Podcasts about holies

→ Watch on YouTube → Detailed Show Notes(00:00) The story of David and Goliath. The Hebrew and Greek versions of 1 Samuel 17 render different accounts of Goliath's height. An overview of Goliath's weapons and armor.(05:10) Goliath as a symbol of the unconquerable foes that we all face. David employs six strategies to defeat Goliath that can also be applied to our challenges.(13:53) The sword of Goliath as an article of kingship and evidence that God is with us.(16:25) King Saul is jealous of David and is obsessed with killing him.(26:32) Jonathan is a true friend to David, even though he has reason to be jealous of his success.(29:56) David continues his quest of goodness, yet Jonathan is not threatened.(32:26) David has opportunity to kill Saul, but doesn’t.(32:55) Nabal rebuffs David and refuses to give him food. Abigail acts as a peacemaker, thus saving Nabal's life.(36:11) King Saul consults with the Witch of Endor for revelation. He interacts with the ghost of Samuel, who has died. This experience with the spiritualist medium destroys hope.(39:31) The Philistine leaders send David away during their attack on Saul's forces. David goes to Ziklag and finds that his city has been sacked by the Amalekites and his family has been taken captive. David rescues all the people and shares the spoils of war.(41:58) The Philistines defeat Israel. King Saul and his sons are slain.(43:19) The rise of King David in 2 Samuel.(46:47) Uzzah is smitten for steadying the Ark.(51:03) David acts as both king and priest in his return to Jerusalem. He wears the ephod and offers sacrifice.(53:50) David obtains the threshing floor, where the Ark will rest. The threshing floor can be seen as the foundation stone, the heart of the Holy of Holies and a symbol of Jesus Christ as Savior of the world.(55:43) David desires to build a temple for the Lord. Nathan prophesies that the House of David will continue forever. This prophecy finds fulfillment in Jesus Christ.(1:02:13) David is not to build the temple, but his son Solomon will built it. → For more of Bryce Dunford’s podcast classes, click here. → Enroll in Institute → YouTube → Apple Podcasts → Spotify → Amazon Music → Facebook The post Ep 376 | 1 Samuel 17-31, 2 Samuel 1-7, Come Follow Me 2026 (June 15-21) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

(Exodus 25:10-11, 16:22) Today's study of the furniture of the tabernacle takes us beyond the veil into the Holy of Holies to the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat. Discover how this sacred space pictures Jesus Christ as our Propitiation — the covering for our sin, the place where God meets with us, and the reason we can receive mercy instead of judgment. Don't miss the Mercy Seat. Don't miss Jesus! (10138260610) Join Scott Pauley's study through Scripture this year. Find resources for every book of the Bible by Dr. Pauley and Enjoying the Journey at enjoyingthejourney.org/journey-through-scripture/. Whether you're a new believer or have walked with the Lord for years, you'll find thousands of free devotionals, Bible studies, audio series, and Scripture tools designed to strengthen your faith, deepen your understanding of the Bible, and help you stay rooted in the Word of God. Explore now at EnjoyingTheJourney.org. Extend the Work Enjoying the Journey provides every resource for free worldwide. If you would like to help extend this Bible teaching, you may give at enjoyingthejourney.org/donations/

