Podcasts about eccl

Gal 2:15-16 Eccl 7:20 Gal 3:10-15 II Cor 5:12 Rom 4:5 Gen 15:6 Gal 2:17-21 Rom 5:1

.

143:1 Hear my prayer, O LORD- Hear is often used in the Psalms as an imperative directed to God (17:7; 27:7; 28:2; 30:10; 54:2; 64:1). Give ear to my supplications! Give ear is also an imperative addressed to God in the Psalms (5:1; 17:1; 39:12; 54:2; 55:1; 84:8; 86:6; 140:6; 141:1; 143:1). The fact these imperatives are used together stresses the urgency of the request. For supplications the ESV and NIV have cries for mercy.  Supplications are found in Ps. 28:2, 6; 31:22; 116:1; 130:2; 140:6.Answer me in Your faithfulness, in Your righteousness- “The psalmist makes his plea for deliverance, not on the merit of his own righteousness (vs. 2), but on that basis of God's righteousness (vss. 1, 11)” Miller, 436. “His only claim is to a covenant relationship with his God (servant, cf. vs. 10), initiated and maintained by divine grace” Laymen 697. “His confidence lies, not in himself, but in the one who promised. He is true, faithful, and righteous” VanGemeren, 856. “Righteousness is an appositive of faithfulness, so that the one word helps explain the other. The use of righteousness with steadfast love (covenant loyalty, vss. 11-12) also tempers the meaning of righteous (innocent) before God's courts (vs. 2). God is faithful to His covenant commitment to His servant (vss. 2a, 12) and He is true to His own righteousness (character) in forgiving the penitent sinner” Miller, 436. 143:2 And do not enter into judgment with Your servant- The writer describes His relationship to God as Your servant (2, 12). For in Your sight no man living is righteous- Job 4:17; 9:2; 15:4; 25:4; Eccl. 7:20. “No creature (not even the angels, according to Job) can hope to be blameless before God's inexorable judgment” Alter, 492. “The OT also teaches that God freely forgives because of His grace (cf. Pss. 32:1-2, 5; 51:1-2; 103:3, 11-13; 130:3-4)” Miller, 437. This word righteous is a verb while vs. 1 and 11 are nouns. While God is righteous in the sense that He is faithful to His covenant, we are not righteous.“While the psalmist is aware that no-one is perfectly righteous (v. 2), he does believe that he has grounds for saying that he does not deserve the violent treatment of those who are persecuting (pursuing) him” Longman, 462. “The reference to human waywardness (cf. 130:3; I Kings 8:46) is no shoulder-shrugging excuse but expresses a conviction of the power of sin” Laymen, 697. “The covenant relationship can be sustained only on the basis of continual divine forgiveness (cf. 51:5)” Allen, 281. 143:3 For the enemy has persecuted my soul- “Three metaphors describe the intensity of His suffering” Miller, 437. “Like a hunted beast he has been chased, grounded, caged (3; cf. 142 title)” Motyer, 580. The word enemy or enemies is used in vs. 3, 9, 12.                                   He has crushed my life to the ground- “Like the suffering servant in the book of Isaiah, crushed (see Isa. 53:5, 10; see also Ps. 94:5; Lam. 3:34)” McCann, 1251. He has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have long been dead- If you need further notes please send a facebook message..                                                                                       

Time is precious. God has given us life. We were born for a reason and a purpose. We often complain that we don't have enough time. It is really not about time, but about priorities. Therefore, we must prioritize the time God has given us and live each moment for Him. To know  God is Sovereign over this world and over our lives. May we learn to understand how precious our time is so that we gain a heart of wisdom. Wisdom to live each moment for the glory of God.

Dans ce message, Pasteure Sophie Luiten t'apporte un rappel rempli d'espoir : peu importe la saison que tu traverses :  célibat, parentalité, deuil, transition, combat ou accomplissement, Dieu n'a pas changé, et Son plan non plus. Découvre comment t'abandonner à Son timing, comment rester confiant dans l'attente et comment faire confiance à Dieu peu importe la saison. Bonne écoute!Verset de référence : Ecclésiaste 3:1-11

.

May 11, 2025 Eccl. 12:1-14; Ps. 50:1-6; Prov. 15:1-3; II Cor. 8:10-15

May 11, 2025 Eccl. 12:1-14; Ps. 50:1-6; Prov. 15:1-3; 2 Cor. 8:10-15

In Ecclesiastes Chapter 2, Solomon explores the pursuits of pleasure, achievement and possessions, ultimately finding them all meaningless apart from God. While God wants us to enjoy life, these pursuits become empty when they are self-centered or disconnected from Him. Solomon concludes that true fulfillment—wisdom, joy and purpose—comes only from God. The Westminster Shorter Catechism affirms that “Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” Let's determine to invest the rest of our lives in the pursuit of what really matters - a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus. 

In Ecclesiastes Chapter 2, Solomon explores the pursuits of pleasure, achievement and possessions, ultimately finding them all meaningless apart from God. While God wants us to enjoy life, these pursuits become empty when they are self-centered or disconnected from Him. Solomon concludes that true fulfillment—wisdom, joy and purpose—comes only from God. The Westminster Shorter Catechism affirms that “Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” Let's determine to invest the rest of our lives in the pursuit of what really matters - a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus.

May 10, 2025 Eccl. 10:1-11:10; Ps. 49:10-20; Prov. 14:34-35; II Cor. 8:1-9

May 10, 2025 Eccl. 10:1-11:10; Ps. 49:10-20; Prov. 14:34-35; 2 Cor. 8:1-9

May 8, 2025 Eccl. 7:1-8:8; Ps. 48:9-14; Prov. 14:30-31; II Cor. 7:8-10

May 9, 2025 Eccl. 8:9-9:18; Ps. 49:1-9; Prov. 14:32-33; II Cor. 7:11-16

May 8, 2025 Eccl. 7:1-8:8; Ps. 48:9-14; Prov. 14:30-31; 2 Cor. 7:8-10

May 9, 2025 Eccl. 8:9-9:18; Ps. 49:1-9; Prov. 14:32-33; II Cor. 7:11-16

May 7, 2025 Eccl. 5:10-6:12; Ps. 48:1-8; Prov. 14:28-29; 2 Cor. 7:2-7

May 7, 2025 Eccl. 5:10-6:12; Ps. 48:1-8; Prov. 14:28-29; II Cor. 7:2-7

May 5, 2025 Eccl. 2:24-3:22; Ps. 47:1-7; Prov. 14:25; II Cor. 6:3-13

May 6, 2025 Eccl. 4:1-5:9; Ps. 47:8-9; Prov. 14:26-27; II Cor. 6:14-7:1

May 5, 2025 Eccl. 2:24-3:22; Ps. 47:1-7; Prov. 14:25; 2 Cor. 6:3-13

May 6, 2025 Eccl. 4:1-5:9; Ps. 47:8-9; Prov. 14:26-27; II Cor. 6:14-7:1

.

