Podcasts about from david

Send us a textWhat if you couldn't be manipulated by money because none of it was “yours” to begin with? We dive straight into the tension between generosity and discernment, unpacking how a surrendered heart turns giving from performance into worship. From David's resolve to offer nothing that costs him nothing to Jesus' command to consider the ravens, we explore how scripture reframes wealth, tithing, and trust—and why real generosity sometimes hurts, yet always frees.Across candid stories and grounded teaching, we name the hard stuff: spiritual pressure to give, the shame tactics that masquerade as faith, and the fear of being used. We talk about how to spot red flags—constant crises, vague appeals, leaders who talk more about your wallet than your soul—without closing your heart to real need. You'll hear practical ways to pair help with wisdom, from private acts of mercy to transparent giving practices, and why peace often accompanies the right yes while a quiet check warns you to say no.The conversation widens into mission and courage. When money is scarce, the gospel is not; “silver and gold have I none” still changes lives. We challenge ourselves to stop missing obvious opportunities to share hope, to sow to the Spirit rather than the flesh, and to trust that God provides through surprising means—sometimes even through “ravens.” If you've been burned by giving gone wrong, you'll find a path to release the past, recover joy, and keep your hands open.Listen for a thoughtful blend of scripture, lived experience, and practical steps that strengthen both your generosity and your guardrails. If this resonates, share it with a friend, subscribe for more conversations like this, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. How is God reshaping your view of money, motives, and trust today?Support the show

Ep. 203 (Part 2 of 2) | In this rich, delightful, and profound conversation, Integral Theory informed Father David McCallum, SJ, currently serving the Catholic Church as executive director of the Program for Discerning Leadership, leads us into a world filled with mission, purpose, and service, foundational to which is the practice of discernment. David describes discernment as the capacity to exercise good judgment, hold complexity, and wait for clarity. This is not only a practice for individuals, he explains, but also a communal one, providing a way for communities to discern and design together the future they want to create—through listening, dialoguing, participating. Discernment is a way of knowing and making sense of reality, David continues, and especially important now in this era of changes and choices to be made.David enlightens us as to the beautiful and far-sighted reforms proposed by the late Pope Francis, who was all for changing the balance of authority and participation in the Church; for people to have direct experience of Presence and the capacity to practice discernment; who also advocated for taking swift action on behalf of our planet, even calling out the part in the Bible that says man has dominion over the Earth. From David's description of “the journey worth making”—surrendering, opening, accepting divine grace and love—to using Otto Scharmer's U Process to help find the courage to change and simplify our lives for the benefit of all, to the Church's relationship with A.I., David provides us with an extraordinarily mind-broadening, motivating, and spiritually fulfilling perspective. Recorded July 10, 2025.“Disasters and oppression today are by-products of a spiritual crisis… We don't see the unity of all.”Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2Turning inward for guidance: making discernment practices & skills available to all (01:07)The hunger to get back to direct experience (04:04) Practicing with the Ignatius exercises including contemplation: the path of silence (06:40)Pope Francis' call out for action on behalf of the Earth (09:39)Using Otto Scharmer's U Process to gain the courage to simplify our lives and make the commitment to change (12:11)Pope Francis' challenging the idea that men should have dominion over the earth (13:30)Disasters and oppression today are by-products of a spiritual crisis; we don't see the unity of all (15:13) Liberation theology: awakening the poor to their plight, giving them tools to remediate systemic injustice (16:52)Why Jesuits were killed in El Salvador (19:28)In the current situation in the U.S., what shape will/should religiously motivated resistance take? (20:23)The church, A.I., and the danger of losing our human competencies to machines (27:32)Resources & References – Part 2Father David McCallum, SJ, The Program for Discerning LeadershipThe Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of LoyolaJesuit Roshi Bob Kennedy;

Q: Hi! I recently had a miscarriage and it has been a season that has brought up a lot of questions. I was wondering if you had any insight? If God knits each person together in their mother's womb, as Psalm 139 describes, then where is God in miscarriage? And if God is the creator of life, why does miscarriage happen? Does He create a life, then immediately change his mind? Do babies who die before they are born go to Heaven?  Summary In this episode, Dr. E addresses a listener's heartfelt question: Where is God in miscarriage? This painful reality raises deep theological concerns—if God creates life, why does miscarriage happen? Do babies who die before birth go to heaven? Dr. Easley draws on both Scripture and personal experience with infertility to help frame the conversation. Psalm 139 reminds us that God knows us intimately, even from conception, and yet we live in a fallen world where tragedy and loss are unavoidable.  Turning to Ecclesiastes, he explains that life under the sun is marked by brokenness, and not every “why” question will be answered this side of eternity. From David's grief over his infant son in 2 Samuel 12, we see an example of trust: “I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” Ultimately, spiritual maturity means acknowledging our questions while leaning by faith into God's sovereignty and goodness. Though miscarriage leaves parents with grief and unanswered questions, God's Word assures us that He is near to the brokenhearted and offers peace that surpasses understanding. Takeaways Miscarriage raises difficult questions about God's role in life and loss. Scripture teaches that God knows and forms every life from conception. We live as fallen people in a fallen world, where tragedy is inevitable. David's response to his infant's death shows trust in God despite grief. Maturity in faith means setting aside unanswered “why” questions. God is near to the brokenhearted and offers peace beyond understanding. Find more episodes of Ask Dr. E here. If you've got a question for Dr. Easley, call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.

When the battle comes to your doorstep, are you the man in the arena or just another voice from the couch? In week three of Toy Stories, Scott Nickell sat down on The Cutting Room Floor to unpack what didn't make it into his sermon. From David's courage to Saul's passivity, from critics to shepherds, Scott walks through four pictures of masculinity we all live out and only one of them reflects Jesus.  This week's challenge: Ask yourself, “Who in my life is hurting because I'm not protecting them?” Then do something about it.  Hosts: Neil Gregory & Scott Nickell What We Discuss: Four pictures of masculinity: the bully, the critic, the soft king, and the good shepherd  Why Saul's passivity was more dangerous than Goliath's strength  The overlooked influence of David's older brother What it means to be the “man in between” like Jesus  Warrior-poets and the power of tenderness + toughness  Why initiative is central to biblical manhood  Competence vs. calling: why courage matters more than skill  The power of stepping up, even when you've failed before  About Southland Christian Church Southland is one church meeting in multiple locations across central Kentucky. We believe Jesus came for the lost and the broken, which means there's a place for everyone here. We want what He wants: for heaven to be really crowded. Around here, that means we worship defiantly, speak truth unashamedly, and extend grace generously.  To support this ministry and help us continue to reach across Central Kentucky and all around the world, visit: https://southland.church/give

Send us a textBONUS EPISODE WITH OUR BROTHERS FROM THE VERTICAL PODCAST. The room already felt different—like a youth weekend that refuses to end when the lights go down. We invited Michael Simmons and Rich Randall into a raw, wide-ranging conversation about what it means to be “trapped in sin,” and why lasting change starts when love—not guilt—pulls you toward God. From David and Samson to Judas and Barabbas, we explore how scripture opens up when you stop assuming you're always the hero. Maybe you're Delilah under pressure, or Uriah blindsided by someone else's choices. That shift isn't just interesting—it's freeing.We also wrestle with the practical stuff no one wants to talk about: how to balance clock-time and compassion, why discernment matters more than rigid schedules, and how a “late start” became the timely welcome a hesitant visitor needed. Along the way, we get honest about anger, lust, anxiety, and the difference between pulling weeds and treating the soil. Surface fixes don't last. Root work does. That means naming the real issue, setting guardrails, and choosing the right people to walk with you. It's not spectacle; it's discipleship.Leadership isn't spared. Pedestals are lonely and dangerous, and polished distance invites collapse. We press into transparency, accountability, and the relief that comes when a church expects humanity from its leaders while aiming for holiness together. And we light a path forward for students who refuse to let graduation end their growth—building a young adult bridge, creating mission opportunities, and protecting the spark that started this weekend. If you're hungry for faith that goes beyond altars and into everyday choices, this conversation will meet you where you are and point you where you're going.If this resonates, share it with a friend, subscribe for more conversations like this, and leave a review to help others find the show. What root are you ready to pull next? Support the showPlease share and SUBSCRIBE!!!If you are able ... would you help us in becoming a subscriber and helping us get the word out. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1133780/supportThinking about starting a podcast. Check out our affiliate link here.Listen on apple hereFacebook Listen on Spotify here