First Fruits Escape Judgments (1) (audio) David Eells - 6/10/26 Friends, time is running out to be in the first-fruits and to escape the judgments that are soon coming upon the unrighteous and apostates. Please listen closely to these prophetic warnings from some who have been in the wilderness for many years.   Jesus is Coming Unexpectedly Tubby Miniard (David's notes in red) I had a dream about a preacher I met many years ago in Baton Rouge. (He met me there) He asked me, “Do you want to see Jesus?” I said, “Yes”. I became very excited. I looked to the left, then to the right. On the right, I saw a door. It was open. I watched the door, expecting Jesus to walk through it. The man tapped my shoulder. I looked at him. He asked, “Do you want to see Jesus?” I said, “Yes”, and returned to staring at the door, expecting Jesus to walk through it. He tapped my shoulder again, and I looked at him. Again, he asked, “Do you want to see Jesus?” I got angry. This was the third time he had asked me this. I said, “Yes, I need to see Jesus. I need to talk to Him”. He said, “Okay. Look at me”. We were facing each other. He put his hand at the top of his forehead. Then he pulled off his face. There was Jesus! This was not what I expected. I thought Jesus would walk through the door I was looking at. (This is not to brag on me for sure but because of my name I represent here the David man-child ministries who will be the first fruits. Jesus, came as a man in the flesh calling himself the Son of Man, Who was the manifested Son of God in the Spirit, said, “If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father.” Can His disciples come into His image and pass on His likeness? This is why His disciples were called Christians. He said, “He that receiveth you receiveth Me”. Paul called this “Christ in you, the hope of glory”.) His eyes were two large diamonds. Light came from His eyes. They sparkled brightly. (Those who can pass on this image have very valuable, clear sight. They have eyes for the Light only.) His face and hair were red. They were flaming fire. I was amazed. I was speechless. I just stared at Him, His face flaming like a fire. As I stared at His face, my eyes began to turn into diamonds and my face began to flame. It was awesome. 2Co.3:18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.) When He saw this, He smiled and said, “Now you get it”. He turned and walked toward the open door and I watched as He walked through it. A woman stepped up and stood in the threshold of the door. She called to me and said, “You need to hurry”. I noticed that the door was slowly closing by itself. (The door to be in the first-fruits Man-child is closing.) I kind of knew that when it closed, it could not be opened from my side. I began to run toward the door as fast as I could. (The door is Jesus. Run, saints, to the “prize of the high calling of God in Christ”.) I woke up before I could reach it. But the door was still open. Heb.12:14 Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord. (There is more to this text concerning those who will not make it through the door; continuing in verse 15 looking carefully lest [there be] any man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby the many be defiled [some who knew of this opportunity are now defiling many]; 16 lest [there be] any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat [which represents walking after flesh] sold his own birthright [to be a first born son of Abraham]. 17 For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected [Greek: adokimos; “reprobated”]; for he found no place for a change of mind [in his father,] (who then refused to give him the first fruit blessing) though he sought it diligently with tears. Oh, friends, heed the warnings. They can't change their mind, meaning they cannot repent.) I don't complain about the mean people anymore. I just try to stay out of their way. They can have it all. I want Jesus. Psa.27:8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Jehovah, will I seek. Scripture study for the dream This is the heir of promise: Rom.8:17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him. Gal.4:1-7 But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all; 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed of the father. 3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world: 4 but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. Heb.1:2 hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds; The fully-grown man: Eph.4:13 till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: The perfect: 1Co.13:10-11 but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things. Luk.6:40 The disciple is not above his teacher: but every one when he is perfected shall be as his teacher. The Man-child; the rapture Hos.9:11 As for Ephraim (Jacob called Ephraim “a multitude of nations” -- Genesis 48:19), their glory (which is Christ; Luk.2:32 A light for revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of thy people Israel. Col.1:27 …the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:) They will overcome the lure of the world like a bird.…(Psa.68:13 It is as the wings of a dove covered with silver, And her pinions with yellow gold. Mat.24:28 Wheresoever the carcase is (I.e.,dead to self), there will the eagles be gathered together. Psa.84:3-4 Yea, the sparrow hath found her a house, And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, Even thine altars, O Jehovah of hosts, My King, and my God. Psa 84:4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: Proverbs 23:5 …certainly make themselves wings, Like an eagle that flieth toward heaven.) From the birth, from the womb, from conception (Rev.12:5 And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne. Isa.66:7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man-child. Mic.5:3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she who travaileth hath brought forth: then the residue of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.) Hos.9:12 Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left… (False teachers cannot bring forth first fruits. All fully-grown men and women become one in Christ [Galatians 3:28,29] and shall escape) – Jer.31:9 They shall come with weeping; and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by rivers of waters, in a straight way wherein they shall not stumble; for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my first-born. God spoke to Moses face to face – Exo.33:11 And Jehovah spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend….; Deu.34:10 And there hath not arisen a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom Jehovah knew face to face. God will speak to the Man-child face to face -- 1Co.13:12 For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known. The door – Mat.25:10 And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast: and the door was shut. Luk.13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us; and he shall answer and say to you, I know you not whence ye are;   Salesman Preachers, Usurpers Tubby Miniard (David's notes in red) I dreamed that I was a forward observer at the front line. There were eight of us. We were in pairs, dug in, waiting for the enemy to attack. It was dark, and a dense fog fell over our line of defense. Suddenly, one forward observer yelled, “They're here!” We jumped from our places to meet them. There were so many that they poured in like a flood. (Who is the true Church fighting these days? The tares that are sown among the wheat. Satan's emissaries to defeat the Church from within.) We fought back-to-back for protection. It was very effective. We slaughtered them. None of us was hurt. We fought all night. As the dawn was breaking and the mist began to rise, our army arrived, and they very easily overwhelmed the enemy. The enemy left was already wounded and weak, so it was easy for them to take them out. Next, I was at my grandpa's house, where my mother lived. I asked her, “Do you need anything?” She said, “Yes, I need wood for the fire”. I said, “Okay”. I got wood and filled every room in the house. I told her, “This is enough wood, so your fire will never go out, and I have a good fire going in the fireplace”. She said, “You're a good son”. (Those who have fought Satan's army ahead of the front line of tribulation will be there to defend the woman Church from false usurpers during the tribulation. The good son will provide plenty of fuel to see to it that Mom's [the true Church's] fire will never go out. It says in Lev.6:12 And the fire upon the altar shall be kept burning thereon, it shall not go out; and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning: and he shall lay the burnt-offering in order upon it, and shall burn thereon the fat of the peace-offerings. 13 Fire shall be kept burning upon the altar continually; it shall not go out.) There was someone knocking at the door. She went outside, and I followed her. It was a salesman wearing a spotted suit. (These proud fakes that Satan is raising up will be known by the elect because of their slick attempts to sell themselves with their spotted garments of a rebellious, egotistical life. Jude 23 and some save, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Rev.19:8 And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright [and] pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 2Co.11:15 It is no great thing therefore if his [Satan's] ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works.) He was fat and the suit was too small (overcome by flesh). He looked funny. (Children who do not look like the Father because they are of another seed than the Word.) I stepped between them. I felt protective of her. I didn't trust him. He began to tell her of the great war and mighty victory our nation had won. (Our one spiritual nation of true Christianity?) He was bragging and boasting. (A sign of a usurper.) He wanted her to think he was a patriot. (They are untried with no accomplishments or authority.) He spoke as if he were there. I said, “You're lying. I was there. I'm a Forward Observer in front of the front line. They call us the eyes of the artillery. (Calling in strikes from the angels) There were eight of us. (The gematria of Jesus name - 888) We fought all night. When our people arrived, there wasn't much to do”. My Captain (Jesus) told me, “Don't come see me unless you win a star”. I won a star for valor in battle. I took it and gave it to my Captain (Jesus). He gave it back to me as a reward, a medal of honor. I held up a star. I had it on a necklace. A brilliant light shone from it. It was amazing to see. “And here is my sword”. I pulled out a sword covered with blood. Jer.48:10 Cursed be he that doeth the work of Jehovah negligently; and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood. When he saw the sword, he turned very pale and turned and ran away. (The usurpers are powerless before the Word of God.) I laughed. I told Mother, “You're safe now. He won't be back. Now that they know I'm here, they won't bother you anymore”. She said, “You're a good son”. I told her, “I have things I must do. If you need me, just call, and I will be here swiftly”. I got into a car and drove away, feeling very proud of my star and sword, and satisfied that Mother was okay. (The Man-child sons will defend the woman in the wilderness.)   Flood of Deception Cuts Off Escape Tubby Miniard (David's notes in red) I was running through a barren, very dry land. All the trees looked dead—no leaves, no grass, no flowers. Nothing was green. I noticed there were a lot of very dry thorn bushes. Isa.24:6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are found guilty: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left. I was calling to people, warning them of a flood that was soon approaching. (The Lord spoke to me about the flood. He said, “This flood is the son of perdition.”) (Perdition means destruction where they go. Representing Judases and their hidden evil lives, lack of fruit, and hatred of good, and fake Christianity.) They laughed at me and ran from me down paths hedged in by thorn bushes. Some of them were drinking wine. The women had silver cups to drink from. The men had wine bottles from which they drank. The bottles looked nasty and old. They were laughing as they ran. (They are spiritually drunken, speaking as fools, perverting reality, overcome with delusion.) I thought, How could anyone be happy in this barren, dry place? Suddenly, two men called to me. They were standing by the bridge. They said, “Time's up. (meaning for the righteous to be in the wilderness) Cross the bridge now”. I said, “Okay”. I ran across the bridge. As I was crossing, I saw a wall of water coming down the river. (He said, “The bridge is the cross of Christ, the altar of burnt offering.” [Those who believe in the cross of sacrificed flesh and bear theirs will escape. Heb.2:3 how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard. Rom.2:3 And reckonest thou this, O man, who judgest them that practise such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 2Pe.2:20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first.] The wicked will remove the cross, causing the continual sacrifice [of their old life] to cease.) (Then the fleshly beast will rule in the temple of God as an abomination that maketh one desolate of God.) As soon as my feet touched the bank, I turned around to watch. The flood hit the bridge hard, knocking it out and washing it away. I looked across the river and thought, Now they can never cross over. I felt bad for them, but this side was great. Everything was alive— trees, flowers, grass, birds singing; it was nice, blue skies. (what,no chemtrails?) There was a door there with nothing around it. I opened it and went in. There were lots of people there. Everyone was happy, laughing, singing, and bragging on Jesus. They rushed to greet me, saying, “We have been expecting you. We're so glad you're here”. I was happy I was home. I had this same dream a second time about six months later. (When a dream is doubled, it is certain to happen -- Genesis 41:32; Daniel 2:45.) In the second dream, when I crossed the bridge and looked back I noticed the women did not wear shoes. I thought, That doesn't look safe -- no shoes in this place. (Representing dirty walks; not sanctified from the earthly.)  I didn't grieve as before. I was angry and thought, “You had a bridge, but you refused to cross over. I warned you all, but you laughed and ran away. All of you deserve this. It's your fault you're stranded over there.” (Under the dominion of Satan's Beast and the curse. Please hear the Word and obey.)   Tribulations: Tests of Obedience Judy Gregerson - 04/02/2010 (David's notes in red) I was walking around with someone, and a great windstorm whipped up. (Walking with the Lord as the tribulation arises. Winds of false doctrine and tribulation are coming to test the saints to prove whether or not they are obeying the Word. We see here that after knowledge comes testing to see who has built on the Rock of obedience.) Mat.7:24 Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock: 25 and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon the rock. 26 And every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand: 27 and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof. ... Eph.4:14 that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error. I was around these huge, old trees, and branches started breaking off in the wind. This old growth was not strong; in fact, it looked rotten in these old trees. (The old churches, denominations, and ministries that refuse the new growth of the reformation message are being revealed as rotten and corrupt by the winds and storms of tribulation now whipping up in the world. Judgments in finances, politics, life, weather, earthquakes, wind, earth, and changes in the heavens, etc. Those one with the vine have regeneration. Joh.15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If these old churches were of God, they would bring forth His fruit as the nature, character and authority of Jesus. But even though they appear great in the eyes of man, inside they are rotten and dead.) And I kept walking and, finally, two or three small pieces of branches came flying at me. (People from the churches who come against us, especially their leaders, just as they persecuted Jesus and His disciples.) One piece about two feet long hit me, but I felt no pain and I wasn't hurt. But huge branches were falling all around on other things. (God's judgment on big apostate church leaders and ministries as they FALL in tribulations.) I was amazed by the old growth. I was looking up in these trees, and I knew that this old growth (Apostate Christians walking in old tradition and error) was all going to be blown off these trees and hurt a lot of things on the ground, but it couldn't hurt me, even when it came FLYING at me with great power. (The Christians living close to the world will suffer as they and their apostate leadership are broken off and exposed. The falling away of branches of Christianity will come against and persecute the elect. Act.8:1… And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church.)   World Covenant and End-Time Ministries Amos Scaggs - 3/4/2007 (David's notes in red) I saw a bust figure of two breasts covered up with an angora goat hide, and over that was another material used to secure everything in place. (I thought the breasts were bound up for a time when they would be used for feeding. An angora hide is set apart from all others, being considerably more expensive.) The angora hide without its flesh represents the old man who is dead and now a new person of great value. This angora hide now covers the two witnesses who share the milk of the Kingdom and are an extension of the Man-child ministry. The true milk of the Word is permitted to be restrained until God's anointing breaks the yoke to release it to the multitudes. According to scriptural type, this will be when the tribulation has come. But David and Moses, as types of the Man-child, fed and defended those few sheep in the wilderness before coming to their greater kingdom ministry to the multitudes of God's people. There was a poster graph scale with 10 men's faces on it. There were nine men in place on the chart and colored in with black. The tenth man's silhouette was in white at first glance. There was a disagreement or a struggle between two people over when to put the 10th man on the chart. Then the tenth man was put on the chart, and half of his face was colored in with black to satisfy the others. I thought the men represented a period of time before completion. Whatever that period of time is, it is very short. This could be the time when Jesus will start to feed his people, who also walk in darkness, through the Man-child. 10 men's faces represent the 10 kings of the world continental divisions of the beast kingdom. One-half face could be the time until the beast covenant is completed at the beginning of the tribulation, and the man-child/witnesses begin to feed the milk to the young church on a worldwide basis. (The half black face could represent that one kingdom is divided over its support of the beast. Satan is the deceiver of the whole world outside of Christ.)   It's Confirmed: It Is the End Times Brandon Corsi - 02/04/2011 (David's notes in red) I wanted to give a testimony of a couple of dreams the Lord gave me within the past year and a half concerning my belief that the end times are coming soon. The first dream came about a year and a half ago. I never waver in my belief in the Lord (not that I never waver in obedience), but I was really struggling with unbelief about some end-times prophecy I was hearing from people and seeing online, some even from UBM (I was just a casual listener then). Might I also add that I was not raised to be a Christian nor in church, and if anything, the beliefs I was taught were more agnostic than anything. My father, being a science-minded person who graduated with a degree in science, didn't push any beliefs on me, but being a young boy, I think I unknowingly adopted his beliefs and carried them with me longer than I knew or wanted to. That is, until the Lord changed my life. Anyway, I think I was still getting rid of the last of those remnants of the old Brandon. I began my real walk with the Lord a few years ago, so my faith in Jesus was as strong then as it is now. But I had trouble with the skepticism inside of me. Well, I took it to the Lord for the first time, asking Him before bed to please give me a dream to show me the truth that tribulation is coming very soon. Well, I got one. It was a year ago, and I didn't write it down, but in the dream, I remember I found a card with a number on it. So when I awoke, I decided to see what page in the Bible it was and, sure enough, it was page 753 in my Bible, which includes Revelation 11:1-2, which speaks about the tribulation (I'll explain the significance of that in a moment). He gave me what I wanted, so I was at peace for the time being. Four or five months later, I got some more unbelief on me, as I was hearing more and more specific and amazing prophecies about the rapidly approaching tribulation; by the way, all these things I had heard were from very credible sources, including UBM. Once again, I became troubled by the fact that I was skeptical about them. Honestly, all I wanted was to just believe. I wished I hadn't ever had doubts, but I did. So I went to the Lord again, although a little more reluctantly this time, for He already showed me once, and I didn't want to fall out of His favor. I asked Him, once again, to please give me one more confirmation that I can believe these things. And I had another very powerful dream, in which I was sitting in my bedroom as a child and got the urge to go look at a Bible that was on my sleeping mother's nightstand. I crept in there quietly to get it and saw she was sleeping, so I went over and got the Bible. In the dream, I didn't even know why I wanted to look at it -- I just did. I opened the front cover, and it read, “Revelation 11:1-2”. So in the dream I opened to this scripture, and it is in the exact scripture text which gives the time period for the tribulation: 42 months or 1260 days. Right before I woke up, I heard a voice speak to me, an unrecognizable male voice. It said, “Do not ask me this again”. I woke up very shaken but happy and filled with praise for the Lord for giving me this second confirmation. Might I also add that those are the only two times I have ever asked the Lord to show me proof that the end times are approaching, and He answered both times. I was already very satisfied with my answer, but I decided to go ahead and read Revelation 11:1-2. A double surprise! Not only did it mention specifically the time period of the tribulation, but it was on the same page -- 753 -- as the other dream had me go to! Praise God! Rev.11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and one said, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2 And the court which is without the temple leave without, and measure it not; for it hath been given unto the nations: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. (Notice that there is an exhortation here for Brandon and you: The people who are in the temple and altar, meaning abiding in Christ and have their flesh on the altar of the fiery trial, will escape being trampled under the feet of the beast because they are not in the outer court and are close to the presence of God in the Holy of Holies. This is why the Lord gave this text to Brandon.) In closing, I hope and pray that any unbelief that may come upon me, God strikes it down. (This is part of leaving the flesh on the altar to burn up; we are to cast down fleshly imaginations that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God.) I am still working on improving my walk with God. I have made some bad choices in the past, but He is working very quickly in me lately, and I praise Him for that because now I know that time is short. I hope and pray that I might have a chance to become a disciple of Jesus Christ before time is up. God Bless.   Wilderness Just Ahead Deborah Horton's vision - 09/7/2005 As I lay back down for a little more sleep after getting my husband off to work, I closed my eyes, and before my head hit the pillow, here is what I saw. (I'm pretty sure I wasn't asleep because it was over when my head touched the pillow and I immediately sat back up.) I saw a large motor home that was towing a car with its two front wheels up on a trailer behind it. (Years later they ended up living in just such a vehicle and still do.) as it pulled in for gas at the Fast Stop convenience store, which in real life is at the entrance to our subdivision, on Highway 176 at the entrance ramp to I-26. My eyes were drawn to the license plate on the motor home, and I saw it very clearly. It was similar to the North Dakota plate, which has a landscape and bison silhouette on it, but the one on the motor home had the silhouette of a cow, in red, facing toward the right. As I sat back up, I exclaimed, “The red heifer!” The motor home was not a luxurious land yacht with all the bells and whistles; it's one that is frequently seen on the highway, so I went to my local dealer to find out what the model name is. The motor home was a Fleetwood. The car being towed was small, not a full-size model, but I don't know what make it was. I also wasn't shown any license plate on the car. With a great deal of help from several Godly friends, here is what has been deciphered: Deborah: From Deuteronomy, the red heifer in its entirety was sacrificed outside the camp, then the ashes were mixed with water and used to ritually purify the altar, other implements used to minister to the Lord, and the people who were to minister to the Lord or who had become ritually unclean. Without the red heifer, the Temple and worship were unacceptable. David: The motor home is a mobile tabernacle prepared to go into the wilderness. The fuel for the motor home is a derivative of oil, which represents the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The anointing of the Man-child comes at the beginning of the wilderness as it was with Jesus and Moses. Like Moses and Jesus carried Israel through the wilderness to the Promised Land, this motor home is carrying this car through the tribulation. The motor home is powered and steered by the Lord Himself. Like many immature Christians, the car in tow has no driver yet and it cannot steer for itself. The motor home, as the Man-child has to steer it. Like many weak Christians, the car's power is not being used. As it was in Jesus' time, so it will be in ours. The license with the red heifer symbolizes the legal, scriptural right, by virtue of a crucified life, to lead others through the wilderness on the highway of holiness. Like the red heifer, the corporate Man-child will have presented his body as a living sacrifice. His old life will be burned up on the altar of fiery trials. The ashes of this purified life will be mixed with water, which is the Word of God, making a fully mature son of God. The heifer is facing to the right, symbolizing East, or the direction of the coming of the sun or Son in his life. This life will then be the wisdom and direction used to purify the altar for the rest of the remnant to be sacrificed in the wilderness. There, they will learn to submit to their driver and be steered with power from God. Our way of life is coming to a fast stop at the edge of the coming wilderness. Deborah: The model of the motor home, Fleetwood, also confirms this. We find the words “flee”, “fleet”, and “wood” indicating wilderness. However, an RV is not an off-road vehicle. Pro.16:17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. Isa.11:16 And there shall be a highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt. Isa.35:1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose ... 8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called, The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. Deborah: I was asking the Lord why the motor home, representing the first fruits, was so large, and the car, representing the remnant, was so small in comparison. I got that the faith of the relatively few first-fruits was that much bigger than all the faith of the greater number of the remnant. David: It's true. I once ministered to a Presbyterian lady who got filled with the Spirit and then left her church. She had a dream of going to three houses and when she knocked, harlots answered each door. After that, at the next house, I answered the door. I asked her how many religions she had been in before coming to us. She said three. It was at this time that she received deliverance from the religions of men. Then she had a vision of me being a giant. I told her it was because I had outgrown the doctrine she was now receiving from me, a long time ago. In the same way, the first-fruits will be big. Jesus delivered, healed, and brought truth to more people than all the Pharisees put together. He was and still is big. R.S.: The crude oil that comes out of the ground needs tons of refining into gasoline or diesel before it's usable by the earthy, natural man. Man's soul is also in dire need of the refined life of the Spirit in order to become a vessel fit for His use. Isa.1:25 And I will turn my hand upon thee, and will thoroughly purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin. Zec.13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried; and they shall call on me, and I will hear them; I will say, It is my people; and they shall say, The Lord is my God. Dan.12:10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. Mal.3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in the day that I make up my jewels, and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son, that serveth him. Deborah: Also, the two highways which intersect: Highway 176 = (5) grace; and Interstate 26 = (8) new beginnings. I was encouraged by them that the remnant would be given the grace they need when the time comes to quickly flee to the new beginnings of the wilderness.