May 4, 2025 Eccl. 1:1-2:23; Ps. 46:8-11; Prov. 14:22-24; II Cor. 6:1-2

May 4, 2025  Eccl. 1:1-2:23; Ps. 46:8-11; Prov. 14:22-24; 2 Cor. 6:1-2

Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon in his old age. Solomon was the wisest and wealthiest person to ever live. He was king over all Israel. Although Solomon started well, he did not finish well. He drifted from God and pursued the things of this world. He writes Ecclesiastes as a warning to those who come behind him to keep God first in their life. Solomon pursued everything this world has to offer and found it all “meaningless.” We all get one shot at life, so let's not waste it on things that are trivial. Invest your life in what matters. Always keep God first.

Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon in his old age. Solomon was the wisest and wealthiest person to ever live. He was king over all Israel. Although Solomon started well, he did not finish well. He drifted from God and pursued the things of this world. He writes Ecclesiastes as a warning to those who come behind him to keep God first in their life. Solomon pursued everything this world has to offer and found it all “meaningless.” We all get one shot at life, so let's not waste it on things that are trivial. Invest your life in what matters. Always keep God first.

‘SALA STAMPA DELLA SANTA SEDE RECTORIS DECLARATIO’, ‘MATTHAEUS BRUNI’. // ‘VICESIMO PRIMO DIE APRILIS MENSE’ ‘ANNO DOMINI BIS MILLESIMO VICÉSIMO QUINTO’. // TRANSLATIO A CASANDRA FREIRE VERSAM EST. ‘EMINENTIAE SUAE CARDINALIS *IOSEPHUS FARRELL, SANCTAE ROMANAE ECCLESIAE CAMERARIUS’, ‘MORTEM PAPAE FRANCISCI’ ‘MAEROREM’ ‘*PRONUNTIAVIT’: «‘CARISSIMI FRATRES SORORESQUE’, ‘CUM MAGNO MEO DOLORE’ ‘MORTEM SANCTI PATRIS NOSTRI FRANCISCI’ ‘*NUNTIO’. // ‘TEMPORA MATUTINA SEPTEM TRIGINTAQUINQUE’, ‘*FRANCISCUS, EPISCOPUS ROMAE’, ‘AD PATRIS DOMUM’ ‘*REDIIT’. // ‘TOTAM VITAM SUAM IN SERVITIO DOMINI ET IN ECCLESIA SUA’ ‘*DEDICAVIT’ ‘AC’ ‘VIVERE NOS VIRTUTES EVANGELII’ ‘*DOCUIT’ ‘PRASERTIM BENEVOLENTIA PAUPERRIMOS ET SEGREGATOS’. // ‘EIUS EXEMPLUM IMMENSA GRATITUDINE’ ‘UT VERUS DISCIPULUS DOMINI IESU’, ‘ANIMAM SUMMI PONTIFICIS FRANCISCI’ ‘IMMENSO MISERICORDI DEI TRINI ‘*COMMENDAMUS AMORI’. PAPAE FRANCISCI TESTAMENTUM. // ‘VICESIMO PRIMO DIE APRILIS MENSE’ ‘ANNO DOMINI BIS MILLESIMO VICÉSIMO QUINTO’. // TRANSLATIO A FERNANDA SOLÍS VERSAM EST. ‘MISERANDO ATQUE ELIGENDO’. ‘*SUMMUS PONTIFEX’ *DIXIT’: ‘IN NOMINE SANCTISSIMAE TRINITATIS. AMEN’. // ‘NUNC SENTIENS OCCASUM VITAE TERRENAE MEAE’ PROXIMUM’, ‘CUM SPE FIRMA’ ‘IN VITAM AETERNAM’, ‘VOLUNTATEM MEAM’ ‘DE SEPULCRO MEO’ ‘CONCEDERE’ ‘*VOLO’. // ‘SEMPER’ ‘VITAM MEAM ATQUE MINISTERIUM SACERDOTALEM ET EPISCOPALEM’ ‘VIRGINI DEI GENITRICE MARIA’ ‘*COMMENDAVI’. // PROPTEREA, ‘UT’ ‘RELIQUAS CORPORIS MEI’ ‘*QUIESCANT’ ‘IN BASILICA SANCTAE MARIAE MAIORIS’ ‘VOLUNTAS MEA’ ‘*EST’, DONEC ‘DIES RESURRECTIONIS’ ‘*VENIAT’. // ‘*OPORTET’ ‘UT’ ‘SEPULCRUM MEUM’ ‘IN TERRA ET SIMPLEX’ ‘*SIT’, ‘SINE MULTA DECORATIONE’ ET ‘CUM EPIGRAMMATE’ QUOD ‘TANTUM *DICET’: ‘*FRANCISCUS’. // ‘DOMUS SANCTAE MARTHAE’, ‘UNDETRICESIMO JUNII MENSE ANNO DOMINI BIS MILLESIMO VICESIMO SECUNDO’. LIBER PRO CELEBRATIO. DE FRANCISCI ARCAE TRANSLATIONE. // ‘VICESIMO TERTIO DIE APRILIS MENSE’ ‘ANNO DOMINI BIS MILLESIMO VICÉSIMO QUINTO’. Fratres et soróres caríssimi, magna cum ánimi commotióne corpus Papæ nostri Francísci deférimus in Basílicam Vaticánam, ubi múnere Epíscopi Ecclésiæ quæ est Romæ, et Ecclésiæ universális Pastóris sæpe est functus. // Ex hac domo discedéntes grátias agámus Dómino pro multis donis quæ per servum suum Papam Francíscum christianórum plebi est largítus eúmque supplicémus ut, miséricors et benígnus, perpétuam sedem in regno cælórum eídem concédat et famíliæ pontifíciæ, plebi suæ sanctæ, quæ Romæ vivit, christifidélibus toto orbe diffúsis supérnæ spei áfferat solácium. EX CELEBRATIONIS LIBRO DE FRANCISCI ARCAE CLAUDENTE. ‘VICESIMO QUINTO DIE APRILIS MENSE’ ‘ANNO DOMINI BIS MILLESIMO VICÉSIMO QUINTO’. Fratres et soróres caríssimi, in nómine Dómini huc convénimus ad quædam pietátis offícia adimplénda ante Missam exsequiálem pro Papa nostro Francísco /// Rógitum legémus quod eius commémorat vitam et ópera præcípua, pro quibus grátias Deo Patri persólvimus. // Vultum Defúncti reverénter operiémus, fulti spe eum Patris vultum posse contemplári et beátæ Vírginis Maríæ omniúmque Sanctórum frui consórtio. SANCTAE SEDIS TEXTUS. // ‘VICESIMO QUARTO DIE APRILIS MENSE’ ‘ANNO DOMINI BIS MILLESIMO VICÉSIMO QUINTO’. // TRANSLATIO A SAID RAIMUNDO DELGADO VERSAM EST. ‘*PAUPERES’ ‘LOCUM PECULIAREM’ ‘IN CORDE DEI’ ‘*TENENT’. // ETIAM ‘IN CORDE SANCTI PATRIS ET IN EIUS MAGISTERIO’ ‘*COMMORANTUR’. // ‘*SANCTUS PATER’ ‘NOMEN FRANCISCI’ ‘*ELEGIT’, ‘NE PAUPERES UMQUAM’ ‘*OBLIVISCERETUR’. // PROPTER HOC, ‘*GREX PAUPERUM ET NECESSITATUM’ ‘IN GRADIBUS AD BASILICAM PAPALEM SANCTAE MARIAE MAIORIS’ ‘*PRAESENS ERIT’. IBI ‘ULTIMUM HOMAGIUM’ ‘PAPAE FRANCISCO’ ‘*RENDENT’. // ‘*HOC’ ‘ANTE SEPULTURAM FERETRI’ ‘*ACCIDET’. EX FRANCISCI FUNERALIS MISSA. SANCTI PETRI FORO. ‘VICESIMO SEXTO DIE APRILIS MENSE’ ‘ANNO DOMINI BIS MILLESIMO VICÉSIMO QUINTO’. Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei. ETIAM, EX COLLECTA. Deus, immortalis pastor animarum, respice populum supplicantem, et præsta, ut famulus tuus Papa Franciscus, qui Ecclesiæ tuæ in caritate præfuit, fidelis dispensatoris remunerationem cum grege sibi credito misericorditer consequatur. Per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia sæcula sæculorum. ETIAM, EX MISSAE POST COMMUNIONE. Ad mensam æterni accedentes convivii, misericordiam tuam, Domine, pro anima famuli tui Papæ Francisci suppliciter imploramus, ut veritatis possessione tandem congaudeat, in qua populum tuum fidenter confirmavit. EX MISSAE RESPONSORIO Credo quod Redemptor meus vivit et in novissimo die de terra surrecturus sum; // Quem visurus sum ego ipse et non alius et oculi mei conspecturi sunt // Reposita est hæc spes mea in sinu meo. // Et in carne mea videbo Deum salvatorem meum. SI NUNTII IN LINGUA LATINA TRADUCTOR ESSE VOLUERIS, QUAESO LITTERAM ELECTRONICAM AD lpesquera@up.edu.mx MITTAS’. If you would like to collaborate as a translator in Nuntii in Lingua Latina, please send an email to lpesquera@up.edu.mx

