: Abraham and Rahab. Both demonstrated their genuine belief in God not just through words, but through courageous acts of obedience. They trusted God so completely that they were willing to risk everything, proving that living faith always moves us to action, even when it requires sacrifice. Conclusion Consider Abrahams journeya life seasoned with trials and tests, both by circumstance and by his own choices. For years, Abraham and Sarah hoped and longed for the promise of an heir to become their reality. Miraculously God fulfilled His promise to the elderly couple and when we reach the dramatic moment in Genesis 22 that James refers to, God commanded Abraham to do the unthinkablesacrifice Isaac. Abrahams faith had been forged in the furnace of experience. He was finally able to trust God, even when the command seemed impossible to understand. When Abraham, Isaac, and their servants arrived at the mountain, Abraham told his servants, Stay here with the donkey, and I and the boy will go over there; and we will worship and return to you (Gen. 22:5). Despite the looming test, Abraham expressed confidence that both he and Isaac would return. This conviction shows that Abrahams faith wasnt just a matter of wordshe truly believed that God was both good and powerful enough to raise the dead if necessary. James continues in verse 25, In the same way, was Rahab the prostitute not justified by works also when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? The messengers were spies that Joshua sent into Jericho to assess what they were up against. When the king of Jericho learned that the spies were in Jericho, he searched for them, but Rahab hid them. Before she helped them escape undetected, she said to them: I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have despaired because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt.... When we heard these reports, our hearts melted and no courage remained in anyone any longer because of you; for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth below. (Josh. 2:9-11) The evidence that she really did believe what she said about the God of the Hebrews is seen in her hiding the spies and then helping them escape at great personal risk to herself. Abraham was told to sacrifice his son, but he did not have to because God provided a sacrifice in place of Isaac. Many years later, the Son of God would climb up to the top of Golgotha out of obedience to His Father to die for sins we are guilty of. Jesus died to redeem and make you new for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them (Eph. 2:10). Rahab hid and protected the spies when there was no law requiring her to do so. In so doing, her life was not only spared, but God had a greater purpose she could not have been aware existed, to include her great grandchild being King David, and from David would come the promises King of kings, the Lord Jesus Christ. So, I leave you with a few questions: What is your Isaac that God is asking you to place upon His altar of sacrifice and why have you been reluctant to do so? What is your Jericho that God is asking you to forsake, and why have you been reluctant to let it go? Remember that God is asking these things of you because He is both holy and good. You say that you believe God to be so, therefore trust Him by obeying Him. Christian, God loves you and He ultimately intends good for you. [1] https://www.therestorationmovement.com/_states/connecticut/sandeman.htm [2] Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).
14 Yet they say to God, ‘Depart from us, For we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways. 15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?'
Cory Morgan (Pastor of Modern Worship & Young Adults), "Into the Deep". 4. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 ESV) 1. On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2. and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5. And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6. And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9. For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10. and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11. And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:1-11 ESV)
For the past three days, Massachusetts has played host to a handful of Texas Democratic lawmakers who left their state to prevent a vote on a bill to redraw their congressional maps.
Cory Morgan (Pastor of Modern Worship & Young Adults), "Into the Deep", Modern Worship Praise Team (11:15 Service). 4. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 ESV) 1. On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2. and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5. And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6. And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9. For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10. and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11. And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:1-11 ESV)
Cory Morgan (Pastor of Modern Worship & Young Adults), "Into the Deep", Choir, Blended Worship Praise Team (8:45 Service). 4. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 ESV) 1. On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2. and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5. And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6. And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9. For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10. and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11. And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:1-11 ESV)
Texas Democrats leave the state to protest GOP's redistricting plan. The White House defends the firing of the jobs data czar. Montana police are on the hunt for a man involved in a deadly bar shooting. Outrage over a new hostage video as Israel faces mounting pressure to end the war. An ex-girlfriend of Sean "Diddy" Combs writes a letter to the judge in his criminal trial. How AI is taking a wrecking ball to the job market. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Cory Morgan (Pastor of Modern Worship & Young Adults), "Into the Deep". 4. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 ESV) 1. On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2. and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5. And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6. And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9. For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10. and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11. And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:1-11 ESV)
The sentence will be pronounced. Christ will say to the wicked on the left hand, "Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." How dreadful will these words of the judge be to the poor, miserable, despairing wretches on the left hand! How amazing will every syllable of them be! How will they pierce them to the soul! These words show the greatest wrath and abhorrence. Christ will bid them depart. He will send them away from his presence, will remove them forever far out of his sight, into an everlasting separation from God, as being most loathsome, and unfit to dwell in his presence, and enjoy communion with him. Christ will call them cursed. Depart, ye cursed, to whom everlasting wrath and ruin belong, who are by your own wickedness prepared for nothing else, but to be firebrands of hell, who are the fit objects and vessels of the vengeance and fury of the Almighty. Into fire. He will not send them away merely into a loathsome prison, the receptacle of the filth and rubbish of the universe. But into a furnace of fire.
Simon, Greavesy and Woody go through the latest news out of Turf Moor as James Trafford and Josh Brownhill depart but Maxime Esteve signs a new deal.
A new MP3 sermon from Bible Believers Fellowship is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: 731 When He Is Old He Will Not Depart (Proverbs 22:6) Our Daily Greg Subtitle: Expository Study: Proverbs Speaker: Gregory A. Miller Broadcaster: Bible Believers Fellowship Event: Devotional Date: 7/28/2025 Bible: Proverbs 22:6 Length: 4 min.
RE-RUNI Never Knew You-JACKED UP DAILY!In this episode, Tim, Bobby, and Karen discuss Mathew 7, 21-23 where Jesus says "Depart from me, I never Knew you." What does Jesus mean by saying that? They discuss it on this episode. Our website is www.LetsGetJackedUp.com Welcome to Jacked Up Daily with Tim, Jack, Bobby, and Karen, a dynamic daily podcast on the Fringe Radio Network. Tune in Monday through Friday at 7 AM for conservative commentary, Bible prophecy, and insights from a modern American Christian perspective. Based in Fresno, California, in the heart of the Central Valley, Jacked Up Daily brings a unique West Coast viewpoint to everything from politics and social issues to fringe topics like aliens, ghosts, and the anti-Christ. Whether discussing the rapture, end times prophecy, or offering analysis on current events, this show is perfect for your morning drive. Catch the latest episode on FringeRadioNetwork.com and join us as we explore the mysteries of the world from a bold, Christian viewpoint. Don't miss a moment of this thought-provoking and engaging show, where no topic is off-limits!FringeRadioNetwork.com LetsGetJackedup.com E-mail us at letsgetjackedup@gmail.comFollow us on X @LetsGetJackedUp and Facebookgo to www.StrawHatPizza.com to order your pizza if you live in Clovis or Fresno Californiamusic for this episode was from Back to the 80'shttps://youtu.be/0QKQlf8r7ls?si=dOoU1o_-HRiNm0Pv