Welcome to Day 2878 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2878 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 134:1-3 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2878 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2878 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Song of Ascent – The Midnight Benediction of the Cosmic Mountain In our previous episode on this grand, generational expedition, we explored the fourteenth Song of Ascent, Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Three. We peered inside the seamless walls of Jerusalem to witness the radiant, supernatural atmosphere of the kingdom. We discovered that holy harmony among the family of God is an aggressive, defensive weapon that actively subverts the chaotic fragmentation of the Tower of Babel. We felt the fragrant, vertical cascade of Aaron's precious anointing oil, and we marveled at the cosmic inversion of the landscape, where the life-giving dew of Mount Hermon—the ancient, dark stronghold of the rebel gods—was hijacked, and redirected by Yahweh to refresh the holy mountain of Zion. We rested in the ultimate, sovereign decree of life everlasting. Today, my friends, we have reached the final step of this specific trail. We are standing at the absolute conclusion of the fifteen pilgrim psalms, exploring Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Four, verses one through three, in the New Living Translation. This final Song of Ascent is a short, dramatic, and intensely atmospheric liturgy. The great festival in Jerusalem has ended, the crowds are dispersing, and the pilgrims are preparing to descend the mountain under the cover of darkness, to return to their ordinary lives in a compromised world. But before they lose sight of the temple, they turn back one last time to exchange a beautiful, midnight blessing with the guardians of the sanctuary. Let us step onto the final ridge, look into the glowing courts of the Lord, and receive the parting benediction of the cosmos. The first segment is: The Midnight Vigil of the Royal Guardians Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Four: verses one and two. Oh, praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, you who serve at night in the house of the Lord. Lift your hands in holiness, and praise the Lord. The final psalm opens with a stirring, midnight call to worship, issued by the departing pilgrims to the staff of the temple. “Oh, praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, you who serve at night in the house of the Lord.” To fully appreciate the cinematic, mysterious beauty of this moment, we must paint the physical, and spiritual, picture. The annual feast is over. The campfires on the hillsides around Jerusalem are dying down, and the thousands of pilgrims are packing their bags to begin the long trek back to their distant homes. As they step out into the cold night air, leaving the safety of the inner courts, they look back at the dark, towering silhouette of the temple standing against the starlit sky. The city is quiet, but the temple is still alive with activity. They see the flickering orange glow of the altar fires, and they spot the shadows of the Levites and the priests moving through the corridors. The pilgrims shout out a final, parting charge to these nocturnal ministers: “Praise the Lord... you who serve at night.” In the ancient Hebrew framework, the night watch was a position of immense responsibility. While the rest of the nation slept, these specific servants were commanded to keep the sacred fires burning, to guard the thresholds, and to maintain a continuous, unceasing rhythm of prayer and vigilance within the courts of Yahweh. We must look at this nocturnal service through the profound lens of the Ancient Israelite divine council worldview, as masterfully taught by Doctor Michael S. Heiser. In the ancient Near Eastern mindset, the night was not just a time for rest; the night was the domain of chaos. The darkness was considered the primary operating hour for the rebel spiritual principalities—the fallen elohim who ruled over the disinherited nations. The pagan world lived in constant, paralyzing terror of the night, believing that evil spirits and demonic forces prowled the earth when the sun went down, seeking to undo the order of creation. But inside the house of the Lord, the darkness is completely neutralized. The temple watchmen are not cowering in fear; they are standing on duty as royal guardians of the cosmic gateway. The temple is the earthly embassy of the Supreme Commander of the heavenly armies. By keeping the lights burning and the praises rising through the midnight watches, these priests are actively enforcing the spiritual borders of God's domain. They are asserting Yahweh's absolute sovereignty over the night, demonstrating to the unseen, rebellious realm that the true King never slumbers, and His fortress is never undefended. The departing pilgrims instruct these guardians exactly how to execute their spiritual defense in verse two: “Lift your hands in holiness, and praise the Lord.” The lifting of the hands is the ancient, universal posture of complete surrender, intense appeal, and open-hearted adoration. The priests are told to lift their hands “in holiness”—or, as other translations render it, “toward the sanctuary.” They are aiming their worship directly at the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant rests beneath the wings of the cherubim. By raising their hands in the dark, the watchmen are acting as human lightning rods, drawing the supernatural sanctity and the protective power of the heavenly throne room straight down into the earthly realm, creating a continuous barrier of holy light that keeps the forces of chaos at bay. The second segment is: The Return Blessing from the Creator of the Cosmos Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Four: verse three. May the Lord, who made heaven and earth, bless you from Zion. In the final sentence of the entire Songs of Ascents collection, the direction of the voice shifts. The temple watchmen, standing on the high, illuminated battlements of the sanctuary, hear the parting shout of the pilgrims. They look out into the darkness at the departing travelers, raise their own holy hands over the crowd, and speak a majestic, reciprocal blessing back down upon them: “May the Lord, who made heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.” This closing benediction is a masterpiece of covenant theology and cosmic polemics. Notice the specific, dual title given to Yahweh: “the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” In the Deuteronomy chapter thirty-two worldview, the surrounding pagan nations believed that the universe was carved up into separate, localized jurisdictions. The gods of Babylon claimed the rivers; the gods of Egypt claimed the Nile; and the gods of Philistia claimed the coastal plains. These rebel spirits asserted that their authority was absolute within their own geographic boundaries, and they demanded total compliance from any human who entered their territory. But the priests of Israel shatter that illusion with their final blessing. They remind the departing pilgrims that the God they serve is not a minor, regional spirit of the hills. He is not a localized deity trapped inside the stone walls of Jerusalem. He is the absolute, supreme Architect of the entire macrocosm. He spoke the heavens into existence, and He formed the earth from the void. Therefore, there is no place on the planet that is outside of His jurisdiction. When the pilgrims leave Jerusalem to return to their homes in the distant, compromised corners of the world, they are not leaving the territory of their God. They can walk confidently into any environment, knowing that every square inch of dirt they step upon belongs exclusively to the Maker of heaven and earth. And look at the launching pad of this blessing: “from Zion.” As we have learned on this fifteen-stop mountain climb, Mount Zion is the designated cosmic mountain, the official footprint of Yahweh's heavenly throne room in the human realm. The blessing that the priests pronounce is not a cheap, temporary wish for good luck. It is a massive, supernatural transmission of Shalom—complete, flourishing wholeness and divine favor—cascading down directly from the centralized command center of the universe. The pilgrims are told that this blessing from Zion will follow them down the mountain trail. It will go with them as they navigate the treacherous roads, as they return to their families, and as they face the daily, suffocating hostility of the pagan cultures. Zion's light will go with them into the darkness of their exile. The final step of the ascent is actually the beginning of the descent, where the travelers are sent back out into the world, transformed into living extensions of the cosmic mountain,...

Welcome to Day 2877 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2877 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 133:1-3 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2877 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2877 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The Title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Song of Ascent – The Cosmic Dew of Holy Harmony In our previous episode on this grand, multi-generational expedition, we scaled the breathtaking, final heights of Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Two. We listened in hushed, reverent awe as the human voices of the pilgrims receded, and Yahweh Himself took the cosmic microphone to deliver His final, unyielding oracle. We witnessed the High King of heaven plant His royal flag upon Mount Zion, declaring it to be His permanent, centralized command center forever. We marveled at His glorious, sovereign promises to completely erase hunger by satisfying the poor with bread, to wrap his priests in the defensive armor of salvation, and to cause the royal power of David's ultimate Descendant to sprout like a living horn, radiating a blooming, immortal crown of victory that completely humiliates the rebel powers of darkness. Today, we step forward onto the fourteenth, and penultimate, ridge of this magnificent pilgrim trail. We are immersing our souls in the second-to-last Song of Ascent: Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Three, verses one through three, in the New Living Translation. This short, brilliant masterpiece, written by King David, contains only three brief verses. Yet, what it lacks in physical length, it more than makes up for in profound, world-altering spiritual depth. It provides the perfect, beautiful relational resolution to the epic structural themes we explored in the previous psalm. Once the Divine Warrior has completely secured His cosmic headquarters on the mountain, and once His righteous King is securely enthroned, we are finally permitted to look inside the fortress walls to witness the internal, radiant atmosphere of the kingdom. We are moving from the grand architecture of the throne room, directly into the intimate, fragrant, and refreshing fellowship of the family of God. Let us step onto this sacred section of the trail, and discover the true, supernatural anatomy of holy harmony. Segment one is: The Sacred Assembly and the Subversion of Babel Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Three: verse one. How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! The song opens with an ecstatic, heartfelt exclamation of delight: “How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!” The Hebrew vocabulary used here is incredibly rich. The word for “wonderful” is tov, which means inherently good, functional, and in perfect alignment with the original design of creation. It is the exact same word the Creator used in the opening chapters of Genesis when He looked at His newly organized cosmos and declared it “good.” The word for “pleasant” is na'im, implying something that is deeply delightful, sweet, and aesthetically beautiful to experience. The psalmist is looking at a specific human reality, and recognizing it as a literal slice of heaven on earth. To fully comprehend the immense weight of this opening verse, we must view this gathering through the profound lens of the Ancient Israelite divine council worldview, as taught by Doctor Michael S. Heiser. We must remember that the natural state of the world outside of Zion was characterized by fierce fragmentation, hostility, and relentless warfare. In the Deuteronomy chapter thirty-two worldview, when humanity rebelled at the Tower of Babel, Yahweh disinherited the nations, scattering them across the face of the earth, and placing them under the jurisdiction of lesser spiritual beings—the sons of God. Those territorial elohim subsequently rebelled, corrupting their assignments, and driving their respective human empires to constantly fight, exploit, and destroy one another. Chaos, division, and tribal hatred were the native operating systems of the fallen world. But here, on the slopes of Mount Zion, a supernatural miracle is taking place. The scattered tribes of Israel—who often suffered from internal rivalries and external political stress—have left their separate territories behind. They have marched up the mountain pass, passed through the seamless gates of Jerusalem, and they are now sitting down together, side-by-side, as one unified family. The Hebrew phrase for “together in harmony” is gam yachad, which implies an absolute, indivisible unity of purpose, heart, and soul. This holy harmony is a direct, aggressive subversion of the dark principalities. Yahweh's heavenly council is defined by perfect, unified execution of the divine will, and humanity was originally created to serve as the earthly extension of that loyal celestial family. When the brothers live together in harmony on Zion, they are restoring the original blueprint of Eden. They are demonstrating to the watching, rebel spirits that the unifying love of the Creator is completely breaking the power of the Babel fragmentation. Holy harmony is not just a nice, sentimental feeling; it is a declaration of cosmic victory, showing that the true King has successfully gathered His scattered children into one unshakeable, loving household. Segment two is: The Fragrant Overflow of Vertical Sanctity Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Three: verse two. For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron's head, that ran down his beard and onto the collar of his robes. To describe the invisible, spiritual reality of this brotherly harmony, David deploys a highly specific, deeply sacred, and intensely sensory metaphor: “For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron's head, that ran down his beard and onto the collar of his robes.” To the modern, Western reader, the image of thick oil running down a man's face, soaking into his beard, and dripping onto his clothing might sound messy, or even unappealing. But to the ancient Near Eastern mind, this was a picture of ultimate luxury, supreme consecration, and overwhelming divine favor. The psalmist is referring explicitly to the shemen hatob—the unique, holy anointing oil described in Exodus chapter thirty. This was not ordinary cooking oil; it was a highly concentrated, priceless compound of pure olive oil infused with massive amounts of liquid myrrh, fragrant cinnamon, sweet cane, and cassia. It was strictly forbidden for common use. When this oil was poured out, its rich, majestic, and intoxicating fragrance would instantly fill the entire environment, completely overriding the smells of the physical world. Look at the specific directional movement of the oil in the text: it is poured over Aaron's head, it runs down his beard, and it flows directly onto the collar of his priestly robes. This represents a magnificent, vertical cascade of holiness. Aaron was the High Priest, the designated human mediator who was authorized to step into the Holy of Holies to stand before the Ark of the Covenant—the literal footstool of Yahweh's throne. When Aaron was anointed, the oil was poured out with radical, wasteful abundance. This vertical flow symbolizes the downpouring of heavenly sanctity from the King of the cosmos into the physical realm. The oil starts at the head—the seat of divine authority—and it completely saturates the mediator, flowing down until it covers the entire body of the priesthood, which represents the collective community of Israel. David is teaching us a profound theological truth: true, holy harmony is not something that human beings can manufacture from the bottom up through political treaties, or social engineering. Holy harmony is a supernatural gift that cascades from the top down. It originates from the throne room of the true Sovereign, flows through our ultimate Mediator, and completely saturates the body of the faithful. The rich, fragrant oil of unity marks the covenant family as a sacred, set-apart space, completely distinct from the profane, defiled territories of the rebel gods. When we walk in harmony, we are literally covered in the intoxicating fragrance of heaven's holiness. Segment three is: Subverting the Dark Mountain and the Ultimate Decree of Life Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Three: verse three. Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting. The psalmist introduces a...

We explore the construction of the Tabernacle at the foot of Mt. Sinai, a place for God to dwell among the Israelites. We discuss the detailed preparations, the symbolism of the Holy of Holies and its reflection of the Garden of Eden, and the importance of the Ark of the Covenant. We also highlight the paradox of God's presence amidst his people, yet his holiness setting him apart. 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: @realbiblebriefX: @biblebriefFacebook: @realbiblebriefEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.orgWant to learn the Bible languages (Greek & Hebrew)? Check out our partner Biblingo (and use our link/code for a discount!): https://biblin...

In this episode we look at the history of angels and how they interact with mankind throughout the scripture. We see how God placed them outside the Garden of Eden after man had been expelled and then how we find them also featured prominently on the ark of the covenant and on the curtain that separated the inner court from the Holy of Holies. Then we look at what the role of angels are today. We explore if we have guardian angels and if we should interact with angels or not. We also look at what role they have in our life and walk with God and how we can work with them to further the will and work of God in our lives!

In "The High Priest Who Understands," Pastor Ike Miller continues our series through the Book of Hebrews by exploring the fact that the Holy of Holies isn't a place anymore - it's a person. Listen as Ike dives into Jesus being the true temple, Jesus being our relatable High Priest, and Jesus giving believers direct access to God.