.

.

We all know the story of Adam and Eve eating the fruit, but what were the real consequences of that? How did this decision impact creation, man, and woman?In today's episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie answer a listener question around the true consequences of the fall of mankind. We dig through the narrative of Genesis 3 to see how all of the world was impacted by this sin and how it still impacts us and our relationships today. We hope this is a little deeper dive than you're used to taking through the story of The Fall of Man and that you would learn something new!The 17:17 podcast is a ministry of Roseville Baptist Church (MN) that seeks to tackle cultural issues and societal questions from a biblical worldview so that listeners discover what the Bible has to say about the key issues they face on a daily basis. The 17:17 podcast seeks to teach the truth of God's Word in a way that is glorifying to God and easy to understand with the hope of furthering God's kingdom in Spirit and in Truth. Scriptures: Gen. 3:14-24; Gen. 9:2; Rom. 8:20-22; Gen. 1:29-30; Gen. 9:3; Gen. 2:18; 1 Tim. 2:13; Eph. 5; Gen. 5:29; Eccl. 3:20; Rom. 5:12; Gen. 2:16-17; Rom. 6:23; 1 Cor. 15:22; Eph. 2:5; Isa. 59:2; John 14:6; Gen. 2:25; Gen. 3:7-8; Rom. 6:16-18; Rom. 7:14; Rev. 21:3-4; Zec. 14:9-11; Isa. 11:6-9.If you'd like access to our show notes, please visit www.rosevillebaptist.com/1717podcast to see them in Google Drive!Please listen, subscribe, rate, and review the podcast so that we can reach to larger audiences and share the truth of God's Word with them!Write in your own questions to be answered on the show at 1717pod@gmail.com.  God bless!

.

.

Let It Go Living in Revival March 30, 2025 Elwyn Johnston Romans 6:23 Verse of the Week: “Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 7:24 & 25 Why is sin so bad? Sin is an affront against God. “Against You, You only, I have sinned” Psalm 51:4 “your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you” Isaiah 59:2 Sin affects relationships “No one lives to himself” Romans 14:7 “Do nothing from selfishness…regard one another as more important than yourselves” Philippians 2:3 “pleasures of sin for a season.” Hebrews 11:25 “God's right hand there are pleasures forevermore” Psalm 16:11 Sin always brings death. “sin, when it is finished, brings forth death.” James 1:15 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 How do we have victory over sin? Grow in our love for God “walk in the light…and the blood of Jesus God's Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7 Live dead “reckon yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:11 “Do not let sin control the way you live” Romans 6:12 “sin shall not have dominion over you” Romans 6:14 “Lay aside every sin that so easily entangles us” Hebrews 12:1 Challenge the lie behind every temptation. “Satan, who deceives the whole world” Revelation 12:9 “be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23 “so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13 “heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick” Jeremiah 17:9 "the wicked will be caught in the cords of his own sins; he will be held fast with the ropes of his own guilt.” Proverbs 5:22 Surround yourself with godly influence "Walk with the wise and become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed." Proverbs 13:20 “Two are better than one….If one falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” Eccl. 4:9 & 10 “Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 7:24 & 25

.

.

