Podcasts about Galilee

 Gratitude Week 3 // A Lifestyle of Gratitude Hebrews 12:28NIV“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe…” AMP“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, and offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship with reverence and awe…” KJV“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear…” Greek Word “Charis” - A Manner of… A Lifestyle of… or A State of… according to the divine influence on the heart and its reflection in the life… The word most often used for Thankfulness is “Eucharistio” - A word or an action of thankfulness… Luke 17:11-19 (NLT)“As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” He looked at them and said, ‘Go show yourselves to the priests.' And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, ‘Praise God!' He fell to the ground at Jesus' feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, ‘Didn't I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?' And Jesus said to the man, ‘Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.'” The Way We Respond is the Difference Between “Thanks for the Blessing” and “I Owe You My Everything”.

Monday, 17 November 2025   And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. Matthew 14:14   “And Jesus, having withdrawn, He saw a great crowd, and He gut-wrenched upon them and He cured their sick” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus, having heard the news about Herod, withdrew in a boat from where He was to a desolate place. At the same time, the crowds followed him on foot. Next, it says, “And Jesus, having withdrawn.”   The most prevalent view among scholars is that this refers to Jesus having come out of a desolate place to meet the crowds. That is based on a misreading of John 6. They dismiss it as meaning He came out of the boat He was taking. However, the same account in Mark says exactly that –   “But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. 34 And Jesus, when He came out [exelthōn], saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.” Mark 6:33, 34   Luke's account doesn't address this part of the narrative, simply noting that they “went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida” (Luke 9:10). However, Luke's account does note the crowds being healed during the day before the miracle of feeding the multitudes. John's gospel also mentions this account –   “After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.3 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.” John 6:1-3   John's gospel acknowledges the crowds, but says nothing of them at the time of arrival except that they followed Him. It only mentions them coming toward Him later when the time for the miracle of feeding the multitude had arrived.   This doesn't necessarily mean that He got out of the boat, went to a retreat, and then only later saw the crowds, something that would contradict all three other gospels. It means that John is focusing on the crowds and the miracle at the later point of the day.   In other words, the crowds were already there when the boat arrived (Mark 6:34). He began to teach and heal them at that time. It only says that later in the day that Jesus performed the miracle of feeding the people. John skips over that entire portion of the day and focuses on the multitude's needs at the end of the day.   Despite the obvious meaning given in Mark 6, scholars note it and ignore that it means He withdrew from the boat. But the same Greek word is used in Luke 8:27 to convey the exact same thought –   “And when He stepped out [exelthonti] on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs.”   The point of the specificity is to show the zeal of the people, rushing along the shore to meet Jesus as He arrived in the boat. Any other analysis diminishes the clear and precise wording and the excitement of the people to continue to be with and hear Jesus. Understanding this, it next says, “He saw a great crowd.”   Imagine going from one location to another to get some solitude, and before you even get there, an entire crowd is excitedly waiting for you, having sprinted from where you left to where you were heading just to continue to be with you. Because of this display of zeal and love for Jesus and His abilities, it says, “and He gut-wrenched upon them.”   The word was used in Matthew 9:36. It indicates yearning, sympathy, compassion, etc. It is based on an emotion that literally moves the inner parts of man. Jesus felt this when He understood that these people longed to continue in His presence and experience His abilities, including the ability to heal. This is seen in the final words of the verse, “and He cured their sick.”   This means that this group of people probably carried their sick on their backs or on litters to get them to Jesus as He was arriving. It is an amazing note concerning the zeal of the crowds to experience Jesus and His messianic ministry.   Life application: It is good to be reminded of the various tricks our minds play on us when we don't want to face a situation or confront a matter that may affect our sensibilities in a particular matter. Things like biases, prejudices, presuppositions, cognitive dissonance, etc., can affect how we think and hinder us from thinking properly.   In this verse, it is obvious that it is the same account referred to in Mark 6, Luke 9, and John 6. Scholars acknowledge this because all four gospels detail the same miracle of the feeding of the five thousand.   Mark 6 is more precise and details exactly what occurred as Jesus sailed across the Sea of Galilee. And yet, commentaries will, even after acknowledging Mark 6:34, ignore what it says because they have already made up their mind about what Jesus must have been doing –   “The words imply that our Lord, from the height to which He had withdrawn, saw the crowds drawing near, and then, instead of retiring still further, went forward...” Ellicott   “...from the solitude into which he had retired. In opposition to Matthew 14:13, Maldonatus and Kuinoel, following Mark 6:34, interpret: out of the boat.” Myers   These and other commentaries look at John 6, see how the two accounts are somehow irreconcilable (which they are not), and attempt to reconcile them based on what John says. This is totally unnecessary.   Understanding that the feeding of the multitudes occurred many hours later, “When the day was now far spent” (Mark 6:35), brings all four gospels into harmony. In fact, the only time a contradiction arises is when John's gospel is used as the basis for the word in question concerning His coming out. If it means from the boat, all four gospels square. If it means from a mountain retreat, there is a contradiction in what happens.   Be sure to consider if you are biasing an analysis because of some sort of prejudice, presupposition, or a case of cognitive dissonance. Do thorough research and consider what is being said and how each perspective fits into the greater narrative.   In the end, we will always find that the Bible is without contradiction if we take the information from it as it is logically presented.   Glorious God, how good it is to share in Your wisdom as it is displayed in Your word. Help us to not approach it with incorrect thoughts that may bias our study of it. Rather, may we carefully consider that what we thought was right at first may be in error. If so, may our pride not step in and force the narrative in a way not intended by You. Amen.  

John 12:20-2620 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

NASB 4 Now Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was rbetrothed to him, and was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

Sunday, 16 November 2025   When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. Matthew 14:13   “And Jesus, having heard, He withdrew thence in a boat to a desolate place by Himself. And the crowds, having heard, they followed Him afoot from the cities” (CG).   In the previous verse, it was noted that John the Immerser's disciples came to retrieve his body and bury it. They then went and told Jesus. Now, it says, “And Jesus, having heard, He withdrew thence.”   It is to be remembered that the narrative of John the Immerser was predicated upon the words of Matthew 14:1, 2 –   “At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus 2 and said to his servants, ‘This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.'”   In other words, the disciples of John going to tell Jesus was a part of the narrative that went from Matthew 14:3-12. The words, “And Jesus, having heard,” return to the main narrative about Herod, not the sub-narrative about John. Jesus heard that Herod was curious about Him. Therefore, He withdrew thence.   Meyer's NT Commentary disagrees and says that the words of Matthew 14:13 follow after the “having come, they told Jesus” of the previous verse. This discounts the fact that Matthew 14:1 says, “at that time Herod...” which sets the stage for the narrative now. This is further supported by Mark 6, where the explanatory sub-narrative about John is also addressed after the note about Herod.   That sub-narrative is followed by the note about the apostles coming and telling Jesus all they had done and taught while ministering in Israel. This is how Herod heard about Jesus, and it sets the stage for Jesus' departure to a desolate place.   This is fully supported by the narrative as it is laid out in Luke 9, where the sub-narrative concerning John is omitted, and only a short note about him is given. The connection is to Herod's hearing about Jesus, not John's beheading. Therefore, it next says, “in a boat to a desolate place by Himself.”   Jesus was at some location around the Galilee, likely Capernaum, based on Luke's account as indicated in Luke 8, which leads into Luke 9. The apostles were given their commission, they went forth, returned, and at that time Herod heard about Jesus. At the same time, the disciples returned to tell Him about all they had done.   As Jesus and His apostles got into a boat to go to a desolate place, it says, “And the crowds, having heard, they followed Him afoot from the cities.”   A new word is seen, pezē, foot-wise or afoot. The people figured out where Jesus and His apostles were heading and headed to the same area, trudging afoot to meet Him there. This sets the narrative for the great event about to be described.   Life application: A basic reading of the narrative thus far in Matthew 13 would lead one to assume that Jesus retreated to the desolate place because He had heard about the death of John the Baptist, and the distress of that event drove Him to seek isolation.   This is a commonly used thought for preachers when addressing the matter in sermons on Sunday morning, but it is not a correct analysis of the events. Two things precipitated Jesus' decision. The main one is Herod's interest in Him. This can be deduced from the fact that all three gospels refer to that event first in the narrative: Matthew 14:1, Mark 6:14, and Luke 9:7. Each sets the stage for the rest of what is stated.   The second thing to bring this about was the return of the apostles from their time of ministry, as noted in Mark 6:30 and Luke 9:10. As noted, it would have been the expanded presence of Jesus' ministry in Israel that alerted Herod about Jesus.   Therefore, the retreat into the desolate area was probably an expedient to avoid the events of Jesus' passion beginning before the proper time while also allowing the apostles to process their time ministering in Israel. Mark 6:31 said there was so much going on, they didn't even have time to eat. These two thoughts will come together in the miracle that is set to take place.   Understanding this detail should alert you, once again, to the fact that following someone as a Bible teacher because he has a certain ability that others may not possess doesn't mean his instruction is correct. People thoroughly trained in Greek, like the Myer's NT Commentary, do not equate to properly understanding what is being said in the text.   This is true of famous preachers, having a particular genealogy (like being Jewish), having gone to a particular seminary, etc. Just because someone has certain abilities or characteristics does not make him a specialist in the Bible. Myer's Commentary gets many things right, but it also makes errors. This is true with any Bible preacher, teacher, or scholar.   Consider each commentary on each passage you study as suspect until you have researched it and read varying opinions on what is presented. Unless you do this, you may be setting yourself up for incorrect conclusions or even faulty or heretical doctrine.   Heavenly Father, give us the wisdom to consider Your word carefully in each passage we read and study. May we be willing to think beyond the single verse or paragraph we are evaluating and to consider the greater context of what is being said. By doing this, we will be able to more perfectly piece together what You are telling us. Yes, Lord, help us in this lifelong pursuit of Your word. Amen.