Welcome to Day 2873 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2873 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 132:6-12 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2873 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2873 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Song of Ascent – The Enthronement of the Ark on the Holy Mountain In our previous episode on this grand expedition, we stepped onto the thirteenth ridge of our fifteen-part pilgrim journey through the Songs of Ascents. We explored the opening section of Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Two, verses one through five. We witnessed the unyielding, sleepless passion of King David. Even though he had a quiet, weaned soul within himself, he refused to enjoy the private luxury of his cedar palace while the Ark of the Covenant remained neglected in a temporary tent. We examined his solemn vow to the Mighty One of Jacob, a vow of deliberate restlessness, where he refused to sleep until he found a permanent, sacred space—a cosmic embassy—where the True King of heaven and earth could establish His earthly footstool. Today, we take our next historic step forward, continuing directly from that narrative. We are entering into the second movement of this grand, processional anthem, exploring Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Two, verses six through twelve, in the New Living Translation. The psalmist shifts our focus from David's private, intense vow, to the corporate, joyful experience of the entire nation as they actually locate, recover, and march with the symbol of God's presence up the mountain. Let us step onto the rugged trail, join the ancient procession, and watch the Divine Warrior ascend His throne. The first segment is:The Discovery and the Procession to the Footstool Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Two: verses six and seven. We heard that the Ark was in Ephrathah; then we found it in the distant countryside of Jaar. Let us go to the sanctuary of the Lord; let us worship at the footstool of his throne. The narrative transitions from David's intense, singular obsession, to the collective voice of the Israelite community, singing together on the road to Jerusalem. “We heard that the Ark was in Ephrathah; then we found it in the distant countryside of Jaar.” To fully appreciate the deep, emotional relief embedded in these two names—Ephrathah and Jaar—we must recall the tragic, historical backstory. Decades earlier, during the chaotic days of Eli the priest, the Israelites had foolishly treated the Ark of the Covenant like a magical good-luck charm, dragging it onto the battlefield against the Philistines. The rebel spiritual forces operating behind the Philistine armies achieved a temporary, mocking victory; the Ark was captured, and the glory of God seemed to depart from Israel. Even after the Philistines returned the Ark due to divine plagues, it sat neglected, stashed away in the obscure, overgrown, and wooded fields of Kiriath-jearim—which the psalmist poetically calls the “distant countryside of Jaar.” It was hidden in the brush, largely forgotten by the general public, while the nation drifted spiritually. But David mobilized the nation. The pilgrims recount the great rally: “Let us go to the sanctuary of the Lord; let us worship at the footstool of his throne.” We must view this through the profound lens of the Ancient Israelite Divine Council worldview, as masterfully taught by Doctor Michael S. Heiser. In the ancient Near East, a supreme monarch sat on a high, elevated throne, and his feet rested upon a beautifully crafted footstool. The footstool was the critical point of contact where the heavenly, royal realm physically touched the lower, earthly domain. In cosmic geography, the Ark of the Covenant, positioned inside the Holy of Holies beneath the outstretched wings of the golden cherubim, was recognized as the literal footstool of Yahweh's heavenly throne room. When the pilgrims say, “let us worship at the footstool of his throne,” they are not merely engaging in formal temple rituals. They are entering the earthly embassy of the Supreme Commander of the cosmos. They are stepping into the direct presence of the High King, joining the heavenly assembly of loyal angels, and declaring that Yahweh's authority completely eclipses the claims of the rebel spiritual principalities who rule over the surrounding, disinherited nations. The second segment is: The Divine Warrior Takes His Seat Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Two: verses eight through ten. Arise, O Lord, and enter your resting place, along with the Ark, the symbol of your power. May your priests be clothed in godliness; may your loyal servants sing for joy. For the sake of your servant David, do not reject the king you have anointed. The procession reaches its absolute climax as the Ark is physically carried up the slopes of Mount Zion. The king and the priests raise a dramatic, liturgical shout to the heavens: “Arise, O Lord, and enter your resting place, along with the Ark, the symbol of your power.” This phrase, “Arise, O Lord,” is a direct, intentional echo of the ancient wilderness battle cry recorded in Numbers, chapter ten. Whenever the Ark of the Covenant set out from the camp to lead the tribes through the desert, Moses would stand and shout, “Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered!” It was the invocation of Yahweh Sabaoth—the Lord of Hosts, the Commander of the heavenly armies. But notice the fascinating, beautiful shift in Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Two. The Divine Warrior is no longer marching out to do battle in the wilderness; He is marching in to take His seat. He is entering His “resting place.” In the Deuteronomy Thirty-Two framework, the rebel gods claimed ownership over the nations, but Yahweh has chosen Zion as His permanent, centralized cosmic mountain. By placing the Ark—the symbol of His power—on Mount Zion, Yahweh is establishing an unshakeable, eternal fortress. The warfare is completed; the King is officially taking His seat on the throne. This supreme, cosmic installation requires an entirely transformed community to serve the King. Verse nine petitions: “May your priests be clothed in godliness; may your loyal servants sing for joy.” The priests, who act as the human mediators between the heavenly council and the earthly congregation, must not wear the corrupt, manipulative garments of the pagan fertility cults. They must be literally wrapped, clothed, and saturated in tsedeq—true, uncompromised godliness and righteousness. When the leadership is holy, the entire community flourishes. The "loyal servants"—the hasidim, the covenant-keeping exiles—break out into uninhibited, roaring songs of joy. Their worship becomes a defensive shield, keeping the chaos of the world outside the walls of the sanctuary. The processional prayer concludes with a crucial plea for the continuation of the dynasty: “For the sake of your servant David, do not reject the king you have anointed.” The human king, the Mashiach, the anointed one, serves a vital function in the Divine Council worldview. He is designated as Yahweh's earthly vice-regent. He is the human representative who executes the justice, and the cosmic order of the High King, within the physical realm. The pilgrims pray that God will look at the faithful, historical sacrifices of David, and refuse to reject the current, fragile human king who sits on David's throne. They need the line of the vice-regent to remain unbroken, so that the connection to the cosmic mountain remains secure. The third segment is: The Reciprocal Oath of Eternity Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Two: verses eleven and twelve. The Lord swore an oath to David with a promise he will never take back: “I will place one of your descendants on your throne. If your descendants obey the terms of my covenant and the laws that I teach them, then your royal line will continue forever and ever.” In the final section of today's trail, the direction of the song flips completely. The pilgrims have finished speaking to God, and now, Yahweh speaks back to the pilgrims. He responds to David's historic, restless vow with a massive, unyielding oath of His own. “The Lord swore an oath to David with a promise he will never take back: ‘I will place one of your descendants on your throne.'” This is the beautiful, reciprocal irony of the Davidic covenant. In the first five verses of this psalm, David...

It's so easy to look at God and come to the conclusion, well I want that part of Him – but not that part. And definitely not that bit. It seems that all too often, we want Him on our terms rather than His. But God just doesn't work that way.   Take it Back Have you ever wanted something in life – I mean really, really, really wanted it and then when you finally get it, you just want to give it back? I think we have all experienced that at some point and you know, I think that for some people, it can be the case with God. I know people, lots of people, who hunger to be close to God. I know there are people listening today – maybe you are one of them – and all their lives they have wanted God – whatever that means. But can I tell you something? Even something really good – I mean really, really good like God, well, it can be a shock to the system and the reason is that we have these idealised, unrealistic notions of what that good thing will be like. Take the young woman who wants more than anything else, to be married and she meets her knight in shining armour, she marries him and a year later she is wondering, "What happened to all my ideas of romance 24/7?" Today on the programme we are going to take a look at some people who got God and couldn't wait to give Him back. Now over these last few weeks we have been working our way through the story of Hannah and Eli and his sons in the Book of First Samuel. And the crux of it is that Hannah honours God but Eli and his sons don't and the turning point of the whole story comes in the verse First Samuel – if you have a Bible, grab it, open it up here in First Samuel chapter 2, verse 30. God says: I will honour those who honour Me but those who despise Me, will be treated with contempt. And we have seen how the central reality of that verse has played itself out in the lives of Hannah, who was blessed when she couldn't have a son and she honoured God and God gave her a son Samuel and the opposite is Eli and his sons Hophni and Phinehas who didn't honour God and were greatly punished, in fact they lost their lives because of that. This story plays its self out in the storms of life. I mean Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, they were the priests; they should have been bringing God's people close to God yet they were living life of Riley, as we saw last week on the programme. And God had them killed. They're job was to bring people close to God and yet they were not honouring Him. Instead they had led Israel to a place of defeat. We saw last week in First Samuel chapter 4 where the Philistines attacked, Israel thinks "Oh well, God is always on our side – we will go to battle" and they had a huge defeat – thirty thousand of their soldiers were killed. The Ark of the Covenant, the presence of God itself, was captured by the Philistines. See the Ark of the Covenant was where God actually sat in the midst of His people. You see that in the journey through the Exodus – forty years in the Tent of the Meeting and later on in the temple. The Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies; it is the very presence of God. And strangely, you know, when the Philistines are close to capturing the Ark they kind of realise, with a sense of foreboding, what this is about. It says in First Samuel that: When they learned that the Ark of the Lord had entered the camp of the Israelites, the Philistines were afraid. "A god has come into their camp" they said "we are in trouble. Nothing like that has ever happened before. Woe to us. Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods?" And so it goes on … Well, it turns out that they should have followed their instincts. Today we are going to look and see what happens to the Philistines and to the Israelites when the presence of God comes close to them. Let's have a look at it. If you've got a Bible, open it up at First Samuel chapter 5, we are going to begin the story at verse 1. After the Philistines had captured the Ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then they carried the Ark into Dagon's temple and set it beside Dagon. When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, their god, who had fallen flat on his face on the ground before the Ark of the Lord. They took Dagon and put him back in his place. The following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the Ark of the Lord. His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold – only his body remained. That is why to this very day, neither the priests of Dagon or any of the others who enter Dagon's temple in Ashdod, step on the threshold. The Lord's hand was heavy upon the people of Ashdod and its vicinity. He brought devastation upon them and afflicted them with tumours. When the men of Ashdod saw what was happening they said "The Ark of the God of Israel mustn't stay here with us because His hand is heavy upon us and upon Dagon our god." So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and ask them "What are we going to do with this Ark of the God of Israel?" And they answered "Have the Ark of the God of Israel moved to Gath." So they moved the Ark of the God of Israel but after they had moved it, the Lord's hand was against that city, throwing it into great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumours so they sent the Ark of God on to Ekron. As the Ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out "They have brought that Ark of the God of Israel around to kill us and our people." So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said "Send that Ark of the God of Israel away. Let it go back to its own place or it will kill us and our people," for death had filled the city with panic and God's hand was very heavy upon it. Those who did not die were afflicted with tumours and the outcry of the city went up to heaven. Do you see? The Philistines looked like they had won and yet they take the presence of God; the Ark of the Covenant, they put it in their temple next to their god and Dagon falls down, face down in front of the God of Israel. And the second time his head and his hands are cut off and then wherever they took the Ark of the Covenant, the impact of God, as a captive in their midst, was devastating – they got tumours, we will see later, there were plagues of mice. They had captured God – in human terms, they had won but you know what they had forgotten, in fact they had never realised it in the first place? God is not subject to people – God is not someone you can capture and stick in your temple. He is not someone you can tame and subdue. Why are we talking about this stuff today? Because you and I, deep down, we try and tame and subdue God – we try and swing Him around to our way of thinking; to meet our needs. We put Him in the temple of our choice; we put Him in the town and the city of our choice. You know what happens when we try to do that? We discover exactly what the Philistines discovered – we discover that God is not someone you can push around. "Well, I'll just take this God and He'll bless me whenever I want Him to." Ok, we can't see Him! Our present circumstances perhaps, appear much more powerful than Him but if we want to have our feet on solid ground, amidst the storms of life, (that's what we have been talking about over these last few weeks) we look at this maelstrom of the storm; the battle between the Philistines and the Israelites – thirty thousand Israelites killed because they didn't honour their God. Who appeared to win? Who should have been, according to our simple human expectations, on solid ground? The Philistines – they won the war. They captured Israel's God but who they captured was the God who created the entire universe – not some idol; not some tin pot little god. They captured God and He wrought destruction upon them because they tried to subdue God. So much so they couldn't wait to get rid of Him. Do you get it? When we try to take God by force – force of argument, force of opinion, force of anything – anything that doesn't recognise Him for who He is – watch out! There are so many people playing "church". There are so many people playing at being Christians; playing at religion, putting God here, putting God there. That's not what it is about. As Dagon found out, the only way you honour God is when you bow down before Him because of who He is – the sovereign God, above every name and every power and every authority in heaven and earth. That's what Hannah discovered; that's what Eli discovered; that's what Israel discovered and that's what the Philistines discovered, the hard way. You can't have God on your own terms. You can only have Him on His terms.   We Don't Want Him Well, the Philistines finally came to their senses. They realised they couldn't have God on their terms. They had a choice – you either accept God on His terms or you get rid of Him. So they decided to send Him back from whence He came. Now, let's have a look at how they did that. We are going to pick this up in First Samuel – grab your Bible – First Samuel chapter 6, beginning at verse 1 – it's a great story. When the Ark of the Lord had been with the Philistines for seven months, they called for the priests and the diviners and they said "What are we going to do with this Ark of the Lord? Tell us how we should send it back to its place." They answered "If you return the Ark of the God of Israel, don't send it away empty, but by all means, send a guilt offering to Him then you will be healed and you will know why His hand has not been lifted from you." The Philistines ask "What guilt offering should we send Him?" and they replied "Five gold tumours and five gold rats, according to the number of Philistine rulers because the same plague has struck both you and your rulers. Make models of the tumours and of the rats that are destroying the country and pay honour to Israel's God. Perhaps He will lift His hand from you and your gods and your land. Why do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and the Pharaoh did when He treated them harshly, didn't they send the Israelites out so that they could go their way? Now then, get a new cart ready with two cows that have just calved and have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart but take their calves away and pen them up. Take the Ark of the Lord and put it on the cart and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending back to Him as a guilt offering. Send it on its way but keep watching it. If it goes up to its own territory towards Beth-shemesh then the Lord has brought this great disaster on us. But if it doesn't then we will know that it was not His hand that struck us but all this happened just by chance. So they did that – they took two such cows, hitched them to the cart, penned up their calves. They placed the Ark of the Lord on the cart, along with the chest containing the gold rats and the models of the tumours. Then the cows went straight up towards Beth-shemesh, keeping on the road, lowing all the way. They didn't turn to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh It is fascinating stuff! See, these people didn't know God – they got their own pagan spiritual leaders to advise them. Now their system of faith was not one God; that's called mono-theism. No, they believed in many gods; they were poly-theistic. And so they see the God of Israel as just another god on their list who may or may not have power. Now, He clearly does because He has brought all of this destruction on the Philistines. So they devise a test for this God. They get these two milk cows, with their calves. You see there is no way two cows that have just calved are going to leave their calves and these cows have never been yoked. So only God could cause them to go back to Israel, away from their young and that is exactly what ends up happening. They don't turn to the right or the left – they are lowing all the way. They don't want to go but they go and clearly this is an act of God. That's how the Philistines saw it. This is a story about so many people in this world who don't know God. See, they hear about God – it's amazing, God is still speaking. The number of times that I have had a letter or an email that says "You know something – I just happened to flick on the radio or turn to a channel and your programme was on and God spoke to me and changed my life." I'm going to share one of those at the end of this programme – an amazing story of a rebel fighter in Africa who laid down his arms. See, God is still speaking today, all over the place, and He reaches out to us and He ends up in our midst, one way or another, as He did with the Philistines. Remember back, how did the presence of God, the Ark of the Covenant, come to be in the midst of the Philistines? The Philistines fought Israel, Israel hadn't honoured their God – they got defeated by the Philistines big time. Eli the priest and his sons, Hophni and Phinehas were killed in that battle. They expected God to show up like He always did, but He didn't. And it was a sovereign act of the sovereign God to allow defeat to come upon Israel and to allow His presence, the Ark of the Covenant to be captured by the Philistines. God's own decision was to be in the midst of the Philistines those seven months. And they discover that you can't have Him on your own terms, so they give Him back – they send Him packing. That's what I did for many, many years of my life. Every now and then I encountered God. And you see I had my own agenda for my life; I had my own plans. God didn't fit so I would send Him packing. And it seemed like He would like to cause me grief and pain; want me to give up things I didn't want to give up. And time and time again I'd want to hang onto Him on my terms. Let me tell you something – it never, never, never worked so I sent Him packing. I rejected Him like the Philistines. I wonder if that has ever happened in your life. Come on, how much do we want God, but on our terms? Well, I believe this about abortion or I believe that about sexuality or I believe this about the different roles of men and women and when I discover what God has to say about those I say to myself "Well, I can't believe that! No, either I have God on my terms or not at all." Come on, there is a reason that God went to the trouble of recording this story about the Philistines and the Ark of the Covenant and then preserving it for a few thousand years and then broadcasting it on this radio station today. There is a reason! He is speaking to us through His story today. To all those people who would have God on their own terms, He is saying "No, you can't have Me on your terms. You can't capture Me and stick Me in your temple. You can only have Me on My terms." And as we are going to see soon, this problem was not reserved for the Philistines – it's not just for the people who didn't really know God but it was also for God's own people – God's own people who would push Him away. This series that we are going through is called "On Solid Ground". We need solid ground beneath our feet and we are going to discover next, exactly how to get it.   When Will We Learn? As I said earlier, the problem wasn't just restricted to the Philistines, sending God packing with those cows with the Ark of the Covenant in tow – it was also a problem that happened with the Israelites. Let's see what happened when the Ark of the Covenant arrives back with Israel - First Samuel chapter 6, beginning at verse 19. The Ark has just wandered down the road with the cows and this is what happened: God struck down some of the men of Beth-shemesh, putting seventy of them to death because they had looked into the Ark of the Lord. The people mourned because of the heavy blow the Lord had dealt them and the men of Beth-shemesh asked "Who can stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God? To whom will the Ark go up from here?" Then they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath-jearim, saying "The Philistines have returned the Ark of the Lord, come down and take it up to your place." So the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took up the Ark of the Lord. They took it to Abinadab's house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar, the son to guard the Ark of the Lord. See, God is a sovereign God. We get Him on His terms and not ours. And the Israelites dealt casually with God's presence when He came back – they looked upon Him. Now God says "You can't look upon Me and live." How often do we treat the mighty sovereign casually? You and I – we take on God. Can I tell you who is going to win? Not us! Israel was God's people – they should have known better but they didn't. So what was their reaction? The same as the Philistines – "Who can stand in front of this sovereign God. Where are we going to send Him?" They sent God packing and it's a pattern repeated over and over and over again. So what is the answer? What these people needed was some solid ground beneath their feet. What you and I need is some solid ground beneath our feet. Well, that comes next in this story – it's exactly what happened. First Samuel chapter 7, verse 2: It was a long time, twenty years in all, that the Ark remained a Kiriath-jearim and all the people of Israel mourned and sought after the Lord and Samuel the prophet, said to the whole house of Israel "If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve Him alone and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines. So the Israelites put away their Baals and their Ashtoreths and they served the Lord alone. And then Samuel said "Assemble all Israel at Mizpah and I will intercede with the Lord for you." When they had assembled at Mizpah they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. On that day they fasted and they confessed "We have sinned against the Lord." And Samuel was the leader of Israel at Mizpah. When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them and when the Israelites heard of it they were afraid because of the Philistines. They said to Samuel "Don't stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that He may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines." So Samuel took a suckling lamb, offering it up as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on Israel's behalf and the Lord answered him. Whilst Samuel was still sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle but that day the Lord thundered with a loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before Israel. The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth-car. Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and he named it Ebenezer, saying "Thus far the Lord has helped us." So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israelite territory again. Throughout Samuel's lifetime, the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines. From the towns of Ekron to Gath – that the Philistines had captured from Israel - they were restored to Israel and Israel delivered the neighbouring territory from the power of the Philistines and there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. First Samuel chapter 2, verse 30 says this: I will honour those who honour Me but those who despise Me will be treated with contempt. See, that's the place of solid ground – Israel finally got it right here! See, before they had had priests who were sleeping around with prostitutes, priests who were dishonouring God, priests who were plundering the sacrifices of the people to God and God said, "You know something? If your leaders are going to be doing that I am not going to bless you." So Israel fights the Philistines and Israel loses. And so the Ark of the Covenant of God goes to the Philistines and there is devastation there because of the presence of God and they send it back to Israel. And there is devastation there because of the presence of God because everyone was trying to have God on their own terms. Here is the place of solid ground: If you want to return to the Lord with all your heart, put away all your foreign gods. And that is God's Word for you and me today. Put away all your foreign gods – all the other things that you put before God – all the other things that you and I worship – put them away and worship God alone. Come to God on His terms, not ours, because He is the sovereign God. He is the God of the whole universe. He is the God – not just one other god amongst many – He is THE God; the only God and He calls us to worship Him and Him alone. So the people did that and right at the moment they did that, the Philistines were going to attack them again, but this time, the moment they began to honour their God – this verse First Samuel chapter 2, verse 30 – came into their experience. I will honour those who honour Me, but those who despise Me will be treated with contempt. People – that is the place of solid ground. It is the only place of solid ground. God is a sovereign God. He is not my performing puppy and He is not your performing puppy. He is not there to do tricks on our command. He is above us and we are His people and God is calling us today to accept Him on His terms as the sovereign God – just the way Samuel told the people. Samuel said to them "You have got to accept God on His terms" – they did and immediately, when a storm arose, God blessed His people. And that blessing went on for many, many years and their feet were on solid ground.