My truth... Speaking my truth... Your truth... I have read a number of articles to try and learn what is meant by My truth. There are a number of suggestions such as: The way I see things may be different than the way you see things. Be true to yourself. A pretentious substitute for a non-negotiable personal opinion. The way I see and understand something may be different than the way you see and perceive it. I know some stuff, and its likely that may change over time. In a recent trailer for a show on Hulu titled, Faces of Music, one of the cast members stated what I think is the current understanding of Your truth with the following words: It is not about right or wrong, its about your truth. Maybe there is no real definition of what Your truth really means and maybe that is the point. The reality is that we live in a day and age when truth is determined by ones experiences and feelings which is nothing new, just a different dress. So, is there such a thing as your truth? The good news is that the Bible does address the question of truth. The Unknown but Knowable God Permit me to begin with a story. About 600 hundred years before Paul ever set foot in Athans, there was a plague that came upon Athens that none of their gods could answer or fix. The leaders of that city learned of a man who was a prophet of what they called the unknown God. They summoned a representative of this unknown god from Crete, and he instructed them what was needed for the plague to be lifted. This representative requested two flock of sheep be brought one white flock and one black flock. He prayed to this unknown God and asked that all the sheep that he caused to lay down to graze, would be sacrificed to this god on a new stone alter. Well, there were sheep that did lay down to graze, so they were sacrificed on alters to the unknown God and the plague was lifted as a result. This unknown god was worshiped and then forgotten over time until two of Athens elders found one of the altars and refurbished it. One of the things they had done to this altar was that they etched into it an inscription that read: TO THE UNKOWN GOD. This was the altar the Apostle discovered while walking through Athens. This was the only God the Athens had no idols for whom they did not create or know. This is the God who, according to the Bible, has planted eternity in the human heart (Eccl. 3:11b; NLT). What the altar to THE UNKOWN GOD teaches us is that we grope around for something to make sense of our world and to discover something more than what is visibly before us. The reality is that each of us is born spiritually blind just as the Bible states: ...the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they will not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Cor. 4:4). It is not all that different with our societys pursuit of truth. This whole business about speaking your truth or standing in your truth reminds me of the six blind people who heard about a strange animal, called an elephant, that had been brought into their village. Because none of them were aware of an elephants shape or form they thought they would inspect the creature by touching it. One of the blind men grabbed the elephants trunk and said, This elephant is like a big snake. Another blind man felt the elephants ear, and said the elephant seemed like the shape of a fan. Another who felt the elephants leg, said, this creature is a pillar like the trunk of a tree. The blind man who placed his hand upon the side of the elephant said it is like a wall that breathes. The blind man who felt its tail, described the elephant as being like a rope. The blind man who felt its tusk, stated that the elephant is like a spear. People trying to figure out what truth is or what their purpose is in life are like those blind men. There may have been some truth to what they felt but could not understand what they were touching unless they understood that what was before them was much greater than individual experiences. We live in a world full of blind men groping in the darkness trying to make sense of it without considering the Creator who made it all. God is Too Big to Be Manipulated (vv. 22-25) There was a god to be worshiped for just about every occasion in Athens. We are told that Pauls spirit, ...was being provoked within him as he observed that the city was full of idols (v. 16). It is important to point out that his spirit was provoked, but it was not because he thought those who worshiped those idols knew better. The provocation that he felt was not unlike the kind of provocation you might feel if a family was asleep in a house on fire, the provocation you would feel in your spirit would be the recognition that you had a moral obligation to do all that you could to wake the family up and get them out of the house before it was too late. What we can learn from Paul in the way he addressed the Athens is that he used their culture as a bridge to introduce them to the God they did not know who was too big to be manipulated like the gods they created. By bringing the gospel to Athens, Paul shared how there was only one true God who was knowable only because He has made Himself known. He alone made the world and everything that is in it and He, does not dwell in temples made by human hands(vv. 24-25). The God who made everything is not served by human hands like the hundreds of idols that filled Athans. What Paul meant is that the God they thought was unknowable did not need to be cleaned up, polished, or fixed, because as Creator... He cannot be manipulated. As Creator and since He made everything, God is in need of nothing. Not only does the One true God need nothing, but He also cannot be treated as an idol because unlike the idols people create, He alone, gives to all people life and breath and all things. What this means is that God does not adjust or yield to what we think truth is. Because He is the Creator, by default... we are the creature; manipulating God is as impossible as it is for a statue to manipulate the artist who made it. Apart from God, we are blind and what spiritually blind people are able to see are the shadows of spiritual truth. People genuinely know that both good and evil exist. The Greek Mythology of the Athenians proves this as do the stories we read and watch. I believe that all humans, although spiritually blind, are able to see and sense the reality of the existence of God and his truth. The Athenians groped in the darkness in pursuit of truth while their only hope was the gospel of Jesus Christ that allows us to know the truth of who God is and how to live in the world He created. Our Purpose Is Too Significant to Be Ignored (vv. 26-29) When God created mankind, He created us with a deficiency that could only be met by Him. Why else would the Apostle write that God created men and women, if perhaps they might feel around for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each of us (v. 27). God has created in us a deep longing for Him because He has made us in His image. In verse 28, Paul said to the Athens: for in Him we live and move and exist... Think about that statement for a moment. Our living and moving and very existence is found and experienced in God. In other words, our purpose in life is found in Him. Every study out there that has been done about the importance of finding your purpose in life reveals how important having purpose is. We humans are like the farmer who was seen by his neighbor shooting at his barn. As the neighbor got closer to the farmers barn, he noticed the many targets panted onto the side of his barn, and at the center of every single target was a bullet hole put there by the farmers gun. The neighbor commented to the farmer: Wow! You are an amazing marksman, your ability to hit the bullseye from that distance is impressive! What is your secret, and can you teach me? To which the farmer replied: It is really not that hard, for I first shoot my hole and then I draw the target around it. To live life like the Athens or to make up truth as you go without any consideration of who God really is, is to shoot for what we think is important and then draw the meaning of life around it. We shoot for security and then draw the meaning of life around it. We shoot for relationships and then draw the meaning of life around it. We shoot for what we think truth should be and then draw the meaning of life around it. When we do that, we are like the blind person groping around in the darkness only to left with a creation out of our own imagination! Because the people Paul was speaking to probably had little understanding of the Hebrew Bible, he used the pagan poets of the day to illustrate the truth of God. So Paul told these guys: see, even those whom you respect have said: for in Him we live and move and exist... Which was a statement probably taken from the same guy who 600 years ago introduced the Athenians to the unknown God. The point is that we are not the creator, we are the created. We live and move and have our being in Him because He is the One who fashioned us, not out of necessity, but out of love. The most loving thing God could have ever done for you and me is that He created us that we might find our joy in the One in Whom we live, and move and exist... (v. 28). Paul then quoted one of their poets to show that although such poets groped in the darkness, God was not far from them: for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, For we also are His descendants. Paul did not stop there: Therefore, since we are the descendants of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, and image formed by human skill and thought (v. 29). In other words, God is not what we make of Him, but instead our purpose, joy, and satisfaction ultimately can only be found in and through Him. Conclusion God, the Creator, the Ancient of Day, the One who has and is declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done (Isa. 46:9-10) has invited you and I to know Him and to enjoy Him on a level far above the rest of creation, and He did it through His Son, Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ, the all-sufficient payment who was sacrificed for our sins to reconcile us to God the Father. What Paul said in conclusion to those gathered on Mars Hill is the equivalent of a mic drop: So having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now proclaiming to mankind that all people everywhere are to repent, because He has set a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all people by raising Him from the dead (Acts 17:3031). God did not nor is He currently overlooking sin in the same way a negligent parent overlooks the bad behavior of their child. No! God has and is currently overlooking the sins of people since that salvation is still available to sinners, that the offer of redemption and reconciliation through Jesus Christ is still offered to sinners everywhere. To suggest truth is what you make it is ignorant, to grope for this religion and that religion is to grope in ignorance. Here is what Jesus said about groping in the dark: For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.... And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, so that his deeds will not be exposed. (John 3:16-17, 19-20) Today is the day to quit groping in the dark and to take hold of the same Jesus who has declared: I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life (John 8:12). He is Him who said: I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades (Rev. 1:17b-18). When the people heard this, some believed, but most were dismissive. Think about the message of the cross for a moment. For those of us who consider the gospel to be the power of God because we have experienced it as such, ours is a hope that sounds like it was torn right from the pages of mythology. God got a young virgin girl pregnant by His Holy Spirit so that the child of her womb would be both a god and a man to defeat the forces of evil, fix all the ills of our world, then rule as a King on earth and the way that he would do this is to first allow His god/man child to die the most painful and humiliating death possible. No wonder the word of the cross sounds so foolish to most people. Yet it is through the message of the cross concerning the historic facts that Jesus both died for our sins and rose for the forgiveness of sin, as outrageous as it may sound, that God is rescuing sin-cursed humans from His just wrath. Paul had shared the greatest news in the universe with the Athenians, and some, like those in our day, dismissed it as foolish. Truth is truth! Whatever you think your truth is, if it is not shaped and informed by the God for Whom, we live and move and exist... (v. 28a) is to grope in the darkness of our sin and ignorance. When it comes to those who do not know Jesus, they are still groping in the darkness of their sin and ignorance. You cannot expect people who do not know Jesus to do anything but grope in the darkness, but you can point them to the light of who Jesus is! For the Scripture says, Whoever believes in Him will not be Put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? How are they to believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? But how are they to preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things! However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our report? So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. You, dear Christian, are that preacher God has sent into your home, your neighborhood, into the circle of your friendships, your work, and into your world! The apostle Paul had beautiful feet. How beautiful are your feet? God has called you to bring the light of Jesus into the darkness of your world. That, my dear friend, is your truth.