Archeologists in Galilee uncovered new evidence confirming the biblical town of Bethsaida, birthplace of Peter, Andrew, & Phillip. Exclusive interviews w/archeologists leading the excavation. Highlight: 6th century church inscription referencing ...

Archeologists in Galilee uncovered new evidence confirming the biblical town of Bethsaida, birthplace of Peter, Andrew, & Phillip. Exclusive interviews w/archeologists leading the excavation. Highlight: 6th century church inscription referencing ...

Archeologists in Galilee uncovered new evidence confirming the biblical town of Bethsaida, birthplace of Peter, Andrew, & Phillip. Exclusive interviews w/archeologists leading the excavation. Highlight: 6th century church inscription referencing ...

Archeologists in Galilee uncovered new evidence confirming the biblical town of Bethsaida, birthplace of Peter, Andrew, & Phillip. Exclusive interviews w/archeologists leading the excavation. Highlight: 6th century church inscription referencing ...

Dr. Michael Scott, Pastor of Galilee Baptist Church, talks about the church's mission to provide supplies for families to prepare Thanksgiving dinners in their homes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Father Charles Murr joins Terry Gospel - Luke 17:11-19 - As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, He traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As He was entering a village, ten lepers met Him. They stood at a distance from Him and raised their voice, saying, "Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!" And when He saw them, He said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the Feet of Jesus and thanked Him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, "Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?" Then He said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you." Memorial of Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr Saint Josaphat, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day

Gospel Luke 17:11-19 As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying, "Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!" And when he saw them, he said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, "Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?" Then he said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” Reflection Whenever this is read, people wonder why did the other nine not thank Jesus? It's because they were like so many of us, that when God enters into our life and does something wonderful for us, we sometimes don't focus so much on who was the source of our healing, our transformation and just go on thinking that we're doing much better. We're growing, we're changing, we're healing. Nothing is more important than recognizing the ways in which God continues to heal us and draw us into his kingdom by slowly, one miracle after another miracle after another miracle. A transforming love is what God offers us. And when that transformation happens, we often think it's our own doing. We need to focus on the source and give him praise and thanks for who he is. A God who saves. Closing Prayer Father, increase our awareness of your flow of grace that comes to us over and over again. Help us to live in a disposition of gratitude, knowing that as we make progress, as we grow in our fullness or consciousness, as we grow and change, let us give the credit to the one who is the source of all healing, of all transformation. God within us, the Holy Spirit's power filling us. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him.They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying,"Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!"And when he saw them, he said,"Go show yourselves to the priests."As they were going they were cleansed.And one of them, realizing he had been healed,returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.He was a Samaritan.Jesus said in reply,"Ten were cleansed, were they not?Where are the other nine?Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?"Then he said to him, "Stand up and go;your faith has saved you."

+ Holy Gospel according to St. Luke 17: 11 – 19 As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met (him). They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying, "Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!"And when he saw them, he said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, "Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?" Then he said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you."The Gospel of the Lord.

"Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23 Every day we awaken is like a beautiful sunrise after a long night, promising new beginnings. Just as the sun rises without fail, so does God's grace shine upon us, illuminating paths yet unexplored. As Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” This is an invitation to embrace each day as a canvas, ready for us to paint our dreams anew. Consider the story of Peter, who, despite his denial of Christ, was lovingly restored on the shores of Galilee. In John 21, after failing to stand by Jesus during His time of need, Peter received not condemnation but a warm invitation to continue his purpose. Jesus, with unwavering love, asked him three times if he loved Him, allowing Peter to reaffirm his commitment. This moment illustrates that our missteps do not define us; rather, they can propel us toward deeper understanding and renewed strength. John 8:10-11 says, "When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, 'Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” C.S. Lewis wisely noted, "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." The power of second chances fuels our ambitions and creativity. It encourages us to reach beyond our comfort zones and embrace new opportunities, much like a tree bearing new fruit each season. Romans 5:8 reminds us that, “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This profound love acknowledges our human imperfections while inviting us to grow and flourish. As you reflect on your own journey, remember that mistakes are simply proof that you are trying. Each misstep is a lesson, a stepping stone leading you closer to your dreams. Embrace this truth as a gentle reminder that every sunrise offers hope, and every moment is filled with the potential for transformation. Amen. 1 John 2:2 says, "Christ Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." Amen. Prayer for the Day! Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of second chances. Help us to embrace each new day with hope, courage, and a heart ready to learn and grow. May we always remember Your steadfast love and mercy, allowing it to guide us toward our purpose. In Jesus' name. Amen.” 

In today's episode, Jesus passes through Samaria, a town that most Jews considered to be so loathsome that even setting foot inside the city limits would have been frowned upon. Jesus not only does this, but he breaks custom by asking a Samaritan woman for a drink of water, telling her about the living water that leads to eternal life. Along with his disciples, he stays for two days before continuing onward to Galilee. Later, in Jerusalem, Jesus heals a mand on the Sabbath and refers to God as his Father, and this is where he begins to earn the ire of the Pharisees.John 4 - 1:09 . John 5 - 10:16 . Psalm 145 - 17:56 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Notes - https://www.generationword.com/notes/Framework_NOTES_2025/23-Life_of_Christ-part_4-Tours_of_Galilee_and_Four_Withdrawals.pdf

“Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭16‬-‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬ “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”‭‭Acts‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Main Text: Matthew 19:1–12 (ESV) 1 Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2 And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. 3 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?” 4 He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” 7 They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” 8 He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.” 10 The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” 11 But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. 12For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.”Preaching Point: God's kids must align their thinking with God's Word by honoring marriage as a lifelong covenant and confronting the hardheartedness that leads to divorce, while embracing singleness as a valid calling for those who are uniquely gifted for it.

818 He Belonged to the House And Line of David, A Guided Christian Meditation on Luke 2:4-6 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in  and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.  You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation Luke 2  NASB 4 Now Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was rbetrothed to him, and was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. NIV 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, Reflection on Scripture: As we mentioned last week, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. This fulfills the prophecy in  Micah 5:2  "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,     though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me     one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old,     from ancient times." As we read in Micah The one who will rule over Israel will come from Bethlehem. This is the city in which David was born. David was anointed to become the King and as a child fought Goliath. God chose his leader in David. Jesus came to Bethlehem in order to have a mirroring of the role of King of Israel, just as its most famous king. Jesus was to be the eternal King of Israel. He is the prophesied Messiah. The chosen one who would come to rule We recognize that Jesus is the savior of the world. Who took upon him our Sin, yet also he is the eternal King. He is the King of Kings. Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. As we honor God, let us never forget that Jesus is our King, our true ruler in heaven and for all eternity. For this reason we celebrate His birth. We celebrate the coming of the King. He is the fulfilment of prophecy. He was destined to do what he did, from the very beginning. You can trust a God who designed the universe and then after he was Done with that, created us, and also created a plan. God is way ahead of you. What is happening in your life is not a surprise to Him and it will not derail your path of sanctification if you turn to Him.  Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod  

Mark 8:27-33 is the literary hinge as Mark shifts from the ministry of Jesus in the Galilee region, toward His "Journey to Jerusalem" in the latter half of the book. Pastor Isaiah explains how Peter's confession of finally seeing the truth of who Jesus is challenges us as we consider the same question, "Who do you say that Jesus is?"