Great Restoration and Revival (audio) David Eells 10/8/25 Tommy Hicks – 7/25/1961 (David's notes in red) (This is a powerful vision given to American preacher Tommy Hicks, who was a major figure in the 1954 Argentina Revival.) A vision of the Body of Christ in the End-time ministries. (My message begins July 25, about 2:30 in the morning at Winnipeg, Canada. I had hardly fallen asleep when the vision and the revelation that God gave me came before me. The vision came three times, exactly in detail, the morning of July 25, 1961. I was so stirred and so moved by the revelation that this has changed my complete outlook upon the body of Christ, and upon the end-time ministries. The greatest thing that the church of Jesus Christ has ever been given lies straight ahead. It is so hard to help men and women to realize and understand the thing that God is trying to give his people in the end times. I received a letter several weeks ago from one of our native evangelists down in Africa, down in Nairobi. This man and his wife were on their way to Tanganyika. They could neither read nor could they write, but we had been supporting them for over two years. As they entered into the territory of Tanganyika, they came across a small village. The entire village was evacuating because of a plague that had hit the village. He came across natives who were weeping, and he asked them what was wrong. They told him of their mother and father who had suddenly died, and they had been dead for three days. They had to leave. They were afraid to go in; they were leaving them in the cottage. He turned and asked them where they were. They pointed to the hut and he asked them to go with him, but they refused. They were afraid to go. The native and his wife went to this little cottage and entered where the man and woman had been dead for three days. He simply stretched forth his hand in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and spoke the man's name and the woman's name and said, “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I command life to come back to your bodies.” Instantaneously, these two heathen people who had never known Jesus Christ as their Savior sat up and immediately began to praise God. The spirit and the power of God came into the life of those people. To us that may seem strange and a phenomenon, but that is the beginning of these end-time ministries.  (I talked to a sister 3-6-25 whose husband had been dead for 81/2 months when I called him back in the name of Jesus and by the grace of God he came to her in her kitchen. In another case a husband, wife and children had been killed by Satanists as witnessed by Eve and my angel and I called them back and all immediately returned by God's grace. God can use a donkey. Back to Tommy's message.) God is going to take the do-nothings, the nobodies, the unheard-of, the no-accounts. He is going to take every man and every woman and he is going to give them this outpouring of the Spirit of God. In the Book of Acts, we read that “In the last days,” God said, “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.” I wonder if we realized what God meant when He said, “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.” I do not think I fully realized nor could I understand the fullness of it, and then I read from the Book of Joel: “Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain…” (Joel 2:23). …He is going to give to his people in these last days a double portion of the power of God!) As the vision appeared to me after I was asleep, I suddenly found myself in a great high distance. Where I was, I do not know. But I was looking down upon the earth. Suddenly the whole earth came into my view. Every nation, every kindred, every tongue came before my sight from the east and the west, the north and the south. I recognized every country and many cities that I had been in, and I was almost in fear and trembling as I beheld the great sight before me: and at that moment when the world came into view, it began to lightning and thunder. As the lightning flashed over the face of the earth, my eyes went downward and I was facing the north. Suddenly I beheld what looked like a great giant, and as I stared and looked at it, I was almost bewildered by the sight. It was so gigantic and so great. His feet seemed to reach to the north pole and his head to the south. Its arms were stretched from sea to sea. (Meaning: A great corporate body of saints.) I could not even begin to understand whether this was a mountain or a giant, but as I watched, I suddenly beheld a great giant. I could see his head was struggling for life. He wanted to live, but his body was covered with debris from head to foot (Sin and false doctrines), and at times this great giant would move his body and act as though it would even raise up at times. And when it did, thousands of little creatures seemed to run away. (Demons) Hideous creatures would run away from this giant, and when he would become calm, they would come back. All of a sudden this great giant lifted his hand towards heaven, and then it lifted its other hand (Praising the Lord!), and when it did, these creatures by the thousands seemed to flee away from this giant and go into the darkness of the night. Slowly this great giant began to rise and as he did, his head and hands went into the clouds. As he rose to his feet he seemed to have cleansed himself from the debris and filth that was upon him, and he began to raise his hands into the heavens as though praising the Lord, and as he raised his hands, they went even unto the clouds. Suddenly, every cloud became silver, the most beautiful silver (purified through heavenly fire) I have ever known. As I watched this phenomenon, it was so great, I could not even begin to understand what it all meant. I was so stirred as I watched it, and I cried unto the Lord and I said, “Oh Lord, what is the meaning of this?” and I felt as if I was actually in the Spirit and I could feel the presence of the Lord even as I was asleep. And from those clouds suddenly there came great drops of liquid light raining down upon this mighty giant (light is truth), and slowly, slowly, this giant began to melt, began to sink itself in the very earth itself, and as he melted (bearing their cross), his whole form seemed to have melted upon the face of the earth, and this great rain began to come down. Liquid drops of light began to flood the very earth itself, and as I watched this giant that seemed to melt, suddenly it became millions of people over the face of the earth. As I beheld the sight before me, people stood up all over the world! They were lifting their hands and they were praising the Lord. At that very moment, there came a great thunder that seemed to roar from the heavens. I turned my eyes toward the heavens and suddenly I saw a figure in white, in glistening white; the most glorious thing that I have ever seen in my entire life. I did not see the face, but somehow I knew it was the Lord Jesus Christ, and he stretched forth his hand, and as he did, he would stretch it forth to one, and to another, and to another. And as he stretched forth his hand upon the nations and the people of the world, men and women, as he pointed toward them, this liquid light seemed to flow from his hands into them, and a mighty anointing of God came upon them (The latter rain), and those people began to go forth in the name of the Lord. I do not know how long I watched it. It seemed it went into days and weeks and months. And I beheld this Christ as he continued to stretch forth his hand, but there was a tragedy. There were many people, as he stretched forth his hand, who refused the anointing of God and the call of God. I saw men and women that I knew. People that I felt would certainly receive the call of God. But as he stretched forth his hand toward this one and toward that one, they simply bowed their head and began to back away. And each of those that seemed to bow down and back away seemed to go into darkness. Blackness seemed to swallow them everywhere. (Faction and falling away) I was bewildered as I watched it, but these people that he had anointed, hundreds of thousands of people all over the world, in Africa, England, Russia, China, America, all over the world, the anointing of God was upon these people as they went forward in the name of the Lord. I saw these men and women as they went forth. They were ditch diggers, they were washerwomen, they were rich men, they were poor men. I saw people who were bound with paralysis and sickness and blindness and deafness. As the Lord stretched forth to give them this anointing, they became well, they became healed, and they went forth exactly as the Lord did. And this is the miracle of it - this is the glorious miracle of it. It seemed as if there was this same liquid fire in their hands - those people would stretch forth their hands and say, “According to my word, be thou made whole.” These people continued in this mighty end-time ministry. I did not fully realize what it was, and I looked to the Lord and said, “What is the meaning of this?” And he said, “This is that which I will do in the last days. I will restore all that the cankerworm, the palmerworm, the caterpillar - I will restore all that they have destroyed. This, my people, in the end times will go forth. As a mighty army shall they sweep over the face of the earth.” As I was at this great height, I could behold the whole world. I watched these people as they were going to and fro over the face of the earth. Suddenly there was a man in Africa and in a moment he was transported by the Spirit of God, and perhaps he was in Russia, or China or America or some other place, and vice versa. All over the world these people went, and they came through fire, and through pestilence, and through famine. Neither fire nor persecution, nothing seemed to stop them. Angry mobs came to them with swords and with guns. And like Jesus, they passed through the multitudes and they could not find them, but they went forth in the name of the Lord, and everywhere they stretched forth their hands, the sick were healed, the blind eyes were opened. There was not a long prayer. And after I had reviewed the vision many times in my mind, and I thought about it many times, I realized that I never saw a church, and I never saw or heard a denomination, but these people were going in the name of the Lord of Hosts. Hallelujah! As they marched forth in everything they did, as the ministry of Christ in the end times, these people were ministering to the multitudes over the face of the earth. Tens of thousands, even millions, seemed to come to the Lord Jesus Christ as these people stood forth and gave the message of the kingdom, of the coming kingdom, in this last hour. It was so glorious, but it seems as though there were those who rebelled, and they would become angry and they tried to attack those workers who were giving the message. (As in Jesus' day so it is in ours) God is going to give the world a demonstration in this last hour that the world has never known. These men and women are of all walks of life; degrees will mean nothing. I saw these workers as they were going over the face of the earth. When one would stumble and fall, another would come and pick him up. There were no “big I's” and “little you's,” but every mountain was brought low and every valley was exalted, and they seemed to have one thing in common - there was a divine love, a divine love that seemed to flow forth from these people as they worked together, and as they lived together. It was the most glorious sight that I have ever known. Jesus Christ was the theme of their life. They continued and it seemed days went by as I stood and beheld this sight. I could only cry, and sometimes I laughed. It was so wonderful as these people went throughout the face of the whole earth, bringing forth in this last end time. As I watched from the very heaven itself, there were times when great deluges of this liquid light seemed to fall upon great congregations, and they would lift up their hands and seemingly praise God for hours and even days as the Spirit of God came upon them. God said, “I will pour my Spirit upon all flesh,” and that is exactly this thing. And to every man and woman that received this power and anointing of God, the miracles were without end. (We have talked about miracles. We have talked about signs and wonders, but I could not help but weep as I read again this morning, at 4 o'clock the letter from our native workers. This is only the evidence of the beginning for one man, a “do-nothing, an unheard-of,” who would go and stretch forth his hand and say, “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I command life to flow into your body.” I dropped to my knees and began to pray again, and I said, “Lord, I know that this time is coming soon!”) And then again, as these people were going about the face of the earth, a great persecution seemed to come from every angle. Suddenly, there was another great clap of thunder that seemed to resound around the world, and I heard again the voice that seemed to speak, “Now this is my people. This is my beloved bride.” (In Revelation, we see the Bride in her “lampros,” liquid light garment who has been doing miracles all over the world. Rev.19:7 Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright (Lampros) and pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. John the Baptist saw Jesus' first fruits disciples and called them the Bride for he said, “He that hath the Bride is the Bridegroom.” This Bride went forth to do miracles in the gospels and in Acts and to pass this anointing on to the rest of the church. Then in Revelation we see the rest of the church in a white or “leukos” garment who are invited to the marriage. Rev.19:14 And the armies which are in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white (Leukos) and pure. And below we will see in Tommy's revelation the dead in Christ rising to be joined with them at the end of the seven-year tribulation.) And when the voice spoke, I looked upon the earth and I could see the lakes and the mountains. The graves were opened, and people from all over the world, the saints of all ages, seemed to be rising. (The dead in Christ will rise first.) And as they rose from the grave, suddenly all these people came from every direction. From the East and the West, from the North and the South, and they seemed to be forming again this gigantic body. As the dead in Christ seemed to be rising first I could hardly comprehend it. It was so marvelous. It was so far beyond anything I could ever dream or think of. But as this body suddenly began to form and take shape again, it was in the form of this mighty giant, but this time it was different. It was arrayed in the most beautiful, gorgeous white. (In Rev.19:14 this is the white or “leukos” garments of the church.) Its garments were without spot or wrinkle as its body began to form, and the people of all ages seemed to be gathered into this body, and slowly, slowly, as it began to form up into the very heavens, suddenly from the heavens above, the Lord Jesus came, and became the head.  (Now, Jesus is the head of the Bride, John said was Jerusalem, just as David, as a type of the Man-child reformers, was head of the Bride, Jerusalem. In this way Jesus and David were also the head of the rest of the Body of Israel; a type of the Church. We see this same relationship of Esther as the Bride head of the body of Israel and the Shulammite in Song of Solomon as the Bride head of Israel.) I heard another clap of thunder that said, “This is my beloved bride for whom I have waited. She will come forth even tried by fire. This is she that I have loved from the beginning of time.” As I watched, my eyes suddenly turned to the far north, and I saw destruction of men and women in anguish and crying out, and buildings in destruction. Then I heard again, the fourth voice that said, “Now is My wrath being poured out upon the face of the earth.” (The Day of the Lord's wrath upon those who persecuted God's people.) From the ends of the whole world, the wrath of God seemed to be poured out and it seemed that there were great vials of God's wrath being poured out upon the face of the earth. (The seals and trumps of the tribulation were followed by the vials of wrath in the day of the Lord. There are seven years before the Bride and Church are caught up followed by the year of wrath on the wicked who persecuted them. Isa.34:8 For Jehovah hath a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion.) I can remember it as though it happened a moment ago. I shook and trembled as I beheld the awful sight of seeing the cities and whole nations going down into destruction. I could hear the weeping and wailing. I could hear people crying. They seemed to cry as they went into caves, but the caves in the mountains opened up. They leaped into the water, but the water would not drown them. There was nothing that could destroy them. They were wanting to take their lives, but they could not. Then again I turned my eyes to this glorious sight, this body arrayed in beautiful white, shining garments. Slowly, slowly, it began to lift from the earth, and as it did, I awoke. (This is the catching up of the lampros Bride and white Church body at the end of the tribulation before the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord.) What a sight I had beheld! I had seen the end-time ministries - the last hour. Again, on July 27, at 2:30 in the morning, the same revelation, the same vision came again exactly as it did before. My life has been changed as I realized that we are living in that end time, for all over the world God is anointing men and women with this ministry. It will not be doctrine. It will not be a churchianity. It is going to be Jesus Christ. They will give forth the word of the Lord. I heard it said so many times in the vision, “And according to my word it shall be done.”   Joel's Restoration Begins Sandy Shaw - 3/30/12 (David's notes in red) In this dream we were in a place that looked like Tahlequah, Oklahoma but it was bigger and prettier. It was really beautiful. (In Cherokee, Tahlequah means, “just two or two is enough”. Just as Jesus sent out the disciples and the 70 two by two, so it will be in our day when Jesus in the Man-child ministers will send out the two witnesses in the Great Revival.) There were a lot of people from UBM there, not just local but from all over. The people there were like-minded. There were many ages, from babies all the way up to old men. There was singing, praying, eating, and all kinds of fellowship and the kids were playing. It was like in a big meadow with a lot of shade trees. There was just ‘a oneness' there; it was peaceful and really beautiful. The sun felt so good. Then it started to rain while the sun was still shining, and the rain lasted only a few seconds before it began to pour down like a waterfall. It was just a steady, flowing stream of water hitting everyone there, from the babies to the oldest. (A renewal of the former rain upon the saints and then the beginning of the latter rain upon the David reformer ministries before it's given to the saints, just as Joel spoke of and the Gospels show in type: (Joe.2:22) Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field; for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth its fruit, the fig-tree and the vine do yield their strength. (23) Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in Jehovah your God; for he giveth you the former rain in just measure, and he causeth to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, in the first [month]. (Note: Hos.6:3… he (the Lord) will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain that watereth the earth. The Lord will come as the anointing of the Holy Spirit not in the air or in a rapture of the Church!!) Back to Joel (24) And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. (25) And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the canker-worm, and the caterpillar, and the palmer-worm (representing the curse on God's people), my great army which I sent among you. (26) And ye shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and shall praise the name of Jehovah your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you; and my people shall never be put to shame. (27) And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am Jehovah your God, and there is none else; and my people shall never be put to shame. (28) And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: (29) and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit. Everyone was feeling this water and it was filling us up. It was freshness and newness and it didn't feel like any other kind of anointing one has ever felt before. We knew that we knew, it was there to stay. Everyone had their faces up to the water, to the anointing, feeling the water. (I am not doing it justice in explaining how it felt; how it was filling us up and how we all felt; even to say, “Walking on a cloud” is not the right words but I don't know any other words.) I saw people walking on stones and stickers in the ground, and we were barefoot, and it didn't hurt us, like we didn't feel it. (Representing walking above the curses of this world with no hurt.) We knew that we knew, our entire body was anointed of God. We knew what we were doing was ordained of God and we were just doing it. There were no questions. (I just can't explain the oneness or the way our hands felt; like they were not our hands, but the Lord's hands. …Each step was ordained of the Lord. We knew that nothing could take away what God had given to us. We were being completely used by Him. It was like walking or moving on clouds.) ... When everyone was filled, ... that's when we heard God tell us, “Ok, get busy; we're going to work now”. (The beginning of the spread of the revival.)   Revival Beginning at UBM Charlie Smith - 12/12/12 (David's notes in red) Notice the date of this dream: 12/12/12, the fullness of the elect. In the early hours of the morning, the Lord gave me this dream. In it, suddenly, I appeared in a large room where I saw brother David (representing the David Man-child reformers) and about 10 or 12 brethren standing around. (I asked the Lord if this was 12 and got a yes, which fits with Jesus and his 12 when revival began then.) I knew David, but his features had changed some. I mean, he really looked great. I could really see God in the man like I never had before. (David, here is a type of the Man-child reformers who will start this revival, just as Jesus, the Son of David, did in His time. The things that have been are the things that will be.) And I knew him, but the other brethren I did not recognize, although I really did know who they were. As I stood looking, a man came over to me and He was the Lord! The brethren were being taught how to minister to the needs of the people. Brother David walked across the room to pray for a man who came for healing. He stood before the man and said, “Be healed,” and the man was healed instantly. David turned and walked back to the other side of the room. (God's power is made perfect in man's weakness, so that no flesh can glory.) The brethren, as well as I, were amazed that the man was healed, and we started praising God and giving thanks. As we rejoiced, another man came forward for healing who was blind. One of the brethren came forth and laid hands on the man's head, saying, “Receive your sight”. And the man cried out, “I'm healed and I can see!” Other people in the room who were in need came forth immediately, some with missing or deformed limbs, twisted bodies, crippled, all such of humanity that was so pitiful; they came up and every one of them was healed instantly. I said, “Oh, God, how is it that everyone was healed instantly, so fast, so easily? Some had hands laid on them and others did not, but they were all healed”. The Lord smiled and said, “You could not see”. Then the Lord opened my spiritual eyes and said, “Now look”. And He showed me again the part where David said to the man, “Be healed”. This time I could see the words “Be healed” coming out of David's mouth, like a mist, and entering into the man. And as the word went into the man, he was instantly healed. I received a few scriptures that go with this dream: (Isa.55:11) So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth. It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please; and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Jer.1:12) I watch over my word to perform it. (Eze.12:25) For I am Jehovah and I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall be performed. (Rom.10:8) The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth and in thy heart. And I was still wondering about the mist that I saw, and I got (Joh.6:63) The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. So I understood that, like Jesus spoke the Word, and it came to pass, so these brethren operated on that level. The scene changed and we were in a different, larger room. David and about 100 or more other brethren were gathered together. The brethren were being taught how to minister and were then sent forth. They went forth preaching the Word and healing the sick everywhere. The brethren covered much of this area and you couldn't go anywhere without seeing them. (Many Man-child ministers are coming here and they will send forth disciples as Jesus did.) And then the scene quickly changed again, and we were at another place outside. It was a large, grassy area with parking nearby, but I don't know where it was. Brother David and maybe as many as 500 brethren were gathered together and crowds of people were coming from everywhere. It looked like thousands or even hundreds of thousands were coming. The meetings ran day and night. One night, all the people saw a pillar of fire burning in our midst. They were being drawn by the Lord, and it was a holy move of God. So many saints were now coming together. Again, the scene quickly changed and I was lifted up, looking down on the earth, and I saw the saints running through all the earth, spreading the gospel and the light was shining all over the earth. I think what I saw was a revival to prepare the saints to manifest sons of God in the earth to do the will of the Father. I also believe that this is a revival for the Man-child because in every one of those scenes where David and the brethren were gathered, they were being taught how to minister the Word and heal the sick. And I noticed that everything was on a higher level than what we're used to now. They didn't spend a lot of time and use a lot of words when they prayed; they just commanded it and it was immediately done. And when they gave the Gospel, they didn't have to stand there for hours trying to nail a point down. It was just like the glory of the Lord fell. When these brethren got around people out here on the streets to witness, the glory of the Lord was so strong that they just automatically fell down and cried, “Save me!” This was definitely a sign to us all that God's getting ready to do something wonderful here. I'm just like my brothers and sisters here. I want to be a part of it because I know God's going to do a fantastic work here and it's going to spread worldwide because I saw the lights cover the whole earth. I don't know when this is going to happen, but I know it will. Amen. We are informed by the Lord in many more dreams and scriptures that there is coming a great revival here and across the country and world. It will be in the midst of darkness and turmoil and many will come out of darkness. (Isa.60:1) Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon thee. (2) For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but Jehovah will arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. (3) And nations shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. (4) Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: they all gather themselves together, they come to thee; thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be carried in the arms. (5) Then thou shalt see and be radiant, and thy heart shall thrill and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned unto thee, the wealth of the nations shall come unto thee. We have a part in this. The principalities and powers of darkness have been put under our feet, but we must fight the good fight of the faith and cast them down from over UBM, this area, the U.S, and many other countries. (Luk.10:18) And he said unto them, I beheld Satan fallen as lightning from heaven. (19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. (20) Nevertheless in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. Let us have fasting and prayer and praise meetings and confess our sins and cast down these powers. Let us decree freedom from bondage and darkness. I received this: (Job 22:28) Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee; And light shall shine upon thy ways. (29) When they cast [thee] down, thou shalt say, [There is] lifting up; And the humble person he will save. (30) He will deliver [even] him that is not innocent: Yea, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands.   Prophet Phillip shared this vision with us: (Spearheading the Man-child) I have prayed for three days now for the Holy Father's will in this matter of sharing the vision I received during a meeting with David as the speaker (in Phoenix, a type of resurrection life). (I had never seen Phillip before this.) I am permitted to share the following: As I prayed with David at the start of the meeting, I saw the room change into a stadium filled with people and David was at the podium shouting through a microphone that was in the shape of a shofar. He wore a silver yarmulke that glowed as he spoke, and from above it came a white golden light pouring down from the sky as a beam of glory growing brighter with each outpouring. From David's clothing came the same glory lights pouring through the tzit-tzit on his garment, flowing like fingers through the people. They touched the forehead and were grabbed by the right hand of people who became pregnant (with Christ) and began shouting as they were covered in glory. This is the vision I had at the meeting. The Holy Father says that David would know its meaning, if not now, very soon. (All glory to God, He chooses the weak to show this.  He can speak through a donkey.)   Months after that meeting, we received this from Phillip: Holy Yahweh is forming this ministry into His Image to spearhead the Man-child Ministry Birthing and Delivery to the World! Amen! He has given this to me in a mighty vision that ran and continued for three nights along with some other things that I can't say just yet. In short, brethren, the “white golden light pouring down from the sky as a beam of glory” will flow through obedient servants in whom Christ is manifested through the latter rain and belief in the truth. It will flow first through the man-child and then through the witnesses to the Church at large. (This light is pouring down from the sky upon the giant body of Christ in Tommy Hick's revelation.)

Spooky Season is officially here, and we're kicking off our “Hot Vampire” series with Joel Schumacher's cult classic, The Lost Boys. Join Spencer and Elizabeth as they ride into Santa Carla to sink their teeth into the film's unforgettable costumes, designed by Susan Becker. From David's iconic vampire coven dripping in leather and attitude to The Frog Brothers, Michael's earring, the Jim Morrison inspiration, and Schumacher's unmistakable designer flair—this episode celebrates the wild, rebellious style that made The Lost Boys immortal.

Spooky Season is officially here, and we're kicking off our “Hot Vampire” series with Joel Schumacher's cult classic, The Lost Boys. Join Spencer and Elizabeth as they ride into Santa Carla to sink their teeth into the film's unforgettable costumes, designed by Susan Becker. From David's iconic vampire coven dripping in leather and attitude to The Frog Brothers, Michael's earring, the Jim Morrison inspiration, and Schumacher's unmistakable designer flair—this episode celebrates the wild, rebellious style that made The Lost Boys immortal.

In this powerful message from The Avenue Community Church, we're invited to see the heart of God in a whole new light—His majesty revealed through meekness. Drawing from Psalm 8, this sermon walks through the awe and wonder of creation, the smallness of humanity, and the breathtaking reality that God wages war through weakness. From David's psalm of praise to Jesus' humble triumph on a donkey, and finally to Paul's reminder that God chooses the lowly to shame the strong—this episode weaves together a story of grace, strength, and divine reversal. Discover how worship doesn't make God greater—it makes our hearts bigger. Learn what it means to see “majesty through meekness” in your own life, to trust God in the highs and lows, and to find peace in knowing that the One who hung the stars also hung on a cross—for you.

Ep. 202 (Part 1 of 2) | In this rich, delightful, and profound conversation, integralist Father David McCallum, SJ, currently serving the Vatican as executive director of the Program for Discerning Leadership, leads us into a world filled with mission, purpose, and service, foundational to which is the practice of discernment. David describes discernment as the capacity to exercise good judgment, hold complexity, and wait for clarity. This is not only a practice for individuals, he explains, but also a communal one, providing a way for communities to discern and design together the future they want to create—through listening, dialoguing, participating. Discernment is a way of knowing and making sense of reality, David continues, and especially important now in this era of changes and choices to be made.David enlightens us as to the beautiful and far-sighted reforms proposed by the late Pope Francis, who was all for changing the balance of authority and participation in the Church; for people to have direct experience of Presence and the capacity to practice discernment; who also advocated for taking swift action on behalf of our planet, even calling out the part in the Bible that says man has dominion over the Earth. From David's description of “the journey worth making”—surrendering, opening, accepting divine grace and love—to using Otto Scharmer's U Process to help find the courage to change and simplify our lives for the benefit of all, to the Church's relationship with A.I., David provides us with an extraordinarily mind-broadening, motivating, and spiritually fulfilling perspective. Recorded July 10, 2025.“No secular, material, and empirical path is going to satisfy the longing we have for a transcendent purpose, for meaning, for existential belonging, in the ways that a healthy spirituality can.”Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing Fr. David McCallum, integrally informed Jesuit priest currently serving the Vatican as the executive director of the Program for Discerning Leadership (00:48)How did David come to devote his life to the Catholic Church? (01:48)The journey worth making: surrendering, opening, accepting grace (09:42)So many are disconnected from the deeper wellspring of spirituality (13:07)Pope Francis was a reformer, focused on changing the balance of authority and participation (16:46)Pope Francis also focused on the process of synodality, real dialogue, the importance of discernment & following where the spirit wants to lead us (19:31)Pope Leo XIV, self-effacing, generous, hard working, introspective, bringing balance and discipline (22:27)How does David's understanding of developmental stages inform his work? (25:28)Using metatheories as a map to make sense of the change in era we are living through now (28:09)The rise of secularism; also burgeoning fundamentalism (31:26)Without faith, how can we make sense of suffering? (33:25)The temptation of ideology in these anxiety-producing times (36:07)What is discernment?Communal discernment: What is the future we want to create together? (40:39)Resources & References – Part 1Father David McCallum, SJ, The Program for Discerning LeadershipGraham Greene,...