Title: The Order of MelchizedekSpeaker: Peter NankivellDate: 22nd March 2026Location: Adelaide, Australia Summary: "Before Abraham was, I am." That one line from Jesus cut through every argument the Pharisees could raise, and it points to something hiding in plain sight throughout the Old Testament. This episode works through the story of Melchizedek, the mysterious king and priest who appears briefly in Genesis 14 to bless Abraham after battle. Who was he? Why does he matter? And what does he have to do with Jesus? The episode traces a thread from Genesis through the Psalms, into the Gospels, and lands in the book of Hebrews, where Paul unpacks why Jesus operates in a priesthood that sits entirely outside the old law. Unlike the Levitical priests who served year after year, offering sacrifices that had to be repeated, Jesus stepped into the role of High Priest once and completely, making a way for anyone to come directly to God. The practical takeaway is significant: access to God is no longer limited to once a year through a priest, or tied to keeping the law, or dependent on animal sacrifice. Through Jesus Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, that direct relationship is available right now. That is what the order of Melchizedek always pointed toward. Key Points: Melchizedek, described as king of righteousness and king of peace, appears in Genesis as a type pointing forward to Jesus Christ, who holds both roles as king and High Priest. The Levitical priesthood was bound by the law and limited by human life, but the order of Melchizedek is endless, giving Jesus a permanent, unchanging priesthood that supersedes everything that came before it. Because Jesus entered the Holy of Holies once and for all through his own blood, the veil was torn and every person now has direct, ongoing access to God without the barrier of the old covenant system. Reference Scriptures: Genesis 14:13-20 Psalm 110:1, 4 Matthew 22:35-46 Acts 2:34-36 Hebrews 1:13 Hebrews 2:7-8 Hebrews 3:1 Hebrews 4:14-16 Hebrews 5:1, 4-10 Hebrews 6:20 Hebrews 7:1-4, 11-17, 22-28 Hebrews 9:11-14, 22, 28 Isaiah 32:1 Zechariah 6:12-13 Jeremiah 23:5-6 John 8:56-58 Listen to the entire Podcast Revival library by visiting https://podcastrevival.com The Revival Fellowship is a Bible-directed, Spirit-filled Church and we welcome visitors to our meetings at any of our locations worldwide. To find your nearest venue visit https://therevivalfellowship.com © 2026 The Revival Fellowship. All Rights Reserved.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leviticus 16 | JD Summers The book of Leviticus centers around the Day of Atonement, the once-a-year special event where the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies to atone for the entire nation. The Tabernacle had to be cleansed; the High Priest had to be cleansed; everything had to be cleansed. This cleansing met the greatest need of the people, allowing them to remain in God's presence despite their uncleanness. It required humble repentance from the people, as they submitted themselves to receive the purification they so greatly needed. And it anticipated the future atonement of Jesus Christ, who gave himself as a sacrifice once for all to cover the sins of all who believe in him.

In Old Testament times, only the High Priest had direct access to God's Presence! And even then, there were purification rituals required to ensure that the priest was clean enough to enter into the Holy of Holies. But Pastor Jeff reminds you today that there is great news for all of those covered by the blood of Jesus! Those restrictions that applied to the Jewish High Priest no longer apply to you! Because you are adopted into God's family, you have unrestricted access to the presence of the Father. 

In this episode, I explore the fantasy of the inner circle — that persistent feeling that somewhere, just beyond where we are, there is a more exclusive room, a deeper friendship, a more serious group, a hidden circle of people who really know, really belong, and really matter.Building from C.S. Lewis's essay “The Inner Ring,” I think through why the desire to belong can so easily become a desire to be inside because others are outside. I also bring in the image of the temple and the Holy of Holies as a way of asking whether even the innermost room would ever be enough, or whether we would simply begin searching for another room beyond it.From there, I move into psychoanalysis and Lacanian theory, especially the idea that there is a lack or gap at the center of human life that no group, friendship, artistic recognition, or achievement can finally fill. I also reflect personally on my own friendships and the subtle ways this fantasy can still show up even when we are already loved and already belong.Throughout the episode, I share a clinical reflection about an anonymous client, a college student on the autism spectrum, whose growing life as an artist has brought with it the fantasy that fulfillment will come only when he is accepted into the “real” inner circle of artists. His story becomes a way of thinking about the difference between genuine belonging and fantasy completion.This is an episode about exclusion, desire, art, friendship, therapy, and the difficult but freeing possibility that the life we are looking for may not be waiting behind some hidden door.

Most Christians think of the church building as “the temple” or “the sanctuary”… but biblically, that's not true. In the New Covenant, God's presence doesn't dwell in a building—He dwells in His people. That means you are the temple. And by extension, your household becomes the front line of worship, holiness, and spiritual leadership. In this episode, we unpack the biblical meaning of the temple and why fathers must take seriously their role as spiritual leaders in the home. If you've grown tired, faced resistance, or felt like your efforts aren't making a difference—don't quit. What happens inside your home has eternal significance, and your leadership matters more than you realize. Links in this Episode AW Bootcamp: Aug 21-23 Family Worship by Joel Beeke Please partner with us in inspiring and equipping multi-gen families at https://abrahamswallet.com/support AW website Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Chapters (00:00:00) - No Temple for God, Says Pastor(00:00:25) - Abraham's Wallet Boot Camp Retreat(00:05:17) - Abraham's Wallet: Separation From Chaos(00:13:39) - The Holy of Holies(00:19:56) - Hebrews 9: The Temple of God(00:21:20) - Stewarding His Presence(00:27:52) - The cleansing of the temple of God(00:34:19) - Wonders of God: Stewarding the Presence of God(00:37:27) - Being the Priest of Your Home(00:43:16) - The Stewarding of God's Presence(00:44:28) - Be Restful in Your Home, Dad

The Bible teaches us that when Jesus died, the great curtain separating the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple was torn in two. This curtain was a physical representation of the barrier that had gone up between man and God, thanks to the darkness of sin. But Pastor Jeff teaches us today that not only was Jesus able to pass through that barrier to commune with His Father, He was also able to destroy that barrier for all mankind. We have free access to the Father's presence, thanks to Jesus!

Temple Announced in Otavalo, Ecuador https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/new-temple-otavalo-ecuador Photo of rarely-seen “Holy of Holies” released by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints https://www.abc4.com/news/religion/lds-church-holy-of-holies/ Related: Salt Lake Temple Square much more “Christ” centered https://www.deseret.com/faith/2026/05/15/temple-square-visitors-center-update/ Elder W. Mark Bassett Dies at Age 59 https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/elder-mark-bassett-dies-at-age-59 Latter-day Saint leaders discuss migrant support with leaders of International Organization for Migration https://www.deseret.com/faith/2026/05/13/church-of-jesus-christ-migrant-support-international-organization-for-migration-visits-salt-lake-city/ Sunday School General Presidency talks about upcoming Sunday schedule and lesson changes https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2026/05/14/sunday-school-general-president-and-counselor-on-upcoming-sunday-schedule-changes/ The Mormon church is asking the 10th Circuit to reinstate insurance coverage for a 2018 sexual abuse settlement https://www.courthousenews.com/mormon-church-battles-insurers-over-sex-abuse-settlement-coverage-at-10th-circuit/ Martyrdom Stories Museum reopened https://www.mississippivalleypublishing.com/journalpilot/martyrdom-stories-museum-reopened/article_9fc18f03-ce64-49a5-9d55-4e142e1f4782.html At 93, how healthy is LDS President Dallin H. Oaks? https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2026/05/09/lds-church-president-dallin-h-oaks/ Mormon horror movies — about the religion or made by believers — are having a moment https://www.kjzz.org/the-show/2026-05-11/mormon-horror-movies-about-the-religion-or-made-by-believers-are-having-a-moment “Trust Me” (Netflix FLDS documentary) https://www.netflix.com/title/81758532 America's 250th: Defending our Divinely Inspired Declaration? https://bycommonconsent.com/2026/05/14/americas-250th-defending-our-divinely-inspired-declaration/ Thanks to “Mormon Wives,” Dirty Soda Is a National Obsession https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/10/style/dirty-soda-mormon-wives-utah-tiktok.html?unlocked_article_code=1.ilA.fULw.ZAub2rWXrso2&smid=url-share The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is expanding into one of reality television's founding landmarks of Orange County https://www.imdb.com/news/ni65809832/ Leader of Black LDS group says he fell victim to a racist threat while hiking in Utah https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2026/05/15/black-lds-genesis-group-leader/ Who Marries Whom? Faith, partners, and who actually marries within their religion https://www.graphsaboutreligion.com/p/who-marries-whom-faith-partners-and?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1561197&post_id=192015699&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=69jb7h&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email Should LDS husbands take a back seat to their wives' careers? https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2026/05/10/lds-church-stance-gender-roles-has/ Jana Riess: LDS Church's post about working moms does indeed clash with past teachings https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2026/05/11/jana-riess-lds-churchs-post-about/ Kouri Richins sentenced… after family members, lawyers, and Kouri herself get a chance to speak https://www.ksl.com/article/51496745/watch-live-kouri-richins-sentenced-for-murdering-husband-her-sons-say-they-fear-her 150 years ago today (May 13, 1876) – Today in Mormon History https://www.todayinmormonhistory.com/2026/05/150-years-ago-today-may-13-1876.html