Grace & Truth: The Best is Yet to ComePastor Kent LandhuisTHEME - Jesus brings hope through scandal.TEXT - Mark 14:27-311. Embrace the scandal of Jesus. * Mark 14:27 “All of you will fall away.” * Mark 6:3 “And they took offense at him.” * Matthew 15:12 “(They) were offended when they heard this.”2. Embrace the scandal of our weakness. * Mark 14:29 “Even if all fall away, I will not.” * 1 Corinthians 1:23. “...a stumbling block to the Jews, foolishness to the Gentiles.”3. Embrace the hope of this scandal. * 1 Corinthians 1:24 “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”  * Mark 14:28 “BUT after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” * Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…”NEXT STEPS: Embrace the truth: the best is yet to come!GO DEEPER: Real people. Need Jesus.2025 Congregational Bright Spots:* Real people coming to faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior.* Revival in our community and around the world.* Reading the whole Bible. (The Bible Recap.)* Intergenerational disciples making disciples.* Real people stepping up to teach and lead small groups.* Renewed commitment to hospitality that welcomes all.* Men and women engaging in new Sunday classes.* Real people engaged in reaching our community. (Thank you for loving and serving real people in need.)* Growth in the Alliance of Reformed Churches. (ARC)* Faithful giving that met (and exceeded) our needs.* Fifty-two weeks of God-centered worship, gospel-centered preaching, and relational discipleship.* Reaching 100's of families weekly in need of food.* Leaders who love the Lord and love the church.* And more…2026 Congregational Goals:* Real people coming to faith in Jesus.* Real people growing as disciples. (beyond Sunday)* Reaching the next generation of disciples.* New small groups and small group new leaders. * Launching dinner church as a successful outreach.* Real people engaged in spiritual disciplines/pathways. (Nine practices coming in January)* Next generation mentored/discipled by adults. (more intergenerational connections with children and youth.)* Successful “Building Our Future Fund.” (Parking Lot resurfacing in 2026.)* Develop a strategic plan for the next season of our congregational impact.* Strengthen ARC partnerships.* And more… We know that God has plans for Cedar Hills Community Church. God is NOT done with us. The best days are ahead!