My truth... Speaking my truth... Your truth... I have read a number of articles to try and learn what is meant by My truth. There are a number of suggestions such as: The way I see things may be different than the way you see things. Be true to yourself. A pretentious substitute for a non-negotiable personal opinion. The way I see and understand something may be different than the way you see and perceive it. I know some stuff, and its likely that may change over time. In a recent trailer for a show on Hulu titled, Faces of Music, one of the cast members stated what I think is the current understanding of Your truth with the following words: It is not about right or wrong, its about your truth. Maybe there is no real definition of what Your truth really means and maybe that is the point. The reality is that we live in a day and age when truth is determined by ones experiences and feelings which is nothing new, just a different dress. So, is there such a thing as your truth? The good news is that the Bible does address the question of truth. The Unknown but Knowable God Permit me to begin with a story. About 600 hundred years before Paul ever set foot in Athans, there was a plague that came upon Athens that none of their gods could answer or fix. The leaders of that city learned of a man who was a prophet of what they called the unknown God. They summoned a representative of this unknown god from Crete, and he instructed them what was needed for the plague to be lifted. This representative requested two flock of sheep be brought one white flock and one black flock. He prayed to this unknown God and asked that all the sheep that he caused to lay down to graze, would be sacrificed to this god on a new stone alter. Well, there were sheep that did lay down to graze, so they were sacrificed on alters to the unknown God and the plague was lifted as a result. This unknown god was worshiped and then forgotten over time until two of Athens elders found one of the altars and refurbished it. One of the things they had done to this altar was that they etched into it an inscription that read: TO THE UNKOWN GOD. This was the altar the Apostle discovered while walking through Athens. This was the only God the Athens had no idols for whom they did not create or know. This is the God who, according to the Bible, has planted eternity in the human heart (Eccl. 3:11b; NLT). What the altar to THE UNKOWN GOD teaches us is that we grope around for something to make sense of our world and to discover something more than what is visibly before us. The reality is that each of us is born spiritually blind just as the Bible states: ...the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they will not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Cor. 4:4). It is not all that different with our societys pursuit of truth. This whole business about speaking your truth or standing in your truth reminds me of the six blind people who heard about a strange animal, called an elephant, that had been brought into their village. Because none of them were aware of an elephants shape or form they thought they would inspect the creature by touching it. One of the blind men grabbed the elephants trunk and said, This elephant is like a big snake. Another blind man felt the elephants ear, and said the elephant seemed like the shape of a fan. Another who felt the elephants leg, said, this creature is a pillar like the trunk of a tree. The blind man who placed his hand upon the side of the elephant said it is like a wall that breathes. The blind man who felt its tail, described the elephant as being like a rope. The blind man who felt its tusk, stated that the elephant is like a spear. People trying to figure out what truth is or what their purpose is in life are like those blind men. There may have been some truth to what they felt but could not understand what they were touching unless they understood that what was before them was much greater than individual experiences. We live in a world full of blind men groping in the darkness trying to make sense of it without considering the Creator who made it all. God is Too Big to Be Manipulated (vv. 22-25) There was a god to be worshiped for just about every occasion in Athens. We are told that Pauls spirit, ...was being provoked within him as he observed that the city was full of idols (v. 16). It is important to point out that his spirit was provoked, but it was not because he thought those who worshiped those idols knew better. The provocation that he felt was not unlike the kind of provocation you might feel if a family was asleep in a house on fire, the provocation you would feel in your spirit would be the recognition that you had a moral obligation to do all that you could to wake the family up and get them out of the house before it was too late. What we can learn from Paul in the way he addressed the Athens is that he used their culture as a bridge to introduce them to the God they did not know who was too big to be manipulated like the gods they created. By bringing the gospel to Athens, Paul shared how there was only one true God who was knowable only because He has made Himself known. He alone made the world and everything that is in it and He, does not dwell in temples made by human hands(vv. 24-25). The God who made everything is not served by human hands like the hundreds of idols that filled Athans. What Paul meant is that the God they thought was unknowable did not need to be cleaned up, polished, or fixed, because as Creator... He cannot be manipulated. As Creator and since He made everything, God is in need of nothing. Not only does the One true God need nothing, but He also cannot be treated as an idol because unlike the idols people create, He alone, gives to all people life and breath and all things. What this means is that God does not adjust or yield to what we think truth is. Because He is the Creator, by default... we are the creature; manipulating God is as impossible as it is for a statue to manipulate the artist who made it. Apart from God, we are blind and what spiritually blind people are able to see are the shadows of spiritual truth. People genuinely know that both good and evil exist. The Greek Mythology of the Athenians proves this as do the stories we read and watch. I believe that all humans, although spiritually blind, are able to see and sense the reality of the existence of God and his truth. The Athenians groped in the darkness in pursuit of truth while their only hope was the gospel of Jesus Christ that allows us to know the truth of who God is and how to live in the world He created. Our Purpose Is Too Significant to Be Ignored (vv. 26-29) When God created mankind, He created us with a deficiency that could only be met by Him. Why else would the Apostle write that God created men and women, if perhaps they might feel around for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each of us (v. 27). God has created in us a deep longing for Him because He has made us in His image. In verse 28, Paul said to the Athens: for in Him we live and move and exist... Think about that statement for a moment. Our living and moving and very existence is found and experienced in God. In other words, our purpose in life is found in Him. Every study out there that has been done about the importance of finding your purpose in life reveals how important having purpose is. We humans are like the farmer who was seen by his neighbor shooting at his barn. As the neighbor got closer to the farmers barn, he noticed the many targets panted onto the side of his barn, and at the center of every single target was a bullet hole put there by the farmers gun. The neighbor commented to the farmer: Wow! You are an amazing marksman, your ability to hit the bullseye from that distance is impressive! What is your secret, and can you teach me? To which the farmer replied: It is really not that hard, for I first shoot my hole and then I draw the target around it. To live life like the Athens or to make up truth as you go without any consideration of who God really is, is to shoot for what we think is important and then draw the meaning of life around it. We shoot for security and then draw the meaning of life around it. We shoot for relationships and then draw the meaning of life around it. We shoot for what we think truth should be and then draw the meaning of life around it. When we do that, we are like the blind person groping around in the darkness only to left with a creation out of our own imagination! Because the people Paul was speaking to probably had little understanding of the Hebrew Bible, he used the pagan poets of the day to illustrate the truth of God. So Paul told these guys: see, even those whom you respect have said: for in Him we live and move and exist... Which was a statement probably taken from the same guy who 600 years ago introduced the Athenians to the unknown God. The point is that we are not the creator, we are the created. We live and move and have our being in Him because He is the One who fashioned us, not out of necessity, but out of love. The most loving thing God could have ever done for you and me is that He created us that we might find our joy in the One in Whom we live, and move and exist... (v. 28). Paul then quoted one of their poets to show that although such poets groped in the darkness, God was not far from them: for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, For we also are His descendants. Paul did not stop there: Therefore, since we are the descendants of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, and image formed by human skill and thought (v. 29). In other words, God is not what we make of Him, but instead our purpose, joy, and satisfaction ultimately can only be found in and through Him. Conclusion God, the Creator, the Ancient of Day, the One who has and is declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done (Isa. 46:9-10) has invited you and I to know Him and to enjoy Him on a level far above the rest of creation, and He did it through His Son, Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ, the all-sufficient payment who was sacrificed for our sins to reconcile us to God the Father. What Paul said in conclusion to those gathered on Mars Hill is the equivalent of a mic drop: So having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now proclaiming to mankind that all people everywhere are to repent, because He has set a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all people by raising Him from the dead (Acts 17:3031). God did not nor is He currently overlooking sin in the same way a negligent parent overlooks the bad behavior of their child. No! God has and is currently overlooking the sins of people since that salvation is still available to sinners, that the offer of redemption and reconciliation through Jesus Christ is still offered to sinners everywhere. To suggest truth is what you make it is ignorant, to grope for this religion and that religion is to grope in ignorance. Here is what Jesus said about groping in the dark: For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.... And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, so that his deeds will not be exposed. (John 3:16-17, 19-20) Today is the day to quit groping in the dark and to take hold of the same Jesus who has declared: I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life (John 8:12). He is Him who said: I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades (Rev. 1:17b-18). When the people heard this, some believed, but most were dismissive. Think about the message of the cross for a moment. For those of us who consider the gospel to be the power of God because we have experienced it as such, ours is a hope that sounds like it was torn right from the pages of mythology. God got a young virgin girl pregnant by His Holy Spirit so that the child of her womb would be both a god and a man to defeat the forces of evil, fix all the ills of our world, then rule as a King on earth and the way that he would do this is to first allow His god/man child to die the most painful and humiliating death possible. No wonder the word of the cross sounds so foolish to most people. Yet it is through the message of the cross concerning the historic facts that Jesus both died for our sins and rose for the forgiveness of sin, as outrageous as it may sound, that God is rescuing sin-cursed humans from His just wrath. Paul had shared the greatest news in the universe with the Athenians, and some, like those in our day, dismissed it as foolish. Truth is truth! Whatever you think your truth is, if it is not shaped and informed by the God for Whom, we live and move and exist... (v. 28a) is to grope in the darkness of our sin and ignorance. When it comes to those who do not know Jesus, they are still groping in the darkness of their sin and ignorance. You cannot expect people who do not know Jesus to do anything but grope in the darkness, but you can point them to the light of who Jesus is! For the Scripture says, Whoever believes in Him will not be Put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? How are they to believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? But how are they to preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things! However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our report? So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. You, dear Christian, are that preacher God has sent into your home, your neighborhood, into the circle of your friendships, your work, and into your world! The apostle Paul had beautiful feet. How beautiful are your feet? God has called you to bring the light of Jesus into the darkness of your world. That, my dear friend, is your truth.