A late-night jab reignites a bigger debate: Who polices speech in America? This episode traces the line between sins and crimes, argues against government licensing of media, and defends freedom of conscience under the First Amendment. We contrast "strongman" instincts with a biblical model that honors authority, rejects vengeance, and fights bad ideas with better ones—through open debate, market pressure, and the light of God's Word. From David, Nathan, and Shimei to today's media oligarchs and the internet's "Babel effect," the case is made for liberty over tyranny and persuasion over censorship.

This week at Accelerate Church, Pastor Ernest Grant II preached a message from 1 Samuel 30 in our Love Island collection: “Getting Right After a Swipe Left.” From David's darkest moment at Ziklag, we see how to deal with rejection, strengthen ourselves in the Lord, seek His direction, and trust Him to restore what was lost.

In this episode of Arise + Abide, Curtis and Sally reflect on Psalm 132, a psalm that recalls God's promises to David and His desire to dwell among His people. Together they trace the psalm's echoes of David's devotion, Solomon's prayer, and ultimately the eternal fulfillment found in Jesus—the true anointed King from David's line. The conversation explores the tension between human longing to build a place for God and God's deeper desire for relationship with His people. They discuss the psalm's reminder to remain faithful to God's calling, to remember His promises, and to find strength not in work or blessings but in abiding in His presence. From David's restless pursuit to build a house for the Lord, to God's declaration of Jerusalem as His eternal resting place, the episode highlights the unshakable covenant that points to Christ, the worthy One who reigns forever. Listeners are encouraged to see God's heart not as seeking labor or ritual but as longing for communion—an invitation to dwell with Him, receive His strength, and rest in His faithful promises.

A direct charge to bridge the generational gap and build a pipeline of disciples. From David and Eliab to Moses and Joshua to Stephen's bold witness, this message calls both seasoned saints and emerging leaders to transfer mantle, responsibility, and Spirit-empowered faith.https://TakingTheLandPodcast.comSUBSCRIBE TO PREMIUM FOR MORE:• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe for only $3/month on Supercast⁠: https://taking-the-land.supercast.com/⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe for only $3.99/month on Spotify⁠: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/taking-the-land/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠Subscribe for only $4.99/month on Apple Podcasts⁠: https://apple.co/3vy1s5b⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scriptures: Acts 6:3; 1 Samuel 17:26–29; Exodus 17:9–14; Exodus 33:7–11; Acts 7:54–60; Daniel 3; Judges 2:10.Highlights:• Leaders must actively “seek out” those with good reputation, wisdom, and the Holy Spirit.• Give real responsibility early; let them fight real battles.• Move beyond inherited blessing to owned conviction and lived testimony.• Youth: hunger for God's presence, stand when your generation bows.Chapters13:35 Theme: Raising Up Another Generation (Acts 6:3)15:10 The Generational Divide and Labels18:40 David vs. Eliab: Don't Despise the Next Generation (1 Sam 17)22:10 Leaders: Seek and Elevate Emerging Workers25:00 Moses & Joshua: Shared Battles and Real Responsibility (Ex 17)29:00 God's Transfer: “Recount it in Joshua's Hearing” (Ex 17:14; 33)32:30 Hunger for Presence: Linger at the Tent34:30 Stephen: Full of Faith and the Holy Spirit (Acts 6–7)37:20 Stand When Others Bow: The Furnace Test (Dan 3)39:10 Salvation Call40:30 Call to the Young (≤36): Public Commitment42:20 Closing MomentsShow NotesALL PROCEEDS GO TO WORLD EVANGELISMLocate a CFM Church near you: https://cfmmap.orgWe need five-star reviews! Tell the world what you think about this podcast at: • Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apple.co/3vy1s5b • Podchaser: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/taking-the-land-cfm-sermon-pod-43369

It's possible to know Scripture and still miss God's heart. In this message, Pastor Christian walks through Jesus' clash with the Pharisees over the Sabbath and shows why mercy outruns mere ritual. From David eating the bread of the Presence to priests “working” on the Sabbath, Jesus reveals that the point was never box-checking—it's covenant love (ḥesed) that fuels true obedience. Scripture: Matthew 12:1–8; 1 Samuel 21; Hosea 6:6; Exodus 20:8–11; Exodus 34:21Big ideas: You can know and still not understand. “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” Relationship fuels obedience; compliance without love grows cold. Sabbath is a gift for renewal, not a grind of rules. Try this week: Trade a checklist for compassion. Practice Sabbath rest with a soft heart toward people. Ask: Where have I kept the ritual and lost the reason? (From Radiant Church • Next Gen Pastor Christian)

Everyone has moments when their strength fails—physically, emotionally, or spiritually. In this study of Psalm 41, the final psalm of Book One, Dr. John explores how God sustains those who care for the weak and needy. Even as David faces illness and betrayal by close friends, he discovers that blessing comes not from avoiding trouble but from God's faithfulness through it. This psalm points forward to Jesus, who experienced the ultimate betrayal yet triumphed over every enemy, showing us that God's sustaining power never fails His people.Reasons for Worship: In a world of political turmoil, personal struggles, and the apparent prosperity of evil, where should believers place their trust? Dr. John's series on Psalms 33–41 called “Reasons for Worship” explores God's faithfulness amid life's challenges. From David's escapes to his reflections on the wicked, these psalms offer practical wisdom for trusting God, finding hope in desperate circumstances, and keeping faith when evil seems to prevail. This series brings both comfort and challenge, pointing to the God who is completely trustworthy in every season.

God rescues David from the pit and sets his feet on solid rock, giving him a new song of praise to share. In this study of Psalm 40, Dr. John explores David's powerful testimony of deliverance, his insights about faith versus religious ritual, and his honest admission that new troubles are already emerging. This Psalm captures the realistic rhythm of Christian living—celebrating God's victories while preparing for fresh battles that require continued dependence on Him.Reasons for Worship: In a world of political turmoil, personal struggles, and the apparent prosperity of evil, where should believers place their trust? Dr. John's series on Psalms 33–41 called “Reasons for Worship” explores God's faithfulness amid life's challenges. From David's escapes to his reflections on the wicked, these psalms offer practical wisdom for trusting God, finding hope in desperate circumstances, and keeping faith when evil seems to prevail. This series brings both comfort and challenge, pointing to the God who is completely trustworthy in every season.

Life is fleeting—like a breath or shadow compared to eternity. In this study of Psalm 39, Dr. John explores how David grapples with life's apparent meaninglessness while suffering under God's discipline. Yet this isn't depressing but hopeful. When God strips away what we hold dear, He's redirecting our hope from this temporary world to Him alone. Dr. John shows how David teaches us to live as sojourners passing through this world with God as our guide, finding joy in our brief time here.Reasons for Worship: In a world of political turmoil, personal struggles, and the apparent prosperity of evil, where should believers place their trust? Dr. John's series on Psalms 33–41 called “Reasons for Worship” explores God's faithfulness amid life's challenges. From David's escapes to his reflections on the wicked, these psalms offer practical wisdom for trusting God, finding hope in desperate circumstances, and keeping faith when evil seems to prevail. This series brings both comfort and challenge, pointing to the God who is completely trustworthy in every season.

Sometimes our pain comes from our own poor choices, and God uses that suffering to bring us back to Him. In this study of Psalm 38, Dr. John examines how David honestly faces the illness and isolation that followed his sin. Friends have abandoned him, enemies are circling, yet David shows the way forward: turn toward God instead of away, stay quiet under criticism, and simply confess without making excuses. This message brings hope to anyone feeling disgraced by their failures.Reasons for Worship: In a world of political turmoil, personal struggles, and the apparent prosperity of evil, where should believers place their trust? Dr. John's series on Psalms 33–41 called “Reasons for Worship” explores God's faithfulness amid life's challenges. From David's escapes to his reflections on the wicked, these psalms offer practical wisdom for trusting God, finding hope in desperate circumstances, and keeping faith when evil seems to prevail. This series brings both comfort and challenge, pointing to the God who is completely trustworthy in every season.

When darkness seems overwhelming and evil appears unstoppable, we desperately need reasons to keep going. In this study of Psalm 37:12-40, Dr. John reveals three truths from David's reflections: the certain fate of the wicked, the possibility of remaining steady through faith, and the eternal promises that sustain God's people. Drawing from David's experiences facing overwhelming opposition, this message shows why believers can maintain hope and generosity even in the darkest times.Reasons for Worship: In a world of political turmoil, personal struggles, and the apparent prosperity of evil, where should believers place their trust? Dr. John's series on Psalms 33–41 called “Reasons for Worship” explores God's faithfulness amid life's challenges. From David's escapes to his reflections on the wicked, these psalms offer practical wisdom for trusting God, finding hope in desperate circumstances, and keeping faith when evil seems to prevail. This series brings both comfort and challenge, pointing to the God who is completely trustworthy in every season.

Why do bad people seem to get ahead while good people struggle? Dr. John tackles this frustrating question through Psalm 37, exploring our natural tendency to worry and feel jealous when evil seems to be winning. David reveals six essential commands for believers during tough times: don't worry, trust God, find joy in Him, commit your path to Him, be patient, and don't get angry. Dr. John emphasizes that the wicked's success is only temporary, while those who trust God will ultimately inherit lasting peace.Reasons for Worship: In a world of political turmoil, personal struggles, and the apparent prosperity of evil, where should believers place their trust? Dr. John's series on Psalms 33–41 called “Reasons for Worship” explores God's faithfulness amid life's challenges. From David's escapes to his reflections on the wicked, these psalms offer practical wisdom for trusting God, finding hope in desperate circumstances, and keeping faith when evil seems to prevail. This series brings both comfort and challenge, pointing to the God who is completely trustworthy in every season.

In a world that often denies genuine evil exists, Psalm 36 offers a stark contrast between the truly wicked and God's dependable character. Dr. John explores David's description of those who plot evil, live by lies, and show no fear of God. Rather than despair, David immediately turns to worship, celebrating God's steadfast love that reaches to the heavens. Dr. John emphasizes how God's unchanging faithfulness provides protection and hope to His people, proving Him completely trustworthy even when evil seems to be winning.Reasons for Worship: In a world of political turmoil, personal struggles, and the apparent prosperity of evil, where should believers place their trust? Dr. John's series on Psalms 33–41 called “Reasons for Worship” explores God's faithfulness amid life's challenges. From David's escapes to his reflections on the wicked, these psalms offer practical wisdom for trusting God, finding hope in desperate circumstances, and keeping faith when evil seems to prevail. This series brings both comfort and challenge, pointing to the God who is completely trustworthy in every season.

How should Christians handle enemies who seem bent on destruction? Dr. John tackles this challenging question through Psalm 35, where David prays for God to strike down his adversaries. Dr. John distinguishes between personal disputes requiring forgiveness and situations involving genuine wickedness, offering a nuanced approach to praying for justice while longing for God's vindication of the righteous.Reasons for Worship: In a world of political turmoil, personal struggles, and the apparent prosperity of evil, where should believers place their trust? Dr. John's series on Psalms 33–41 called “Reasons for Worship” explores God's faithfulness amid life's challenges. From David's escapes to his reflections on the wicked, these psalms offer practical wisdom for trusting God, finding hope in desperate circumstances, and keeping faith when evil seems to prevail. This series brings both comfort and challenge, pointing to the God who is completely trustworthy in every season.

When life's troubles seem overwhelming, Psalm 34 offers hope rooted in David's desperate escape from enemy territory. Dr. John explores this beloved psalm, where David credits his deliverance entirely to God's faithfulness rather than his own clever schemes. The commentary reveals three secrets for godly living: finding true life through righteousness, facing trouble by crying out to God, and maintaining patience while waiting for deliverance. Though afflictions are many, God delivers the faithful.Reasons for Worship: In a world of political turmoil, personal struggles, and the apparent prosperity of evil, where should believers place their trust? Dr. John's series on Psalms 33–41 called “Reasons for Worship” explores God's faithfulness amid life's challenges. From David's escapes to his reflections on the wicked, these psalms offer practical wisdom for trusting God, finding hope in desperate circumstances, and keeping faith when evil seems to prevail. This series brings both comfort and challenge, pointing to the God who is completely trustworthy in every season.

In a world where we're constantly tempted to place our security in politics, military strength, or economic systems, Psalm 33 offers a timeless reminder about where true trust should rest. Dr. John begins a new series on Psalms 33-41, exploring the psalm's call to "Always Trust in the Lord." He examines the invitation to joyful worship and God's sovereignty over creation and nations, challenging listeners to examine where they place their ultimate trust.Reasons for Worship: In a world of political turmoil, personal struggles, and the apparent prosperity of evil, where should believers place their trust? Dr. John's series on Psalms 33–41 called “Reasons for Worship” explores God's faithfulness amid life's challenges. From David's escapes to his reflections on the wicked, these psalms offer practical wisdom for trusting God, finding hope in desperate circumstances, and keeping faith when evil seems to prevail. This series brings both comfort and challenge, pointing to the God who is completely trustworthy in every season.

Too many of us are living life out of order—wondering why our money's messed up, our marriages are broken, our minds are heavy, or our ministries aren't working. The truth? Disorder invites destruction. In today's word, Pastor Eric Thomas breaks down why ORDER unlocks overflow and how being in alignment with God's principles positions you for blessing. From David and Nabal to Abigail's wisdom, this message is a reminder that you can't afford to keep living in reverse.

Drift happens—but disconnection doesn't have to be your final destination. In “The Way Back: I'm Ready to Return,” Pastor Peter walks through Psalm 51 and shows how real repentance starts with God's goodness, not our guilt. From David's failure to the prodigal's return, discover how confession opens the door to cleansing, renewal, and the joy of salvation. Includes practical steps for what to do the moment you sin and a powerful invitation to come home to God. Key texts: Psalm 51; Luke 15; Romans 3:22–23; 1 John 1:9; Isaiah 1:18

What if your darkest valley is actually the birthplace of your greatest victory? In Part 5 of our powerful journey through Psalm 23, Pastor Travis Hearn delivers a soul-stirring message that takes us deep into one of the most battlefield-ready verses in the Bible: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me…” (Psalm 23:4 NKJV). Drawing from personal stories and biblical depth, Pastor Travis brings to life the raw reality of valley seasons—places of heartbreak, loss, fear, and uncertainty—and reveals how God's presence, provision, preparation, and protection are most alive in those very moments. You'll walk through the ancient terrain of Wadi Qelt, the literal Valley of the Shadow of Death, and discover that valleys aren't destinations—they're passageways. This isn't just a sermon. It's a declaration for every weary soul: You're not stuck. You're not alone. You're being shaped for victory. From David slaying giants in the Valley of Elah, to dry bones rising in Ezekiel's vision, to Jesus calling Himself the Light that shatters shadows—this message will help you see that your valley is not the end. It's the beginning of your breakthrough. Stop cursing your valley. Start claiming your destiny. You are just passing through... and victory is waiting on the other side.

From David to Peter, the Bible is full of stories of people distracted from God. What's pulling your focus today—and how can we fix our eyes on Jesus?

Monday August 11, 2025In 1 Samuel 18:5–30, Acts 11:19–30, and Mark 1:29–45, we see God at work in battles, in the spread of the gospel, and in the touch of Jesus' healing hand. ⚔️

On this episode of DCR, host Kirk Offel sits down with David Isaac, the president of the DCAC - Data Center Anti-Conference, for an in-depth conversation that peels back the curtain on one of the industry's most disruptive and people-focused events. From David's early days growing up in South Texas to his accidental entry into the data center world, listeners will hear how a college side gig at DCAC evolved into leading a conference that has changed countless lives—including his own.For more about us: https://linktr.ee/overwatchmissioncritical

You may know “Quiggly's” work from your childhood toy shelf—he was the Lead Toy Concept Artist behind many of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures of the late '80s and '90s. But his story didn't stop there.After building a successful business career, Quiggly experienced a life-changing spiritual awakening that reignited his creative fire. The result? Ancientz—a gritty, faith-fueled universe of spirit-powered robotic heroes inspired by Hebrews 11 and created to battle darkness in a world starving for hope.Ancientz is a collectible universe where timeless legends are reimagined as robotic warriors. Inspired by the iconic figures of ancient texts, each design fuses spiritual energy with futuristic form—featuring light-up eyes, glowing hair, and collectible-tier detail.From David to Deborah, these heroes stand not just for belief—but for bravery, justice, and sacrifice.This is mythology reloaded. History re-engineered. A new kind of hero rises. Howard “Quiggly” Chang Howard “Quiggly” Chang is the creator of Ancientz—a bold new universe where spirit-fueled robots battle darkness—and one of the original creative forces behind the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toy phenomenon. As the Lead Toy Concept Artist at Varner Studios, Quiggly spent nearly a decade designing some of the most iconic TMNT action figures of the late '80s and '90s, leaving an unforgettable mark on pop culture. But Quiggly's story doesn't end there. After stepping away from the toy world, he built a thriving career in manufacturing and marketing consulting, becoming a successful businessman. Then, about ten years ago, in the midst of personal struggles, he experienced a life-changing spiritual awakening that led him back to his roots in art and storytelling—with a new sense of purpose. The result is Ancientz—a faith-fueled franchise that combines raw imagination, biblical inspiration, and street-level grit. Quiggly's mission? To create a new kind of hero, rooted in truth, spirit, and courage, for the next generation. With a story that bridges pop culture history, personal redemption, and creative reinvention, Quiggly is a one-of-a-kind guest for shows about creativity, faith, comics, toys, entrepreneurship, and personal transformation. His energy is contagious, his journey is inspiring, and his message is clear: never stop creating, and never stop believing.KickStarterFace BookInstagramWebsite Under Construction

Thursday August 7, 2025Today's readings—1 Samuel 16:14–17:11, Acts 10:17–23, and Luke 24:36–53 - show us how God equips ordinary people for extraordinary moments.