So often we look in the mirror and realise, that we're simply not worthy to come before the throne of grace. And yet, because of Jesus, nothing more needs to be done for you and me to walk boldly before God into His throne room and say 'Father, I love You; I want to be in Your presence.' Nothing more needs to be done!   Experiencing the Truth These days we don't just want to know God – we just don't want to know Him in our heads but we want to experience God and historically, as we look back, Christians have made, I guess, two extreme mistakes in living their lives out with God. The first is that they focus just on truth – truth as head knowledge, studying the Bible, knowing lots of things, getting doctrine sorted out in their heads but you know, that ends up being really dry and there is no joy or peace in that head knowledge and it becomes like "religion". The other extreme – right at the other end of the scale, people have said, "You know, we are rejecting that, we are sick of that kind of dry, "head knowledgy" kind of "God" truth. And we want to experience God – it was a reaction to the dryness of the head knowledge. And so those Christians kind of emphasise God's wonderful spiritual gifts – prophesy and healing and worship and that's really exciting. But there is a risk that you do that and you de-emphasise the truth. And that form of Christianity ends up becoming kind of whacky and unreliable and at its worst, emotional manipulation. But somewhere in the middle … somewhere in the middle there is an answer. Somewhere in the middle there is God's Word and His truth and all of His goodness but also the spiritual reality of experiencing who God actually is in the middle of life. And you know, when you look at Jesus, Jesus lived in that middle ground. At times in His ministry it was full of emotion; it was from His heart – you know, when He was healing lepers, when He was weeping over Lazarus, when He was weeping over Jerusalem. And at other times in His ministry, He taught on the hard issues – the Sermon on the Mount, the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. Jesus was in the middle ground – He believed in the truth of God's Word and yet He lived it out in a reality that was, well, so real; so human, so Jesus. In Matthews Gospel chapter 4, verse 23, it says this: Jesus went through Galilee teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom and healing every disease and every sickness among the people and so His fame spread through all of Syria. See, Jesus was into, yes, teaching and preaching and knowing God's Word. But He was into touching people's lives and healing them and changing them and bringing them new life as well. And because of both of those things, His fame spread – people came from far and wide. It's really funny – if we try and just stick to Biblical truth alone; that sort of very head-knowledge kind of truth, we can end up missing out on who God really is. We can end living out a faith which is "religious", which is rule based, which is critical, which is, I don't know, it's not freedom. On the other hand, if we end up just in the "experience" camp, we can end up right off the rails because God's truth about who He is and what He wants us to do and how He wants us to live our lives out – God's truth is so important. And sometimes you will hear a preacher from one camp criticising a preacher from another camp and I'm thinking, "What's that about?" They stare at each other across this divide and the Jesus that I know; the Jesus that you discover in the Bible was a Jesus who passionately believed in the truth of God's Word and a Jesus who passionately lived out that truth in such a real way. This Jesus laid all of His glory aside, even though He was the Son of God, and He walked on this earth as a man and yet He had such a wonderful and powerful and dynamic relationship with His Father in heaven through the Spirit. Jesus used to get up early in the morning and go out on His own and pray because He had this wonderful, real relationship with God in heaven. Last week we looked at what Jesus said to His disciples on this subject. In John chapter 14, beginning at verse 15, He said: If you love Me you will keep My commandments and I'll ask My Dad and He will give you another advocate – this is the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive because it doesn't see Him and it doesn't know Him but you know Him because He abides in you. Those who love Me will keep My Word and My Dad will love them and we will come and make our home with them. Isn't that beautiful? Being a Christian is loving Jesus and loving Jesus is knowing the truth and obeying Him. And then we experience Him because He says: If you love Me you will keep My commandments and I will ask Dad and He will give you the Holy Spirit and we will come and live with you. You will experience God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit dwelling in us through His Spirit – every minute of every hour of every day. Come on, that's fantastic! And He says: You in Me and Me in you. So for Jesus, knowing God is not just knowing the truth, it's about intimacy as well – a real experience of who God is. But there is a problem with that ... the problem that we have is the problem of sin. If you love Me you will keep My commandments. What do we do about that problem? How do we get over that problem, to have this powerful, wonderful relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit? We will have a look at that next.   I Have a Problem Well, Jesus promised that following Him and being a Christian wasn't just about head knowledge of the truth but about an intimate relationship with Him. And in this series called, "The Holy Spirit and Me" we are looking at this Spirit of wisdom and truth, as Jesus called Him; the Holy Spirit and experiencing the joy and the peace in an intimate relationship with God – but our problem, as we looked earlier, is the problem of "If you love Me you will obey Me." If you love Me you will obey Me. And you and I, in our nature are not very good at obeying. And I confess not so many years ago I used to have a problem with this. You know, Christians used words like "sin" and "repent" and "Jesus said repent because the Kingdom of God has come near" – to tell you the truth, to me it was all out of date and anachronistic and old fashioned and rubbish. Come on, what's this repent and sin business? If it feels good, do it! We live in an "anything goes kind of world". I mean a woman looks at having an abortion and she says, "Well, it's my body, it's my choice!" If it feels good, do it! That's the world we live in. We are programmed for self-indulgence today. In the same way as our grandparents coming out of a depression and a world war, were programmed for self-discipline and austerity. On the one hand we want it all, on the other hand we ignore the human cost of this sort of a life – divorce and abortion and marriage breakdown and breakdown in relationships and loneliness and ... you know it's a law of life that for any relationship to bring satisfaction and joy, the people who participate in that relationship have to pay a price. Marriage is like that! Before I met my wife Jacqui, I came and went as I pleased and then we went through a courtship and more of my time was involved in relationship with her and we went through an engagement and more of my time was involved and then we were married. And once we were married, I could no longer come and go as I pleased. I could no longer make all of my own decisions. I could no longer spend all of my money on everything that I wanted. Now that sounds like oppression – oppressed? No way! This man is liberated – liberated to enjoy my life as Jacqui's husband, in a relationship that is so wonderful with her. But there is a cost – there is a daily cost in that I cannot come and go as I please anymore and that takes some adjustment but that's the price of a wonderful relationship. And the same is true with God. A relationship with God follows the same principle but it is hard because all those other things that we want to do is the stuff that God calls "sin" – stealing, pulling other people down, being dishonest, the bad stuff but giving them up can be hard because it's not in our nature to give up the things that we don't want to give up because we are selfish. And the Apostle Paul has exactly this same problem – if you have a Bible, grab it. We are going to Romans chapter 7, beginning at verse 14 through to verse 21. This is what he says: We know that the law is spiritual but I'm of the flesh – I am sold into slavery under sin. I don't understand why I do things because I don't do what I want but I do the very thing that I hate. Now if I do what I don't want, I agree, the law is good but in fact, it is no longer I that do it but the sin that dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that's within my flesh. I can will what is right, I just can't do it. For I do not do the good I want but the evil that I don't want is what I do. Now if I do what I don't want it is no longer I that do it but the sin that dwells in me. So I find this to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. In other words, Paul is torn. He is torn between what he wants and making the sacrifices in living his life for God. Now I praise God that Paul has this same problem because here is a man who wrote thirteen of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament. God had a big role for Paul to play. Halleluiah! – Paul has the same problem that I do and the same problem that you do. Have you ever felt like Paul? You want to do the right thing but some days we just can't. What's the answer? What's the solution? I remember Nicky Gumble – you may have watched Nicky Gumble or heard him speak on the ALPHA series. He tells a wonderful story of an old woman whose funeral he had to do and she was a woman who lived on the streets. She carried all her belongings around in plastic bags and she just lived on the streets and she was a street person. And when it came to her funeral he discovered that she was a multi, multi millionaire – she had some great inheritance but she couldn't come to the point of taking all those bags of rubbish and throwing them away and going and living in that inheritance – and we can be the same. We have an inheritance – an inheritance in Christ – we are heirs, co-heirs with Him. You believe in Jesus? Then we are one of God's kids but sometimes we want to hang on to the rubbish, to the stuff. What's the answer? How do we deal with that? Well, God has an answer and His answer comes in two parts. We are going to look at those in just a moment.   God Has the Answer Well, what is God's answer? God's plan as we saw, as Jesus said there, is that He comes and lives with us – lives in us through His Spirit; the Holy Spirit – to have this beautiful and wonderful, intimate relationship with God, day by day. Can I encourage you – if you believe in Jesus and you are not walking in that sort of relationship today – today God is calling you into a deeper, closer more intimate relationship with Him? But Jesus said that that relationship was for those who loved Him and He would know who loves Him because those who love Him obey Him. Yet here we see the Apostle Paul in Romans chapter 7, disgusted with himself, struggling with his sin. This is what he writes – begins in chapter 7, verse 24: Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body to death? Thanks be to God, our Lord Jesus Christ! So then with my mind I am a slave to the law of God but my flesh is a slave to the law of sin. But there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, none – because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh could not do by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and to deal with sin He condemned sin in the flesh so that the just requirements of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk, not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. In other words, how does God deal with this? God has dealt with my sin and God has dealt with your sin by letting Jesus die on the cross to pay for that. Every relationship has a price. And when we look at us and God it can feel like, in this struggle that Paul has, with his own sinful nature – it can feel like we are the ones who have to pay the price all the time – we're the ones who have to give stuff up which is hard to give up sometimes. People who are addicted to anger, people who are addicted to gossip, people who are addicted to sexual immorality find those things hard to give up. And if feels like Jesus is saying 'Well, if I want to a relationship with Him I have to give those things up and I am the one making the sacrifice.' Well in a sense that's true, but Jesus has already made the sacrifice for us. Jesus has already opened the door. Jesus died on that cross for you, Jesus died on the cross for me. You and I are forgiven if we place our faith in Him – full stop – end of story – no arguments - no more work to be done. Every sin that I have ever committed, every sin that I will commit has been paid for in full by Jesus Christ. That's the good news – that part is free. That's the starting point – that's the beginning of a clean, fresh, new relationship with the slate wiped clean. But the problem is you and I still want to carry the garbage around. You and I still want to carry the sin around with us because that's what our nature is. That's our human nature – that's exactly what Paul is struggling with in that passage. I know what is good – I can will to do what is good, I just can't do it. I end up doing the stuff I don't want to do and every time I want to do good, says Paul, I find in the law that evil is right at hand. So there has got to be a second part. We are forgiven, we are set free, nothing more needs to be done for you and I to walk boldly before God into His throne room and say 'Father I love You, I want to be in Your presence.' Nothing more needs to be done. But God actually wants to set us free in our lives. God wants us to be free of sin – Jesus said: I have come to set the captives free. That's you, that's me He is talking about. Halleluiah! He wants to set us free. But look at it – He talks about here being free from the law of sin and death. "The law of the Spirit of life" – Romans chapter 8, verse 2: the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death because God has done away with sin through Jesus. Those of us who live according to the flesh set their minds on the flesh but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. What does that mean? God is talking here about His Spirit, about Spiritual things. Last week we looked at what Jesus said. He said: I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you; I will send the Holy Spirit to be in you and you in Me. And now Paul is saying, "You know something, if you believe in Jesus and if you know that Jesus died for you and if you are relying on His payment in full on the cross to be forgiven by God, there is something more. Jesus has put His Spirit in you and in me. And now Paul says it is time to walk with the Holy Spirit. Not according to the flesh, not according to that old sinful nature but walk in the Spirit." Well how do you do that? To set the mind on the flesh is death but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh. In other words, if we keep on thinking about those things; if we keep on turning them over in our minds and being angry with that person and not forgiving them or whatever it is that we are addicted to in the flesh, we keep spending our intellectual time, our emotional energy thinking about those things, that's exactly what we will end up doing. On the other hand if we take the time that we have to think and we turn that away from those things and we put our focus on Jesus; we put our focus on the Holy Spirit; we put our focus on the Father; we put our focus on His goodness and His love and what He has done for us and what He wants to do for us, we can't help it. We will end up doing that that stuff; we will end up living life the way God intended us to live it. See people try and change themselves; their behaviour, but at the end of the day, we can't do that. As clever as we are; as smart as we are; as much as God put us right on the top of the food chain on this planet, that is beyond our ability. But what is in our ability is to focus on Jesus. I remember Joyce Meyer hearing her once say 'Where the mind goes, the man follows.' If I focus my mind on the bad stuff, that's where I will end up going. If I focus my mind on the good stuff; on Jesus, on the Spirit, that's where I will end up going. Think about the good things – think about God – pray, spend time with Him, get into the Bible, be transformed by the renewing of our minds. When we do that we are giving the Holy Spirit control of every part of us, day after day, time after time. We can try to do it on our own but we are doomed to failure because the works of the flesh will overtake us. But when we do this in faith; when we accept the Spirit's power in faith, in the same way that we have accepted our forgiveness through what Jesus did on the cross, in faith – when we accept God's goodness and God's Spirit in faith and we spend time focussing on Him, listening to Him, praying with Him then God is going to change us from the inside out. It's as sure as God made little green apples; it's as sure as night follows day, which follows night which follows day. I believe that Jesus died for me not only so that I could be forgiven but so that I could also be set free day by day by day, from my sin and my failures and that's the Holy Spirit. Look at verse 11: But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of God's righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit that dwells in you. That's God's promise! Our job isn't to change ourselves, our job is to get close to Jesus. Our job is to set our minds and hearts on Him, our job is, in the heat of the battle, to give Him a split second if that's all you have, to involve Him, to give Him room to move, to draw on His power. Our job is to accept His life in faith. And God will change us. That's His plan – that's His heart – that's His promise. That's why He sent the Holy Spirit to you and to me!

Luke 8:26-39: "Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me." For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion," for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then he demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake an drowned. When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with a great fear. So he got into the boat and returned--"

Ever wonder why Jesus didn't recruit from the religious elite? In this powerful episode of Raising The Standard, Josh Khachadourian breaks down the 5 strategic traits Jesus looked for in His disciples—and why these same characteristics are essential for Kingdom-driven men today.Jesus didn't go after scholars or theologians. He walked straight to the marketplace and chose builders, business owners, and risk-takers with calloused hands and the courage to bet everything on a moment's notice. These weren't random choices—they were strategic decisions that reveal what Christ needs in men who will advance His Kingdom.In this episode, you'll discover:✅ Why Jesus recruited BUILDERS who owned businesses, homes, and had families (and why you need to be building something right now)✅ The shocking truth about discretionary time and money—why the disciples could leave their businesses for 3 years and what that means for your financial stewardship✅ How community experience qualified the disciples for Kingdom work (and why isolation is disqualifying you from your assignment)✅ Why high risk tolerance was non-negotiable for fishermen on the Sea of Galilee—and why playing it safe is the riskiest move you can make✅ The power of swift, high-risk decision making—why the disciples dropped their nets immediately and what's holding you back from decisivenessThis episode is for you if you want:- Biblical masculinity principles that create real transformation- Strategic insight into Jesus' leadership and disciple selection- Practical coaching questions to challenge your current trajectory- Tools to step into your full Kingdom assignment- To understand what qualifies a man for greater responsibility in God's KingdomPowerful coaching questions inside:- What are you building right now that Jesus could point to?- Do you have margin? Could you step away if God called you today?- Who's in your corner holding you accountable?- Where are you playing it safe instead of stepping into risk?- What decision are you avoiding that God has already spoken to you about?Josh Khachadourian is the author of "Kingdom Driven: The Definitive Guide for How Driven Christian Men Can Dominate In Life" and founder of the Standard 59 Mastermind—a brotherhood of Kingdom-driven men connecting with God, mastering their minds, multiplying their finances, and taking dominion.CONNECT WITH JOSH:

“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.”Mark 1:35-39

On January 14, 1973, when Super Bowl VII was played, perfection was on the line. Up to that point in the American football season, the Miami Dolphins had a perfect record—sixteen games without a loss. And when the Super Bowl was over, the victorious Dolphins would go down in sports history as the only team in professional football with a perfect record. Victorious. That’s also a designation that fits Jesus. A close look at His ministry reveals one victory after another. Matthew’s record of Christ’s ministry in Galilee (Matthew 4:23-9:38) includes summary statements on the front and back ends. “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people” (4:23; 9:35). Christ was victorious over demons, disease, and death (see Mark 5:1-43). And what looked like a crushing defeat—His death on the cross—turned out to be the final victory. He defeated the ultimate enemy—death—by His own resurrection (see Acts 2:24). Victors—whether in sports or other fields of endeavor—are showered with awards and gifts. What’s the appropriate response to Jesus whose life, death, and resurrection have secured forgiveness and a right relationship with God for all who embrace Him? Nothing less than worshipful allegiance!

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

“Simon Peter said, ‘I’m going fishing.’ ‘We’ll come, too,’ they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.” (John 21:3 NLT) One way to strengthen your Christian faith is to keep a proper perspective on failure. The Gospels describe two similar encounters between Jesus and His disciples that illustrate the importance of not giving failure the final word. The first is found in Luke 5:1–11. To get some distance from the crowd that clamored to hear Him, Jesus boarded Peter’s boat and spoke to His followers a short distance from the shore. When He was done, He instructed Peter, who was a fisherman by trade, to head for deep waters to catch some fish. Peter explained to Jesus that he and his companions had been fishing all night but had failed to catch anything. Still, he obeyed the Lord’s command. And when he let down his nets, he caught so many fish that he could barely get them on board. The second encounter, found in John 21, takes place after Jesus’ resurrection. The Lord had already appeared to some of the disciples. But He had given them no clear marching orders, so some of them went back to what they knew how to do: fish. They had been fishing all night on the Sea of Galilee and hadn’t caught anything. It was early in the morning, probably still dark, when they saw a figure standing on the shore. He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” (verse 5 NLT). Throughout the Bible, God often asked probing questions when He wanted a confession. In the same way, Jesus was asking His disciples, “Did you catch anything? Have you been successful? Have things gone the way you had hoped they would go? Are you satisfied?” Jesus knew the answer, of course. So, why did He want them to admit their failure? So that He could bring them to the place where they needed to be. When they cast the net on the right side of the boat as Jesus told them to, their net became so heavy with fish that they couldn’t pull it in. The Lord was teaching the disciples an important lesson: Failure is often the doorway to real success. It’s a lesson that believers today need to learn as well. We need to come to a point in our lives where we recognize that what we’re doing isn’t working. We need to say, “Lord, I’m not satisfied with the way my life is going. I’m tired of doing things my way. I want to do things Your way.” If you approach God in that way, He will extend His forgiveness to you. Then He will transform your life in ways you can’t imagine. If you want to deepen your relationship with the Lord, admit your failures and hand the reins of your life to Him. Reflection question: What failure or dissatisfaction would you like the Lord to transform in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Explore the transformative moment when Jesus calls His first disciples. Journey to the Sea of Galilee, where frustrated fishermen encounter the Messiah and witness a miraculous catch. Learn how Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John become "fishers of men" as they leave everything to follow Jesus. Discover the power of Christ's authority as He teaches in the synagogue and confronts an unclean spirit, demonstrating His divine nature.Support the showRead along with us in the Bible Brief App! Try the Bible Brief book for an offline experience!Get your free Bible Timeline with the 10 Steps: Timeline LinkSupport the show: Tap here to become a monthly supporter!Review the show: Tap here!Want to go deeper?...Download the Bible Brief App!iPhone: App Store LinkAndroid: Play Store LinkWant a physical book? Check out "Bible Brief" by our founder!Amazon: Amazon LinkWebsite: biblebrief.orgInstagram: @biblelitTwitter: @bible_litFacebook: @biblelitEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.org Want to learn the Bible languages (Greek & Hebrew)? Check out ou...

Notes - https://www.generationword.com/notes/Framework_NOTES_2025/22-Life_of_Christ_part_3-YEAR_TWO-Three_Tours_of_Galilee.pdf

Tuesday, 4 November 2025   At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus Matthew 14:1   “In that time, Herod the tetrarch, he heard the ‘Jesus hearing'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Chapter 13 ended with words concerning Jesus' not doing many miracles in Nazareth due to their faithlessness. Chapter 14 now begins with, “In that time, Herod the tetrarch.”   A new word is seen, tetrarchés. It signifies the ruler of the one-fourth part of a country or region. In other words, he is not a ruler of a country with three other rulers. Instead, his rule covers one-fourth of the area of a county.   Thayer's Lexicon notes that “the word lost its strict etymological force, and came to denote ‘the governor of a third part or half of a country, or even the ruler of an entire country or district provided it were of comparatively narrow limits; a petty prince.'”   Of this particular Herod, Charles Ellicott provides the following description –   “The son of Herod the Great by Malthace. Under his father's will he succeeded to the government of Galilee and Peræa, with the title of Tetrarch, and as ruler of a fourth part of the Roman province of Syria. His first wife was a daughter of Aretas, an Arabian king or chief, named in 2Corinthians 11:32 as king of the Damascenes. Herodias, the wife of his half-brother Philip (not the Tetrarch of Trachonitis, Luke 3:1, but son of Herod the Great by Mariamne, and though wealthy, holding no official position as a ruler), was daughter of Aristobulus, the son whom Herod put to death, and was therefore niece to both her husbands. Prompted partly by passion, partly by ambition, she left Philip, and became the wife of Antipas (Jos. Ant. xviii. 5, §4). The marriage, at once adulterous and by the Mosaic law doubly incestuous, shocked the conscience of all the stricter Jews. It involved Antipas in a war with the father of the wife whom he had divorced and dismissed, and it was probably in connection with this war that we read of soldiers on actual duty as coming under the teaching of the Baptist in Luke 3:14. The prophetic spirit of the Baptist, the very spirit of Elijah in his dealings with Ahab and Jezebel, made him the spokesman of the general feeling, and so brought him within the range of the vindictive bitterness of the guilty queen.”   Concerning this Herod, Matthew records, “he heard the ‘Jesus hearing.'” In other words, the news (it is a noun signifying “a hearing”) of Jesus was circulating everywhere. He heard of this exciting news, and it set the stage for what lies ahead. Today, such a hearing might be precipitated by a statement like, “Have you heard the news about the guy from Nazareth, Jesus? He is incredible!”   Such a statement is the hearing. Herod heard it and will react to it.   Life application: Some of the translations of this verse say, the fame of Jesus, the news of Jesus, the report of Jesus, the reports of Jesus, heard about Jesus, the hearing of Jesus, concerning Jesus, etc. Various smaller changes from some of these exist.   Don't think that because a translation doesn't exactly match the original that there is an error. The intent is essentially the same. Some versions give a thought-for-thought rendering. Some attempt to give a closer rendering of each word, but amend it to sound more common to the hearing of the audience.   A literal, or close to literal, translation can be extremely unpleasant to listen to and tiring to the mind to read. Trying to make sense of the structure of the original language while also trying to understand the intent in a reasonable way is much more difficult with a direct rendering of each word.   Also, there is the consideration that different people will come up with different words to describe the same original word. Therefore, at times, there are going to be a seemingly infinite number of differences in translations, but they all will carry the same message to some extent.   We should never tolerate purposeful manipulation of the text, something that scholars will search for and highlight. Such manipulations have occurred in the New World Translation of the Jehovah's Witnesses as well as some Hebrew Roots Movement translations.   In order to meet their perverse agenda, such manipulations are underhandedly introduced. If you are looking for a new translation to read, be sure to check up on whatever you are leaning towards buying, just in case someone has identified such things.   But be sure to check the source you are reading as well. Some commentaries on Bible translations are biased towards one translation, the KJV, for example. Therefore, they will find all other versions damnable. That is not a healthy way of looking at such things either.   In the end, just keep reading the word. Keep thinking about what God has done in the giving of Jesus. Let the word of God dwell in you richly. It will bring delight to your heart, joy to your day, and contentment to your soul as you consider the eternal blessings that lie ahead for the redeemed of the Lord.   Lord God, thank You for allowing us to enter into the study of another chapter of the book of Matthew. We anticipate a great adventure as we analyze it day by day. Give us the clarity of mind that is needed to properly understand what is being conveyed. Amen.