Last week, well-known labor organizer Alfredo Juarez Zeferino – nicknamed Lelo – announced he would “voluntarily depart” after being held for months in Tacoma’s ICE processing center. KUOW Race, Identity, and Immigration Reporter Gustavo Sagrero Álvarez was there when Zeferino’s lawyer told supporters outside the ICE facility what Lelo had decided. Guest: KUOW Race, Identity, and Immigration Reporter Gustavo Sagrero Álvarez Related stories: WA farm labor organizer ends his deportation fight after 4 months in ICE detention - KUOW Union farmworker organizer 'Lelo' denied bond to leave Tacoma ICE lockup - KUOW Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A Sermon for the Fifth Sunday after Trinity St. Luke 5:1-11 by William Klock Our Gospels during these first few Sundays of Trinitytide—so far—have all had us following Jesus as he made his way to Jerusalem to observe the Passover for the last time. But today's Gospel—from the Fifth Chapter of Luke—takes us back to the beginning of Jesus' ministry—those early days when he was travelling around the region of Galilee a long way from Jerusalem. Luke gives a series of vignettes in Chapter 4. Every sabbath, he writes, Jesus was teaching in the synagogues. He read from Isaiah one sabbath in his hometown synagogue in Nazareth and then he told the people, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your own hearing!” The people were so angry that they tried to stone him and he fled from the town. So he went to Capernaum and taught in the synagogue there. That's where a demon-possessed man stood up and shouted at Jesus: “I know who you are. You're God's holy one!” And just to prove it, Jesus then cast out the demon and word went out throughout the whole region. On another sabbath, after preaching in the synagogue, he was invited to the house of Simon Peter. Peter's mother-in-law was sick with a high fever. Jesus rebuked the fever and straightaway she recovered and served them lunch. Pretty soon everyone who was sick or who had a demon showed up and Jesus healed them all. And because of that, no matter where Jesus went, Luke writes, the crowds hunted for him. And that's how today's Gospel begins. One day Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. Finally a moment of peace. An early morning walk on the beach. He found a little cove. The shores of Gennesaret (or Galilee as it's otherwise known) are full of little coves. He watched as the fishermen dragged their boats ashore after a night of hard work. But then someone came down the trail to the beach. And he saw Jesus. And he went running back up the trail out of sight shouting, “He's here! He's here! I've found him!” And others began to follow the man back down the trail to the beach. And more and more until another crowd had gathered and was pressing in on Jesus. They had seen for themselves or they had heard the stories of the amazing things the God of Israel was doing through Jesus and they wanted to see more. They wanted to hear more of the good news that Jesus was proclaiming. But it was no good trying to preach from the middle of the crowd. People kept interrupting them with their problems. Even if he could get a few words out, the crowd just couldn't hear him. So Jesus had an idea. Sound travels wonderfully over water and the little beach cove was a perfect amphitheatre. So he made his way down to the water where he'd seen the two boats, and got into one of them, and standing there, he called to one of the fishermen. Jesus recognised the man. It was the same fellow who'd invited him to lunch after the synagogue service. It was the same fellow whose mother-in-law he'd healed. “Hey you! Was it Simon or Peter or Simon Peter. Yes, this is your boat isn't it? Row me out a little way from the land.” Maybe Peter felt like he owed Jesus something or maybe he was flattered that Jesus had chosen his boat and remembered him from the other day. Whatever the case, Peter set aside his net, got in the boat, and rowed Jesus out into the middle of the cove. And Luke says that Jesus sat down in the boat and began to teach the crowd. It was probably some version of Jesus' favourite sermon. Luke has preserved one version of that sermon that we sometimes hear called “The Sermon on the Plain”—because Jesus preached it in a flat, open place, but mostly because it contrasts with the version preserved by Matthew, where Jesus preached from a hillside. We call that version “The Sermon on the Mount”. That's the sermon where Jesus preaches about the kingdom of God. It's the sermon in which he calls the people of Israel to trust in the Lord because he never fails to provide. He clothes the flowers of the field that wither tomorrow. He feeds the birds so that they have no need to worry. How much more important are you—the Lord's elect, chosen, called covenant people—than flowers and birds? So stop worrying and trust him. Pursue, seek his kingdom above everything else, and trust him to take care of you. Israel had struggled for forever with idolatry—in one form or another—instead of trusting in and giving her full allegiance to the Lord. That's what got them exiled to Babylon. The Pharisees were right. That idolatry and fickle faith was what kept them in a sort of in-house exile in their own time. So, in other words, Jesus is saying to the people of Israel: Give the Lord your allegiance. Give your all to his agenda: to holiness, to being light in the darkness, stop being so fickle. You do that and, just as he promised, the Lord will take care of you—he'll even pour out his blessings on you. And Peter sat there right in front of Jesus, holding the oars, keeping the boat in position and Jesus facing the shore, and he listened. The Bible doesn't tell us anything about Peter's past, but just like anyone else, he had one. I don't think Peter was any great or notorious sinner or anything like that. Reading between the lines, I think it's safe to conclude that he was just your ordinary, average Judean who obeyed torah as best he could, who celebrated Passover with his family every year, who went to the temple in Jerusalem as required—at least most of the time. But he knew he wasn't perfect. He could be impetuous at times. He could fly off the handle. But most of all, as Jesus preached, I think Peter was convicted of his own fickleness. He tithed, but sometimes he did so grudgingly. He kept the sabbath, but sometimes he worried where the money was going to come from when he took off that one day a week from fishing. Some days, especially in the summer, sunset on Saturday just couldn't come soon enough for Peter so he could get back to work. Jesus got Peter thinking. Did he really trust in the Lord? Or did Peter trust in Peter? Had he really given his full allegiance to the God of Israel or was Peter really serving Peter? And Peter mulled on these things as Jesus finished speaking and said to him, “Put out into the deeper part, and let down your nets for a catch.” Peter was still playing through in his head what Jesus had been saying about trusting the Lord and giving him his full allegiance. This snapped him out of it. No more introspection. It's like Jesus knew what he was thinking. Peter didn't really want to let down his nets. He'd fished all night and they hadn't caught anything. They certainly weren't going to catch anything in the daylight. That's because they fished with nets made of linen. The fish could see them in the day, but they'd swim right into them in the dark at night. And Peter had just finished cleaning and mending his nets. Now he'd have to clean them—and if they hit a snag, maybe mend them too—all over again. Peter was born and bred to fishing. He knew everything there was to know about it. He knew the habits of fish, he knew about nets, he knew about the seasons, the time of day, and the play of light in the water. He knew about boats. He knew about marketing and selling fish. He was a fisherman! And if First Century fishermen were anything like Twenty-first Century fishermen, the last thing you'd want to do with Peter is start an argument over fishing—especially if you're not a fisherman. And, of course, Jesus was not. His father had taught him the carpentry and the building trade. Peter really, really didn't want to cast his net into the water again and he wouldn't have for anyone else. But this was Jesus. Just like everyone else, Peter wasn't quite sure exactly what to make of him, but he'd not only heard the stories; he'd seen it for himself. His mother-in-law had been on the verge of death, but Jesus made her well—so well that virtually instantly she was up serving them lunch. And so he says to Jesus, “Master”. Let me pause there. Master is okay, but it might not be the best translation. In the Gospels people address Jesus as “teacher” or “rabbi” or even as “lord”, but unique in Luke's Gospel, people occasionally address him as epistata. An epistates is someone in charge, someone with authority. The ten lepers address Jesus as epistata. The disciples, when they were in the boat being tossed around by the storm, addressed him as epistata. That's how Peter addresses Jesus here. “We were working hard all night and caught nothing. But okay, Master. You're the boss, you're calling the shots here. So if you say so, I'll let down the nets.” Peter sounds like he's letting down his nets grudgingly. I wonder if that's how it really was. He's been convicted in his own heart of how he's been half-hearted in serving the Lord. He's just been hearing Jesus preach about God taking care of flowers and birds. Or something along those lines, because we know Jesus liked to preach on that topic. It was exactly what fickle, half-hearted Israel needed to hear. So Peter probably didn't want to go through the hassle of letting down his nets again, but I think he wanted to trust that through Jesus, the God of Israel really would look after him. Jesus might not know anything about fishing, but Peter had seen that Jesus had authority and that he took charge of things—whether demons or blindness or sickness or even the fish in the sea. He could see, plain as day, that the God of Israel was working through Jesus. Peter was thinking on those words: “Seek first the kingdom of God and all these thing will be added to you.” I think the main reason Luke records these words from Peter about having fished all night and caught nothing is that he wants to remind us that this is the way the Lord works. Jesus is telling Peter to fish at the worst possible time to fish. Jesus does this throughout the Gospels. He hears that Lazarus is sick and near to death, but then he waits three days before going—time enough for Lazarus to be well and truly dead. So instead of healing Lazarus from sickness, he raises him from the dead and calls him out of his tomb. Or think of the woman who was bleeding for twelve years or the man who