Tonight on The Mormon Newscast we dive into one of the most secretive and controversial topics in Mormonism: The Second Anointing. Recent photos posted by the LDS Church along with a TikTok video by Mormon apologist Jasmine Rappleye appears to openly discuss and display imagery associated with the Holy of Holies, raising fresh questions about… Read More »Is Mormonism’s 2nd Anointing No Longer Secret? The post Is Mormonism’s 2nd Anointing No Longer Secret? appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

"Three days. No body in the tomb. No appearance in heaven yet. So where was Jesus?Most Christians have been taught a clean, simple story — He died, He rose, He ascended. But the Bible says He first descended. He didn't go up. He went down. And what He did down there involves chained angels from Genesis 6, a heralding to spirits locked in the bottomless pit, and a triumphal procession that had heaven's gates asking ""Who is this?""In this episode, Lance Wallnau walks the whiteboard through one of the most overlooked mysteries in Scripture.What did Jesus actually do for those three days?In this episode: The Ephesians 4 verse that says Jesus ""first descended"" — and what that quietly forces every other doctrine to reckon with Why He told Mary ""stop clinging to Me — I have not yet ascended"" (and where He went in the next few hours) The Genesis 6 ""Watchers,"" the Nephilim, and the angels Jesus preached to in chains — straight out of 1 Peter, 2 Peter, and Jude Hebrews 9 and the moment Jesus presented His own blood in the heavenly Holy of Holies — the most expensive transaction in the universe The Old Testament graves that split open in Jerusalem — and the resurrected entourage that walked the city for 40 days Mount Hermon: why the Great Commission was given on the exact mountain where the rebel angels first descended (the Michael Heiser insight most pulpits won't touch) The 500 eyewitnesses Paul says were still alive when he wrote 1 Corinthians 15 — and why this single detail collapses the ""resurrection myth"" theory Psalm 24 decoded: the angelic dialogue at heaven's gates as Jesus arrives with a cloud of redeemed Old Testament saints 1 Corinthians 15:23 — ""first fruits"" plural — and the second resurrection most believers have never been taught to expect This is not the Sunday school version. This is the spirit-realm version. If you've ever wondered why the early church was willing to be skinned alive, burned, stoned, and martyred for forty straight years — it wasn't for a metaphor. It was because they hung out with a resurrected Man. This episode rebuilds the foundation of that faith from the ground up. Podcast Episode 2115: The Hidden 40 Days: What Jesus Did -This Month- 2000 Years Ago is Mind Blowing! | don't miss this! Listen to more episodes of the Lance Wallnau Show at lancewallnau.com/podcast

What does prayer actually accomplish? Why can believers approach God with confidence? In this powerful sermon from Dwelling House Church, Pastor Jeremiah Genin unpacks the incredible truth that Jesus is our Great High Priest—and what that means for our prayer life, access to God, and relationship with His presence. Walking through Ezekiel 48, Hebrews 4, and the tearing of the veil at the crucifixion of Jesus, this message reveals how Jesus opened the way for believers to boldly enter the throne room of grace. Pastor Jeremiah explains the significance of the temple, the Holy of Holies, and how Christ's finished work changed everything forever. This sermon is a powerful reminder that prayer is not about striving, begging, or trying to earn God's attention. Because of Jesus, believers now have direct access to the Father. Whether you've struggled with prayer, felt distant from God, battled disappointment, or simply want a deeper understanding of biblical prayer and intimacy with God, this message will strengthen your faith and encourage you to draw near to Him again. Dwelling House Church is a Spirit-filled, Christ-centered church passionate about the presence of God, biblical truth, worship, discipleship, and helping people encounter Jesus in a real and transformative way. If you're searching for sermons about prayer, the presence of God, Jesus our High Priest, the tearing of the veil, intimacy with God, Spirit-filled Christianity, or biblical teaching about prayer and grace, this message will encourage and equip you. This sermon answers: 1. What does it mean that Jesus is our Great High Priest? 2. Why can Christians boldly approach God in prayer? 3. How did the tearing of the veil change our access to God forever?

In this sermon, Chris Romig reflects on our longing for a true, eternal home, especially on Mother's Day when thoughts of home and family are prominent. Drawing from the final chapters of Revelation, Chris describes the Bible's vision of heaven as the ultimate fulfillment of this longing—a radiant, secure city filled with God's presence and glory. He cautions against popular and cultural misconceptions about heaven, urging believers to ground their hopes in Scripture alone. The details of the new Jerusalem—its immense, cube-like dimensions, jeweled walls, and pearly gates—are explored, with special attention to their symbolic connection to God's promise, security, and the redemption of sinners through grace. The city's design echoes the Holy of Holies, highlighting that believers will live forever in the presence of God. Pastor Chris emphasizes that heaven will be a place of community, healing, and eternal wholeness, where we will know one another and be our best selves. Most importantly, he points to the greatest joy of heaven: seeing God face to face, an experience once denied to mortals but promised to all who are in Christ. Concluding, Chris encourages the congregation to find comfort, gratitude, and hope in God's promises, looking forward to an eternal homecoming where "Jesus wins spectacularly" and believers will share in His glory forever.

Repenting of Unintentional Sin by Autumn Dickson In my last post, we talked about Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. As a quick review in case you missed the last post, this day was a solemn event with an undercurrent of joy. The main ritual of the day included two identical male goats. One goat would be sacrificed with its blood spread on the Holy of Holies and its fat burned on the altar. The priest would lay his hands on the second goat, pronounce the intentional and unintentional sins of Israel upon it, and then send the goat out into the wilderness. The first goat represented the payment of Israel's sins. The second goat represented the guilt being taken away from them. The detail that I want to explore from this ritual is when the priest symbolically transferred the sins of Israel onto the second goat. There are parallels to Christ in all of these steps and details, but that's the one I want to talk about today. Here's the verse that teaches us about this. Leviticus 16:21-22 21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: 22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness. Implication one from this detail: It is important to repent of unintentional sin. It is good for us. It makes us happier. I think of when my oldest daughter finally lashes out at my son when he's being purposefully obnoxious. My son often tortures his sisters repeatedly, not hurting them or saying directly mean things, but pushing their buttons until they explode on him. My daughter will hold out as long as she can until she finally explodes in a violent reaction. The violent reaction is more jarring than the relentless teasing, but whose heart is actually sinning (Yes, I recognize that both my kids are young and one isn't even accountable yet. This is about the principle, not the specific details)? My son is the one truly trying to make his sister batty; that's his entire purpose. My daughter never set out to bug or hurt him; she simply has the emotional control of an eight year old. And yet, she still needs to repent. She doesn't need to repent because she's evil and horrible and cursed. She needs to repent because it's going to make her happier. Repenting isn't just about atoning for what you've done; it's about changing so you're protected, close to Christ, and happier. In this specific example, my long-term goal for her repentance is to get to the point where her brother doesn't affect her. She just goes on in her life, unbothered by people who are purposefully trying to make her life harder. That's part of happiness, and therefore, repenting is a gift. Obviously, I need to help my son change too, but my principle here is about repenting of unintentional sins, not intentional ones. I used an example of violence, and I specifically used an example where she made a mistake because she's flawed like the rest of us. It's easy to see how violence needs to be repented of. However, these same principles apply when we're trying to do what's right but not worshiping how the Savior would have us worship. We talked about this recently with the golden calf incident. Maybe Israel wasn't trying to worship a different deity. Perhaps they had just created an idol in hopes of worshiping the God who had just delivered them. Perhaps their hearts were trying to do what's right but were misguided. Even if their hearts were in a good place, repentance of unintentional sin is important. Heavenly Father gives commandments to help us be good people, but He also gives us commandments to protect us from becoming bad. Seems like a silly nuance but let me elaborate. Israel could have very quickly devolved into worshiping the calf rather than the Lord even if their intention had been to worship the Lord in the beginning. They needed to repent because the Lord wanted to protect them. So even if the Israelites had unintentionally sinned (and I emphasize if since we don't know precisely where their hearts were), they still needed to repent! They still needed to repent of unintentional sins so they could remain close to the Lord where they would be happy. So quick recap so we can understand where we're going: The detail we're covering is that the priest symbolically transferred the unintentional and intentional sins of Israel up on the goat that would be released into the wilderness. Implication two from this detail: We're trying to change our sinful nature, not just listing off individual sins and saying sorry. Ultimate repentance is about changing to be like God, not racking up individual points that tip the scales and put us in the Celestial Kingdom. When I write my posts, I often use AI to help me get my details straight. I don't use it to actually write my content in case anyone was wondering, but I do use it to make sure I'm understanding timelines and facts. For example, I asked it to give me a play-by-play of the ritual so I wouldn't accidentally ruin one of the details. I turned to AI as I was writing this early in the morning and asked, “Did the Israelites write down their sins and give it to the priest to transfer over to the goat?” It was only after hitting “enter,” that I realized how ridiculous that question was. I blamed the early morning and brain fog. Anyway, AI responded by saying that no one gave the priest a long list of the sins they committed over the past year. First of all, that's terribly impractical. It's impractical (and unhealthy) to keep a list of all your sins, and it's impractical to list each sin of each individual for the entire society for the entire year. Second of all, a majority of them were illiterate. Like I said, I blame the early morning for my ridiculous question, but I'm actually grateful that I asked it because it led me to a beautiful implication. Because of my question, I more consciously realized that the Israelites weren't listing individual sins. It's not about repenting of individual sins and trying to garner points that put us in the Celestial Kingdom. It's about changing our nature to goodness. The priest didn't transfer each individual sin onto the goat for it to run out into the wilderness; the priest merely acknowledged the sinful nature for the year. Perhaps this seems cheap; it's so easy to go to Heavenly Father and be like, “I sinned a lot last year. Forgive me please.” However, religious rituals are only as cheap as you make them. This ritual wasn't about reliving every mistake and rebellion. This ritual wasn't about rehashing everything you did wrong. This ritual was about recognizing that you can't make it to heaven on your own. It's about fully understanding how lost you are without Christ and rejoicing as you watch that goat be taken away. It's about wanting to change into a new creature, one who is worthy and joyful, a person who can live in heaven and contribute to the atmosphere there and appreciate the atmosphere there. I testify that the Lord was sacrificed for our sins. I testify that He gave us an opportunity to remember that each week with the sacrament. Like with Yom Kippur, we have an opportunity to repent of unintentional and intentional sins so that we can be happier. We have an opportunity to sit with our reality as mortals who live in a fallen world who rely wholly on the merits of Christ and to rejoice that He is willing to carry us. Autumn Dickson was born and raised in a small town in Texas. She served a mission in the Indianapolis Indiana mission. She studied elementary education but has found a particular passion in teaching the gospel. Her desire for her content is to inspire people to feel confident, peaceful, and joyful about their relationship with Jesus Christ and to allow that relationship to touch every aspect of their lives. Autumn was the recipient of FAIR's 2024 John Taylor Defender of the Faith Award. The post Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Exodus 35–40; Leviticus 1; 4; 16; 19 – Part 2 – Autumn Dickson appeared first on FAIR.

April 29, 2026Today's Reading: Leviticus 16:1-24Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 16:1-24; Luke 10:1-22“And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness.” (Leviticus 16:21)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.The Day of Atonement in Leviticus sixteen is a tale of two goats. Both gathered at the tent of meeting. Both before the Lord. Both goats given by a gracious God to save his people and atone for all their iniquities.One goat was for a sin offering. A sacrifice. A substitute. The innocent for the guilty. Clean for the unclean. A life for a life. Blood sprinkled on the mercy seat. Atonement made by the Holy One of Israel in the Holy of Holies to make his people holy. To cover all their transgressions.The second goat was an offering as well—a living sacrifice. As Aaron laid his hands on this goat, he laid all the trespasses of the people upon it. All their sins. All their iniquities. This goat was sent packing away from the camp and into the wilderness. This goat, too, is a substitute. Sent away from God's presence so his people would remain in his presence. Given to bear Israel's sin so they would not have to. But there's more to this story. Two goats point to the One Lamb.Like the first goat, Jesus, is our sin offering. A sacrifice. A substitute. He is the innocent one who dies for the guilty. He is the Clean One who washes away all the filth of our uncleanness. He gives his life for your life. His blood is sprinkled and shed and poured out on the altar of the cross and then into a chalice upon the mercy seat of the altar in your church. And like the second goat, Jesus, went out into the wilderness. Jesus overcame Satan, where the Serpent overcame Adam and Eve. Jesus also bears the iniquities of the people, all people, on his head, as he goes outside the camp of Jerusalem. Into the wilderness of Golgotha, burdened and weighed down by all our trespasses, all our sins, all our iniquities. Jesus, the Lamb of God, is sent outside the city walls and is forsaken by God so that you and all who believe in him would remain in his presence. Jesus is given to bear our sin so we don't have to.This tale of two goats points us to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Where the paschal blood is poured, Death's dread angel sheathes the sword; Israel's hosts triumphant go through the wave that drowns the foe. Alleluia! (LSB 633:3)