Jesus Delivered Us (6) (audio) David Eells – 7/20/25 We don't want to look too far down the road or worry about the “giants” that are in our Promised Land, because the Bible says, (Mat.6:34) Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Just take the steps that are in front of you to come against the flesh and come against the spirits. Do the spiritual warfare that you can. He says, “Oh that my people would hearken unto me … I would soon subdue their enemies.” If you just walk in the right direction and swing your Sword, you are going to win the battle. (Jos.10:8) And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thy hands; there shall not a man of them stand before thee. If you repent of what you know is wrong and hold fast to faith, you cannot help but win the battle. (Psa.81:14) I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their adversaries. (15) The haters of the Lord should submit themselves unto him: But their time should endure for ever. (16) He would feed them also with the finest of the wheat; And with honey out of the rock would I satisfy thee. These are God's promises to us, but in your Promised Land, it is up to you, not the Lord, to give no place to the devil (Ephesians 4:27). Nowhere in Scripture are we to pray for the Lord to conquer our Promised Land. He gave us that authority, and He told us to take up our Sword and put the original inhabitants of the land to death. (Exo.23:32) Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. These are the lusts of the flesh and demon spirits. Make no covenant, no treaty, with them, although it's very easy to do because your flesh is always trying to bribe you or buy you out. Your flesh is always trying to get you to justify your position so that you can feel good while you live in the lusts of the flesh, but God says, “Make no covenant with them.” Have no affinity, no accord, with them. Do not humble yourself to them; instead, be merciless. God told them when they went into the Promised Land to have no mercy. (Deu.7:2) And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them up before thee, and thou shalt smite them; then thou shalt utterly destroy them: thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them. He wanted them to kill their enemies who controlled their land. There was one tribe, the Gibeonites, who deceived the Israelites into making a covenant with them (Joshua 9), and God was angry about that. Those Gibeonites ended up being a real thorn in their side (Joshua 10:1-28; 2 Samuel 21:1-14). (Num.33:55) But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then shall those that ye let remain of them be as pricks in your eyes, and as thorns in your sides, and they shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell. God said, “Have no mercy; slaughter them.” This is a type of us coming against our old lusts. He warned, (Exo.23:33) They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me; for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee. This is the truth, and so He said, “They shall not dwell in your land.” Remember that God does not order us to do anything that we cannot do through His power. (Php.4:13) I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me. People love to use this verse for material things but think about the spiritual things for which you can use this verse. You can overcome any lust of the flesh. Pray and examine your life and see what lust it is that has been taking advantage of you. Write it down and give some thought to it. Exercise faith against it because you have authority over that lust, and you will win when you swing your sword. That is God's promise. The best defense is a good offense, and when you go against the devil, being on the offense is the thing that brings him confusion. If you do not act to swing your sword, he is going to conquer you. That means we don't have any other choice but to take up our Sword and go into our Promised Land and win this battle. I know there are a lot of groups out there promoting instant sanctification through deliverance. People say, “Make it easy on me! Just cast all the demons out of me!” Well, we're wrestling with principalities, powers and rulers of darkness (Ephesians 6:12) and there are no shortcuts; there are some things we have to do. You have to obey the Word of God, understand your authority, and exercise your authority over these demons. If you do that, the results can be dramatic; however, there is no way to get around repentance. You cannot cast demons out of people who will not repent; you will just waste your time and the demons will run you in circles. The Bible says, (1Jn.1:9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Unrighteousness not only includes the demons, but also the lusts of the flesh. Demons come and prey upon the lusts of the flesh. The Lord Jesus said, (Joh.14:30) … for the prince of the world cometh: and he hath nothing in me. There was no “place,” no foothold, no ground in Him. (Eph.4:27) Neither give place (That's the Greek word topon meaning “place” or “region.”) to the devil. If you are “giving ground” to the devil, he will be there, and if you try to cast him out, he is still going to be there. If you are giving ground to him, he has a legal right to be there and he knows it. The devil knows his rights. The devil is a really good lawyer and he knows this Word better than you. There are no shortcuts, Saints. If you want deliverance from a demon that has been giving you trouble, maybe all of your life, you first have to confess your sins. The demon may have been passed on to you through your parents or come through your giving in to sin; if there is no confession, you will not prosper against that demon. (Pro.28:13) He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper (He is not going to conquer his Promised Land, but it goes on to say,): Whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain mercy. There's the condition, and here it is again. (Pro.28:18) Whoso walketh uprightly shall be delivered; But he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once There is no shortcut in deliverance. If you don't confess but still somehow manage to get the demon out, he will come right back. He will just laugh at you or feign obedience and hide himself. You will not have accomplished a thing. You'll soon find out that you have the same problem and you'll wonder why it did not work. The reason it didn't work is because you did not obey. Do you want deliverance that gives you power and authority over the devil? Repentance with confession is the only way. It is the Blood that causes the death angel to pass over, and how is the Blood “applied”? (1Jn.1:7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin. It takes repentance to walk in the light, but a lot of people don't want to hear about the repentance part. They say, “Just come and cast these demons out of me.” This is why I say to examine yourself and find out if there is something you need to confess, and not just confess it to the Lord. The Bible says, (Jas.5:16) Confess therefore your sins one to another… Find somebody who is trustworthy and confess your sin to them; you don't need to confess your sin in front of everybody unless you have offended everybody. You see, God wants to humble you; that's why He says to confess your sins one to another. God does not want us to cover up our sin. It's easy to confess your sin to God and then just go on covering it up. There's a great motivation to turn from sin when you know that God expects you to confess your sin to someone. It has to be true repentance when confession is made. Don't be fooled by self-pity, because that can look a lot like repentance, but it might just be self-pity, which is what Esau had, and he lost his inheritance. (Heb.12:17) For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place for a change of mind (That's what “repentance” is, it's a “change of mind.”) [in his father, (Not in the Greek)] though he sought it diligently with tears. He could not change HIS mind. You may have seen people cry, with tears running freely, yet they never change their ways. “Repentance” is not crying; “repentance” is “changing your mind.” There are many people full of self-pity because of the curse upon them. They want the curse off of them, but they're not willing to pay the price to get it. (Heb.12:14) Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord (This doesn't sound as if sanctification is an instantaneous process here, if He said to “follow after” it.): looking carefully lest there be any man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled (Yes, bitterness can defile a lot of people, and this is why it needs to be dealt with immediately.); (16) lest there be any fornication, or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat (He was following after the flesh.) sold his own birthright. (17) For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected (He was “reprobated.”); for he found no place for a change of mind though he sought it diligently with tears. You may wonder, “Well, what was wrong with his repentance?” It looks as if it was just self-pity. Godly sorrow brings repentance that does not let you turn and go back. (2Co.7:9) I now rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye were made sorry unto repentance (The Greek word there is metanoia and it means “a change of mind, change in the inner man.”); for ye were made sorry after a godly sort, that ye might suffer loss by us in nothing. (10) For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, a repentance which bringeth no regret (You will not fall back into the sin.): but the sorrow of the world worketh death. Do you know why “the sorrow of the world worketh death”? It's because when people are “sorry” in the way that the world understands “sorry,” they think that's all they need for God to forgive them, but then they fall right back into the sin. Seeing no power of God, they become discouraged and just go back into the world. We are responsible to repent, not just to be sorry. We must have sorrow unto repentance. The Bible says you have to change your mind and changing your mind may not even involve tears. I've seen people who blame all their problems on demons. These people run around looking for somebody to get the demons out of them, and if you try to help such people but fail, they'll blame you. In their eyes, it's your fault. It's always everybody's fault, except theirs. Getting demons out of people who sincerely repent and believe is not a problem, but the shallower a person's depth of commitment and repentance, the harder it is to get the demons out. If commitment to discipleship and repentance is deep, it's very easy to get demons out because God is always on your side. He is always there with discernment and direction. He is always there to force the demons to the surface. It's easy to get demons out of a repentant person. It's very hard to get them out of a person whose “repentance” is very shallow. Now, when we talk about the warfare of our mind, the Bible says we are to be (2Co.10:5) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. This is our spiritual warfare, because the primary way that the devil gets a foothold is when you don't cast down thinking that is not of God. Most demons come because you have given in to sin, and demon spirits are also passed on to us genetically through the blood. You can do something about that, too, but before or even after you came to the Lord, in some way, you gave in to sin. If you ask, “David, do you mean that before I came to the Lord, I had demons, and I still have them now that I've come to the Lord?” Yes, you need to remember that the Lord said He would not drive them all out at one time, and He meant that. Now it's possible that when people come to the Lord, some may receive total deliverance over areas of their lives that you're still wrestling with. You are wrestling with something; they are wrestling with something else. Some parts of their lives have been cleansed, and some parts of your life have been cleansed. God has left you some enemies to fight, and He has left them some enemies to fight. There are things in your former life that were dealt with by the Blood of Jesus, and now they are gone, and their gods are gone, too. They have been conquered. I am not talking about going back and dealing with sins that are covered by and washed in the Blood or things from which you are already delivered, but there are some things that we had in our former life that we carried over into this life. The temptation, the struggle, and the demon are still there. Those things that may still be troubling you were there in your former life. Before you were born again, that demon entered in and that's why you're having to deal with those temptations right now. Maybe it's a temptation that you've had all of your life, and demons are still taking advantage of you because that sin has not been washed in the Blood. Otherwise, you would have been cleansed of all unrighteousness. (1Jn.1:7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin. This is the cleansing, washing away, of the nature of sin. Of course, our whole life is under the Blood by faith, but when God pulls back that Covering, letting you see a particular sin, then it's time for you to take the Sword and come against it. But when you're in a trial of your faith, don't go back and dredge up those things that are gone, because that's just the devil trying to condemn you for things done in your past. The apostle Paul tells us how to deal with that problem. (Php.3:12) Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus. (13) Brethren, I could not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing [I do], forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, (14) I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. God led His people through the Promised Land to be faced with enemies one at a time, and that's the way for us every day. Little by little, we are faced with our enemies, our temptations, and that's when the old flesh rises up and gives you the chance to swing your Sword. You might never have seen that particular enemy without a trial that caused the temptation to come to the surface. People like to pray away trials, but you see, God brings us through trials to show us the enemy. You cannot pray away trials because (Act.14:22) … through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God. It is tribulation itself that causes you to enter into the Kingdom. You are faced with something that causes the lusts of the flesh to surface, so that you get to see them and fight them and get free of them. This reminds me of Peter speaking to Ananias. (Act.5:3) Why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit …? Ananias was responsible for that sin. Peter was not blaming the sin on the demon; he was blaming the sin on the person. (1Co.5:7) Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump… In this chapter, Paul speaks of fornicators, liars, drunkards, and so forth, telling them to (1Co.5:13) … Put away the wicked man from among yourselves. You may protest, “Wait a minute, David! They just have demons! They need deliverance!” No, the Bible says those people are responsible for giving in to that demon, so that means the demon is not responsible. If people are believers, then they have the power to repent and conquer that demon. When we understand that we are responsible for sin, then we understand that we have to repent. There is only one instance in the Scriptures where it teaches that the person to be delivered does not have to repent. (Mar.5:1) And they (the apostles) came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. (2) And when he (Jesus) was come out of the boat, straightway there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. You find in Scripture that these spirits are called “unclean spirits.” “Spirits of infirmity” are also called “unclean spirits.” (Mark 1:23,9:25; Luke 9:42; etc.) Well, an “unclean spirit” is just a demon, and all demons are unclean. (2) …, straightway there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, (3) who had his dwelling in the tombs: and no man could any more bind him, no, not with a chain; (4) because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been rent asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: and no man had strength to tame him. Christians have physically wrestled and fought with those who have demons, but you should never do that. Your authority only stands as Jesus' authority. He gave you the authority to cast out demons. If you get out from under your God-given authority and into the flesh, the demons can hurt you. Just exercise your authority and command them to “Sit down and be quiet in the Name of Jesus.” Believe and they will obey you. (Mar.5:5) And always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones. (Every last one of these demons causes one to be self-destructive, and they are out to destroy you, too.) (6) And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped him; (7) and crying out with a loud voice, he saith, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? (When they become excited or are faced with authority, many times, they cry out with a loud voice.) I adjure thee by God, torment me not. (8) For he said unto him, Come forth, thou unclean spirit, out of the man. The Bible says, (Mat.8:16) … and he cast out the spirits with a word. With the man in the tombs, He commanded it, upsetting the demon, and the demon began speaking. Sometimes when you command them to come out, they will start speaking. They will sit and talk with you all day long if you encourage dialogue, because they would like to deceive you with all kinds of information. This is not what you want. Our example is (Luk.4:35) And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst, he came out of him, having done him no hurt. Just tell them, “Shut up and come out.” Do not seek knowledge from a demon by speaking with them. This is an abomination in the sight of the Lord (Deuteronomy 18:10; Exodus 22:18; 1 Chronicles 10:13; etc.) People like to use this next verse to say that we should ask demons questions, but as we can see, this is not the norm. (Mar.5:9) And he asked him, What is thy name? (This is the only example in Scripture where Jesus asked a demon, “What is your name?”) And he saith unto him, My name is Legion; for we are many. There is generally a “captain,” a lead spirit in the bunch, who speaks for all, and many people in deliverance ministry have gotten this revelation by talking with demons. Here, it is very clear. (Mar.5:9) … My name is Legion; for we are many. (10) And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. In another account, the demons asked not to be sent to the pit. (Luk.8:31) And they entreated him that he would not command them to depart into the abyss. Commanding demons to go to the pit seems to be common among deliverance ministries. Well, we do not have that example, not one, in Scripture. Jesus did not command that here, and if there had been a reason to put those demons out of commission, don't you think that Jesus would have sent them to the pit? Demons have a good purpose on this earth, and that is to torment those who love sin, as we learned earlier. Remember the example of Paul turning Hymenaeus and Alexander over to Satan (1Ti.1:20) … that they might be taught not to blaspheme. It was to teach them a lesson. Another example from Paul was the man in fornication with his father's wife in (1Co.5:5) to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. When a person has repented, Jesus wants them to be delivered, but the job of demons is to make life miserable until you decide to repent. Even if all the demons you ever cast out were sent to the pit, there still would be more than enough left to handle the job. Let me share a testimony with you:   Sins of Flesh Fell Off Me by M. G. I was living and working in Japan when I first heard David speaking the real gospel of Jesus. I was always looking into eschatology and prophecy because I reckon the Lord was softening me up to hear the truth. I was a bit afraid of the end, as I was not a very godly person…. I'm not really sure how I found the teachings. I was at “The Edge Radio Show” on the internet and decided to listen to David in the archives. I had never heard of him. To my knowledge, I wasn't looking for anything he had to say, but the Lord led me to listen. I was raised Baptist and heard all that “fire and brimstone” from shouting, gasping old-time Baptist preachers. It never did that much for me. I've heard what the Catholics, Anglicans, Methodists, Lutherans, and even some Pentecostals had to say. But I never heard anyone speak with true power, authority and anointing, till I heard him speak that day on the computer. It knocked my socks off! I had never heard anything like it! And it was shot through completely with the glow of TRUTH. It spoke to my heart. I listened to all that he had to say and put it in my heart. It didn't lead me down the road right away to the crucified life and/or even a much closer walk with the Lord, but the seed had been planted. I was covered up with the cares of this wretched world. It probably took me another year before I started going to the UBM website, listening to the audios and coming to the Paltalk meetings. [Paltalk was an interactive chat we had during the live broadcast; we now have online teachings and the Outreach conferences twice weekly.] I started praying and seeking the Lord. I was devouring the teachings online with every free moment, learning a great deal. I received the baptism of water and the Holy Spirit. A lot, but not all, of the sin of my past life just fell away. I sought prayer in faith and agreement from UBM to quit smoking and drinking to excess, and it happened. My deliverance was not overnight, but all that stuff just withered on the vine over a period of weeks. I never even had any withdrawal symptoms. I just never smoked, or wanted to smoke, another cigarette ever again. All these things happened by the power of the risen Christ. I would never have been able to do it on my own. I had been a big smoker and drinker for almost thirty years. Try as I might, I had never been able to give up those bad habits.  I praise God for His love and mercy on me. I've never been tempted to smoke another cigarette, ever. I never get the feeling, “Oh, boy, do I need a drink!” It just doesn't happen. Praise His Name! Whenever I feel weak in my faith, I always hang on to the knowledge of the deliverance given to me by my loving Father through His Son, Our Lord Jesus. Now, demons are going to seek a body to live in because that is where they have what they call “rest.” The demon addressing Jesus said in (Mar.5:7) … What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, torment me not. They know that they are supposed to have rest until the “time” (Matthew 8:29). Jesus said (Mat.12:43) But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and findeth it not. He returns to the house out of which he came. They do not find rest in “waterless places.” It would be like you having to go through a desert; it's not where you want to go, is it? You would like to go where things are comfortable and cool, where there is plenty of water. It is torment to a demon to be outside of a body because in the pit, the abyss, there is no flesh for them through which they can fulfill their lusts. That's the problem for them, so on earth, they always want a body to inhabit, even if that body is an animal. (Mar.5:11) Now there was there on the mountain side a great herd of swine feeding. (12) And they besought him (Jesus), saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. (13) And he gave them leave. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered into the swine: and the herd rushed down the steep into the sea, [in number] about two thousand; and they were drowned in the sea. They really want to fulfill their lusts through people, but if they cannot have people, they will use pigs, etc.. I have talked to demons and there is a chain of command with them, a hierarchy. A lot of lower demons are extremely stupid; the lusts consuming them trip them up. For instance, they may be so prideful and so arrogant, wanting to show themselves, that they'll tip their hand. You will know what they are doing. And you'll find that the further down the line you go, the more stupid they are. Didn't the demons know that pigs cannot swim? How long are demons going to last in a herd of pigs that have been run off into a lake? The Bible tells us that Satan's wisdom was corrupted because of his beauty. (Eze.28:17) Thy heart was lifted up because of thy beauty; thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I have cast thee to the ground; I have laid thee before kings, that they may behold thee. If he had wisdom, he would have stayed where he was in heaven, but instead, his wisdom became corrupted. Demons cause destruction, as with the demoniac and the pigs. They cause whatever flesh they are in to be self-destructive. (I'm going to share some testimonies showing demons' destructive tendencies.) Notice that at the beginning of the story of the demoniac, it's just the leader, Legion, who is speaking (Luke 8:26), but as soon as Jesus commands them to come out, all of them start speaking (Luke 8:31-32). Many times when you are dealing with demons, more of them will manifest, and after you cast one out, sometimes another one will manifest. The Holy Spirit is causing them to manifest themselves as the Lord is driving them out before you. If you suspect something else is there, you have the authority to command a demon to manifest. You should be aware, also, that demons love to distract people and they'll put on a show for you, but don't get caught up in their theatrics. (Mar.9:25) And when Jesus saw that a multitude came running together (He did not want a spectacle.), he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I command thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. Some people will help the demons put on a show, but we should avoid that at all costs. Our example is Jesus, and nowhere did Jesus let them put on a show. Actually, it's best to avoid having conversations with them. I have read quite a few books by deliverance ministers who got into trouble because they talked to demons that lied to them. There was one man who had a good understanding of deliverance, but this man was casting “tongue demons” out of everybody. He didn't know that all demons can talk in tongues. The Bible says, (1Co.13:1) If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels… There is no “tongues” demon since all demons talk in tongues because they are fallen angels. These demons were obliging to this man's false doctrine by playing along with it to keep him in bondage. They will deceive you any way they can! This deliverance minister needed tongues, more than anything else, in order to cast out demons. Demons hate tongues. People report that demons actually spoke to them, saying, “Don't speak in tongues! That is a perfect prayer! Don't do that! We hate that!” I have had them scream out because they hated the Gospel being preached, and they do not like the Blood of Jesus. If you cannot do anything else, pray in tongues. Well, because this man had let the demons talk, they had deceived him into thinking that tongues were no good. Because he had let the demons talk, they had deceived him into believing that this was a “tongues” demon, a deceiving spirit. Now, remember that speaking in tongues doesn't make you holy. Many people who speak in tongues are in sin. Do you recall the people about whom the apostle Paul was writing that they should be thrown out of the church? (1Co.5:11) But as it is, I wrote unto you not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no, not to eat. These people spoke in tongues, but that does not mean you are holy; following and obeying the Holy Spirit makes you holy. The Bible says in (Rom.11:29) For the gifts and the calling of God are not repented of. God will give you a gift that will stay with you to the grave, even if you are going to hell. Paul said, (1Co.9:27) but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected. And this man said in 1Co 14:18  I thank God, I speak with tongues more than you all:  A lot of deliverance ministries believe in casting demons into the pit, but that's not what Jesus did. Jesus never sent them to the pit. Let's read the rest of this story. (Mar.5:12) And they besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. (13) And he gave them leave. Why did Jesus permit the demons their request? Most people, according to reasoning, would have said, “Send them out of the country. That way, they won't be able to bother anybody else.” I personally have had demons ask me whether they could enter into a dog, and I told them, “No, but you can find the nearest cockroach and enter into it!” Usually, I say, “No, you just come out!” You do not have to permit them to enter into anything. Demons are going to search until they find a vessel that they can enter because that's how they fulfill their lusts, and there's a demon for anybody who wants to sin. It makes no difference where you send them. You are not going to get rid of them. (Rev.9:2) And he opened the pit of the abyss; and there went up a smoke (smoke represents demons.) out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. There are millions of them, enough to darken the sun, so sending them to the pit does not make sense. If God wanted them out of the country or in the pit, that is where they would be, but He does not want that. They are here to torment mankind until men and women repent and come under the Blood of Jesus. Jesus did not send them out of the country because He understood the sovereignty of God. (Mar.5:13) And he gave them leave. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered into the swine: and the herd rushed down the steep into the sea, [in number] about two thousand; and they were drowned in the sea. Obviously, Jesus thought that this one man was worth more than two thousand pigs, which Jews were not supposed to have anyway. (Mar.5:14) And they that fed them fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they came to see what it was that had come to pass. (15) And they come to Jesus, and behold him that was possessed with demons sitting, clothed and in his right mind, even him that had the legion: and they were afraid. Unclean spirits like people to take off their clothes. And you know, there's certainly a lot of half-naked people walking around these days, and they all probably have unclean spirits. I want to emphasize one particular point about “the man with the unclean spirits.” Think about what that last verse says, “clothed and in his right mind.” When this man first saw Jesus, he was not in his right mind and so there was no way he could have repented. You cannot demand repentance from a person who is this demon-possessed. Some people say, “Well, a Christian cannot be demon-possessed because they are possessed by the Lord,” but Scriptures use the term “possessed” (Matthew 8:16,9:32,12:22; Mark 1:32,9:17; Luke 8:27; etc.) To be considered “demon-possessed,” a person could have a demon in possession of only one particular part of their Promised Land. It might possess them as an infirmity or in an area of their lusts. A possession of part of your nature has nothing to do with possessing your whole character, and very seldom does it go that far, however, “Legion” was possessing this man's whole mind. This man could not use his mind rationally at all, and since Jesus said, (Mat.15:24) … I was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel, I suggest to you that this man was a Jew, and as a “child of God,” he had a Covenant right to deliverance. Otherwise, Jesus would not have done it. There are certain conditions under which we can cast demons out of a person without the person's permission. Jesus did not get permission from this man, but Jesus knew that He had a legal right to deliver this person. Just keep in mind that repentance is demanded in almost every place where a person has the mental capacity to repent. We do not generally have a right to go to demon-possessed people who are in the world. An exception would be where we consider that the faith of their family is involved; they are exercising faith for this person. Another exception would be that they are Christian, overcome by lusts of the flesh, and by the devil. Another would be by God's direction. Here's another testimony:   Healed of Epilepsy by the Lounsbury Brothers Email #1 (From Guatemalan missionary Wes to his brother Walt): The Lord has put someone in our path that needs HIS healing. She's around seventeen years old with epilepsy. Six years ago she had a seizure and fell into a fire. She must have been there for quite some time because her feet almost got cooked off. She went to a clinic. They carved out some of the burned flesh, leaving her feet resembling stubs. Besides the massive amounts of scar tissue, she has an external ulcer that has not healed from the accident. Yesterday she came to the orphanage with her mother and sister. We prayed over some hot water and had her soak her foot with the ulcer in it. The raw flesh on the ulcer was yellow, like dried pus. After about forty-five minutes of soaking, we took out the foot, cleaned it and wrapped it with a gauze bandage. They came back today for us to change the bandage again. We soaked the foot again to loosen the gauze, which was saturated with some type of dried, oozing substance. Getting that last part off, which was directly in contact with the ulcer was difficult because it had adhered quite strongly. As we pulled it off, we noticed that the once yellow tissue had turned a very healthy pink! The capillaries were so close to the surface that there was a small amount of bleeding. Trevor and I BELIEVE that God is healing this girl. Think of Joshua circling Jericho for seven days before it fell. He would have felt pretty stupid walking around with a trumpet if the Lord hadn't PROMISED him beforehand. The same thing applies here. Please spend time in prayer for her and give David a call, asking him to pray, also. When Trevor blessed her today, he asked the Lord to make her healing a witness for all those who know of her. Truly, this is our hope. I've been wondering if she wasn't demonically possessed with epilepsy—she was thrown into the fire, much like the mad man cutting himself with rocks and the epileptic that Jesus healed by casting out the demon. I never like thinking someone has an evil spirit inside of them. Could you ask David if he knows how to determine such a thing? He said in “Sovereign God” that he has the gift of discernment of spirits. As much as you can help would be greatly appreciated. Email #2 (From Walt to David Eells): Please pray with me and ask the Lord for a miracle to heal this young girl down in Guatemala. Emails #3 & 4 (From David Eells to Walt): We will pray and agree with you. Epilepsy is a demon spirit. (Mat.17:15) Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is epileptic, and suffereth grievously; for oft-times he falleth into the fire, and oft-times into the water. (16) And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. (17) And Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you? bring him hither to me. (18) And Jesus rebuked him; and the demon went out of him: and the boy was cured from that hour. (19) Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast it out? (20) And he saith unto them, Because of your little faith: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Is the girl a Christian? If so, she has a Covenant right to deliverance because it is the children's bread. If not, only God can give permission to cast out. Otherwise, the demons will just come back worse. Ask her to confess her sins. My suggestion is to ask those involved to pray for discernment of spirits. Demons rarely act alone. Gather several people with faith, preferably filled with the Holy Spirit, and command the demons to come out in Jesus' Name. Then believe that they have to obey because Jesus gave us total authority over the demons. (Mar.16:17) And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons… Don't believe whatever they say because they often lie. Ask them to believe to heal and restore her body. Jesus paid for that too: (Gal.3:13) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (14) that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (1Pe.2:24) Who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed. (Psa.103:1) Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, [bless] his holy name. (2) Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits: (3) Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases; (4) Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies. (Mat.8:16) And when even was come, they brought unto him many possessed with demons: and he cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all that were sick: (17) that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying: Himself took our infirmities, and bare our diseases. (Act.3:12) And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this man? or why fasten ye your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him to walk? (13) The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Servant Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had determined to release him. (14) But ye denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted unto you, (15) and killed the Prince of life; whom God raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. (16) And by faith in his name hath his name made this man strong, whom ye behold and know: yea, the faith which is through him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. (Act.5:16) And there also came together the multitudes from the cities round about Jerusalem, bringing sick folk, and them that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. Emails #5 & 6 (Between Wes and David in a Q & A format) Wes: Hi! Walt forwarded your email about the girl with epilepsy to me. She, her mother and sister are staying with us now. The open ulcer on her foot is getting better every day. David: Praise God! Let's continue to believe for a total restoration of the foot! God is big. We shouldn't underestimate Him. Wes: Two nights ago I couldn't go to sleep, although it was 1:00 a.m. and I was exhausted. I decided to go downstairs and work on a paper I was writing. I was using a computer program to search for texts. I can't remember which words I was searching, but I came upon the story in Matthew about the epileptic. Now this might sound very strange to you, but I'm almost certain that I read the word “epileptic” from the “King James Version.” It wasn't until the next day, when I read it again, I realized they had actually translated the word as “lunatic” in the KJV. Could it be that the Lord actually had me read “epileptic” instead, because of this girl? David: Absolutely, Wes. God has done such things as that to me, also. I have heard people tell me things that I needed to hear. Later, I questioned them as to why they said it. I would then be told by the person and everyone around them that they had actually said something totally unrelated. Wes: What struck me most about the story was when the father said to Jesus, “Have mercy on my son: for he is epileptic, and suffereth grievously; for oft-times he falleth into the fire.” That's EXACTLY what happened to this girl! Six years ago her mother left the house and went to town to get something from the store. (They live in complete poverty in a village a few miles from here.) The girl usually woke up later in the morning, so her mother felt it was safe to leave early. When she came back, she found her daughter lying in the fire, the flesh completely cooked on one foot and third-degree burns on the other. After I read those verses, I wondered if this girl had an evil spirit. Their stories are so similar. David: She has an epileptic spirit and possibly more. Wes: I don't know exactly what I should be looking for. I feel uneasy about making a judgment as to whether someone DOES have a demon. Anyway, the next morning, my wife went to use the internet. She printed out your email that Walt forwarded to me. She didn't mention it; she just left it folded on the desk. I opened it up and read it. I knew immediately that God had given me a second witness, so that I could be SURE. I still have a lot of questions about what to do. I've never been in a position like this. I prayed last night that God would give me the discernment of spirits, but I don't really know what it means. I know that God has brought this girl to us, not only because of her foot, but because of this spirit afflicting her. I have a good friend down here with me who is strong in the faith; he could stand with me. This is strange territory for me. Is all I need to do is command the spirit of epilepsy to leave in the Name of Jesus? David: You need to know that you have authority to do this. Demons know when you have faith. That is the only condition on your part. (Mar.16:15) And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. (16) He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned. (17) And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons… (Luk.10:19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. (20) Nevertheless in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. It would be good to make sure she is a Christian and get her to confess her sins. (Jas.5:16) Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working. Wes: Should I expect the demon to say something before it leaves? David: Not necessarily. But if the Holy Spirit moves you to command them to give their name, do it. Wes: What if she just sits there silently? Does it mean my faith isn't great enough? David: They don't always come out immediately. But you don't have to hang around till you see something. Walk by faith. Just know that they have to obey you. Wes: Should I ask how many spirits are in her? David: If you feel so to ask, yes. Wes: How can I believe them if they did tell me? I wouldn't want to leave one in there. David: They will obey you if you command them to tell their name, unless this is a mute spirit. Email #7 (From Wes to David): The spirit of epilepsy has left the girl! A pastor, his church, and I prayed over her. The spirit never responded. But the girl began to thank the Lord and cry. She finally fell down after about five minutes. She was “as dead” like the scripture speaks about the epileptic boy. In the midst of this “sleep,” she started to praise God very loudly and then went back under. It was very strange to me, nothing like I expected. She went to bed shortly after she woke. The next morning she and her mother were talking about the medicine she takes to fight off the epilepsy. Her mother told her, “The devil is tempting us not to believe!” Then they threw the medicine away. She is perfectly fine now. Her face looks different. Her eyes are more alert. These people are such awesome witnesses of faith to me. They cannot even read the Bible. But they understand the Gospel more than educated Christian Americans. Thank you very much for replying to my other email. All the information was very useful. Email #8 (From David to Wes): Praise the Lord! See how simple it is. That poor girl would have suffered the rest of her life if she had not run into someone like you who was willing to stand in faith. Sometimes the demon will try to come back by temporarily putting a symptom on you. When you accept it, he has permission to re-invade. Tell the girl and her mom to never accept it back. They have authority over the demons. Now, just pray and believe for the restoration of her foot. Jesus paid for a complete healing. Awesome! Praise God!! Christians who know their authority can, and should, cast out demons. I was doing it as a baby Christian, and although I didn't know a lot about it, I got some people delivered. (Mar.16:17) And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons… The only condition was to believe. Let me give you an example. Jesus was casting out an unclean spirit from a deaf and dumb man. (Mar.9:17) And one of the multitude answered him, Teacher, I brought unto thee my son, who hath a dumb spirit; (18) and wheresoever it taketh him, it dasheth him down: and he foameth, and grindeth his teeth, and pineth away (This sounds like an epileptic dumb spirit.): and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast it out; and they were not able. Why were they “not able”? (Mar.9:19) And he answereth them and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you? bring him unto me. His rebuke was for their lack of faith. The only condition in the scriptures for casting out demons is faith on the part of the person who is doing the casting out. (Mar.9:20) And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him grievously; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. (21) And he asked his father, How long time is it since this hath come unto him? And he said, From a child. (22) And oft-times it hath cast him both into the fire and into the waters, to destroy him (There is that destruction again.): but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us. (23) And Jesus said unto him, If thou canst! All things are possible to him that believeth. (Again, the condition is belief.) (24) Straightway the father of the child cried out, and said, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. (Mar.9:25) And when Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I command thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. In the case of a child, Jesus said basically, “Come out of him, and do not go back!” You don't see Him doing this with adults. This is because they have their own choices to make, and if they choose to go back into the world, then the demons are going to return. If they fall back into temptation, the demon will come back, but children are not as responsible. The child's father said that the demon entered “from a child,” and so we see that Jesus gave us an example here, saying, “Enter no more into him.” You do not do that with adults. Also, the father wanted help from his unbelief: I.e. “I believe with the faith I have. Deliver me from my unbelief.” (Mar.9:26) And having cried out, and torn him much, he came out: and [the boy] became as one dead; insomuch that the more part said, He is dead. (27) But Jesus took him by the hand, and raised him up; and he arose. Here's another testimony from C.C.   Jesus Delivered Me from Familiar Spirits by C. C. In 2003, I was not a Christian. I was just a man living for himself. I had been a banker in Seattle when I began to hear faint voices in my head as I went to sleep. The voices grew stronger as time went by. There were many of them, different each night. I thought they were the voices of the dead speaking from beyond the grave. After several months, one of these “dead spirits” became more vocal with me. He called himself “David,” saying he was the soul of the brother of one of my best friends, who had died in a car wreck three years previous. This spirit's voice became so clear as to seem present in the room with me. [Note: C.C. had unknowingly become a “medium,” which is someone who is possessed with a spirit guide, a familiar spirit who mimics the dead.] He began telling astral and worldly “secrets” that I found fantastical at the time. He explained many things about the “after-life,” including how I had lived many lives myself and had been reincarnated several times. This spirit explained that he was my “guide,” sent by the “White Lodge” to help me achieve my “final potential.” He explained that he had to help guide my “last life” so I could go to heaven through gates guarded by a group of angels called the “Brethren.” He showed me many images and pictures of these gates. Souls would be permitted to pass through them when they had learned enough compassion through their many lives. He also turned me on to many New Age beliefs. In addition to him, I would speak to other spirits at night while in my bed. They would ask me to do things for them. One such example came from a spirit called “Misty” who wanted me to deliver some flowers to her dying grandmother. The spirit gave me the name and address of the hospital where this elderly lady was located. I went and delivered the roses anonymously to her. I thought I had some special gift to talk with the dead, as I experienced incidents of communication, and received “confirmation” and “insight” from the things these spirits revealed. The voice of the “spirit guide” began to become stronger as time went on. It got to where it was all I could hear. He always seemed to be as close as my throat, speaking from behind my head. It was a very unsettling feeling at the time. This went on for some time, with me learning and trusting all that this spirit “David” revealed to me. There came a night when I awoke in my bed to see a specter cloaked in darkness, black as pitch. He even seemed to suck the darkness into himself. I was terrified! Frozen in my bed as I stared at it, I noticed that my breath was visible in front of me, as if it were a winter night. The specter seemed to want to kill me. When I thought it would move to harm me, the presence of my “spirit guide” entered the room and scared it away. I could sense that it was afraid of him. He explained to me that it was a lost soul who sought me because of my gifts. He said that I was like a “light in the darkness” that all such spirits could see and would gravitate towards. The same thing happened the following night and onward for six nights. Each night, one more spirit came until, by the sixth evening, there were six of them at the foot of my bed. I could not have been more terrified, as they would all point at me with horrible, black, lifeless faces, seeming to want my death. By morning I was exhausted from the fear, hyper-vigilance, and lack of sleep for six full days. Upon waking, I heard the spirit “David's” voice, rushed and louder than ever. He said, “Hurry up and get dressed. You have to get downtown toward your work now, as fast as possible. Hurry up! Do it now!” I asked, “Is someone in danger?” He replied, “Yes. Hurry now!” Startled, I got dressed and drove downtown to see what was happening. While I was driving he kept saying, “Hurry, hurry!” When I got there, nothing was happening; it was just a normal day. Surprised to see nothing wrong, I asked him why he told me to rush. He replied, “I just wanted to see if you would obey me. I was testing you.” All day, I ignored him while I worked, as I was very angry. I was continually disturbed by his words, “obey me.” When the day was done, I went home, ignoring “David” the whole way, and wanting very much to understand. A friend once had told me the Bible discussed spirits and the dead; I decided to look it up on my computer. As I sat down to search the internet, I looked out over Puget Sound from my windows and could see nothing but blackness. The clouds had covered everything in such a dark, ominous way. It was unlike anything I had ever seen, especially so early in the evening. As I started to find Bible passages, the spirit's voice said accusingly, “What are you doing?” Agitated, I replied, “Nothing. Don't worry about it.” I came upon (Deu.18:10-13) There shall not be found in you one who passes his son or his daughter through the fire, one that uses divination, an observer of clouds, or one divining, or a whisperer of spells, or a magic charmer, or one consulting mediums [Hebrew for “consulter with a familiar spirit.”], or a spirit-knower, or one inquiring of the dead. For all doing these things are an abomination to the Lord. And because of these filthy acts the Lord your God is dispossessing these nations before you. You shall be perfect with the Lord your God. As I finished reading the words, I heard “David,” with a tone of deep aggression, say, “Don't read that!” Startled, I turned to see that he was now visible on my right. He looked just like one of the dark specters that had previously gathered around my bed. The room instantly grew cold. I was terrified, but replied, “I can read it if I want to!” He lunged for my throat with his dark, outstretched hand, taking a swipe at me. I fell sideways out of my chair and thought I was going to die, right there, in that dark room as he came upon me! I was on my knees. I called, “Lord, please save me!” A hole to the heavens opened up through my roof. I saw a flaming Sword coming down from heaven at me like lightning. It flew straight down and entered through the top of my head and traveled through my body, and pierced into the ground through me. A blast wave that was like a spiritual nuclear bomb went off from the fiery Sword within me, traveling like light through my entire place, destroying the spirit “David” as it flashed out from me. I sat there on my knees as the light went out from within me and the Sword left me. I then immediately saw a large bright light outside on my patio. As I squinted at it, I realized what I was seeing. In my mind, I heard the name “Michael.” He was holding the sword that had just been in my body. I was amazed and afraid! He was huge, bearing armor as bright as the sun, with many colors coming through it, shining brightly. He was looking at me through the large windows. I jumped up to my feet to run outside and see him. But as I opened the door, the light was gone. No one was there. I went to the spot where I had seen him standing, half expecting to see the ground melted away. I dropped to my knees to feel the ground as I thought it would be hot for some reason. When I looked up, the blackness of the clouds had given way to the setting sun. It seemed to not only pierce through the clouds, but to push them out of the way, making what seemed night turn into day! I stood there, utterly emotionally exhausted and physically tired from not sleeping for a week. I awoke the next morning on the seventh day of the ordeal. I had slept as soundly as a baby, without a single interruption or dark visit. I felt so good that morning. I can still remember how good it was—I felt like a million bucks! I got dressed and was thinking about everything that had happened to me and what it all meant. I no longer heard any voices. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was in my “right” mind. I got into my truck and headed to work, feeling wonderful. As I came to the apex of a large bridge, I closed my eyes for a second. When I opened them, I was no longer in my truck! [Note: There was something spiritually that kept his truck humming along during this experience.] To my utter confusion, I was standing on a dirt road. My first reaction was to put my hands on myself to see if I was okay. As I looked down, I had all of my clothes on and was still wearing my boots. Bewildered, I saw a dirt road stretched out for as far as the eye could see. To the right and left, fields of golden wheat, ready for harvest, were moving back and forth as a warm wind blew over them. The sun was setting. It was casting the most beautiful rays of light through the waving grains of wheat. The soft color was unlike anything I had ever seen on earth. It was beautiful. My thoughts went back to myself. Where in the heck was I? I turned around to look behind me. I saw darkness. As I was trying to look into where the road behind me went, I felt a presence… I cannot even begin to explain in words … I turned around to see a man standing in the road before me. He was dressed in white. His clothes were of olden times and spotless. He had long, golden brown hair and a beard. As I looked at him, I realized Who He was. I could tell that He could see all of the things I had ever done wrong in my life—everything… As He looked at me, He put before me images of all of the wrongs I had done. Seeing them, I felt so heavy that I fell to the ground, my face falling into the dirt. I began to beg aloud, “Lord, please do not let me be before you. Please let me go. I am not worthy. Please let me go from before you, Lord.” It was so painful that He could see all of my sins. Feeling crushed onto the ground, my breath and tears mixed with the dirt of the road. As I tried to push away from Him, I looked up through my tears to see His perfect sandal in front of my face. I reached out and placed my hand upon His foot and said, “Lord, please forgive me. I am so sorry for what I have done against you…” Then I felt His hand on my shoulder, lifting me up off the ground and setting me onto my feet. He took His hand and reached before me, touching my chest, seeming to reach inside of me! He pulled out a black shining orb, which was spinning within His hand. I looked up from the orb into His face. He smiled at me and looked back down at the thing spinning in His hand. He then closed his hand around it and crushed it. When He opened His hand again, the orb had become like dirt that was on the road. He turned His hand, and the dirt fell back onto the road. At that moment, I felt SO FREE! All that had crushed me and held me down in life had been taken away forever! I looked into His eyes and saw them clearly for the first time. Amazingly beautiful, they were the same color as the light that I had seen shining through the shafts of wheat. As I looked, I felt (words could never portray): the love of my friends, the love of my brothers, the love of my mother, the love of God! I was so overcome with thanksgiving, I threw my arms around Him. His frame was as powerful as a rock, but gentle as a lamb. Then I held myself apart from Him. Looking into His smiling face, I said the most embarrassing thing that I have ever said in all my life! Looking at the long road, I said, “Lord, do you think we could stay here and play soccer together?” He laughed and, as I looked up from the road, turned and walked a few paces from me; I could see His perfect footprints in the dirt. I felt frozen, not knowing what to do. As if sensing that I felt paralyzed, He looked back, smiled and extended His hand, and motioned for me to follow Him. Even though He did not say the words, I could clearly hear the words “Follow me” in my mind. Looking down, I took my first foot and put it perfectly into His footprint. As I was about to take the next step, I closed my eyes for a second before trying to look back up at Him. And poof! Just like that—I was back in my truck, driving on my way to work. As I sat there, I cried, heaving deeply for the gift that He had just given me. I was so entirely undone. There was no greater happiness that I had ever known in my entire life. Then, the radio played a song called “Dead Man's Rope,” sung by Sting, recorded on the album called “Sacred Love.” I shall never forget listening to this song through my tears, barely being able to drive. The song speaks of how we try to walk away from our trials, not understanding that our trials will lead us to walk toward Jesus and His forgiveness. After this song ended, it began to rain heavily upon my truck just as the song describes… My life has never been the same since. Wow! Praise the Lord!