was blind from birth. In that last instance Jesus had the opportunity to explain why these things happened. The disciples with their conventional wisdom assumed that either the man or his parents were great sinners and that the Lord had punished him with blindness. But Jesus said that, no, the man was born blind that God might reveal his glory. Because that's how the God of Israel works and Israel is the chief example. The Lord allowed his people to become slaves in Egypt so that he might display his glory both to them and to the watching nations. In the events of the Exodus the God of Israel exposed the king and the gods of Egypt as frauds, totally lacking the great power and authority they claimed to have. The God of Israel single-handedly beat the gods of Egypt at their own games and humbled mighty Pharaoh—the greatest king on earth—and drowned his army in the sea. And at the same time, in Israel, he created a people who would forever be singing his praises and announcing his glory to the nations. All because they had watched him do the impossible. Every newborn baby boy was circumcised and, in that, he was given the sign of God's covenant promise. And every year the fathers of Israel led their families as they ate the Passover meal and recalled the Lord's promises and the glory he displayed on their behalf in the Exodus. Jesus was doing the same thing. He had come to lead the people in a new exodus and along the way, he was acting out that exodus, that divine deliverance as he did the impossible—and the more impossible the better, because the more power and authority it displayed. Why had Peter (and James and John, his partners) why had they been skunked that night? I don't know. Maybe Peter said something unkind to his wife before leaving that night. Maybe he'd shorted the Lord in his tithing that week. Maybe he'd dallied too long with that dancing girl the day before. Maybe Peter thought his empty nets were punishment for some sin. But if he'd asked Jesus, “Why did I toil all night and catch nothing? Did I sin?” Jesus would have said, “No, Peter. It was so that the Lord, the God of Israel, would be glorified.” And that's exactly what happens. Luke writes, beginning at verse 6 that when they let down their nets, they caught such a huge number of fish that their nets began to break. Usually they'd fish all night for a catch that wouldn't break their nets, but now Peter let down his net and before he could even pull it back into the boat to keep from becoming over-full of fish, the catch was so great that it strained the integrity of the net. I assume it was just he and Jesus in the boat and he and Jesus were, themselves, straining to pull the net in. They signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, Luke writes. So they came, and filled both the boats, and they began to sink. And right there, in a sinking boat, with fish wriggling all around them, Luke writes that Peter took stock of everything that had just happened. He fell down at Jesus' knees. “Depart from me, Lord!” he said, “Because I'm a sinful man!” James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon Peter's partners were just as amazed, Luke writes. But being in the other boat, they couldn't kneel at Jesus' knees. But Peter knelt there convicted of his sins by this amazing display of God's glory. I found myself asking this week why Peter didn't have this same reaction when Jesus healed his mother-in-law. Why was Peter's mother-in-law sick? For the same reason: so that Jesus could display the glory of the God of Israel. Presumably Peter was impressed when he saw the healing. But it didn't impact him the way the multitude of fish did. And maybe that's because Peter was a fisherman, not a doctor. It highlight the fact that God gets to each of us in different ways to convict us of sin and to move us to faith. Every one of us has a different story of how God got hold of us. That, too, is how he works. But one way or another, each of us has been amazed and captivated by the glory of God. Our reactions to that revelation are often different too. Some people encountered God's glory and were moved to faith as Jesus wiped away their tears. Peter, however, is met by that glory and is moved to tears. He knew how the prophets had preached about the coming judgement of Israel for her sins. He'd heard Jesus preach—not just the warm-fuzzies, but also the announcement of soon-coming judgement. And when he saw the glory of God, when he experienced the presence of the holy, Peter found himself overwhelmed by his own sinfulness. He knew he didn't belong in the presence of the holy. He knew he belonged with those people who would find themselves in the outer darkness weeping and gnashing their teeth. He responded just like Isaiah when he found himself in the presence of the holiness of God. Remember Isaiah. He cried out, “Woe is me! For I am lost. For I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips. For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:5). But it was just as Isaiah acknowledged his sinfulness that an angel flew down to touch his lips with a cleansing and holy fire. The angel announced that his guilt had departed and that his sin had been blotted out. And when the Lord called out, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us? Who will proclaim my message to Israel?” Isaiah cried out, “Here I am! Send me!” And it's that scene all over again in that sinking fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee with fish wriggling all around. Peter knelt there shaking at Jesus kneels and Jesus said, “Don't be afraid. From now on you'll be catching men!” Jesus is, himself, the holy fire who purifies us from our sins. Now, it doesn't come across in our English translations, but when Jesus says that Peter will be catching men, that “catching” isn't usually a word associated with fishing. It has the sense of catching someone or something alive—like a warrior catching an enemy, but sparing his life. There's a reason behind Jesus' odd choice of words. What he's doing is echoing the words of Jeremiah 16. There, through the Prophet, the Lord announced the judgement that was about to come on the people of Judea for their unfaithfulness and their idolatry. The Babylonians would come and none would escape. The Lord says, “I am sending for many fishers, declares the Lord, and they shall catch them…For my eyes are on their ways. They are not hidden from me, nor is their iniquity concealed form my eyes.” Jesus draws on the common Greek translation of the prophet. He uses the same word: catch. The people of Judea in those days wouldn't be killed, but neither would they escape the judgement of exile. But now Jesus flips the imagery around. The people of Judah are still in their long exile, still experiencing the punishment brought by their sins, but now the Lord will send fishers again, this time to catch sinners and to rescue them alive from the coming judgement. What was in Jeremiah's day an image of the Lord's judgement on sinners, Jesus now turns into an image of God's mercy for them. As Jesus says in John's Gospel, “God did not send the son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world could be saved by him.” That's what Jesus has come to do. And even though only he can go to the cross to accomplish the redemption of sinners, he's not going on this fishing trip alone. He's calling Peter (and James and John and eventually a whole host of men and women that we call the church) to go fishing with him, to catch men and women that they—that we—might be delivered from our sins and from the coming judgement. How much of this did Peter understand that day? Probably not much. But what he did know is that in Jesus the God of Israel was at work. He knew that judgement was inevitable and he knew that somehow and in some way the Lord was making deliverance possible through Jesus. He had seen the glory of the Lord and there was no going back. And so, Luke writes, They brought their boats to land, then they abandoned everything and followed him. Peter walked away from all of it. The boats, the net, the sea, the fish. They had been his source of security. That's what he'd trusted. But he heard that reminder from Jesus: Seek first God's kingdom, and all these things will be added to you. If the Lord could fill his nets to bursting just to make this point, Peter was ready to trust him with everything—to give his full allegiance to Jesus the Messiah. If God could do this, he could do anything. And so Peter gave his allegiance to the Lord Jesus. And he knew hardship and he knew persecution and eventually he would even come to know martyrdom. His faith and his love for Jesus would eventually lead him from Jerusalem all the way to Rome and all along the way he proclaimed the glory of God. All the way he proclaimed the good news that Jesus died to forgive sins and rose to restore God's life to us and to the world, and that this Jesus is the Lord of all who shows us the glory of his Father. Peter went out into the world to challenge the fake gods and the fake kings in whom we trust, and proclaimed the crucified and risen Lord so that everyone would know the glory of the one, true God. Peter eventually died for that message. But Peter knew that his risen Lord was master over death itself, just as he'd been master over all those fish that one morning years before. And so he trusted Jesus' promise: Seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness—even if it means martyrdom—and he will take care of you. Let's pray: Father, you have called us and made us your people. You send us out, like Simon Peter, to fish for people that they might know the life of your kingdom. When we're tempted to protest, thinking that we are unworthy of the task, that we are too sinful, that we aren't up to it, remind us that in Jesus you have forgiven us, that you have made us holy, that you have filled us with your Spirit, and that you have given us this remarkable and irresistible story to tell the world, this story of your goodness, your love, your grace, your mercy, and your faithfulness. Your glory. Give us the grace to do the work of your kingdom as we trust in your faithfulness to us and to all who hear it. Amen.