Still Holding On To Guilt? by Autumn Dickson This week we're learning about the sacrifices and rituals of the Israelites in the wilderness. They had a temple that would go with them as they travelled, and there was immense symbolism all throughout this temple. Much of this symbolism was meant to draw the attention of the Israelites towards the atonement of Jesus Christ. It was called a sacrifice, but it was actually a blessing. One of the detailed rituals that we get to read about occurs on Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement. The central ritual on this day involved two identical male goats, both had to be perfectly healthy. Here are some of the details of that ritual. Leviticus 16:7-8 7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat. So the priest would cast lots to see which goat would take which role. The first goat would be killed, and its blood would be collected in a basin. The high priest would take that blood into the Holy of Holies and sprinkle it upward once and downward seven times. The fat would be burned, and the rest of the goat would be taken outside the camp and burned. This symbolized the payment of Israel's sins. The second goat was the scapegoat. The high priest would lay both hands on the goat and confess all of the intentional and unintentional sins of Israel upon the head of the goat. Essentially, the priest was symbolically transferring the guilt to the goat. A designated man would lead the goat into the remote wilderness and release it. This symbolized the guilt being removed from the Israelites. I love that they are separate processes. There are so many layers of symbolism, but one of the layers is something I talk about often: Christ already paid for the sins; what do we do with this knowledge? Think about the power of that second goat when it was taken as it was meant to be taken. Imagine being an Israelite and watching these rituals take place. You watch the ritual with the understanding that the Son of God would be sacrificed to pay for your sins, and then you watch another ritual in which your guilt runs off into the wilderness. I think one of the issues that we have in modern times is believing that the atonement of Jesus Christ occurred but holding on to our own sins anyway. It would be like having an understanding that the Son of God was sacrificed, watching the scapegoat be taken away, and still going home to reflect and beat yourself up over your own sins. The sacrifice of the first goat doesn't matter if you refuse to let go of the second goat. The fact that the second goat is now out in the wilderness didn't matter. You have to internalize both parts to receive joy. The atonement of Jesus Christ was incredible in and of itself. The act of love was immense and singular. Everything hinged on this sacrifice performed by Christ. But Christ didn't perform the sacrifice just to perform the sacrifice. The atonement of Jesus Christ enabled the Father to remain perfect with His promises, but it was meant for even more than that incredible purpose. It was meant to make us joyful. The atonement of Jesus Christ remains an independent fact of reality, but what we do with that knowledge determines whether it fills the fullness of its purpose in our lives. If Yom Kippur had only included the first goat, the Israelites could have learned about Christ and His atonement. They could have rejoiced that He paid for their sins, and they could have garnered hope from this sacrifice. But I love that it included the second goat, the scapegoat, because it highlights our need to utilize the atonement of Jesus Christ in our lives. It's not enough that He performed it; we have to bring that knowledge into our bones so that it changes us in a way that we are joyful. We have to send our guilt away from us. We have to put the weight down. It's a conscious, voluntary choice. I think many of us hope the guilt will simply be taken away from us, or at least that's what I used to think. I believed that if I was truly forgiven, I just wouldn't feel guilty anymore. The Lord would remove it for me. Interestingly enough, that's not how it usually works. The Lord is too wise to vanish our guilt away from us. The process of repentance wouldn't be nearly as effective in this way. If the Lord simply took away the guilt because it was paid for, we would learn nothing and we certainly wouldn't attach that redemption to the Son of God. We would just wake up in the morning and not feel guilty anymore. We might not even register the fact that the guilt was gone or we could unconsciously start to believe, “I can do what I want, and I don't feel bad about it. Maybe it's not even bad.” There were many times that I wanted the Lord to take the guilt away. I didn't want to carry it with me and I asked the Lord to take it away, but He was wise enough to wait for me to trust Him enough to set it down on my own. He waited for me to consciously say, “Christ promised that He took care of this. He promised that He's strong enough to save me. I'm going to voluntarily step onto that trust and send my guilt away.” This is the most powerful way to repent. It pushes us to recognize the source of our renewed cleanliness as well as the fact that what we did was wrong. Having consequences (including guilt) magically dissipate is unhealthy for our desire to do better. So the Lord paid for it, and then He waits for us to learn to trust Him so that we send the guilt away of our own accord. That's not to say Christ isn't present for every step of this process. He paid for the sins, and He didn't abandon me when I asked Him to take the guilt away. He just helped in a different way than making the guilt dissipate. The Israelites didn't have to individually lead their own scapegoat into the wilderness. There was still a representative who did that for them. The key here is that it needed to mean something to them. They had to trust that their representative would take care of it, and it would truly be gone. I'm grateful for a Savior who paid for my sins. I'm grateful that He was patient as I learned to trust Him rather than removing the very difficulties that helped me recognize my reality and love Him for it. I'm grateful that I've learned to set my sins and mistakes and embarrassments down; the Savior truly is mighty to save. That knowledge gives me hope in every situation I remember Him in. Autumn Dickson was born and raised in a small town in Texas. She served a mission in the Indianapolis Indiana mission. She studied elementary education but has found a particular passion in teaching the gospel. Her desire for her content is to inspire people to feel confident, peaceful, and joyful about their relationship with Jesus Christ and to allow that relationship to touch every aspect of their lives. Autumn was the recipient of FAIR's 2024 John Taylor Defender of the Faith Award. The post Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Exodus 35–40; Leviticus 1; 4; 16; 19 – Part 1 – Autumn Dickson appeared first on FAIR.

Yom Kippur is a different day than every other day of the year. It is the holiest day, the day of atonement, a day of fasting and prayer and repentance. When the Temple was extant, the Nations' attention was oriented around the high priest's services in God's holy Temple. This was the one time a year that the high priest walked into the Holy of Holies. Of the many different  services performed by the high priest on this day was a most peculiar one: Two identical goats were given very different fates, determined by a lottery: One was offered as a sacrifice to God on the altar in the Temple, and one was to serve as a scapegoat, bearing the sins of the nation. The scapegoat was sent away to the desert, to the wilderness, to Azazel, where it was chucked off a cliff side, thereby expiating the nation's sins. What is the message behind the process of the identical goats? What is the message behind the scapegoat? in this fantastic Parsha podcast, we learned the secret of the goats with a brand new twist.  – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –This Parsha podcast is dedicated in the merit of a speedy recovery of Yosef Shraga Halevi Ben Esther. May he have a Refuah Sheleima.– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –NEW TORCH Mailing Address POBox:TORCHPO BOX 310246HOUSTON, TX 77231-0246– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –Email me with questions, comments, and feedback: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletterrabbiwolbe.com/newsletter– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe's PodcastsThe Parsha PodcastThe Jewish History PodcastThe Mitzvah Podcast This Jewish LifeThe Ethics PodcastTORAH 101 ★ Support this podcast ★

EXODUS LESSON 70 PART TWO If you haven't watched part one, make sure you do.  Can't watch part two unless you have watched part one.  Here's the link to part one ... LINK - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/exodus-70-exodus-301-38-part-one-the-altar-of-incense-and-the-bronze-lavar/   We're at Exodus chapter 30 and once again we find another example of verses in God's word that we might read once and never again.  It seems like the detail has no transferable meaning for us now, today, and our walk with the Lord.  So we "read over" the words and seem to say we don't need to understand this detail. But, we'd be wrong.  This chapter is at the end of an amazing set of chapters from 25 through 30.  It's all about God's Holy Dwelling place, His Mishkan Kodesh, or as its better known as His TABERNACLE which comes from the Latin meaning tent.  As we have seen so far as we dig deep, as we put the Mishkan HaKodesh in its historical context, as we try and study the garments of the High Priest and the Priests, as we focus in on the Menorah, the Table of Shewbread, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies in their ancient cultural context, we find a depth of meaning so powerful and so related to us today. The video podcast (I call it a vidcast) is in two parts.  PART ONE ... is on the Altar of Incense and the Bronce Laver.  Getting the foundational understanding of there parts of Hs Mishkan HaKodesh, we are able to see how this relates to our Lord, our Yeshua, God Himself who came to dwell with us.  Once we study the specific events in Jesus' life as related to the Altar of Incense and the Bronze Laver, our understanding becomes clearer.  To know the events in Jesus' life many time s we need to set them in their context in the Torah, the first five books of the Bible. PART TWO ... is on the meeting between Nicodemus and Jesus.  It was a critical meeting and Jesus tells Nicodemus he and all Jews and Gentiles they must be born again.  Nicodemus is confused.  Born again?  We must re-enter our mother's womb and be reborn.  But, Jesus is talking about a Jewish set of requirements related to Tehveelah – טבילה or immersion or dipping or dunking or baptism in a Miqveh – מִקְוֶה or an object where water is gathered alike a bathtub of a pool.                          My personal picture of an ancient Miqveh at the ancient site of Qumran                                         that was in use in Jesus' day.                                     A modern Miqveh from Wikimedia                                         It is related to the use of the High Priest and Priests of the Bronze Laver we'll study in part two of this two part vidcast.  Once we put all this in its historical context things make a whole lot of sense.  We'll learn that “being born again” was a Jewish concept so well understood in Jesus' day.  Here's a link to study the idea of ritual immersion and where it came from.  The idea of Jewish ritual immersion (baptism) is an unbiblical idea.  God never commanded it or created it. Link - https://www.thetorah.com/article/on-the-origins-of-tevilah-ritual-immersion Also, in PART TWO we will study the census and the collection of a half shekel from each man 20 years of older; in other words from the Israeli army of those days.  It seems likely that this tax was a means for soldier to pay a symbolic amount for his atonement since he had to kill in battle.  It's almost as is God is saying, even in a just war, that life is precious, and even killing another, our enemy, in a just war, that God views this as necessary but against His view that all life is important.  The half shekel is a symbol of the bigger picture that all human life is important in God's eyes even if it is a cruel and evil enemy.  They were made in His image and likeness.  It is a way for the Israeli soldier to do a real act to seek God's "covering" over the killing the soldier may need to do ina just war. The vidcast ends with God's directions on making His anointing oil and His incense.  It is the last orders of God for the entire Tabernacle.  The anointing oil is a perfume that is put on all objects and the High Priest and Priests.  The whole Tabernacle was filled with the fragrance of God's anointing oil.  God knows we can't see Him.  But, in chapters 25-30 not only do we see His dwelling place and His priests but now we can smell the fragrance of the Lord as we come near to Him where He dwells with us.  REminds me of us to be the fragrance of Christ to the world.  We are to be His disciples which means we are to be like our rabbi.  We are to a reflection of Yeshua to all.  We are to be the Fragrance of Messiah.  ASs God spread His fragrance throughout the Tabernacle so now Yeshua has His fragrance from the annointing oil on Him as Messiah.  And, we are to be like Him and so His fragrance is on us so we spread it to the world.  For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;  to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. 2 Cor. 2:15-17 We end with the incense.  The priest must burn incense when the Menorah is extinguished in the morning and incense it to be burn when the Menorah is again relit for the night as a light shining in the darkness.  Our question might be is God using the cloud of incense to tell us He is here, in the Tabernacle, 24/7, dwelling with His people, and the smoke of the incense is like His Spirt among us?  Perhaps.  It seems to make sense.  Ad our final conclusion to all this is all this is קדושים ביותר יהוה אלוהינו Kodesh Bayoter Yahvay Elohaynoo Most Holy to the Lord our God Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  (Ferret - in Timnah Park just north of Eilat Israel) What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

“A Better Tabernacle - Its Contents: Part 2 • Hebrews 9:3-4 – Elder Bryce Lowrance   The Old Testament Covenant of Worship taught the children of Israel and us that perfection was required in order to be in fellowship with a Holy God. The various items in the tabernacle and temple were pictures of Jesus Christ. Elder Lowrance continues his explanations of the types and shadows in the Holiest of Holies discussing the golden scepter, the manna, Aaron's rod, the ark, and the tables of the covenant.    Part 2 begins with the description of the contents of the Ark of the Covenant. This message was preached on Sunday, September 29, 2024.

The first verse of our Parsha revisits a tragic event from the past. The Torah tells us that after the death of Aaron's sons Nadav and Avihu, Moshe was instructed to command Aaron about the prohibition against entering the Holy of Holies unauthorized. What is the significance of the tragic demise of Aaron's two sons […]

The first verse of our Parsha revisits a tragic event from the past. The Torah tells us that after the death of Aaron's sons Nadav and Avihu, Moshe was instructed to command Aaron about the prohibition against entering the Holy of Holies unauthorized. What is the significance of the tragic demise of Aaron's two sons to the the instruction governing when and how Aaron may enter the Holy of Holies? This question is addressed by the commentators, and in this very special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we go deep and deeper in pondering the subject and it's vast and powerful consequences. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –NEW TORCH Mailing Address POBox:TORCHPO BOX 310246HOUSTON, TX 77231-0246– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –Email me with questions, comments, and feedback: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletterrabbiwolbe.com/newsletter– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe's PodcastsThe Parsha PodcastThe Jewish History PodcastThe Mitzvah Podcast This Jewish LifeThe Ethics PodcastTORAH 101  ★ Support this podcast ★