Ps 90:1-12, Gen 1:1, Mic 5:2, Eccl 3:1-12, Job 14-:1-14, Joh 7:6-8, Eph 5:15-16, Job 19:25-26, 2 Pet 3:12-13

Ps 90:1-12, Gen 1:1, Mic 5:2, Eccl 3:1-12, Job 14-:1-14, Joh 7:6-8, Eph 5:15-16, Job 19:25-26, 2 Pet 3:12-13

Ps 90:1-12, Gen 1:1, Mic 5:2, Eccl 3:1-12, Job 14-:1-14, Joh 7:6-8, Eph 5:15-16, Job 19:25-26, 2 Pet 3:12-13

Ps 90:1-12, Gen 1:1, Mic 5:2, Eccl 3:1-12, Job 14-:1-14, Joh 7:6-8, Eph 5:15-16, Job 19:25-26, 2 Pet 3:12-13

Ps 90:1-12, Gen 1:1, Mic 5:2, Eccl 3:1-12, Job 14-:1-14, Joh 7:6-8, Eph 5:15-16, Job 19:25-26, 2 Pet 3:12-13

Psalm 103 is a very ‘popular' Psalm because of its emphasis on the love and mercy of the LORD. It is very encouraging for those who struggle to feel ‘right' before God – and isn't that all of us at some stage(s) of our lives! We feel in our hearts the urgent need, despite our failures, to feel God is ‘on our side' – even ‘by our side.'There is one factor that is repeated in the Psalm that must not be overlooked, otherwise the Divine message of encouragement this Psalm conveys will be distorted. “Bless the LORD, O my soul” is how the Psalm (which is ascribed to David) begins; “…. Forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.”[v.2-4]The Psalm then takes our thoughts to Moses – “He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.” [v.7] that “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” [v.8] The book of Exodus, which we have just completed reading gave us many examples of this. David certainly experienced this and he states, “He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him.”[v.10-11]Those final words must not be overlooked! The next verse says, as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us”.- and so, you can go east as far as you like – but you never come to the west! The next verse repeats the qualifications given in v.11 “…. So the LORD shows compassion on those who fear him.”Verse 17 repeats this for the third time, “the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him. Solomon comments on the strength of a “three-fold cord” [Eccl. 4 v.12], how much more a divinely inspired statement!The word “fear” in the sense of being in awe of the LORD occurs no less than 26 times in the Psalms – it does not mean to be scared of God – but to be in awe in sensing his greatness and that he is present everywhere through his spirit. (Acts 17 v,27,28) Let us sense how immeasurable great God must be!Look back at Psalm 36, note David's words, “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. Oh continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright in heart” [v.9,10]We have more reason than ever, with the human discoveries of recent years, to contemplate the immeasurable greatness of the power that brought them all into being – that power is our Heavenly Father – and we address God in that way because we have taken on the name of his son, Jesus Christ. What a wonder this is!