Group Guide Use this guide to help your group discussion as you meet this week. TranscriptGood morning, my name's Chet, I'm one of the pastors here. If you will grab your Bible and go to First Samuel, chapter 21. We're going to be in chapters 21 and 22 today. We're looking through both of those chapters.When I was growing up, probably three to five, I think I watched Mary Poppins 42,000 times. I'm pretty sure that we only had like a handful of VHS that my grandmother had recorded from her television. So I also have a lot of commercials really, really memorized. But I watched that on a regular basis. And there's this scene towards the end of the movie where the children had been in a bank and there was some bank trouble. And I don't want to get into a whole discussion of finance, but they had to run out of the bank and they get lost in London. And thus begins a series of back to back to back to back moments that were utterly terrifying to me.It was like they took all the vulnerabilities of a four year old and just pummeled them. So they're lost in a city. Terrifying. Just not knowing where your parents are for like 12 seconds when you're four and five is scary. They're running through a city. This is, you know, it's awful. Then they come around a corner in an alleyway and an old lady pops out and goes, come with me, children. And it's like, why would she do that? And you don't know if she was intending to be helpful. They run away. She seemed scary. So they take off. Then they come around a corner and a dog jumps out and starts barking aggressively at them. When you're a child, a dog is the size of a bear. Like, I mean, you know. Then they turn and they run and they go down an alleyway and a shadowy figure grabs them. Turns out that that's their friend, but you don't know it at the time.I just remember like this seared in my brain, this series of events. And I remember even as a little kid, like, I'm pretty sure there were times where I just stopped watching the movie before that I was like, well, let's move on. I know they make it at the. And I think there were other times where I just left the room and like waited till I heard the song start back up, you know, because it's a children's movie where things are supposed to be happy. And then I returned, but it was really this interesting peek into things that made me feel very vulnerable and very alone. And this real dive into fears that I had.As we're reading through this text today, we're going to see how Saul, David and a handful of other people deal with fear. What it does to them, where it takes them. There's a reality to fear, that it drives us towards something, towards someone, it exposes us in a way. And so what I hope we see in this text is we're going to see them as they interact with it. They're going to see how they handle it. And what I hope we'll learn together is the scariest place to be and the safest place to be as we study this text together.So let's pray quickly for us and then we'll move into chapter 21 of First Samuel. Lord, we ask for your help. We ask for your Spirit to speak in a way that we can understand, that you would help us to deal with our fears and to see what fear does to us in a way that draws us to you. In Jesus name, amen.So David's on the run. Saul wants to kill him. Saul's the king. David was very close to Saul, was a general, was his bodyguard, was all these different things. And he's now having to flee for his life. And that's what we saw last week as Jonathan, Saul's son, helped David escape.Chapter 21.Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. So he goes to Nob, and we're going to find out that Nob is a whole city of priests. It seems as if after everything, after Shiloh was destroyed and the ark was taken, they get the ark back, and it seems like now the center of the priesthood is here. It's unclear whether the ark is also here, but the priests are. And this is where priestly activities will be taking place for the people of Israel, the sacrifices and all that.So he goes there to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech came to meet David, trembling, and said to him,"Why are you alone and no one with you?"So it's odd for David to be by himself. Ahimelech knows David, but David usually has like a whole crew. He's either with the king, he's with his military units that he's overseeing. For David just to show up is what business does he have? Did something terrible happen? What's going on?So he comes out, that's why he's trembling. And he says, what? What's going on? And David said to Ahimelech, the priest,"The king has charged me with a matter and said to me, 'Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you and with which I have charged you.' And I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place. Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread or whatever is here."So David just says, secret king business. And I've got some people that I'm definitely meeting who are real at a very specific place that you can't know about, and I need bread. None of that is true, except for that David wants bread, but he's on the run and he is just trying to get out of here.And the priest answered, David,"I have no common bread on hand, but there is holy bread if the young men have kept themselves from women,"which just has to do with sexual activity, makes you unclean in the law. So that's what that is. It's not just like women, some mean thing about them. It just has to do with sexual activity.David answered the priest,"Truly, women have been kept from us. As always, when I go on an expedition, the vessels of the young men are holy, even when it is an ordinary journey. How much more today will their vessels be holy?"So the priest gave him the holy bread, for there was no bread there, but the bread of the Presence which is removed from before the Lord to be replaced by hot bread on the day that it is taken away.So the tabernacle seems to be here, the bread of the Presence is here. They would set it out on the Sabbath before the Lord as a picture of the meal, the connection, the communion that we have with the Lord, that they have with the Lord. And then they would rotate it out on the Sabbath. And the old loaves were allowed to be eaten by the priests. And Ahimelech breaks that rule to give to David in a time of need.Jesus references this and says that he did right, that this was correct to do, to break a ceremonial law for the sake of caring for someone. And he says this in this argument with the Pharisees about the Sabbath, saying that some things were built for our good and our blessing, and therefore, if there's opposition, we can bless others in those moments. And that's what he's talking about.So David takes that bread and he now has five loaves of bread that was the bread of the Presence, but the priest is allowing him to have it.Verse 7.Now, a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord. His name was Doeg, the Edomite, the chief of Saul's herdsmen, he's detained before the Lord. It may be a Sabbath if they've just swapped the bread out. So it's possible he wasn't allowed to travel very long. It's also possible he's doing some sort of thing because he's an Edomite to become a follower of God. It's also possible that he has some sort of sickness or skin disease and he's having to be watched because there's all these. These are several of the reasons why you might be detained before the Lord. He could also just be there doing some, basically, some holy days for himself as he worships the Lord.But that's it. That's all it tells us about him. It just in the middle of this story goes, hey, Doeg, the Edomite is here. And it's going to go right back to the story. And that's foreshadowing. So remember him, he'll show up later, but he doesn't do anything here.Verse 8.Then David said to Ahimelech,"Then have you not here a spear or a sword at hand? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me because the king's business required haste."And the priest said,"The sword of Goliath, the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah. Behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the Ephod, if you will. Take that, take it, for there's none but that here."And David said,"There is none like that. Give it to me."So David says, I was in such a hurry, I don't even have any weapons. Do you have any weapons? He says, you gave us Goliath's sword. It's still here. And David says, great, that sword is awesome. I will take it. And so he has a nice, probably fairly large sword that he leaves with.Verse 10.And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish, the king of Gath.Okay, David doesn't have any options. That's what this just told us. The plan that he's come up with is, I'm going to show up to Gath with Goliath of Gath's sword and see how that goes. It seems like he's intending to maybe be like a mercenary. He's just going to go there and serve there. He's absolutely on the run from his home, his people, his everything.And the servants of Achish said to him, to Achish,"Is not this David, the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances? Saul has struck down his thousands and David his ten thousands."So if David was planning on being undercover, he shows up and they're like, mmm. And they go to the king and they're like, I'm pretty sure they have a song about how good he is at murdering us. I'm pretty sure that's him.And David took those words, these words to heart. So he somehow overheard this. In this situation, was much afraid of Achish, the king of Gath. So he changed his behavior before them, pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard.So somehow, on his way before the king, he just starts acting insane, drooling, marking up the walls. That's the best disguise he can come up with on the fly, you guys. And it works.Then Achish said to his servants,"Behold, you see, the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me? Do I lack mad men that you've brought this fellow to behave as a madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?"So they're like, hey, we've got David. And then he goes, you brought a crazy person here. Thank you so much. Did you think that was what I really needed? I needed those.Some of y'all like to memorize verses for specific situations that you can remind, you know, rehearse yourself or say to other people. Maybe this one for, like, when your family's coming over for vacation or something, or your in-laws are coming and you can just quote to your spouse,"Do we lack mad men in their house? Are we gonna let this fellow in just for y'all?"Bible memorization, you're welcome. Probably won't be one of our monthly verses, but it's a good one.All right, chapter 22.David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam.So David then leaves. He heads back over into Israelite territory and hides in King Achish's. So his plan to go to Gath does not work and he escapes. Now, an interesting thing happens as we get to follow this story and as we have the whole revelation of the Scriptures, because this text doesn't tell us a lot of what's going on with David, what he's thinking. We just hear what he's doing. We hear some of what he says, but we don't get to see what's going on with him.And so far, in the midst of fear, he's just run and he's come up with what arguably is an ill-advised plan to run to Gath. But that's all he comes up with. He ends up in this cave. But in the book of Psalms we have songs and poems and worship that David writes. And there's one that has this inscription above it. It says, this is Psalm 34. It says of David when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out and he went away.Now this text calls him Achish, which seems to be a title, and Abimelech seems to be his name. So like if you said he was in front of Caesar and then later it says Nero, it's the same guy. So Achish and Abimelech.So we actually get to hear