1. LONDINIUM 91 CE. Seven Warnings, Part I. Gaius and Germanicus, joined by retired centurions, convened at the Friends of History Debating Society to discuss Germanicus's list of seven maxims detailing how empires, specifically the US, engage in self-harm or self-destruction. Gaius offered the example of the emperor deciding Nigeria needs attention due to the killing of Christians, asserting America has no interest whatsoever in this venture. He contrasted this unnecessary entanglement with Rome's historical method of handling threats in its self-interest. Rome, when it decided to win, completely wiped out resisting enemies, as demonstrated by the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE and the earlier obliteration of Sepphoris, the capital of Galilee, around 4 BCE. The Romans even renamed Judea to Palestine to deny the populace their historical identity. Germanicus then presented the first four maxims routinely ignored by US war fighters: (1) Never let a foreign power define your interests and objectives—this warning cited historical entanglement examples, including the British in two World Wars and modern manipulation by Ukraine, NATO countries, and Israel; (2) Never let initial success fool you into thinking you're winning—Germanicus noted that this "victory disease" affected the Japanese after Pearl Harbor and the US during the invasion of Iraq and the initial stages of the Ukraine war; (3) The failure chosen now is always better than the failure forced upon you later—this maxim addresses the destructive "stay the course" mentality, exemplified by the Vietnam War, driven by courtiers worried about reputation rather than effectiveness; (4) Judgment of the enemy should not be confirmed by internal biases—this bias leads to disastrous strategy, such as the initial belief that the Japanese could not fly effectively due to poor eyesight, viewing Pearl Harbor as a "freak." NERO

When Jesus first called His disciples into the gospel ministry, he met them not in a religious house, but in their place of employment as they were fishing in the Sea of Galilee. In this episode of Words of Grace, we turn to Luke chapter 5 and Jesus’ instruction to Peter to cast his net … Continue reading "Fishers of Men"

When Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee and called out 'Come, follow me,' two fishermen immediately dropped their nets and followed Him. This wasn't just a historical moment—it's the ongoing invitation extended to each of us today. We're not called to follow a man, a church, or a religious system, but Jesus Christ Himself. At the cross, three monumental victories were secured: death was destroyed, the devil's dominion was broken, and sin's power was nullified. These aren't future promises—they're past-tense realities that we now live in. Yet like Lazarus emerging from the tomb still wrapped in grave clothes, we need community to help remove the remnants of death that cling to us—fear, worthlessness, guilt, and condemnation. The beautiful truth is that Jesus doesn't just call us to follow; He promises to make us into something new. This transformation happens through an inward journey where He conforms us to His image, and an outward journey where we become channels of life to others. Both journeys happen simultaneously, and both require us to be in family, not isolated. We cannot walk this path alone because God designed the process of removing our grave clothes to happen in community, where brothers and sisters speak life and truth that sets us free.

Sermons Archive RSS Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.Matthew 3:13 & 14 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”Matthew 23:11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.Matthew 20:26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. Sermon Discussion Questions:What did purification mean to the Jews as opposed to John?Why were John's disciples troubled over the news of Jesus' ministry? What reasons did John give them for not being troubled but rather for being joyful?What does it mean to bury our talents?