In this sermon on Psalm 51, we walk through one of Scripture's most powerful reflections on sin, repentance, and renewal. From David's fall to his heartfelt plea for mercy, this message invites us to confront the depth of our own brokenness – and to embrace the cleansing, restoration, and joy that only God can give through Jesus. Whether you feel weighed by guilt or hungry for renewal, Psalm 51 points us to the mercy and grace of Jesus.

Would You Want Your Sins in the Scriptures?

Do babies go to heaven if they die? In this video, we explore 8 biblical truths that offer hope, clarity, and compassion when facing this heartbreaking question. From David's confidence in his infant's destiny to Jesus welcoming children and the Holy Spirit moving in the womb, we look at what Scripture really shows us about God's justice, mercy, and love. Whether you're grieving, searching for answers, or simply curious—this teaching will help you rest in God's character and promises.

In this episode of Crosswinds Unleashed, we delve into how the Psalms reveal God's holiness and invite us to a life set apart. From David's cries for a pure heart to declarations of God's perfect ways, the Psalms offer a rich portrait of what it means to pursue holiness in everyday life. This week, Pastor Craig Cooper is joined by fellow Crosswinds Pastor and co-host Elijah Merrill.Visit us online: crosswinds.church

Pastor Levi unpacks why generosity is more than money—it's about trust. From David's costly sacrifice to Paul's call to cheerful giving, this message challenges us to give not out of guilt but gratitude. What we give reveals what we value—and how deeply we trust the God who gave everything for us.

This is episode 56 of the Love, Hope, Lyme podcast. To get your free pdf of "Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know," reach out to Fred Diamond on social media. [NOTE: This podcast does not replace medical treatment. If you struggle with Lyme care, please see a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor.] What happens to a relationship when both partners are battling invisible illnesses, trauma, and years of misdiagnosis? In this deeply emotional episode of the Love, Hope, Lyme Podcast, David and Jacquie Butler share their raw, unfiltered story of love, resilience, and healing. From David's decades-long battle with undiagnosed Lyme disease, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and Lyme rage — to Jacquie's own experience with Hashimoto's, PCOS, and years of medical gaslighting — this is a candid conversation about surviving illness as a couple. You'll hear:

In this life-changing sermon, we explore what it means to honor the position God appoints — even when the person in that position seems unworthy. From David's loyalty to Saul, to Jacob's impatience with God's promise, to Absalom's rebellion against his father David — this message dives deep into the tension between loyalty to people and loyalty to God's mission. What you'll learn: Why David refused to take shortcuts to the throne How Jacob's manipulation cost him years of peace The danger of misplaced loyalty in relationships, family, and church How to discern when loyalty is godly, and when it's compromise Why God honors those who honor His appointed order “David wasn't being loyal to Saul. He was being loyal to God.” You'll be challenged to examine your heart: Who are you loyal to? Are they building or tearing down? Are they walking in God's mission or pushing their own agenda? This message will help you develop godly loyalty — the kind that builds unity, honors authority, and stays rooted in love. “Outdo one another in showing honor.” – Romans 12:10 “God honors those who honor.” – 1 Samuel 2:30 Don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and Share if this word speaks to your heart! #Sermon #BiblicalLoyalty #KingDavid #GodsTiming #SpiritualLeadership #Honor #ChristianLiving #ChurchUnity #SermonOnLoyalty #FaithInAction

As we are focused on hearings in Houston, TX and Franklin, TN plus tracking developments in Horry County, SC and supporting the scripted series in ATL this week... we're tabling COJ and bringing you a special LUNASHARK Premium Preview Bonus Episode! From David's Corruption Watchlist, Beth's Soundbites, Girl Talk with Liz and Mandy, and all the great Premium Dives with Beth, Kate, Sam and others... we keep Premium members engaged, informed, and entertained as we tackle tough topics. Today, we want to give y'all a taste of some of the awesome shows we publish on the Premium feed while politely nudging anyone who is a fan of fighting crime and corruption with accurate, victim focused journalism — to PLEASE consider joining premium by clicking this link or use the promo code COJ25 to get your first month as a Soak Up The Sun Member absolutely free. Today, we're tackling information and media literacy, emphasizing the importance of evaluating sources and recognizing bias, particularly in the age of AI-generated content. Plus Kate Thomas' Premium Dive into divorce and often associated abuse, offering advice for both victims and those seeking to help others. we're also looking at jury duty, exploring its history and importance, and defamation, explaining the legal nuances of libel and slander through the lens of Aaron Solomon's defamation case. This is a jam-packed episode and we'll be back with our regular Cup of Justice next week with all the craziness that is about to unfold this week and beyond. Until then... Stay Tuned, Stay Pesky and Stay in the Sunlight...☀️ ⁠Premium Members⁠ also get access to episode videos, case files, live trial coverage and exclusive live experiences with our hosts. ⁠CLICK HERE⁠ to learn more: ⁠https://bit.ly/3BdUtOE⁠. Check out Luna Shark Merch With a Mission shop at ⁠lunasharkmerch.com/⁠ What We're Buying... ⁠Quince⁠ - Give yourself the luxury you deserve with Quince! Go to ⁠Quince.com/COJ⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns Here's a link to some of our favorite things: ⁠https://amzn.to/4cJ0eVn⁠ Find us on social media: ⁠bsky.app/profile/mandy-matney.com⁠   |   ⁠bsky.app/profile/elizfarrell.com⁠   |   ⁠bsky.app/profile/theericbland.bsky.social⁠ ⁠Twitter.com/mandymatney⁠ | ⁠Twitter.com/elizfarrell⁠ | ⁠Twitter.com/theericbland⁠ ⁠https://www.facebook.com/cupofjustice/⁠ |  ⁠https://www.instagram.com/cojpod/⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠  | ⁠TIKTOK⁠ ⁠SUNscribe⁠ to our⁠ free email list⁠ to get alerts on bonus episodes, calls to action, new shows and updates. ⁠CLICK HERE⁠ to learn more:⁠ https://bit.ly/3KBM⁠ *** Alert: If you ever notice audio errors in the pod, email ⁠info@lunasharkmedia.com ⁠and we'll send fun merch to the first listener that finds something that needs to be adjusted! *** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Unpack Psalm 22: From David's lament of turmoil and torment to a prophecy of the Suffering Messiah, Jesus! Explore the powerful connection to the crucifixion, including being forsaken, taunted, and pierced. Discover how this psalm foreshadows the Sovereign Messiah's triumph! This is part 2 of a two-part series entitled “Suffering Messiah/Sovereign Messiah.”For the study resources and manuscript go to VBVF.ORG

Download Prize Picks: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/VIEWS Use code "VIEWS" and get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup. On today's podcast, David and Jason welcome their former manager Jack Reed to discuss some of the funniest stories over the years representing them. From David's biggest deals, to pitch meetings gone wrong and why the guys always got excited when Jack called. Also, the guys pitch Netflix, David ponders who would be his best man (it's not Jason) and how Natalie had to lie in order to start working for David. And David delivers a hilarious monologue on something he really hates. Also, the guys weight the audience response and reach an important decision on the future of the podcast that you will not want to miss. Check out Jason's podcast there: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Q6iwgBKEZIBhIw3q8WPBg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back again to Living Hope Church. We are located in the historical city of Williamsburg, VA. Whether this is your first time, or 1000th time, you are family!        In one of the most heartfelt messages of our longest-running series, Pastor Bill Francavilla  guides us in the exploration of the powerful parallels between King David and Jesus as we reflect on Palm Sunday. From David's legacy of preparation for Solomon to Jesus preparing His disciples for His death, we're reminded of the importance of readiness, both practical and spiritual.This message draws from Psalm 39, 1 Chronicles 22, and John 12 & 14 to show how both David and Jesus made intentional efforts to equip those they loved. As David gathered materials and gave wisdom for the building of the temple, Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit, the Counselor and the Peace that surpasses understanding.We're called to live prepared not in fear, but in wisdom and faith. Join us as we celebrate Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem and reflect on what it means to be prepared for what's next.Welcome to Living Hope Church! These podcasts are our weekly Sunday sermons. We hope you enjoy them.