what, how David responds after this moment when he gets to escape. And so it seems like he wrote this while in the cave or on his way to it. He starts off in the first four verses, worshiping, praising. He says,"I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him and delivers them."So he says, I had fear and he rescued me. And those who fear the Lord he protects. So David's interaction with fear is shifting here. He's saying, in my fear I began to go to the Lord, and now I fear him. He's the most fearful, so he's been on the run. It doesn't seem like he's handled everything so well so far. But now, as everything slows down, as he's trying to process through this, and he's worshiping the Lord for rescuing him out of Gath, this is what he's writing.Verse 8,"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack."He keeps going.Verse 18,"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."In verse 22 he says,"The Lord redeems the life of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him will be condemned."This is how he ends it. So he says, I'm hiding in him. I'm taking refuge in him. My hope is in him. That's David as he deals with this fear.So chapter 22, let's pick back up in the text.David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him.David on the run, hiding in a cave, trying to figure out what he's going to do, trying to lay low, writing some songs from his expert hiding place. He looks out one day, keeping a good lookout, and he's like, mom.Because his whole family shows up. They all come to him, which makes sense. And maybe he had to go out for supplies. Maybe word spreads at some point where David is, but his whole family comes to him, which makes sense, because if David's on the run from Saul, they're probably not that safe from Saul. And Saul may go look to them to find David.So they all go to David. Then it says this."And everyone who was in distress and everyone who was in debt and everyone who was bitter in soul gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about 400 men."So his mom, his brothers, his dad, they all show up. Then other people just start showing up. And it's like, why are you here? I am stressed beyond belief. Everything out there is terrible. I heard David was in a cave, and I thought, I'm gonna go get in that cave. Somebody else shows up. Why are you here? I owe so many people so much money. Cave started sounding pretty good. Everyone who's bitter in soul, so the most frustrated, angry people who are, they're not going to read, they're not going to vote for Saul when reelection time comes back around like, this hasn't worked for them. That's who's showing up to David. And then it says he becomes commander of them. So they showed up and they were like, everything is awful. And he's like, okay, do some push ups. It's time to start training. I guess y'all are gonna have to listen to what I say if you're hanging out in my cave. And they do. So now he has 400 distressed, bitter in soul people who owe a lot of money to other people. They're all with David now, plus his mom and his brothers and his dad, okay?And David went from there to Mizpah of Moab. So now he leaves again. He takes all these people with him, it seems. And he said to the king of Moab,"Please let my father and my mother stay with you till I know what God will do for me."And he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.So reading some commentaries on this, there was a couple of different ideas as to why the king of Moab would let him do that. Some of the things they put out were housing fugitives because the Moabites were enemies of the Israelites. So the king to house fugitives that are against Saul seems like maybe that's a good idea.There's also just a general cultural thing of hospitality. So it's possible they're just doing what their culture does, which is show hospitality in these sort of situations.There's a theory that it's possible that one of the reasons they went to Moab was that Jesse is the grandson of Ruth, who was from Moab. So there's some family connection here.And I've come up with my own theory, which is that David showed up with 400 desperate men and said, hey, will you watch my mom? And they were like, sure. You and your friends gonna leave? He's like, we're gonna hang out a little bit, but just keep an eye on them until we figure out what's gonna happen.So any one of those is possible as to why they've said yes to this, but they do say yes to this. David leaves his parents with the king of Moab, and he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.Then the prophet Gad said to David,"Do not remain in the stronghold. Depart and go into the land of Judah."So he says, we're not going to stay in Moab. The Lord wants you to go back to Judah. And he does. And we're going to see Gad show up periodically through the story of David.So David departed and went to the forest of Heref.Now the story is going to shift to Saul. So we've seen David dealing with fear. We've seen him on the run, and we've seen him as this process is happening, growing in worship and saying, he's going to trust in the Lord.And now we're going to see Saul as he deals with fear.Verse 6.Now, Saul heard that David was discovered and the men who were with him.If you're playing hide and seek and someone finds you, you may not have had the best hiding spot. If your entire family finds you, plus 400 strangers, you don't have a good hiding spot.So David now is discovered. They know he's out. They know kind of where he is. And he's got 400 people traveling around with him. And this news makes it to Saul. So he's no longer incognito. He's known.Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear in his hand. And all his servants were standing about him, which first of all, of course he has a spear in his hand. He seems to always be holding a spear. But also what is happening in this text, it says he was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear. And all his servants, all of those things are markers of leadership and kingship. That you would sit under an obvious tree, they would hold court there, they would answer questions there, they would judge there that he's on a height, that he's got servants, that he's holding his spear. So in some ways this text says Saul the king was out kinging in a very kingly way. That's kind of what that text is doing. It's building him up as much like he's super kinging. Right now. We got David hiding in a cave, wandering around other places, trying to figure out what he's going to do, hiding in a forest. And now we've got Saul, the kingiest king that ever did king.And Saul said to his servants who stood about him here now,"People of Benjamin."Okay, that's interesting. Benjamin is the tribe that Saul is from. He's been king for a long time. He's been king over all of Israel for a long time. It's possible that he only always has kept just Benjaminites the closest to him. Or as he's grown more and more paranoid and more and more fearful, he's gotten rid of everybody who doesn't belong to his tribe and now has perfectly surrounded himself with Benjaminites. But either way, he's paranoid and fearful.And we're going to hear from his speech how far that goes.But these are only people from his clan. He's suspicious, fearful."Hear now, people of Benjamin, will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, that all of you have conspired against me?"So he stands there and says, you just are so certain that David's gonna bless all of you, that he's gonna care for all of you, that you're all gonna be so important when he becomes king, that you've all conspired against me? And that's not true. But he now doubts everyone that's around him.Still, in verse 8, he says,"No one discloses to me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is sorry for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me to lie in wait, as at this day."He is correct that Jonathan did make a covenant with David, but it was because they loved one another. It was a covenant of friendship to care for one another. They make a covenant that they're not going to harm each other. And Jonathan goes out of his way to keep his dad from sinning against David.But he is not helping David lie in wait against Saul.David isn't lying in wait against Saul. David's not out to get Saul. Saul's out to get David. Saul is actually not in danger, not from David, but he thinks he is. And he's saying, everyone's against me.And Saul's entire world has shrunk to just him. It's just him. Everybody's an enemy. Everybody's in on it. Everything's a secret. Everything's falling apart.Then answered Doeg, the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul,"I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, and he inquired of the Lord for him and gave him provisions and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine."We actually don't know if he inquired of the Lord from him. Our text doesn't tell us that. But Doeg says he did. But that's something you do before military stuff. He doesn't say he gave him five loaves of bread. He calls it provisions, just militarizing it up a little bit. And he gives him a sword. He basically says, hey, Ahimelech's in on it.Then the king sent to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub and all his father's house. The priests who were at Nob and all of them came to the king. It would have taken a couple miles away, so to go get them to come back. This took a couple hours, but they all come.And Saul said,"Hear now, son of Ahitub?"And he answered,"Here I am, my lord."And Saul said to him,"Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him, so that he has risen against me to lie in wait as at this day?"Then Ahimelech answered the king,"And who among all your servants is as faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law and captain over your bodyguard and honored in your house? Is today the first time that I have inquired of God for him? No. Let not the king impute anything to his servant or to all the house of my father, for your servant has known nothing of this, of all of this. Much or little."So Ahimelech just says, it's David. David, your bodyguard, your son-in-law. I've done this. I do this. I would do this for him anytime he comes. I'm not in on something. I didn't know any of this. Don't add that to me. Don't add that to my family. That's not the case.Aside from those noises, that's what he said. He may have said it really calmly, I don't know, but he just kind of lists out like five things in a row where he's just like, I didn't have anything to do with anything, and this is normal for me to do whatever David asks.Verse 16.And the king said,"You shall surely die, Ahimelech. You and all your father's house."And the king said to the guard who stood about him,"Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David. They knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me."But the servants of the king would not put out their hand to strike the priests of the Lord.You got to hear the sentence that Saul said. He looks at his servants and says, that's it. Kill all the priests of the Lord because they're on David's team. Priests of the Lord. They're on David's team.And then I don't know if y'all can see the fear and the frustration. And Saul's face turned purple as all of his soldiers are just like, nope, I'm not.I love his soldiers in this moment because they all know there's going to be a day I stand before the Lord and it won't be Saul. There's a day that I will stand before my king and it isn't Saul. And I'm not going on record as killing a priest, it's not happening. You can kill me. That's fine. Then I'll go stand before the Lord and go, do you see me not kill that priest? Do you see what I just died for? Like, they just don't move.And again, I'm sure this just confirms in Saul that everyone is against him. His whole world has shrunk down to his center of gravity and