John 11:1-7,Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. 7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”With John 10 behind us, we enter now into a new phase of Jesus' ministry. Phase one opened with John the Baptist baptizing in the wilderness east of the Jordan. That was back in chapter one. Nine chapters later — following a variety of Jesus' miracles and Jesus' teachings, crowds coming and crowds going, Pharisees questioning and Pharisees condemning — we ended up back in the very same place it all began. John 10:40,“Jesus went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first.” So, phase one has come full circle. Jesus' public ministry has all about concluded. And at this point, life actually looks pretty good for Jesus. John 10:41 says of Jesus, having returned to this region of the Jordan,“And many came to him [so, he's got the crowds]. And many said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true [he's got public testimony]. And many believed in him there [he's got ministry success].”Sounds pretty good, right? Jesus is at last away from the tension and death-threats he'd been experiencing in Jerusalem. He's not having to walk mile-after-mile from town-to-town like he did in Galilee. He's east of the Jordan. He's got his disciples all round him. He's got the crowds coming to him and believing him. Life, right now, looks pretty good for Jesus. Then, like a fly in the ointment, John 11 begins,“Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.”Hmm, now what might that mean for Jesus? What might that news of one, relatively unimportant person's illness, mean for Jesus — especially in light of crowd-sized, relatively comfortable success? In this morning's text, we're going to see Jesus' response to this one, relatively unimportant person's illness. It's a response that's going to give us a window into three truths about the heart and character of Jesus:Jesus personally loves his people.Jesus prizes his Father's glory.Jesus pursues our very best.Let's pray …. 1. Jesus Personally Loves His PeopleJesus personally loves his people. Let's begin at John 11:1.“Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. [and then there's little this parenthesis…] It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill.”Now, this is foreshadowing. We've not read about this event just yet, but we will see it in chapter 12. For now, John's just flagging it — saying, “Hey, keep your eye on this family; make note of the connection here: Lazarus, Mary, Martha — they're siblings. Siblings who are going to have some significant interaction with Jesus in the next few days.”So, imagine it with me, Mary and Martha are in their home. Their brother Lazarus gets sick. And sickness is a dangerous thing in the ancient world. Not many options for medicine or doctors. Then, the sickness worsens. Things are beginning to look bad. The sisters think: Let's send for Jesus. Verse 3:“So the sisters sent to him, saying, ‘Lord, he whom you love is ill.'” Again, remember where Jesus was at this time. This message concerning Lazarus gets delivered to Jesus at a time when he's living in relative security. In it comes — the message that Lazarus of Bethany is ill. And, you just gotta think, I mean — “Lazarus, I'm sorry, but the timing's just not great right now. Your location, a bit too close for comfort to Jerusalem. And you're just one person compared to the many who are coming my way.”And, look, let's get real, I mean: how many people had Jesus' interacted with throughout his three years of public ministry? We know he fed the 4,000. We know he fed the 5,000. We know, at times, he had crowds so large he had to get into a boat so as to not be trampled by them. Even now, he's got waves of people coming toward him. You think he even remembers Lazarus? You think he really has capacity — with all the other things he's doing and all the other people he's caring for — to show concern for this one single, relatively unimportant individual?Well, the sisters sure seem to think so. Just look how they describe their brother to Jesus. The message is not, “Lord, he whom you appreciate; he whom you might remember; nor is it even he who loves you. The message from the sisters is, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.”Now, why is it that these sisters believe Jesus loves their brother? Well, I imagine Jesus told them he did. And Jesus showed them he did. That his previous posture toward Lazarus had not been one of cold, detached indifference. Like, when Jesus had been around Lazarus, he had not been checking his watch, or rolling his eyes, or day-dreaming about all the other places he'd rather be. No, no, no, Jesus loved Lazarus and it showed. The sisters knew, Jesus loves our brother. And this, is stunning. Earlier in John — 3:16 — we read that God loves the world. It's an amazing truth, yes? It's also a broad truth — gloriously broad, but broad nonetheless. After all, you've gotta zoom out quite a bit to see the whole world, right? And when you zoom out, what happens to you? What happens to the individual? They fade into the crowd. That is, when humans who are merely humans look at the world. But see, here is where God is different. Here is where Jesus, the Son of God, is different. Jesus has capacity, boundless capacity, to love the world and love individuals within the world. It is not an either/or for Jesus. “Either, I'm a big, distant God. Or, I'm a small, personally involved God.” No, no, no — God loves the world, and God loves his people — collectively, and individually. Calls them by name, counts the number of hairs upon their heads, knows the exact number of days he's given them. Jesus did not love Lazarus generally. Jesus knew Lazarus: Knew what he looked like, knew what he sounded like, knew — even as we'll see in a moment — the details concerning Lazarus' sickness and where it was headed. Jesus knew Lazarus — and his sisters by the way (see that in verse 5) — he knew them personally, and loved them personally. How would you, this morning, describe Jesus' love for you? Do you believe Jesus knows what you look like? What you sound like? What difficulties and sorrows have befallen you? Do you believe that if you, like Lazarus, were to get sick. Get hurt. Need help, and send for Jesus — Do you think Jesus would need a reminder of who you were? Need to jog his memory: “now how exactly is it again that I know this person?” Do you think he'd not be the first to pause the messenger: “wait, wait, wait — I don't need you to describe who she is. I don't need you to tell me who he is. I love that man. I love that woman. And I have since before the foundation of the world.” Look, Jesus' just got done telling us:John 10:14,“I am the good shepherd. I know my own.”John 10:27,“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them.” Jesus, my brothers and sisters, personally loves his people. That's the first truth about Jesus: Jesus personally loves his people. 2. Jesus Prizes His Father's GloryVerse 4:“But when Jesus heard it [that is, heard that Lazarus was sick] he said, ‘This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.'”Now, we've got to ask: what, exactly, is Jesus getting at here. He says, “This illness does not lead to death.” But, I mean, doesn't it? Lazarus does, in fact, end up dying, right? I mean, he'll be four days in the tomb by the time Jesus finally arrives in Bethany. Four days without a heart beating. Four days without lungs breathing. Four days without any activity in the brain. He dies. And so, when Jesus says, “This illness does not lead to death.” What's he mean? I think there's layers of meaning here, but at the top, is purpose. That is, the purpose of the illness is not death. Yes, his illness will lead to his death, but its purpose is “for the glory of God.”And now, we've seen something like this before in John already. Just two chapters earlier, John 9, the disciples ask Jesus concerning the blind man, “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered in terms of purpose: “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”There's purpose to the suffering. Purpose to the plight. That blind man was not blind for nothing. Lazarus is not sick for nothing. The purpose of God is to display the glory of God through the blindness and the illness. So, that's shared ground between John 9 and John 11. Now, what's relatively new here, not only in John 11 but the book of John as a whole, is the complementary dynamic between the Father's glory and the Son's. And, you gotta see this with me. This is an amazing claim being made here by Jesus in verse 4. So, look there with me. Verse 4: Jesus does not just say: “It is for the glory of God.” But, “It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” The Son is clearly after the Father's glory, yes? And, the way that glory is revealed to the world is through him, through the Son. They are respective, in other words, function in tandem. Jesus magnifies the Father through his obedience to him. The Father magnifies Jesus through his honoring of him. Jesus goes to the cross, it glorifies the Father. The Father raises him from the grave to restore honor to the Son. The Father and the Son's relationship is one of mutual glorification.Now, remember, all of this is under the banner of “Jesus prizes his Father's glory.” Point one: Jesus personally loves his people. Point two: Jesus prizes his Father's Glory. And the fact that the second point follows the first is so important, so helpful, especially in our particular cultural moment. For we live in an age where it is common not just for the world, but for churches, ministries, writers of worship lyrics, to tout a view of Jesus that suggests we are supreme in his mind. We rank highest in his sight. We (and I want to say this as graciously as I can) are almost like God to him. The message is that he needs us, he's incomplete without us, he is unhappy unless we're with him — it's like we're god to Jesus.Now, look, church, Jesus loves us. Point one — he loves you personally. But he does not worship you or me. Jesus loves us, but he does not need us. Jesus loves us, and he's for us, but he's not only for us, as if we are the only thing in all of life that matters to Jesus. Listen, Jesus prizes his Father's glory, and does so supremely. His highest allegiance is not to us, but to his Father. And that is really, really good news, because if that were not true of Jesus, then he'd be a sinner in need of a Savior just like you and me. Jesus prizes his Father's glory, and, he loves us personally.So, Jesus personally loves his people. And Jesus prizes his Father's glory. Finally: Jesus pursues our very best.3. Jesus Pursues Our Very BestVerse 5:“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.”Read that again. When he heard that Lazarus was ill — he'd become aware of the need, aware of Lazarus' suffering, aware of the sisters' anxiety concerning their brother, and then, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.It's a contradiction, isn't it? Seems it should either read, “Since Jesus hadn't yet heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer.” Or, “When he heard that Lazarus was ill, he decided not to stay two days longer, but to race on over to Bethany instead.” But, as it is, the text reads: So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.” What do we make of this? What's Jesus after? Well, that's precisely the point. What Jesus is after is our very best. See it with me. Watch how this thing unfolds. Verse 7:Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again. The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?Simple question, right? Jesus, you mean to go right back to where there's a mob seeking to kill you? It's a simple question. But watch Jesus' answer. Verse 9:“Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.” Who's the subject of that answer? Jesus had been the subject of the disciples' question, right? “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” Who's the subject of Jesus' answer? Who is it that's walking in the day, seeing the light of the world (not being, but seeing the light of the world), and thereby not stumbling? It's not Jesus. Jesus is the light of the world. Who is it that's seeing the light of the world? It's the disciples. Jesus' answer is about them. Jesus is after what's best for them. And he knows they're frightened by the mob in Judea. Frightened by the danger awaiting them there. And so, he's telling them, “So long as you follow me there, keep me, the light of the world, in front of you, you're not going to stumble.” He's saying, “stay with me. You've got nothing to fear so long as you stay with me.” And now here's the warning. Verse 10:“But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”This is the alternative for the disciples. Rather than love the light, and follow Jesus into Judea, they could love the world instead. They could remain in the comfort and safety offered them east of the Jordan. But since Jesus would then be gone, so too would the light. And there, cloaked in darkness, that's when their stumbling would occur. Those are the two options on the table: Light with Jesus as they head into danger. Or comfort without Jesus as they stumble in the dark. And Thomas is the first to get it. Verse 16, skip down there with me for a moment. Verse 16:“So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him.'”Thomas gets it. He gets it. “Brothers, it is better, better to go with Jesus to our deaths than live here in the dark. Let us go with him, lest we stumble.”Jesus is after our best, brothers and sisters. Not our convenience, not our safety, but our best. And he's willing to delay the miracle, willing to allow Lazarus to die, willing to have sorrow fill the hearts of Mary and Martha. He's willing to bring his disciples away from comfort east of the Jordan. He's willing to lead them right on into the danger of Judea.He's willing to do all this because he does not simply want what's good for Mary, Martha, and his disciples. But he wants what's very best. And what's very best is awaiting them in Judea — waiting for them at the tomb of Lazarus. Verse 14: “Then Jesus told them plainly, Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe.” Jesus could have gone to Lazarus sooner. Had he, he would have kept Lazarus from dying. Would've healed him. Would've restored him back to full health. And, oh, how glad that would have made the disciples. How relieved that would have made Lazarus' sisters. But it would have been a gladness and relief with a cost. Their reception of that good gift from Jesus would've meant their missing out on the greatest gift. And Jesus would not have that. Jesus aims to give us what's not merely good, but best — the gift of faith in him. “…for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe.” What if suffering was a necessary ingredient for you to maintain your faith in Jesus? Discomfort? Loss and pain? What if, in order to keep you, Jesus needed to delay his help, let the bad news come, allow the tears to fall, and the sorrow to descend, and even stay for days?Could you trust in such a moment:“Jesus is after my best?”“Jesus is giving me what I most need?”“Jesus is taking care of me?”How do we hold onto our trust in Jesus when he's yet to stop the sorrow?We follow him.We follow him from the Jordan, to Bethany, to Judea, to Jerusalem, and up the hill of Golgotha to see him there hanging suffering there for you and for me. Can we trust the man upon the cross? Can we trust the man with scars in his hands? Can we trust the shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. Jesus died to give us his very best. The TableNow, what leads us to the table this morning, is that death which Jesus willingly went toward, that he might purchase for you and for me a seat at his table. Forgiven by him, washed pure by his blood, restored to fellowship — this table is a foretaste of our future — sitting down at the table of fellowship with Jesus forever.

Matthew 116   1 Peter 2:23-24 ESV   23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.       Romans 12:17-21 ESV   17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." 20 To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.       Matthew 27:46 ESV   46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"       Psalm 22:1a ESV   My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?       Matthew 20:17-19 ESV   17 And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 18 "See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death 19 and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day."       Matthew 16:21-23 ESV   21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you." 23 But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."       Matthew 17:22-23 ESV   22 As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day." And they were greatly distressed.       Matthew 20:20-21 ESV   20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom."       1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV   14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.      