Pastor Patrick Hines of Bridwell Heights Presbyterian Church in Kingsport, TNPastor Jim Thornton of Reformed Faith Presbyterian Church in Clarksville, TNPastor Henry Johnson of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Tazwell, VACHAP. VI.—Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof.I. OUR first parents, being seduced by the subtilty and temptation of Satan, sinned, in eating the forbidden fruit (Gen. 3:13; 2 Cor. 11:3). This their sin, God was pleased, according to His wise and holy counsel, to permit, having purposed to order it to His own glory (Rom. 11:32).II. By this sin they fell from their original righteousness and communion (Gen. 3:6-8; Eccl. 7:29; Rom. 3:23), with God, and so became dead in sin (Gen. 2:17; Eph. 2:1), and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body (Titus 1:15; Gen. 6:5; Jer. 17:9; Rom. 3:10-18).III. They being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was imputed (Gen. 1:27-28; 2:16-17; Acts 17:26; Rom. 5:12, 15-19; 1 Cor. 15:21-22, 45, 49); and the same death in sin, and corrupted nature, conveyed to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation (Ps. 51:5; Gen. 5:3; Job 14:4; 15:14).IV. From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good (Rom. 5:6; 8:7; 7:18; Col. 1:21), and wholly inclined to all evil (Gen. 6:5; 8:21; Rom. 3:10-12), do proceed all actual transgressions (James 1:14-15; Eph. 2:2-3; Matt. 15:19).V. This corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those that are regenerated (1 John 1:8, 10; Rom. 7:14, 17-18, 23; James 3:2; Prov. 20:9; Eccl. 7:20); and although it be, through Christ, pardoned and mortified;

     Believers are called to engage in various mental activities that align our thoughts with God's will and deepen our spiritual lives. These activities are essential for spiritual growth, discernment, and maintaining a Christ-centered mindset. One key mental activity is the renewing of the mind, where we are instructed to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom 12:2). This involves rejecting worldly patterns of thought and embracing God's perspectives. Additionally, we are encouraged to meditate on Scripture, allowing it to permeate our minds and influence our words and actions. God's Word describes the righteous person, whose “delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night” (Psa 1:2). Here is a function of the mind, one that is in constant need of recalibration that adjusts to the perfect standard of God's Word.      Believers are also called to take every thought captive to obey Christ, ensuring that our mental life is disciplined and aligned with God's truth. Paul wrote, “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor 10:5). This requires vigilance in guarding against thoughts that are contrary to God's will. God's Word reveals that spiritual warfare begins in the mind, and that the “speculations” and “every lofty thing” refer to human philosophies, false ideologies, and Satanic deceptions that challenge biblical truth. The discipline of “taking every thought captive” means actively using the mind, strengthened by Bible doctrine, to imprison false ideas that undermine divine viewpoint thinking. This verse highlights our responsibility to protect our mental framework from worldly thinking and to consistently apply doctrinal truth, making each thought obedient to the Word of God. The “obedience of Christ” signifies the application of Bible doctrine, bringing our thoughts into harmony with divine revelation as obedient-to-the-Word believers.      Furthermore, we are instructed to focus our minds on heavenly things rather than earthly concerns. Paul wrote, “Since you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth” (Col 3:1-2). This mental activity involves prioritizing eternal values over temporary, worldly matters. Paul wrote, “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things” (Phi 4:8). To “dwell on these things” means we intentionally focus our thoughts in a particular direction; namely, on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, of excellence, and worthy of praise. Peter tell Christians to “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Pet 5:7). This is a mental function of giving our concerns to God and letting Him deal with those things that are beyond our capability.      In addition, we are called to guard our hearts and minds. Solomon wrote, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life” (Prov 4:23). Other translations read: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Prov 4:23 NIV), and “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life” (Prov 4:23 NLT). The Hebrew concept of the heart (לֵב leb) is the total inner person; which includes the mind and will. It is the base of operations which determines the course of life. We are also commanded to maintain a mindset of joy, regardless of circumstances, as Paul wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (Phil 4:4). Filling the mind with God's Word is another essential activity, as Paul said, “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you” (Col 3:16a). This means implanting Scripture so that it permeates all our thoughts. And we are encouraged to seek wisdom from God, asking Him to guide our thoughts and decisions. James wrote, “if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (Jam 1:5). This involves a humble reliance on God for insight and understanding. Altogether, these mental activities are vital for spiritual maturity, helping us align our thoughts with God's truth, develop a Christ-centered mindset, and live out our faith in practical ways. Faith to Say      When God's Word controls our thinking, our speech will reveal it, “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” (Matt 12:34). Scripture emphasizes the power of words, both for good and for harm, as Solomon wrote, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Prov 18:21a). Sometimes God's people are to say nothing, for “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise” (Prov 10:19), and “Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is considered prudent” (Prov 17:28). Solomon said there is “a time to be silent and a time to speak” (Eccl 3:7b). Sometimes, this act of faith means refraining from speaking altogether, especially when emotions are high or when silence is more in line with godly wisdom (Jam 1:19).      The wise believer thinks before speaking, for “The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer” (Prov 15:28a). John Kitchen states, “The idea here is that a righteous man does not respond quickly to a question or a rebuff. Rather, he takes the comment or question in. He considers it. He weighs his answer. He responds from the strength of contemplation, rather than from the weakness of immediate emotion.”[1] In all situations, “The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition” (2 Tim 2:24-25a).      When it's time to speak, Scripture should guide our words so that we speak truthfully, lovingly, and wisely. When we are walking by faith, our speech will be governed by divine viewpoint rather than human viewpoint or flaring emotions. Paul wrote, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear” (Eph 4:29). Here, the call to action is in our speech, ensuring that our words build others up and reflect God's love and truth. Thomas Constable said, “Christians should use words to build up people (‘for edification') rather than to tear them down. Words can give grace (help) in the sense that they can communicate encouragement and direction and thus enable the hearer to do right.”[2] Paul wrote, “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person” (Col 4:6). Osborne notes, “In Colossians 4:6 Paul's reference is to a life that makes an impact on the world, to speech that draws people to God…Our discussions and even our small talk with ‘outsiders' ought to be carefully crafted to draw people to ourselves—and through us to the God who has saved us and wants to save them too.”[3] In this, Christians are to be “ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (1 Pet 3:15). These are actions of speech that benefit others, and they are executed by faith and not feelings.      Encouraging speech is vital for uplifting others and promoting unity within the body of Christ (Heb 10:24-25). Additionally, grateful speech reflects a heart that recognizes God's blessings, as Paul wrote, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Col 3:17). Paul also wrote, “Do all things without complaining or arguing” (Phil 2:14) and “Be hospitable to one another without complaint” (1 Pet 4:9). Instead, by faith, we “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; and in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Th 5:16-18). The mind that is soaked with God's Word will manifest itself “with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Col 3:16b). Dr. Steven R. Cook   [1] John A. Kitchen, Proverbs: A Mentor Commentary, Mentor Commentaries (Fearn, Ross-shire, Great Britain: Mentor, 2006), 342. [2] Tom Constable, Tom Constable's Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Eph 4:29. [3] Grant R. Osborne, Colossians & Philemon: Verse by Verse, Osborne New Testament Commentaries (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016), 134–135.