Doeg.Then the king said to Doeg,"You turn and strike down the priests."And Doeg, the Edomite turned and struck down the priests. And he killed on that day 85 persons who wore the linen ephod. Doeg is an Edomite. He doesn't care.So he kills them, 85 of them. They brought all the males from that household. They kill all of them. And Nob, the city of the priests, he put to the sword both man and woman, child and infant, ox, donkey and sheep. He put to the sword.Saul does to the city of the priests what he was not willing to do to the Amalekites when it was for the Lord and it was holy war, he was unwilling to do it. When it's for him and it's his trying to keep his seat of power, he's willing to.Verse 20.But one of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to David.Alright, so something very interesting has happened in this passage.In chapter two, a man of God comes to Eli and says the priesthood is not going to stay with your family because you've dishonored me. He says they're going to be wiped out. There will only be left one who will cry his eyes out. That's what just happened. Abiathar is that one.And eventually it's taken from him. He doesn't get to carry on serving the Lord. So the curse of God is poured out on this family through the wicked choices of Saul.So Saul is very wrong to do what he does. But we also see the hand of God at work in fulfilling his promises. It's a very interesting thing that happens here. But it doesn't mean that Saul's right to do what he does. It just means that when God says something, it happens.And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord.And David said to Abiathar,"I knew on that day when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul, I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father's house."David's response is, that's on me. While David was on the run, while David was doing what he did, he said, I knew that. I knew he was going to tell him. And I don't know if David fully understood what was going to come from that. I don't see how he could have. But he just says, yeah, that's. I'm the one to blame for this.Verse 21,"Stay with me. Do not be afraid for he who seeks my life seeks your life with me. You shall be in safekeeping."So that's his response to Abiathar.There's a very interesting call it a social phenomenon that's happening in this text. But everybody who's absolutely desperate is going to David. If everything has fallen apart, if you have no hope of a future, if everything has fallen around your ears, they go to David.And I can't help but see that and see that that's exactly what happens in the New Testament with Jesus. That when Jesus is on earth, the people who flock to him are the poor, the destitute, the sinners, the weak, the small, the outcasts.This actually is one of the things that he and the religious leaders get into arguments over all the time. They're like, you hang out with absolute human garbage. And Jesus is like, right, because the sick need a physician, not the well.And there's this thing where if you really know that you're in need, you start looking for somewhere to go, some bit of hope, someone to run to.And so we see in this story as it plays out that you have fear, legitimate, real, terrible fear, actual bad things.And David, as we follow this out, he runs to the Lord and there's all of these people that run to David. And then there's Saul who tries to handle everything in his own strength.And I told you earlier that we would see. I'm trying to tell you the scariest place to be.The scariest place to be is where you are the biggest person in the world.The scariest place to be is where you are utterly, completely, absolutely self-sufficient.The scariest place to be is where the center of existence has boiled down to your center of gravity, where it's all up to you.That's where Saul is.Trust, no one believes, no one hopes in nothing, just whatever he can tooth and nail and claw and grab, whatever he can get done, all up to him.And I don't know if you know it, but that's what our culture has told you over and over again is what you need to go do.Express yourself, find yourself, succeed, accomplish, win, earn.It's up to you.The most powerful snowflake in the world that you've got to on your own. Be sufficient, be capable, be good.That's what religion shows up and tells you so often is be good, be moral, do it. It's up to you.That's terrifying.The guards around Saul know something that we need to know is that one day you're going to stand before the real Lord, the real King.And on that day you do not want to stand in yourself self-sufficient.You do not want to stand before the King and say, judge me, evaluate me, I am big enough, I am good enough, I am capable.That's terrifying.You don't want to live your life that way.And you certainly don't want to end your life that way.We get to do with Jesus what Abiathar does with David and we get to have the same response.We get to run to him and say, I have no hope anywhere but with you.And what David says to Abiathar is what Jesus says to us.Your life is connected to my life and with me you'll be in safekeeping.That we get to hide ourselves in Christ.That when he died for sins, he died for us.That when he was buried, we were buried.When he rose, we rise.We get to be hidden in Christ and what he has accomplished.And we get to stand before the Lord in Christ and not in ourselves and not in our sufficiency.But we get to say, I have hidden in him.And no one is put to shame who takes refuge in the Lord.David prophetically says it at the end of his psalm."The Lord redeems the life of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him will be condemned."And then we get to live like that in all the fears of life.You get to go to the Lord. You get to do what David did. He's in the, he's in the cave and he's rehearsing.You know how long it takes to write a song? It's possible that this just came out, but I think a lot of it is he's working on, he's rehearsing, he's remembering and he's reminding himself over and over and over and over again.My hope is in you. My trust is in you. I have no good apart from you.Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.Nobody who is condemned, who places their hope in you.Nobody who runs to you in refuge, oh, let me hide in you.Over and over and over and over again.And then we get to do the same thing that we don't in the middle of fear go, I must act, I've got to do something.But we get to in the middle of the fear go, okay Lord, if you don't help, I'm in trouble. If you don't show up, I'm in trouble.I see so often in my own sin. I'll talk to the Lord and I'll say, Lord, if you aren't merciful, if you don't forgive sinners, I have no hope.But oh thank you that you do. And let me hide in you.Let me. Let the righteousness of Christ be applied to me.Let his life and death and burial apply to me.Let me hide in him.It's one of my favorite songs is Rock of Ages.And just at the end it says,"Let me hide myself in thee, let me hide in you."And let it be about you.And so if you've never seen that you actually are not capable enough, strong enough, good enough, if your whole world is about you and you still think you are strong enough, I would say no, come to the Lord.But if you know you're in debt, in sin, you're destitute, you're distressed, you're bitter, come to the Lord, run to him and say, I need to hide in you.And for the Christians in the room who are struggling with fear, rehearse for yourself what's true about him.Start with Psalm 34.Read it, pray it. Sit. Remind yourself my hope is bound up in you.That's what Colossians 3 says,"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."We are hidden with him.His life and our life, our life is bound up in him.And with him we are in safe keeping.Let's pray.Lord, I pray right now in the name of Jesus, for every person in this room who is self-sufficient. For every person in this room who, when it all boils down, it's just them. Just them and their wisdom, just them and their morality, just them and their strength, just them and their ingenuity, that it's just them.Lord, I pray that you would, through your Spirit, help them to see how small and how vulnerable and how scary that is, that they might run to you.Lord, we pray for the person in this room who already sees that, who already feels debt, distress, destitute, desperate, that they would run headlong to you and say, oh, let your life cover me, let your righteousness apply to me. Let me hide myself in you.And Lord, may the Christians in this room rehearse that over and over and over again. That in fear we might fear you more and know that no one is condemned who takes refuge in you.In Jesus' name, Amen.The band's going to come back up. We're going to respond in communion and worship.
Mac & Bone start Friday's show, talking about the Orioles sweeping the doubleheader from the Mets, as the guys have fun at the expense of Fitty, they recap another loss for the Braves, they talk about Cooper Flagg's NBA Summer League debut, replay their conversation with Phil Steele, and react to the latest around Patrick Agyemang See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
1 And it came to pass, that when the multitudes pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Genesareth,Factum est autem, cum turbae irruerunt in eum ut audirent verbum Dei, et ipse stabat secus stagnum Genesareth. 2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.Et vidit duas naves stantes secus stagnum : piscatores autem descenderant, et lavabant retia. 3 And going into one of the ships that was Simon's, he desired him to draw back a little from the land. And sitting he taught the multitudes out of the ship.Ascendens autem in unam navim, quae erat Simonis, rogavit eum a terra reducere pusillum. Et sedens docebat de navicula turbas. 4 Now when he had ceased to speak, he said to Simon: Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.Ut cessavit autem loqui, dixit ad Simonem : Duc in altum, et laxate retia vestra in capturam. 5 And Simon answering said to him: Master, we have labored all the night, and have taken nothing: but at thy word I will let down the net.Et respondens Simon, dixit illi : Praeceptor, per totam noctem laborantes nihil cepimus : in verbo autem tuo laxabo rete. 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a very great multitude of fishes, and their net broke.Et cum hoc fecissent, concluserunt piscium multitudinem copiosam : rumpebatur autem rete eorum. 7 And they beckoned to their partners that were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they were almost sinking.Et annuerunt sociis, qui erant in alia navi, ut venirent, et adjuvarent eos. Et venerunt, et impleverunt ambas naviculas, ita ut pene mergerentur. 8 Which when Simon Peter saw, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying: Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.Quod cum vidisset Simon Petrus, procidit ad genua Jesu, dicens : Exi a me, quia homo peccator sum, Domine. 9 For he was wholly astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken.Stupor enim circumdederat eum, et omnes qui cum illo erant, in captura piscium, quam ceperant : 10 And so were also James and John the sons of Zebedee, who were Simon's partners. And Jesus saith to Simon: Fear not: from henceforth thou shalt catch men.similiter autem Jacobum et Joannem, filios Zebedaei, qui erunt socii Simonis. Et ait ad Simonem Jesus : Noli timere : ex hoc jam homines eris capiens. 11 And having brought their ships to land, leaving all things, they followed him.Et subductis ad terram navibus, relictis omnibus, secuti sunt eum
Longtime analyst Walter Piecyk making a stunning call that Tim Cook needs to go. We discuss with our Steve Kovach and Wedbush's Dan Ives. Plus, we get a shareholder's take with Malcolm Ethridge from Capital Area Planning Group. And, Former Fed Vice Chair Richard Clarida maps out his forecast for the fed.