Join host Jesse Jackson on an exciting episode of Set Lusting Bruce, where he dives into the world of Bruce Springsteen with his guests, Laura and her father, David. The episode kicks off with a heartfelt thank you to Patreon supporters and then dives into Laura and David's personal stories of becoming Bruce fans. From David's transformative experience at a Princeton concert in 1978 to Laura's recent Springsteen concerts and solo trip to Asbury Park, this episode is filled with touching moments and interesting insights. Listen as they share their unique experiences, including their DC and Baltimore concert highlights and Laura's appearance on E Street Radio. A must-listen for all Springsteen fans! 00:00 Introduction and Patreon Shoutouts 01:19 Welcome to the Episode 01:30 Meet the Guests: Laura and David 02:44 David's Springsteen Journey 04:51 Laura's Recent Experiences 06:18 The New Tour: Initial Thoughts 08:01 First Concert Together: Washington DC 23:06 Baltimore Concert Highlights 27:26 Reflecting on Concert Experiences 27:50 The Magic of Thunder Road 29:08 E Street Horns and Choir 30:53 A Trip to Asbury Park 32:59 Exploring Bruce Springsteen's Landmarks 38:36 The Wild and the Innocent Show 47:09 Final Thoughts and Reflections 50:13 Podcast Housekeeping Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Return of the Man-Child (2)  (audio)  David Eells – 3/12/25  I'm going to talk to you today about spearheading the Man-child ministry.  The Lord showed me many years ago that history repeats (Ecclesiastes 1:9) and the events in the Gospels and Book of Acts will be repeated in our day, except the cast of characters will be multiplied many times over, with corporate bodies replacing the individuals of Jesus' day. As time goes on, there is a geometric effect from people passing on to people, and everybody walks in the steps of someone. These are the people about whom we read in the Gospels. The corporate bodies of people in our day have walked in the steps of those New Testament individuals, whether it be Jesus or Judas.   Nations have become empires in our day from the same geometric effect. We recently discussed the lineage of Jesus Christ, which, for some strange reason, was given as the lineage of Joseph, even though we know that Joseph had no physical or genetic connection to Jesus Christ. But he did have a spiritual connection, which was the most important one in the New Testament. Joseph had a gift from God to impart words, actions and examples for the child Jesus to imitate as He was growing up. (Luk.2:52) And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. And He was filled with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32).  I'd like to point out a few more things from Matthew 1. We read, And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ (Mat.1:16). The lineage given is the family tree of Joseph, but the interesting thing is that “Jacob begat Joseph.” That sounds very familiar. This is referring to Joseph the husband of Mary, but we know that in the Old Testament Jacob also begat Joseph (Genesis 30:22-24). And Jacob was Israel (Genesis 32:28), now he is a corporate body of people. And it's very interesting that Israel brought forth Joseph, who was a Man-child of the Old Testament.   Jesus' earthly father, Joseph, was two things to Jesus: He was a “head” to Jesus, the head of his family, the father Jesus was to submit to while He grew up in that earthly body as a young child. But Joseph also represents the spiritual fathers of these days who are being used to raise up the Man-child. Again, it has nothing to do with bloodline; it has everything to do with the Word spoken and taught and the emphasis on walking the holy life, etc. Joseph also received the revelation from God of the coming Man-child.   He received that revelation from God when it was sent to him through an angel. (Mat.1:18) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. (19) And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. (20) But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. (21) And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins.   Joseph of the New Testament got this revelation of the coming Man-child and the Joseph of the Old Testament was a part of the Man-child. In fact, you might even say he was the head of the Man-child. Joseph in the New Testament is also the head of the Man-child. In a way, he is the head of Jesus, but he is also a spearhead of the Man-child. (Mat.1:22) Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, (23) Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Immanuel; which is, being interpreted, God with us. Jesus was “God with them” in the Gospels and the Book of Acts, and He is “God with us” today as well because He left an individual body in order to come back in a corporate body, that He might be “God with us” and in us. He was also the reformer of the Church in His day and today we desperately need the same thing.  The prophet Joel spoke about two times in history when there would be a great reformation. Those are in the “former rain” and the “latter rain” (Joel 2:23), in which God would restore all things that had been stolen from His people (Joel 2:25). Over the last 2000 years, by fake teachers, fake leaders and the devil himself, God's people have been robbed and plundered. So God is coming once again in a reformer ministry called the Man-child of Revelation 12.   (Mat.1:24) And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took unto him his wife; (25) and knew her not till she had brought forth a son: and he called his name JESUS. Jesus warned us what was going to happen when the events of Revelation 12 come to pass. He said that He would be again like a little baby born to a woman and that the “woman” was those disciples, His Church (John 16:21). Today the “woman” is His Church again. (Rev.12:1) And a great sign was seen in heaven: a woman arrayed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.   The Church doesn't look much like this, but there is a body in the Church that we call the Bride. All through the Old Testament, the Bride was not the Church but was chosen from out of the Church. There were also the virgins, the friends of the Bridegroom and other attendees of the ceremony, and those who were invited to the ceremony, besides the Bride. She is not the whole Church, as you'll understand if you read the Book of Esther, Psalm 45 or the Song of Solomon.   The point is that this “woman” to whom He's referring is those who are manifesting the fruit of Christ, just like Mary represents in our Matthew text study. She was a virgin and a bride in the midst of a larger church. Joseph was the head of the Man-child, who was being raised up in the midst of the virgin bride, who was also in the midst of the larger church, and she will bring forth the Man-child. That's similar to King David's position in the midst of Jerusalem, which the Book of Revelation tells us is the Bride (Revelation 21:9-10), but Jerusalem was not all of Israel. It was just the part of Israel that was the leadership. So there's a hierarchy consisting of the Man-child, the Bride, and the people of God. Here we see the woman “arrayed with the sun,” having been clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ and the moon under her feet.   This shows her authority is over the moon, and the moon represents a reflection of the light of the Son. The 12 stars around her head, I believe, is the doctrine of the 12 Apostles in her mind, the renewed Mind of Christ. (Rev.12:2) And she was with child; and she crieth out, travailing in birth, and in pain to be delivered. (3) And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his heads seven diadems. (4) And his tail draweth the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon standeth before the woman that is about to be delivered, that when she is delivered he may devour her child.   (5) And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne. (6) And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that there they (the Man-child) may nourish her a thousand two hundred and threescore days. This is the revelation that we're looking at as the type and sign. The letter always comes first; the Spirit comes afterwards. There is more than one fulfillment of prophecy. In Jesus was the letter-fulfillment of prophecy. The Bible tells us in Isaiah 7 that His birth to the virgin Mary was a sign, or an owth, which means “a sign of something to come,” which is what we read about in Revelation 12 and in our end-time, the corporate body fulfillment of what we are reading about in this text.  I'd like to point out something else to you, so that you understand how this is an end-time revelation. Jesus came in the body of the Son of David, as we have seen. That was because He was the offspring of David, naturally speaking. God used the DNA of Mary to bring forth the Son of David and the Son of God dwelt in the Son of Man, the Son of God being the spiritual man and the Son of Man being the human part of Jesus. But the Son of David is coming once again in our day. First, I'd like to prove that to you and then I want to share a revelation with you.   (Jer.30:4) And these are the words that the Lord spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. (5) For thus saith the Lord: We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. (6) Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child: wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins (The Man-child Jesus is being birthed in a company of men today to do this.), as a woman in travail (This is the woman Church in travail with the Man-child.), and all faces are turned into paleness? (Jer.30:7) Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. Most of you recognize “the time of Jacob's trouble” as an end-time revelation of Jacob entering into trouble in our day – Jacob being Israel and also representing, spiritually, the Church.   We remember Jacob's trouble, when he was in travail coming into the Promised Land and was being threatened by his brother Esau, who had already said that he would kill him (Genesis 27:41), and who was leading a beast army out to meet him (Genesis 32:6). And we remember how God preserved Jacob through that time of trouble, showing him favor and deliverance.  That's what is about to happen with the whole Church. (Jer.30:7) … It is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. (8) And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck (meaning the Beast), and will burst thy bonds; and strangers shall no more make him their bondman (The words “no more” tell us that its fulfillment is very close to the end-time.); (Jer.30:9) but they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. This was a long time after David, so He's not talking about David, physically. This was about 440 years after David had died, so it's not referring to a past but to a future “David.” Nor is it talking about Jesus, Who was also a fulfillment of this as the Son of David; this is talking about David in the end-time, the “time of Jacob's trouble.”   (Jer.30:10) Therefore fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the Lord; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity … (20) Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me (As it was before, the Lord is once again raising up the Israel of God, as it is called in the New Testament. That is the Church; it's those who are circumcised in heart, not in flesh.); and I will punish all that oppress them. (Jer.30:21) And their prince shall be of themselves, and their ruler shall proceed from the midst of them (The Man-child is birthed out of the midst of the Bride.); and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is he that hath had boldness to approach unto me? saith the Lord. In other words, the Man-child is in the position of authority in the Church and over the enemies of the Church, like David was. David not only fought the battles of the Lord against the enemies of the Church, but he was the leadership of the Church. He was the leadership in the Bride, the Man-child in the midst of the Bride.  So we see that Mary had a Son. That Son was raised up to be her Head. He led her into the wilderness, where He multiplied the fishes and the loaves, and so it will be in the end times also, as we just read in Revelation 12. The Bride brought forth the Man-child, but the Man-child led her through the wilderness as a corporate body. (Jer.30:22) And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. (23) Behold, the tempest of the Lord, [even his] wrath, is gone forth, a sweeping tempest (Yes, and a great storm is about to be raised upon the earth. You will want to have true leadership and the true anointing of the Holy Spirit, even the Latter Rain of the Holy Spirit.): it shall burst upon the head of the wicked. (Jer.30:24) The fierce anger of the Lord shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall understand it. This is an understanding that has been given to us for the latter days. (Jer.31:1) At that time, saith the Lord, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. That's all the families, from the Old Testament to the New Testament.  Who is Israel in the New Testament? In the New Testament, if you are not born again, you are not Israel. You have been broken off the olive tree. The Church was grafted into the olive tree which, as God said in Romans 11:26, was all Israel. God will be the God of all the families of Israel, which can only be fulfilled in the end times. (Jer.31:2) Thus saith the Lord, The people that were left of the sword found favor in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. That's what God has planned for in the wilderness, to cause His people to enter into His rest, trusting in His promises.   In the New Testament, this rest is called sabbatismos. (Heb.4:9) There remaineth therefore a sabbath (Greek: sabbatismos) rest for the people of God. That word means “a continual rest,” not one day a week. The only thing that remains in the New Testament of the Sabbath rest is that continual rest. The apostles went into the synagogues on the Sabbath as evangelists to teach the Jews what Jesus had brought in the New Testament. The New Testament Sabbath rest is every day of the week, all the time, because you believe the promises of God. You cease from your works; you enter into His rest. The Man-child is going to bring the revelation of the true Gospel and the true Sabbath rest of God to God's people.  I said all that to say this: I want to share with you a revelation that was given to us. Now you don't base anything on modern-day revelations, dreams, visions or prophecies; you base everything on what the Scripture says. But these things do come to confirm what is written in the Word and sometimes to explain so that you are able to put verses together to explain what is happening. There's a revelation on our website called Spearheading the Manchild Ministry. I'm going to share part of it with you here because I feel that it's very important concerning what we've discovered about a type in the Bible. You might call it a snapshot in the midst of a panoramic view, a snapshot of Joseph being the head of the Man-child as someone who spearheaded the Man-child's ministry by raising-up Jesus and bringing Him into this position as an earthly guide to His humanity. Jesus also had the Father and the Holy Spirit, Who were guiding Him to receive wonderful revelations of Who He really was in this earth and Whom He manifested. He was growing both as the Son of God and the Son of Man.  The Man-child that we know is coming upon the scene now is also both son of man and son of God. The members of the Man-child have a body and therefore must be submissive to parents and authority, but they also each have a spiritual man who is taught of the Lord. We noticed that between the time of the conception of Jesus and His ministry in Matthew 1 and 2, many dreams came forth. I guarantee that's a sign for our day that the same thing is going to happen. The dream and the prophecy I am sharing with you now is a fulfillment of that. It's saying that the same thing is going to happen in our day between the time of the conception of the Man-child and when He starts His earthly ministry. There were five dreams in Matthew 1 and 2 that were to fulfill guidance and protection, and wisdom and provision to the Lord. We know that God is building the Man-child ministry to spread His truths to multitudes of babies about to come looking for answers when this nation is brought into severe chastening.   I share this revelation for your edification and preparation, not to give any credit to myself. The Lord did not choose the wise and the noble and the mighty (1 Corinthians 2:26) because He wanted His power to be made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). I have always told people that's the reason I'm qualified, not because I'm a great speaker (I'm not) or very intelligent (I'm not), or that I went to Bible school (I didn't) or anything, but only because God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong (1Co.2:27).  Some of these things appear to be glorifying me, but I tell you that God is only using me as a type and shadow of a larger body of people. He's using me because my name is David, because I believe in the Man-child ministry and because I have faith that I will, by the grace of God, have a part in this ministry. There's nothing to brag about; it's not us, it is Christ in us (Colossians 1:27).   The Jesus about Whom Matthew speaks is coming again. (Hos.6:2) After two days will he revive us: on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live before him. (3) And let us know, let us follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is sure as the morning; and he will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain that watereth the earth. Jesus is coming on the morning of the third day, as the latter rain anointing that comes, first of all, upon the Man-child, so that Jesus would live in this Man-child and do His works to be a reformer to the Church. The Lord is coming to shepherd His flock. Most people don't know that. The following is a prophecy given to me by a prophet named Philip, who shared this vision with me. My comments are in parentheses.  The Phoenix Vision: I have prayed for three days now for the holy Father's will in this matter of sharing the vision that I received during a meeting with David as the speaker in Phoenix. (I've often thought about why Phoenix was chosen for this vision. Well, the Phoenix bird as a legend, which I think was a very spiritual thing, aside from its pagan background, is a type of resurrection life. The Phoenix, after its life cycle, flies to Heliopolis, which means “city of the sun,” or to me, “city of the Son,” and creates a nest. Sitting on the nest, it bursts into flames and burns up, leaving nothing but ashes and an egg, which hatches a new bird out of the ashes as a type of resurrection life. So, Phoenix is the place of resurrection life and it was no accident that the prophecy he sent forth occurred in Phoenix.)  I am permitted to share the following: As I prayed with David at the start of the meeting (I led everyone in a prayer before the teaching and Philip was among the people there), I saw the room change into a stadium filled with people and David was at the podium shouting through a microphone that was in the shape of a shofar. He wore a silver yarmulke that glowed as he spoke and from above came a white-golden light pouring down from the sky as a beam of glory, growing brighter with each outpouring. From David's clothing came the same glory, lights pouring through the tzit-tzit on his garment, flowing like fingers through the people. The lights touched the forehead and were grabbed by the right hand of people who became pregnant and began shouting as they were covered in glory. This is the vision that I had at the meeting. The holy Father says that David would know its meaning, if not now, very soon.   Months after that meeting, Philip contacted me again and after he received this: The Holy Father is forming this ministry into His image to spearhead the Man-child ministry birthing and delivery to the world. Amen! He has given this to me in a mighty vision that ran in succession for three nights, along with some other things that I can't say just yet.  Here is the interpretation of the dream. What he's describing here is the corporate body of the spearhead of the Man-child Ministry. It's not just referring to me. He just used me because my name is David. It's not to glorify me; it's to tell you what is about to happen here, that God is raising up a spearhead like He did Joseph in bringing the Man-child ministry to fruition. The full interpretation is given on our website. I had already received a previous prophecy that I would be teaching in stadiums. I thought this might be spiritual because of the rows of people and how a stadium is built. The Word is passed on from person-to-person as each tier speaks to greater and greater circles of people in a geometric progression, like a stadium is built.   In other words, you speak from the middle, and it goes out and reaches the first circle, then the next circle in ever-increasing numbers, and this is how our ministry has been. I speak to a certain circle of people, and they go and speak to a certain circle of people, and I hear back from their children, their relatives, etc. It's just radiating out. Praise God! I've been contacted by many who have told us that they are using our broadcasts, MP3 audios or videos for their home Bible study groups. Also, multitudes are copying our materials and passing them out, so it just enters a larger and larger circle. This has been happening for some time now, but not to the degree that it's about to happen. It will soon happen in a much greater way, as the Lord has shown us.  My microphone resembling a shofar is significant because a shofar turns inaudible breath, which is the same Hebrew word for “spirit,” into the audible voice of the Spirit or the Word, which warns God's people and destroys the enemy, as in Gideon's battle. We are all called to this ministry of being a vessel through whom the pure Word of the Spirit will flow. The people being touched on the forehead by the light from Heaven are those who humbly receive the Word and so receive the renewed mind of Christ. These are grabbing the light with the right hand, which represents those who act on the Word and so have the renewed works of Christ.   The left hand represents the works of the flesh, and the mark of the beast in the forehead represents having the mind of the Beast, which is the opposite of those. So these people became pregnant with the seed of Christ through the Word, which is what recreates in us the life of Christ. Jesus was the Sower who sowed the seed and the seed that He sowed was the Word of God. It went into hearts and brought forth fruit 30-, 60- and 100-fold. Jesus told us, For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother (Mat.12:50). When this seed bears fruit in the womb of the heart and mind, and is eventually birthed to the world, they will be seen as the image of Christ.  What about the tzitzit? We're told, But unto you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings (The “wings” are the same as the tzitzit, the fringe on our garment.); and ye shall go forth, and gambol as calves of the stall (Mal.4:2). (3) And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I make, saith the Lord of hosts. The Man-child Ministry is coming to bring not only judgment upon the wicked but resurrection life to the saved people of God. (Mal.4:4) Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, even statutes and ordinances. (5) Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. Notice, this speaks of Moses and Elijah, which the Man-child brings into fruition. The Man-child raises up the corporate body of the Two Witnesses.   The disciples were Jesus' witnesses and they went forth two-by-two. They're a type of the corporate body of Two Witnesses, as Moses and Elijah symbolize. Before the Day of the Lord, the Man-child will raise up the Two Witnesses. (Mal.4:6) And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers; lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. The Jews believed that the “sun of righteousness” would be the Messiah, Who would have the power to heal whoever touched the tzitzit, or fringes, of His garment. They did not know that this would be repeated in the end-time through Christ in the Man-child company. A light from Heaven poured through the tzitzit of Jesus' tallit (prayer shawl) to heal the sick, just as it will spiritually through the end-time Man-child. Praise God!   The fulfillment of the Phoenix vision is the spearheading of the Man-child ministry. If we're talking about the physical Man-child Jesus, He was born in a physical body of the virgin Mary. But I believe that the Man-child is going to be born over a period of time because we're talking about a very large body of people being born out of the virgin Church. It could happen over a period of time, with the spearhead being born first. Just like Joseph was a type of the Man-child who was born to Israel, Jesus was a type of the end-time Man-child who was born to the virgin Mary of Israel.  Here's another confirmation. The following revelation I'm sharing with you concerning the Man-child's “head” coming forth first is to bring the Word to the world. I'm convinced that in these days, there's a Joseph, or a spearhead, of the Man-child that's coming forth first to bring the revelation of the Man-child to the Man-child Company, and this whole body, including the head, will have this end-time ministry. That's what I have been trying to explain to you through Matthew 1 and I hope we've been somewhat successful. This revelation was given through Leisa Miller in May of 2007. I will interpret (in parentheses) as we go along.   I dreamed that a lot of people and I were on top of a mountain. (I believe that the mountain represents the Kingdom of God, His people, His Church, worldwide.) I could see that some of us were looking at a small but active version of the mountain. Looking at this smaller version, I could see the whole shape of the mountain. (Why see a large mountain and then a smaller version of it? They were seeing a local microcosm, meaning in Greek, “small world.” In other words, we see the Church locally, but there is a Church that's worldwide. She was only seeing in her experience a small part, a small representation or scaled-down version of the Kingdom of God worldwide, the portion of the body of Christ that she was familiar with as part of the worldwide body. Leisa is part of UBM, which will have a part in this movement.)   There was an image in the mountain. The whole of the mountain had the shape of a woman who was pregnant. I could see that she was birthing her child. The mountain would shake and we could feel it. On the smaller version, we could see rocks give way to form the new development of the child being born. It was very detailed. (She saw the microcosm as the woman Church in her fellowship experience began to bring forth the first-fruits Man-child company at the same time as it happened worldwide.) The head and shoulders were out but the water had only begun to break. (This is the head of the Man-child body being born. Could this have been happening for some time? I believe so. It won't be finished until it is finished, but it could have been happening for some time. The head or spearhead of the Man-child ministry will be born first in the microcosm seen by Leisa, as well as in other microcosms.)   Suddenly there was a very hard shaking. (Who knows what this could be. But we have had this revelation given to us many times before, that when the Man-child begins His ministry, something catastrophic is going to happen in the world.) We could see on the little version, water began to flow out. (In the beginning of the coming time of judgment, the head will bring forth the water of the Word. We noticed that Joseph's words were the only seed that brought forth Jesus, the Son of God, the spiritual man, the true Man-child. It had nothing to do with any physical seed because he was not Jesus' physical father, but he did have something to do with that spiritual seed, which the Bible tells us is the Word of God. So Joseph raised Him up as a father would.) The detail of the child became more distinct, and we could hear the water rushing all around us, until it carried us away from the spot where we were standing. (Could this be akin to bringing the Church into the wilderness? It could be.) But each of us could still see one another and somehow we could also see that the whole world was flooding with this water. (Why? Because all she saw was the microcosm. The same thing was happening simultaneously all over the world. The head being born was breaking the water and the water was going forth.)  (What the Man-child lives on in the womb is the water, the Word of God. We have to be born of water and of Spirit, don't we? The Bible tells us that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. (Mat.2:5) And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written through the prophet, (6) And thou, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Art in no wise least among the princes of Judah, For out of thee shall come forth a governor, Who shall be shepherd of my people Israel. And “Bethlehem” means “House of bread,” or “House of food.” Jesus is born in, and is a product of, the Word of God. He is, as John said, the Word made flesh (John 1:14), and “Moses” means “drawn from the waters.” Moses was the man-child in his day. He was a product of the waters of the washing of the Word of God. So the head comes first and it teaches the body. With the breaking-forth of the head of the first-fruits in the microcosm, a great flood of the Word will go forth over the whole earth. This Word is being prepared by books, radio, television, video, Internet, etc. The Lord will use every available method to get this Word out.)   (This move of the Spirit will also carry disciples with the message all over the world. Notice that when the water broke, it carried them all away, just as it was in Jesus' day when He was the Man-child. He sent disciples with the same Word, the same anointing, the same mantle that He had, and they went all over the world. They were called “Christians” because they walked in the power and the anointing of Jesus Christ. This is about to happen once again in our day. A great reformer movement will go forth, but not necessarily a popular one. It will be popular with the people who love God and know Him, but it won't be popular with the status quo or the Pharisees and Sadducees, as we will see shortly.)   We were under the water, but we could breathe. (Abiding in the Word is natural for those who live by the Spirit, which in Hebrew is also the word “breath.”) We saw others caught in this water who could not breathe and were dying. (The Word brings death to the carnal man and his spirit, or breath.) But the water was so abundant that I could not tell which way was up unless I was near an object on the ground that could identify direction. (Beholding the reward of the wicked, as in Psalm 91:8, and the corruption of the earth lets us know what is under our feet and what is the way to Heaven. The earthly will swallow the flood going forth from the dragon's mouth, as in Revelation 12:15, and the heavenly will swallow the flood that goes forth from the Man-child, as Revelation 12:14 says.)   Some of us found ourselves inside a large building under the water. It seemed to be a large farm building where tools, farm equipment, and seed were kept. (For we are God's fellow-workers: ye are God's husbandry (Greek: “tilled land”), God's building (1Co.3:9). It's interesting that this farm and building were under the water. It's a part of God's work, God's building. You are God's husbandry, His tilled land. (1Co.3:10) According to the grace of God which was given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder I laid a foundation; and another buildeth thereon. But let each man take heed how he buildeth thereon. (11) For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Jesus in the Man-child is about to lay the foundation of God's building and once again plant the seed of the Word over the world. It's a very spiritual revelation that Leisa had there.)   We knew that there were people who were now above the water and were angry at us and wanted to kill us. (The righteous lived beneath the waters. They were baptized in the Word of God which had put to death their flesh. They could no longer die because the spiritual man received life and sustenance from the water of the Word of God. It is a product of the Word of God. But to the carnal man the Word of God is death, so for those to whom the water is death, they will hate the righteous even more because of the increase of truth and fruit in them. Abiding in the water of the Word is a place of protection to them.)  Amen! I believe that both of these revelations have to do with what we're looking at here in the Book of Matthew.  Let's return to where we left off in (Mat.2:1) Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, Wise-men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, (2) Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him. (3) And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Remember those from Leisa's vision who were above the water, not dwelling in the water, not baptized in the water of the Word of God? They are troubled. We can see why Herod might be troubled, but “all Jerusalem with him”? Today, religious people are enjoying their life in the world, their leaders are enjoying their life in the world, and they really don't want the Messiah to come and upset their apple cart.   If you don't believe that, just read the Bible. What kind of a reception did Jesus get? The overwhelming majority of people were anti-Christ. Their leaders were anti-Christ. They had already set up their stage of playing church through their religion and didn't need Jesus to come along and upset them. They were already set in their ways and wanted no reformation whatsoever. Jesus was a reformer and that's what He came for, so we can understand why “all Jerusalem” was troubled. (Mat.2:4) And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born. (5) And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written through the prophet … Why would they tell Herod, whom they knew was anti-Christ, where Jesus would be born? It seems as if they were on the side of the Beast here and throughout the New Testament we see that.   The leadership of the natural people of God, the status quo, was always on the side of the Beast, all the way through the Scriptures. Herod, representing the Beast kingdom, had ambitions to be the king and did not want any competition from this new upstart King coming on the scene. However, Jesus' Kingdom was not of this world (Joh.18:36). He came to be the King over the spiritual, born-again man and to lead God's people to the ways of righteousness and restoration. But Herod and the priests did not want anything to change and so it will be in our day. We have a wonderful reformation ministry coming that will spread over the whole world, bringing the true Word of God and the true Gospel to the whole world, yet it will be fiercely resisted by these people and they will attempt to quash it.   Throughout history, it has been that when God raised up a Man-child or a reformer or a prophet, they were fiercely resisted and hated by the religious leaders and people who wanted to live in the flesh. A person is comfortable living in the flesh and does not want the spirit man to be the ruler and the leader and the guide in their life. They will fight against it as they have throughout history. Nothing is going to change. (Ecc.1:9) That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. The Lord is continuing to repeat history.   What we're reading in the Book of Matthew will be fulfilled on a much larger scale, meaning the cast of characters has been multiplied. Herod represents a much bigger body of people in authority over God's people, a worldly body of people that is a Beast kingdom over God's people. Jesus also represents a much larger body of people, the Man-child ministry. The Pharisees and the Sadducees – the Sanhedrin, if you will – represent a larger corporate body called the False Prophet. The Sanhedrin was the False Prophet in Jesus' day; they were the ones who crucified the Christ, the ones who sided with the Beast against God's people, the ones who sided with the Beast against the disciples of Christ; and they were the ones who sided with the Beast against the Two Witnesses, etc. So history is about to repeat on a much larger scale, as it has throughout the Bible, and we're fortunate enough to read Matthew as not only history, but a very accurate prophecy.   All of the Gospels and the Book of Acts, even though they recount history, are speaking a prophecy because the Bible says, “That which hath been is that which shall be.” Anything that happens today has already happened earlier, but on a smaller scale. Praise be to God! He is opening our eyes here to understand this and to have much prophecy opened to us in these latter days. I've shared with you how the Gospels, which were Jesus' 3½- year ministry, represent the first 3½ years of the Tribulation and how the Book of Acts represents the second 3½ years and the 40 years between Jesus' ministry and the 70 A.D. destruction of the Harlot by the Beast. 40 is the number of tribulation, as can be seen in type when Moses took the children of Israel through 40 years in the wilderness. 