Psalm 135“Some Jewish authorities include Psalms 135 and 136 as part of the collection of Psalms 120-136, whereas others limit the Great Hallel psalms to 135-136, or even Psalm 136 alone”  135:1 Praise the LORD!- 113:1 The word praise is used as an imperative three times in the verse. “The phrase Praise the LORD (and variations of the phrase) occurs seventy-five times in the Psalter, with no less that fifty-four occurrences in Book Five” NICOT, 944. Praise Him, O servants of the LORD- The first two lines speak of the LORD as the object of praise and the last line mentioned the servants as the ones who give praise. 135:2 You who stand in the house of the LORDIn the courts of the house of our God!- Ps. 92:13; 116:19 “The priests and Levites were charged (v. 19-20) with the worship of the Lord ‘in the house of the LORD'” VanGemeren, 819.135:3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good- I Chron. 16:34; II Chron. 5:13; 7:3; Ezra 3:11; Ps. 23:6; 100:5; 106:1; 107:1; 110:5; 118:1, 29; 119:68; 118:1, 29. “The Lord's name is good (52:9), that He Himself is good (135:3) and that praising Him is good (147:1)” Kidner, 455.Sing praises to His name- Ps. 68:4for it lovely- The word lovely is a rare word in the OT used only 13 times. In the Psalms it is used in Psalm 16:6, 11; 81:2; 133:1; 147:1 besides here. Good and pleasant (or lovely) appear together in 133:1 and 147:1.135:4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob for Himself- Ex. 19:5-6; Deut. 7:6; 10:15; 14:2; Ps. 105:6. The goodness of God is manifested in the choice of Israel. “If the first ground of praise is the Lord's character (3), the next is His love for us. The word Jacob is emphatic: ‘For it was Jacob that the Lord chose…'” Kidner, 455.Israel for His own possession- His own possession or special treasure is one word used 8 times in the OT- Ex. 19:6; Deut. 7:6; 14:2; 25:18; I Chron. 29:3; Eccl. 2:8; Malachi 3:16.135:5 For I know that the LORD is great-Ps. 48:1; 95:3; 145:3 I is emphatic. And that our Lord is above all gods- Ex. 18:11; Ps. 95:3; 96:4-5; 97:7-9.135:6 Whatever the LORD pleases, He does- 115:3. The Hebrew word translated does in vs. 6 is translated makes in vs. 7 and make in vs. 18. In vs. 15 the noun form is used and it is translated work.  In heaven and in earth- Jer. 10:13in the seas and in all deeps- The LORD “is not limited to a particular sphere assigned to Him by His creatures, as is the case with pagan deities. The Lord is God over all realms by virtue of being the Creator. VanGemeren, 820.135:7 He causes the vapors to ascend for the ends of the earth- Jer. 10:13; 51:16 “The rainy season with its storms and wind is under His providential control-not, it is implied, that of Canaanite Baal, as his devotees claimed” Laymen's, 646. Since the weather is attributed to the LORD and not Baal, “it is another way of affirming that ‘our Lord is above all gods' (v. 5)” McCann, 1220.Who makes lightning for the rain- Job 38:22; Ps 77:17-18; 104:3-4 “His greatness even extends to the elements and powers of nature and wind (cf. Jer. 10:13; 51:16). The Canaanites believed that these powers belonged to Baal, but the psalmist confesses rightly that only Yahweh has power to ‘the ends of the earth'” VanGemeren, 820-821.Who brings forth wind from His treasuries135:8 He smote the firstborn of Egypt- 136:10; 78:51; 105:36; Ex. 12:29 Verses 5-7 stress the LORD's power in nature while vs. 8-14

Most of us interact with people on a daily basis. It's fairly easy for us to live surface lives and make it from one day to the next without really “knowing” people.   The reality is that people may know our name or recognize us. We may have some “friends” through social media or interact with people we work with or go to school with, but the truth is…most of us aren't really known. Most of us don't understand or realize that we all are created to be known & loved. Join us as we are reminded of the importance of “Being Known”. Genesis 2:18, Eccl. 4:9-12, 2 John 1:12, 2 Tim. 3:1-4

CHASING WEALTH for its own sake does not bring happiness. The chapters of Ecclesiastes we read today are unified by this verse:  Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep (Eccl. 5:12, ESV).Sharon's niece, Sarah Sachleben, was recently diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer, and the medical bills are piling up. If you are led to help, please go to GilbertHouse.org/hopeforsarah. Our new book The Gates of Hell is now available in paperback (https://amzn.to/4esHHgu), Kindle (https://amzn.to/3XR6KnV), and as an audiobook at Audible (https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Gates-of-Hell-Audiobook/B0DCX4YNVZ)! Derek's new book Destination: Earth, co-authored with Donna Howell and Allie Anderson, is now available in paperback (https://amzn.to/3YOHZJE), Kindle (https://amzn.to/3UBG1K5), and as an audiobook at Audible (https://www.audible.com/pd/Destination-Earth-Audiobook/B0DDV1ZC8R?qid=1730562326)! If you are looking for a text of the Book of 1 Enoch to follow our monthly study, you can try these sources: Parallel translations by R. H. Charles (1917) and Richard Laurence (1821) Modern English translation by George W. E. Nickelsburg and James VanderKam (link to book at Amazon)Book of 1 Enoch - Standard English Version by Dr. Jay Winter (link opens free PDF)Book of 1 Enoch - R. H. Charles translation (link opens free PDF) The SkyWatchTV store has a special offer on Dr. Michael Heiser's two-volume set A Companion to the Book of Enoch. Get both books, the R. H. Charles translation of 1 Enoch, and a DVD interview with Mike and Steven Bancarz for a donation of $35 plus shipping and handling. Link: https://bit.ly/heiser-enoch Follow us!• X: @gilberthouse_tv | @sharonkgilbert | @derekgilbert• Telegram: t.me/gilberthouse | t.me/sharonsroom | t.me/viewfromthebunker• YouTube: @GilbertHouse | @UnravelingRevelation• Facebook.com/GilbertHouseFellowship JOIN US IN ISRAEL! Our next tour of Israel is October 19–30, 2025 with an optional three-day extension to Jordan. For more information and to reserve your place, log on to GilbertHouse.org/travel. Note: Due to schedule conflicts, Doug Van Dorn, Dr. Judd Burton, and Timothy Alberino will join our tour in the spring of 2026. Thank you for making our Build Barn Better project a reality! We truly appreciate your support. If you are so led, you can help out at GilbertHouse.org/donate. Get our free app! It connects you to these studies plus our weekly video programs Unraveling Revelation and A View from the Bunker, and the podcast that started this journey in 2005, P.I.D. Radio. Best of all, it bypasses the gatekeepers of Big Tech! The app is available for iOS, Android, Roku, and Apple TV. Links to the app stores are at www.gilberthouse.org/app/. Video on demand of our best teachings! Stream presentations and teachings based on our research at our new video on demand site! Gilbert House T-shirts and mugs! New to our store is a line of GHTV and Redwing Saga merch! Check it out at GilbertHouse.org/store! Think better, feel better! Our partners at Simply Clean Foods offer freeze-dried, 100% GMO-free food and delicious, vacuum-packed fair trade coffee from Honduras. Find out more at GilbertHouse.org/store. Our favorite Bible study tools! Check the links in the right-hand column at www.GilbertHouse.org.

Love Filter: How to Choose a Spouse.