1 And it came to pass, that when the multitudes pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Genesareth,Factum est autem, cum turbae irruerunt in eum ut audirent verbum Dei, et ipse stabat secus stagnum Genesareth. 2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.Et vidit duas naves stantes secus stagnum : piscatores autem descenderant, et lavabant retia. 3 And going into one of the ships that was Simon's, he desired him to draw back a little from the land. And sitting he taught the multitudes out of the ship.Ascendens autem in unam navim, quae erat Simonis, rogavit eum a terra reducere pusillum. Et sedens docebat de navicula turbas. 4 Now when he had ceased to speak, he said to Simon: Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.Ut cessavit autem loqui, dixit ad Simonem : Duc in altum, et laxate retia vestra in capturam. 5 And Simon answering said to him: Master, we have labored all the night, and have taken nothing: but at thy word I will let down the net.Et respondens Simon, dixit illi : Praeceptor, per totam noctem laborantes nihil cepimus : in verbo autem tuo laxabo rete. 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a very great multitude of fishes, and their net broke.Et cum hoc fecissent, concluserunt piscium multitudinem copiosam : rumpebatur autem rete eorum. 7 And they beckoned to their partners that were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they were almost sinking.Et annuerunt sociis, qui erant in alia navi, ut venirent, et adjuvarent eos. Et venerunt, et impleverunt ambas naviculas, ita ut pene mergerentur. 8 Which when Simon Peter saw, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying: Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.Quod cum vidisset Simon Petrus, procidit ad genua Jesu, dicens : Exi a me, quia homo peccator sum, Domine. 9 For he was wholly astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken.Stupor enim circumdederat eum, et omnes qui cum illo erant, in captura piscium, quam ceperant : 10 And so were also James and John the sons of Zebedee, who were Simon's partners. And Jesus saith to Simon: Fear not: from henceforth thou shalt catch men.similiter autem Jacobum et Joannem, filios Zebedaei, qui erunt socii Simonis. Et ait ad Simonem Jesus : Noli timere : ex hoc jam homines eris capiens. 11 And having brought their ships to land, leaving all things, they followed him.Et subductis ad terram navibus, relictis omnibus, secuti sunt eum.The Church here is represented by Peter's boat. In the ship of the Church of Jesus, beaten by the waves and tempest of this world, let our trust in God.
Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.JOS.1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.JOS.1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.JOS.1:10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,JOS.1:11 Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it.Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.PSA.74:2 Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.We are in the midst of a major spiritual war before the AntiChrist shows up and then Jesus shows up! SO LET'S HAVE FUN SHARING THE WORD TOGETHER !!!FEAR IS A SIN! Let's move our lives into God and receive His rest and peace on all sides no matter how much of a drama queen the Enemy is.GET NOTIFIED WHEN WE GO LIVE HERE AND DOWNLOAD THE APP!fringeradionetwork.comHOW TO SOW THE SEED FINANCIALLY:PAYPAL:spiritforce01@gmail.comBITCOIN:3H4Z2X22DuVUjWPsXKPEsWZmT9c4hDmYvyVENMO:@faithbucksCASHAPP:$spiritforcebucksZelle:faithbucks@proton.mePATREON:Michael BashamHOME BASE SITE:faithbucks.com
1 And it came to pass, that when the multitudes pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Genesareth,Factum est autem, cum turbae irruerunt in eum ut audirent verbum Dei, et ipse stabat secus stagnum Genesareth. 2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.Et vidit duas naves stantes secus stagnum : piscatores autem descenderant, et lavabant retia. 3 And going into one of the ships that was Simon's, he desired him to draw back a little from the land. And sitting he taught the multitudes out of the ship.Ascendens autem in unam navim, quae erat Simonis, rogavit eum a terra reducere pusillum. Et sedens docebat de navicula turbas. 4 Now when he had ceased to speak, he said to Simon: Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.Ut cessavit autem loqui, dixit ad Simonem : Duc in altum, et laxate retia vestra in capturam. 5 And Simon answering said to him: Master, we have labored all the night, and have taken nothing: but at thy word I will let down the net.Et respondens Simon, dixit illi : Praeceptor, per totam noctem laborantes nihil cepimus : in verbo autem tuo laxabo rete. 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a very great multitude of fishes, and their net broke.Et cum hoc fecissent, concluserunt piscium multitudinem copiosam : rumpebatur autem rete eorum. 7 And they beckoned to their partners that were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they were almost sinking.Et annuerunt sociis, qui erant in alia navi, ut venirent, et adjuvarent eos. Et venerunt, et impleverunt ambas naviculas, ita ut pene mergerentur. 8 Which when Simon Peter saw, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying: Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.Quod cum vidisset Simon Petrus, procidit ad genua Jesu, dicens : Exi a me, quia homo peccator sum, Domine. 9 For he was wholly astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken.Stupor enim circumdederat eum, et omnes qui cum illo erant, in captura piscium, quam ceperant : 10 And so were also James and John the sons of Zebedee, who were Simon's partners. And Jesus saith to Simon: Fear not: from henceforth thou shalt catch men.similiter autem Jacobum et Joannem, filios Zebedaei, qui erunt socii Simonis. Et ait ad Simonem Jesus : Noli timere : ex hoc jam homines eris capiens. 11 And having brought their ships to land, leaving all things, they followed him.Et subductis ad terram navibus, relictis omnibus, secuti sunt eum.
On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”[a] 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.—Luke 5: 1-11
Matthew 7 really scares me! To whom does Jesus say, “Depart from Me”? Right now, I'm being slandered. And the person doing it is a believer! How does God view this injustice? If God hardened Pharaoh's heart long ago, then does He harden people's hearts today so they can't believe?
I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Saturday morning, the 5th of July, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We go straight to the Gospel of Luke 10:20:”Nevertheless…” (Jesus says), ”… do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Folks, this is a beautiful scripture. You know, when you stand before the Lord one day, the greatest thing you want to hear from God is, ”Well done, good and faithful servant, come and enter into thy rest.” The one thing you don't want to hear is, ”Who are you? Depart from Me, I never knew you.” The disciples had returned. They said to Jesus, ”Even the evil spirits, we cast them out and they go.” Jesus says, ”That's wonderful,” He said, ”But rather rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Isn't it a beautiful thing? You walk into someone's house, or into a business, and the person says, ”Hello John, hello Jack!” It makes you feel so good because he remembered you, and he remembered your name. Names are very important to me because I know they mean a lot to people. When you say, ”Hello brother, hello sister,” then you know they've forgotten your name, but when we stand before the Lord one day and He says, ”Welcome home!”- that is going to be the most incredible message to hear out of the mouth of God. He knows me! I want to ask you today, do you know Him personally as your Lord and Saviour? You might say: ”Look, I know about Him, Angus. My family are Christians, my grandfather was a great preacher.” No, but I'm saying, do you know Him? “Well, I hope so.” No, that's not good enough.So how can we be sure that God will recognise us when we get to Heaven? Well, the Bible says in Romans 10:9: ”that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Now what I want to do is pray with you and maybe you say, ”I've prayed that prayer before.” Well, maybe you want to do it again today because I tell you what, I pray that prayer constantly. Pray this prayer after me.Dear Lord Jesus, Today I want to be sure that when I die and I go to Heaven that You will recognise me and call me by my name, that You will say, ”Welcome home!” And I ask today Lord, that You confirm that, as I would confess You as my Lord and my Saviour, my only God, and the One who died for my sins on the Cross of Calvary. I ask these things in Jesus' name.AmenGod bless you and have a wonderful day,Goodbye.