Break free from the overwhelm, shame, and constant battle with your ADHD. Order the Something Shiny ADHD Toolkit Series - available now until January 2nd, 2025! Does ADHD make you an overly optimistic puppy dog? Or the sprinkle of trickster magic in someone else's day? And is there really a "better" way to be, optimistic or pessimistic? From David being a prophetic hot dog vendor at Wrigley Field, to trickster archetypes, to the differences between vulnerable in the process of something or being vulnerable at the end, Isabelle and David dig into a totally unique way to consider optimism and pessimism as adaptive. ----Once upon a time, David sold hot dogs at Wrigley Field, yelling out “here's your hot dogs!” To do that, he talked differently, throwing the accent in so thick. This was during the McGuire/Sosa run streak, and he would say “Sammy's going to hit a home run to you in the 7th” and he had a 50% chance of being right and he made it a great time for those kids. This makes Isabelle think of Tricia Hersey, the Nap Minister, who has done all this work on systemic racism and the Black American experience, and rest as resistance or a form of activism. She also is talking about lot about trickster energy. Isabelle thinks about this in the form of ableism, how she talks and writes about trickster energy, and making magic in something that feels subversive and is part of the time as well as not a part of the time. Like David is performing the role of the hot dog vendor, but then because he predicts the ‘future' to the kid, he adds a twist to it and he becomes a full human, like more than a role. Isabelle's shortcuts often fall around domestic labor. David likes how it elevates the hot dog vendor to more than an NPC—after the game, if he predicted it was right, reclaims that he was actually a main character. But also it was greater than what David was doing. Isabelle notices that this lines up with a neurodivergent strength with ADHD, the going on tangents, the divergent tangents. Isabelle names that recently things have been really tough personally and professionally, and yet she has this relentless optimism; Isabelle can't help but bring in the playful energy. Is her optimism really about ADHD? David names that optimism is not about accuracy, it has to do with process. Optimism is: ‘it's not a loss until it is,” and you can be miserable for 3 weeks leading up to something or miserable for the one moment you feel the loss. But also, David warns, optimism can be dangerous when it comes to expectations. If you expect a piece of (astronaut) ice cream when you get home every day, it is a set up when you get upset you didn't get the astronaut ice cream. Optimism is radically accepting that we haven't lost until we have. In one hour we can feel sad, but right now, we can still win. For David it's how he can sit with his nervous system, it's changing the meaning of “in process.” Isabelle really likes this, as she is relentlessly optimistic. If she is more willing to take risks, if she doesn't have a big response cost, she doesn't have a great estimation of how hard or long something is going to be, a poor working memory, and it would track that overall she would get smacked in the face by a 2 x 4 and then wake up the next day and forget it ever happened. She doesn't remember the fails until she's failing again, and anything is possible until it isn't, or she remembers the fails but this time, it could be different. And, is part of that really a choice she's making or is it just a shortcut, a mental shortcut—you could call it optimism that she always leaves the house not accounting for traffic because she believes in parking magic. It would be way harder for her to keep all the possibilities in mind. David asks: are you forgetting to account for traffic? That's executive functioning stuff. Or are you optimistic about there being no traffic? If you're leaving late thinking you're going to get a good parking spot, the memory deficit reinforces this perspective. But isn't it easier to live with miracles and magic and not borrowing trouble? You're not ruining your present moment by fretting about something that hasn't happened yet. But if Isabelle could have accounted for her executive functioning maybe she could've avoided some thing. When we are struggling to pull out optimism in an area, we're looking at areas of self-esteem. It's really hard to be optimistic if you don't have a sense of mastery in who you are and what you're doing. You have to have a sense that you are enough or that you matter, you have to have some power or some say in a world. Survival mode, by necessity removes optimism, makes you pessimistic. When you've survived trauma, which is anything that overwhelms your sense of hope, what devalued or dehumanized you or left you feeling out of control, and it was something that Isabelle was internalizing something was the worst. Back in the day, in older versions of the DSM, included in PTSD was the idea of a ‘foreshortened future,” there's not way she could survive or make it through another developmental state. When you're in survival mode, you think you're getting all the important data, black and white, like an old news reel, you think you're getting all the information, but you're getting very little data, which can be both helpful and hurtful. Does optimism indicate the opposite of the trauma response? Is it an indicator you're not in the survival mode? But David names: optimism is not a better, pessimism is not a worse—both are accommodations and have their uses. Maybe you're more vulnerable in process, and less vulnerable at the end, so being optimistic is an adaptation for you. For someone else who is more vulnerable at the end and less vulnerable in process, being pessimistic would be an adaptation. We surrender parts of ourselves when we try to be somebody else, and David is a proponent of humanism, that humans as a whole make sense, and we're doing our best. He's not interested in optimism being used to invalidate pessimism or pessimism being used to invalidate optimism. NPC - Non-Playable or Non-Player Character: a term from gaming that refers to characters that cannot be played by the person playing the game. (Source: wikipedia).Nap Minister, Tricia Hersey and her book, Rest is ResistanceTrickster Archetype: (from Wikipedia): "a character in a story who exhibits a great degree of intellect or secret knowledge and uses it to play tricks or otherwise disobey normal rules and defy conventional behavior." Examples Isabelle mentioned include: Loki (norse mythology and the Marvel Universe), Anansi (Ashanti folklore)ADHD's links to optimism:The Positive Aspects of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Qualitative Investigation of Successful Adults with ADHD (Source: ADHD Springer Journal)Incautiously Optimistic: Positively Valenced Cognitive Avoidance in Adult ADHD (Source: NIH/Cogn. Beh. Pract.)