Come and See John 1:35-51 35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

This episode of Red in 30 marks the beginning of Red State Of Mind—a deep dive into how the red words of Jesus illuminate the inner world of thought, perspective, and identity. The reflection opens with a bold concept: what if the places in scripture—Jerusalem, Galilee, Israel—were parallels for the mind, and the people within those stories represented thoughts? With that lens, the reading through Matthew 1–3 becomes not just historical but deeply personal. Every genealogy, every name, every event becomes a mirror for the mentalities that live within us.The conversation reframes the genealogy of Jesus as a picture of generational thought patterns. Abraham's faith and fear, Solomon's excess, and others from that lineage represent inherited mentalities that can still try to define us today. But the birth of Christ—conceived not by man but by the Holy Ghost—signals a divine interruption. Identity, the episode explains, isn't meant to be handed down through human lineage but conceived by God's Spirit. To be “with child of the Holy Ghost” is to let divine thought conceive something new in the mind—a Christ-consciousness that saves every other thought from misalignment.As the conversation moves through the story of Herod and the wise men, ego and inner resistance take center stage. Herod represents the part of the self that refuses to relinquish control—the thought that kills anything that threatens its throne. The birth of the Christ nature exposes how ego-driven thoughts fight to survive, even at the cost of peace. Yet, like the wise men, certain thoughts are meant to recognize and bow to the true King within. The baptism of Jesus then becomes a symbol of alignment—each experience, each past season paving the way for the full expression of the mind of Christ inside us.The episode closes with an invitation to treat scripture as a mirror rather than a manual. The 30-day Red Reading Cycle isn't just study—it's spiritual pregnancy. It's the process of conceiving, carrying, and birthing the mind of Christ in private and personal ways. When read this way, the Bible stops being distant history and becomes a living journey of inner renewal. The Christ thought doesn't just visit the mind—it transforms it from the inside out. Get full access to REDIN30 at redin30.substack.com/subscribe

Moves and counter-moves. In the aftermath of Kadesh, Muwattalli (King of Hatti) seems to consoldiated hold over Syria. Border territories like Amurru fell to Hittite influence. At home, Ramesses spent at least one year regrouping before launching his reponse. Soon, pharaonic armies were marching into northern Canaan (around Galilee) and east, into Moab (Mwibw). The pharaoh's imperial authority had taken a beating; it was time to assert his strength. The History of Egypt Podcast: Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/BHC6MGDBC6SXU. We have merch! Browse our designs at Dashery by TeePublic https://egyptpodcast.dashery.com/ . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Wednesday, friends!

Gov. Jim Pillen is in Isreal this week to promote Nebraska trade and U.S. defense technology. The governor attended a swearing in ceremony for new troops in the Israeli army and visited the Nova Festival Memorial, which commemorates the victims of the Oct. 7 attacks. Pillen said he met with people in western Galilee who have endured thousands of warnings to take shelter over the last 18 months, but said the recent ceasefire negotiated by President Donald Trump has made things calm again.

Wednesday, 29 October 2025   Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there. Matthew 13:53   “And it was when He finished, Jesus, these parables, He after-lifted thence” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus explained that when a scribe is instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven, he is like a householder who brings out treasure, both newbies and oldies. Matthew next records, “And it was when He finished, Jesus, these parables, He after-lifted thence.”   A new and rare word, metairó, to get up and remove oneself, is seen. It is derived from meta, after-with, and airó, to lift. There is no exact English word, but the idea of a plane taking off is somewhat analogous. There is a purposeful intent of getting up and removing oneself from one place to another. Of this word, the Topical Lexicon provides the following information to consider –    -------------------------- Overview Underlying the verb translated “withdrew” or “left” [...] is the idea of deliberately lifting oneself from a setting in order to proceed elsewhere. It portrays purposeful movement, not aimless wandering, and appears at pivotal junctures in the life of Jesus Christ when a season of public instruction has reached its conclusion.   Occurrences in Matthew's Gospel   Matthew 13:53 – “When Jesus had finished these parables, He withdrew from that place.” Matthew 19:1 – “When Jesus had finished saying these things, He left Galilee and went into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.”   Both texts follow extended teaching sections (the kingdom parables of chapter 13 and the community-life discourse of chapters 18–19). The verb signals a narrative hinge: completed revelation is now matched by fresh movement, preparing the reader for the next stage of ministry.   Literary Function in Matthew   Matthew organizes his Gospel around five large discourse blocks, each ending with a formula, “When Jesus had finished…” (compare Matthew 7:28; 11:1; 13:53; 19:1; 26:1). [...metairó] occurs twice within those formulas, highlighting two transitions:   From parable instruction to the rejection at Nazareth (Matthew 13:53-58). From community ethics to the southward journey culminating in the passion (Matthew 19:1).   The choice of this verb underscores that Jesus' withdrawals are neither retreats born of failure nor random relocations but divinely timed steps moving the redemptive plan forward.   Historical and Geographical Background   In the first reference, Jesus moves within Galilee, probably from the lakeside to His hometown region. In the second, He journeys from Galilee to Judea “beyond the Jordan,” the customary pilgrims' route that avoided Samaria. Both settings remind readers that the incarnate Son walked real roads, interacted with real communities, and timed His travels to align with Jewish feast cycles and prophetic destiny (John 7:8-10; Luke 9:51).   Theological Significance   Completion of Mission Segments: Each use follows the clause “when Jesus had finished,” emphasizing that the Lord never departs prematurely. His timing illustrates the principle later echoed in John 17:4, “I have glorified You on earth by accomplishing the work You gave Me to do.” Sovereign Direction: The verb underscores Christ's authority over His itinerary (John 10:18). Opposition, crowds, or regional constraints cannot detain Him once the Father's purpose in a location is fulfilled. Pattern for Discipleship: Just as Jesus taught and then withdrew, believers are called to combine proclamation with obedient movement (Acts 8:4-5, 26-40).   -------------------------- Life application: In a single verse that is normally read over without much thought, there is a new and rare word that is purposefully used by Matthew, setting it off from more common words that bear a similar meaning. His choice of wording begs us to stop and consider why the change is made.   What God in Christ did at the coming of Jesus was purposeful. It was meticulously set forth and accomplished by Him. When Jesus successfully trained His disciples in these kingdom parables, and with their acknowledgment that they understood what He was speaking of, He next resolutely lifted Himself up and departed for Nazareth, His hometown.   Upon arrival there, His ability will be questioned based on their having seen Him grow up there. Thus, it will say that they were offended at Him. Jesus purposefully and knowingly went there to contrast the acceptance of His message by the disciples to the disbelieving rejection of His own town.   Have you faced rejection with family or friends because of your acceptance of Christ? Have you noticed a contrast between how those in the church and those you once were so friendly with treat you? Jesus went through this before you did. Be willing to accept what occurs and continue to keep Jesus at the forefront of your attention. He is there with you in your walk.   Lord God, when family and friends have turned away, we know that You are still with us. We will press on from day to day, walking this life with our Lord Jesus. Amen.  

Evangelist Tom Weaver preaches from John 21:1-17 about the risen Jesus appearing to His disciples at the Sea of Galilee. After a night of empty nets, Jesus directs them to cast on the right side, provides a miraculous catch, and invites them to breakfast. The message explores themes of recognizing and obeying Christ, admitting failure and repenting, the priority of personal fellowship with Jesus, and how love for Him must fuel faithful service to His sheep.

What is really behind President Trump's shocking 20-point peace proposal, and why did Hamas agree to release all the living hostages?In this special Q&A, recorded live from Galilee, we break down the real motives behind the deal, the regional power plays that forced Hamas to act, and what this means for the future of Gaza, Israel, and global stability. With Trump's return to power, is this peace or pressure with a prophetic purpose?Connect with us on social:Telegram: @beholdisraelchannelInstagramFacebookXYouTube

My three-year-old niece is beginning to understand that she can trust Jesus in any situation. This became evident one night as she prayed before bedtime during a thunderstorm. She pressed her hands together, closed her eyes, and said: “Dear Jesus, I know You’re here with us. I know You love us. And I know that the storm will stop when You tell it to stop.” I suspect she had recently heard the story of Jesus and the disciples as they crossed the Sea of Galilee. It’s the one where Jesus fell asleep in the back of the boat just before a squall nearly capsized the vessel. The disciples woke Him and said, “Don’t you care if we drown?” Jesus didn’t speak to them, but instead addressed the natural world: “Quiet! Be still!” (Mark 4:39). Immediately, the water stopped splashing into the boat. The howling wind subsided. There in the silence, Jesus looked at His followers and said, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (v. 40). I imagine their wide eyes staring back at Him, as water coursed down their faces and dripped from their beards. What if we could live today with the awe the disciples felt in that moment? What if we could view every concern with a fresh awareness of Jesus’ authority and power? Maybe then our childlike faith would chase away our fear. Maybe then we would believe that each storm we face is at His mercy.

During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He didn’t restore sight to just one eye. He didn’t feed most of the 5,000. He didn’t calm the storm on only half the Sea of Galilee. And He didn’t give part of His life on the cross to pay for some of our sins. As someone has said, “Sin had left a crimson stain, and He didn’t wash it light pink.” Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out how Jesus gave His all . . . and the only appropriate response from us is to give our all. Listen on harvest.org --- Learn more and subscribe to Harvest updates at harvest.org A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.