Your Nightly Prayer
Read OnlineThe swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district. Matthew 8:33–34Why would “the whole town” beg Jesus to leave their district as a result of Jesus delivering two of their fellow townsmen from demons? This event took place on the northeast edge of the Sea of Galilee near a town of the Gadarenes who were not of Jewish background, which accounts for the fact that there was such a large herd of swine (the Jewish people did not eat pork). Two of the Gadarenes were possessed by demons, and Scripture reports that “They were so savage that no one could travel by that road.” And when Jesus delivers them from this awful plight, instead of rejoicing in gratitude, the townspeople begged Jesus to leave.Saint Jerome says that it is possible that the people were actually acting in humility, in that they did not consider themselves worthy to be in the presence of someone as great as Jesus. Like Saint Peter who fell at the feet of Jesus and cried out, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8), these townspeople may have been in such awe at what Jesus did for them that they did not see themselves as being worthy of His presence. However, other Church Fathers point out that it is more likely that these townspeople signify those who are stuck in their life of sin and do not want to come face-to-face with the Gospel or with the Person of Jesus. They prefer to close their ears to the truth and to remain in their life of ignorance and sin.It's also helpful to reflect upon the relationship between the townspeople and these two demoniacs. Ideally, when the townspeople saw these two men completely freed of the demons who tormented them, they would have rejoiced in a way similar to the way the father of the Prodigal Son rejoiced when his son returned to him. Sadly, in this case, there seems to be a tremendous lack of excitement by their fellow townsmen over the freedom these two demoniacs experienced. This shows a clear lack of love for these two men within the town. Perhaps many of the townspeople took a twisted form of pleasure in their mockery of these two men over the years, and they enjoyed telling stories about how crazy they were. Now, they were faced with these two men who were completely changed, and they may have found it difficult to speak well of them because of their pride.This negative example set by these townspeople gives us an opportunity to reflect upon how we think about and treat those who have changed their ways and have turned from evil to good. Perhaps you have a family member who has sincerely tried to change. Or perhaps someone at work, a neighbor or some other acquaintance has gone from a life of sin to a life seeking virtue. The real question to ponder is whether you rejoice over the goodness of others, over their ongoing conversion and pursuit of holiness, or whether you struggle with truly expressing joy as you see people you know change for the good. It's often very easy to criticize but much more difficult to rejoice in the holy transformation of another.Reflect, today, upon those in your life, those close to you and those with whom you are mere acquaintances, who have been set free by our Lord in some way and have moved from a life of sin toward a life of virtue. How do you react to them? Are you able to sincerely rejoice in the goodness of others? Or do you find yourself struggling with jealousy, anger, envy and the like? As you do see the goodness of God at work in others, try to put on the mentality suggested by Saint Jerome above. Allow yourself to be in awe of God's action in their lives. As you do, humble yourself before the transforming power of God, admitting that you are not worthy to witness His transforming power but rejoice in gratitude nonetheless. My all-powerful Lord, You overcame the power of the evil one and cast demons from these two men who suffered through this oppression for many years. Give me the eyes I need to see You at work in our world and to joyfully bear witness to Your transforming action in the lives of others. May I always humble myself before Your saving actions and learn to express true gratitude for all that You do. Jesus, I trust in You.James Tissot, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.
Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.JOS.1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.JOS.1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.JOS.1:10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,JOS.1:11 Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it.Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.PSA.74:2 Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.We are in the midst of a major spiritual war before the AntiChrist shows up and then Jesus shows up! SO LET'S HAVE FUN SHARING THE WORD TOGETHER !!! FEAR IS A SIN! Let's move our lives into God and receive His rest and peace on all sides no matter how much of a drama queen the Enemy is. GET NOTIFIED WHEN WE GO LIVE HERE AND DOWNLOAD THE APP!fringeradionetwork.com HOW TO SOW THE SEED FINANCIALLY:PAYPAL:spiritforce01@gmail.comBITCOIN:3H4Z2X22DuVUjWPsXKPEsWZmT9c4hDmYvyVENMO:@faithbucksCASHAPP:$spiritforcebucksZelle:faithbucks@proton.mePATREON:Michael BashamHOME BASE SITE:faithbucks.com
Depart with us as we go into the terminal to discuss the first Final Destination.Welcome to the Movies to Watch Before You Die Podcast with Gab and Dylan!Movies To Watch Before You Die merch here - https://moviestowatchbeforeyoudie-shop.fourthwall.com/Look up the movie here - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095705/Find us everywhere here - https://linktr.ee/moviestowatchbeforeyoudie00:00 Welcome01:02 What's it about?05:14 Opinion Time35:20 Let's get to the facts47:02 VerdictsWe're a member of the Hall of Pods, find links for our podcasting friends here - https://linktr.ee/hallofpodsWho are we: A former actress and video editor but more than anything we're movie fans like you.Why listen? Why not! We're gonna talk about movies you love, movies you hate, and movies you've never heard of. We can't wait to hear what you think of them too. If you want to tell us your opinion on whether or not a movie is one we should watch before we die, tell us we're wrong, or tell us you like the show send us an email or voice message at moviestowatchbeforeyoudie@gmail.com . We can't wait to hear from you and we can't wait to talk movies!Thanks to Scott Interrante for the music in our intro!Thanks to Brian Maneely for our artwork!Movies Dylan and Gab agree you should watch before you die: Vampire's Kiss, Die Hard, Tropic Thunder, Wag the Dog, The Legend of Billie Jean, You've Got Mail, True Lies, The Room, Game Night, The Truman Show, The Great Gatsby, Whiplash, The Lost Boys, The Fugitive, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, My Cousin Vinny, Shutter Island, Starship Troopers, Big, Joy Ride, The Jerk, Alien/Aliens, Best in Show, Freaky Friday, Over the Garden Wall, North, Catch Me If You Can, Clue, Jerry Maguire, Groundhog Day, The Great Mouse Detective, Chicago, Wall-E, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Breakdown, Cool Runnings, Ruthless People, Mean Girls, Borat, A League of Their Own, City Slickers, Jingle All the Way, Saw, The Lion King, Little Big League, The Naked Gun, and Young Frankenstein
“Art thou become like unto us?” — Isaiah 14:10 What must be the apostate professor's doom when his naked soul appears before God? How will he bear that voice, “Depart, ye cursed; thou hast rejected me, and I reject thee; thou hast played the harlot, and departed from Me: I also have banished thee for […]
Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Matthew 7:21-29 - Jesus said to His disciples: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your Name? Did we not drive out demons in Your Name? Did we not do mighty deeds in Your Name?' Then I will declare to them solemnly, 'I never knew you. Depart from Me, you evildoers.' "Everyone who listens to these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of Mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined." When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2) Neocons are rooting for war with Iran not just because of politics, but because of "bad theology" https://humanevents.com/2025/06/23/jack-posobiec-and-joshua-lisec-neocons-are-rooting-for-war-with-iran-not-just-because-of-politics-but-because-of-bad-theology 4) Jesse answers questions on Judaism
Pastoral Reflections Finding God In Ourselves by Msgr. Don Fischer
Gospel Matthew 7:21-29 Jesus said to his disciples: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?' Then I will declare to them solemnly, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.' "Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined." When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. Reflection Jesus is pointing out something very important about what we do. You can do actions that are according to what God wants, but your heart can be far, far from him. What he's saying is that the only way that we can do the work of God is by connecting with God, about God being within us, God being the source of what we do. It's why he says to those that say, we're doing everything for you, everything in your name. And he looks at them and simply says, you don't know me. You haven't contacted me. You haven't asked for me to be the source of the work that you do. It creates a house built on sand. Closing Prayer Father, you are the source of all good that flows from us. And you simply give us the generous gift of your authority, your strength. All you ask is that we allow you to come and be a part of our life. Allowing you to be the source, the foundation of everything that we do. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jesus said to his disciples:"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,'will enter the Kingdom of heaven,but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.Many will say to me on that day,'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?Did we not drive out demons in your name?Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?'Then I will declare to them solemnly,'I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.'"Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on themwill be like a wise man who built his house on rock.The rain fell, the floods came,and the winds blew and buffeted the house.But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.And everyone who listens to these words of minebut does not act on themwill be like a fool who built his house on sand.The rain fell, the floods came,and the winds blew and buffeted the house.And it collapsed and was completely ruined."When Jesus finished these words,the crowds were astonished at his teaching,for he taught them as one having authority,and not as their scribes.
WEEK SIXTEEN: WEEKLY READING PAGE 105-106 Beshalach “When he sent away” Torah: Exodus 13:17-17:16 Ketuvim: Writings-Narrative: 2 Samuel 13-18 Nevi’im: Prophets/Poetic: Psalm 93-98 Brit Chadashah: New Testament: Acts 4-9 Scripture Memory: Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonderful works in Your name?’ 23 But then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who practice evil.’”
WEEK SIXTEEN: WEEKLY READING PAGE 105-106 Beshalach “When he sent away” Torah: Exodus 13:17-17:16 Ketuvim: Writings-Narrative: 2 Samuel 13-18 Nevi’im: Prophets/Poetic: Psalm 93-98 Brit Chadashah: New Testament: Acts 4-9 Scripture Memory: Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonderful works in Your name?’ 23 But then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who practice evil.’”
Preview: Colleagues Brad Bowman and Cameron McMillan Review the US Mission in Eastern Syria — ISIS Containment — and Recommend What Is to Be Done Rather Than To Depart. More 1898 DAMASCUS