EXODUS LESSON 70 PART ONE We're at Exodus chapter 30 and once again we find another example of verses in God's word that we might read once and never again.  It seems like the detail has no transferable meaning for us now, today, and our walk with the Lord.  So we "read over" the words and seem to say we don't need to understand this detail. But, we'd be wrong.  This chapter is at the end of an amazing set of chapters from 25 through 30.  It's all about God's Holy Dwelling place, His Mishkan Kodesh, or as its better known as His TABERNACLE which comes from the Latin meaning tent.  As we have seen so far as we dig deep, as we put the Mishkan HaKodesh in its historical context, as we try and study the garments of the High Priest and the Priests, as we focus in on the Menorah, the Table of Shewbread, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies in their ancient cultural context, we find a depth of meaning so powerful and so related to us today. The video podcast (I call it a vidcast) is in two parts.  Part one is on the Altar of Incense and the Bronce Laver.  Getting the foundational understanding of there parts of Hs Mishkan HaKodesh, we are able to see how this relates to our Lord, our Yeshua, God Himself who came to dwell with us.  Once we study the specific events in Jesus' life as related to the Altar of Incense and the Bronze Laver, our understanding becomes clearer.  To know the events in Jesus' life many time s we need to set them in their context in the Torah, the first five books of the Bible. Part two is on the meeting between Nicodemus and Jesus.  It was a critical meeting and Jesus tells Nicodemus he and all Jews and Gentiles they must be born again.  Nicodemus is confused.  Born again?  We must re-enter our mother's womb and be reborn.  But, Jesus is talking about a Jewish set of requirements related to Tehveelah – טבילה or immersion or dipping or dunking or baptism in a Miqveh – מִקְוֶה or an object where water is gathered alike a bathtub of a pool.                          My personal picture of an ancient Miqveh at the ancient site of Qumran                                         that was in use in Jesus' day.                                     A modern Miqveh from Wikimedia                                         It is related to the use of the High Priest and Priests of the Bronze Laver we'll study in part two of this two part vidcast.  Once we put all this in its historical context things make a whole lot of sense.  We'll learn that “being born again” was a Jewish concept so well understood in Jesus' day.  Here's a link to study the idea of ritual immersion and where it came from.  The idea of Jewish ritual immersion (baptism) is an unbiblical idea.  God never commanded it or created it. Link - https://www.thetorah.com/article/on-the-origins-of-tevilah-ritual-immersion Also, in part two we will study the census and the collection of a half shekel from each man 20 years of older; in other words from the Israeli army of those days.  It seems likely that this tax was a means for soldier to pay a symbolic amount for his atonement since he had to kill in battle.  It's almost as is God is saying, even in a just war, that life is precious, and even killing another, our enemy, in a just war, that God views this as necessary but against His view that all life is important.  The half shekel is a symbol of the bigger picture that all human life is important in God's eyes even if it is a cruel and evil enemy.  They were made in His image and likeness.  It is a way for the Israeli soldier to do a real act to seek God's "covering" over the killing the soldier may need to do ina just war. The vidcast ends with God's directions on making His anointing oil and His incense.  It is the last orders of God for the entire Tabernacle.  The anointing oil is a perfume that is put on all objects and the High Priest and Priests.  The whole Tabernacle was filled with the fragrance of God's anointing oil.  God knows we can't see Him.  But, in chapters 25-30 not only do we see His dwelling place and His priests but now we can smell the fragrance of the Lord as we come near to Him where He dwells with us. We end with the incense.  The priest must burn incense when the Menorah is extinguished in the morning and incense it to be burn when the Menorah is again relit for the night as a light shining in the darkness.  Our question might be is God using the cloud of incense to tell us He is here, in the Tabernacle, 24/7, dwelling with His people, and the smoke of the incense is like His Spirt among us?  Perhaps.  It seems to make sense.  Ad our final conclusion to all this is all this is קדושים ביותר יהוה אלוהינו Kodesh Bayoter Yahvay Elohaynoo Most Holy to the Lord our God Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  (Ferret - in Timnah Park just north of Eilat Israel) What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

“A Better Tabernacle - Its Contents • Hebrews 9:3-4 – Elder Bryce Lowrance   The Old Testament Covenant of Worship taught the children of Israel and us that perfection was required in order to be in fellowship with a Holy God. The various items in the tabernacle and temple were pictures of Jesus Christ. Elder Lowrance continues his explanations of the types and shadows in the Holiest of Holies discussing the golden scepter, the manna, Aaron's rod, the ark, and the tables of the covenant.  This message was preached on Sunday, September 29, 2024.

Greater Than - Hebrews | Pastor Chris Heller   Hebrews 8 This week we return to our study of Hebrews and explore the “new covenant” established by God that is far greater than the former. At the center of this new covenant is Jesus, our perfect High Priest, who sits in the heavens with God the Father.   We'll get a new perspective of Christ through his priesthood and begin examining the functions of the tabernacle, focusing on the outer gate and the door this week. Over the next few weeks, we'll go deeper as we enter into the outer court and eventually reach the innermost sacred chamber, the Holy of Holies.   What does this new covenant mean for the believer? Where is the tabernacle today, and where does God dwell? Join us this week to find out!

Safely Hidden in Christ (1) (audio) David Eells, 4/12/26   Exhortation to Abide, from Abba Father  8/12/25, Sarah Jo-Jo  A servant is not greater than his Lord. (John 13 and John 15) My Word tells you not to fear, be anxious for nothing. (Deuteronomy 31, Joshua 1, Isaiah 41, Luke 12…) Fear not, for I am with you. Do not murmur in the wilderness (Phil 2, 1 Cor 10) but wait patiently for Me as you endure the perfecting of your faith. Believe in Me, and I told those who wait for Me that I will complete the good work that I began in them. I alone am Faithful and True (Revelation 19) I AM, there is no other. There is no other Saviour… so choose this day, this breath, whom you will trust and believe and follow. My Word is Truth and will never pass away. (1 Peter, Isaiah 40) Men are as grass and will pass away. Your own understanding and walking by sight is included in that which will pass away. Again, I tell you, choose whom you will trust and follow in this moment. I said murmur not, endure and trust Me, that I AM TRUTH. I do not lie. I will deliver you, so submit to My pruning as I train you in My righteousness. If you choose to fear and worry by what you see and hear in the flesh, then you are disobeying Me. I said do not fear. Do not worry. Choose this day whom you will obey and trust. Your choice is shown in fear of the Lord God Almighty, shown in your obedience to My Words, not passing My Word off as mere suggestions. I said DO NOT worry. DO NOT walk by sight but by My Spirit. And only by obeying and abiding in Me will you walk by My Spirit. If you choose your own way, how can you say that you are Mine? Harden not your heart at My Word. To whom will you go if you depart from My Truth, which is the only thing that will endure forever, My Word? Seek My Kingdom and righteousness first. Turn from your wicked ways. Embrace My ways of self-denial and Love. My servants are no greater than their Lord and His Example, Who gave His life for His friends. Love Me first…Read Deuteronomy 6, Matthew 22, Mark 12 Abide in Me, talk to Me as David did, and My Son, your Lord Jesus Christ; He went away into the secret places to abide with Me, to seek Me with all of His heart, to sup with Me… come to the secret places of the Most High and abide under the shadow of My wings…so that your flesh is denied and so that My Spirit will be in you, in order that my will is done through My servants on the earth. Apart from My Spirit abiding in you, apart from Me, you can do nothing. So seek Me, let Me prune away your lust of the flesh and to promote yourself. Let Me humble you that I may use you. Read Isaiah 66 1-2, 5-7 My Word says Jesus is your Lord, and also your Example. Hear Him, My Son in Whom I am well pleased. Hear with spiritual ears, hearts that deny self, flesh, your own understanding… walk not by sight (or hearing or the worlds carnal thinking). Every Word of God is your daily bread, Manna. I AM The Bread of Life. So walk by faith in these days, My children. I said DO NOT worry about provision… am I your Provider? Or are you your provider, as Egypt, or men? Do not murmur when your flesh suffers… Am I asleep? No, I neither slumber nor sleep, and I already know what you need before you ask. I know more about what your needs are and what your lack is more than you do (like the churches in Revelation did not see what I do), for I AM The Way, The Truth, The Life. Choose: Believe that My Ways are higher, and that every Word of Mine is Truth, despite what your friends choose. Despite the Achans in Joshua 7 who think that I don't see their unbelief… their double minded hearts… wanting to be Mine, claiming to those around them that they are Mine and yet not believing that I will give to each what I know they need… not as the world gives… not as the world commands to lust after and fleshly lust obeys, not what self wants, what walking by sight promotes. Achan didn't believe that trusting My Word was enough. He became his own provider. 1 John 2 I tell you to seek Me, and ask ME! I know what you need. Trust Me, even in your lack and sorrow. I am doing My work. Was not David young and small? Did he gain My Strength by what his eyes saw? Did he bow to the cajoles of others? In 1 Samuel 17 He trusted in Me, THE LIVING GOD…there is no other. Did David defeat the giant, the bear, and the lion, and survive Saul's persecution by his own understanding and cunning? No, look at David's heart cries toward Me in the Psalms. Who was David's strength, and in Whom did he tell his downcast soul to hope in? Matthew 16: Jesus, your Lord is the Son of The Living God. I Am the same. I am Living and active and My Word will perform that which I send it to do, and My Word is Truth that sanctifies those who desire My righteousness and reject self, and the world and embrace My entire Word as Truth, understand when My Spirit is in them, when they obey My commands to deny self, walk in love that is kind, not rude, does not promote self, thinks no evil. When sin is rejected, and you humble yourself before Me and ask ME, The Potter, to make you My vessel of honor for My glory. You come to Me and turn from wickedness, and I will form you and cleanse you. In this spiritual war, I AM your helmet, the God of your salvation. I AM TRUTH. I give you faith, and I AM your SHIELD. I AM YOUR ARMOR AS I WAS FOR DAVID. Abide in Me. Come away from all else and seek Me in the secret place. Be diligent in prayer and abide in Me…I, the Prince of Peace, will perfect My peace and love and faith in you… And I give not as the world gives. The world does not have the Living Water that is to fill you and flow out of you. Obey Me and walk by My Holy Spirit, that is shown in fruit such as LOVE… the self-denying kind that seeks others' profit above self (1 Corinthians 10) I have said that cursed are those who trust in man (Jeremiah 17) …and don't rely on Egypt… do not turn back and long for the world's ways as those in the wilderness did, as Lot's wife did, and as Job's wife became bitter because of her loss. Do not rely on your own self or lean on your own understanding. Commit your way to Me. I will lead you in My way. This is your choice. I AM the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Declare My wonderful works after My fire has refined you… walk according to My Spirit and Love. Those who are Mine will only defeat giants by My Spirit abiding in them, My Word on hearts and minds and mouths… Let new songs to Me be upon their lips, songs of praise to their God. Submit to Me… Those who do My Will are my family (Matthew 12). 2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing [or wishing] that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.   Hidden in the Secret Place J.K. - 02/14/2011 (David's notes in red) I saw David standing in front of me with blueprints held out. He was given blueprints showing a narrow tunnel guide. There seemed to be many people who could see these plans, but only a smaller number of people began shoveling the underground tunnel right away. Some people just stood around and wondered what we were doing. Others kind of helped out in their curiosity, half-heartedly digging, wondering about the underground tunnel plans. But others in the front were just digging as fast as they could and not looking back or worrying much about what was ahead or behind. (After being shown the Biblical plan of being hidden in Christ, those in front were making a way for the rest of the underground Church to abide in the “secret place of the Most High”. 1Co.2:7 but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, [even] the [wisdom] that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory. Col.2:3 in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden. Rev.2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna.) The odd thing was the tunnel stopped being built underground after a short ways and then somehow we were building the tunnel up and above the ground. We were still building the tunnel, but it was invisible, and we were building it with invisible material. There were even narrow steps inside the tunnel that we built and climbed. The tunnel was never very wide; we actually had to stay on our knees while building and working our way through it. (This path that is hidden from the beast will increasingly be hidden in plain sight as they minister to the world. Constant contact with God in prayer will be needed to stay in this hidden way.) Even though the tunnel was tight and a lot of work to build, we never got tired, and we had plenty of air to breathe, but we could look down and see the people who never entered the underground tunnel. We could hear them talking and reasoning why they didn't enter the tunnel. (Those who live only in the natural cannot understand the spiritual way of faith and power. It is a secret place even to them. The breath of air represents the Spirit of God who makes this way possible since breath and Spirit are the same word in scripture.) Some said they didn't want to get dirty. Others said that it wasn't a big deal; there was nothing to be concerned about, and that we were all crazy. They said, who knew where we were going and if it was even safe to enter. Others said they would stay up to fight, and God would give them the victory in war if they fought. Everyone basically agreed with the other person's reasoning and encouraged them not to enter the underground tunnel, shaking their heads at us, who had already gone in as fools in their eyes. (Those who are natural will fight with flesh and blood instead of principalities and powers, and they will lose the battle. The tunnel is for those who are hidden in Christ's security and protection. Because they are walking in Christ they are hidden. Col 3:3  For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4  When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory.  1Co.2:14 Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged.) The group that entered the tunnel was much smaller than the group that didn't enter the tunnel, and the group that went ahead building the tunnel was even smaller. (In the Church today, those who walk in the natural are many more than those who walk in the Spirit, and the leaders from among these are even fewer.) No one complained about having to build the tunnel ahead for everyone else. They actually enjoyed the labor and became energetic by doing the work. No one talked about how much work they did or how much work others didn't do. They were just overjoyed for the most part to have had the chance to dig. David never handed out tools or told anyone what they had to do; he just pointed out the plans, and everyone somehow knew where to begin, and we somehow all had different tools to dig with. There were never any orders flying around; everyone just talked very agreeably as we worked very hard alongside one another. (The Spiritual Church doesn't have to have bit and bridle; it is in their renewed mind and heart to hear and obey God's Word and voice.) We would stop and look down and could see a war break out right under us. (Overcoming the world to see things from a heavenly perspective and have dominion over it.) Even though no one could see us, we could see them, and we watched as the people who said they didn't want to enter the tunnel got mowed down with swords by a line of angry men in red robes and oversized frowns. (Red robes represent Esau, who was red, the father of Edom, meaning, red. They were judged for hating their chosen brethren with frowns. Rev.13:10 If any man [is] for captivity, into captivity he goeth: if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed.) They seemed to be killing with a very personal grudge and had no mercy at the crying. (This could represent two parables: spiritual and physical. The apostate enemies in our midst who make war with their brethren, like Judas, who walked in sin, which is represented as red. Isa.1:18 ... though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. “Edom” means “red” and was the name given to Esau when he sold his birthright as a son of Abraham. Gen.25:30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red [pottage]. For I am faint. Therefore was his name called Edom. 31 And Jacob said, Sell me first thy birthright. The spiritual seed of Esau are Edomites who have sold their birthright as Christians by walking after the flesh and persecuting their brothers. Heb.12:15 looking carefully lest [there be] any man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby the many be defiled; 16 lest [there be] any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat (flesh) sold his own birthright. These false Christians are enemies of the cross and are members of the beast army, by nature. The larger beast army is the second, more physical, meaning.) I discerned that even though the natural men in red robes couldn't see us, there were evil spirits in them that knew us and could see us, and would fire what looked like black arrows at us with no success and as they saw they couldn't penetrate us at all and their arrows would fall down before even touching us, which fueled their anger against those they could touch. (The lies of demons will have no effect on the people of faith. Eph.6:16 withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil [one].) It was a lopsided victory for the army in red. Stray bullets and shrapnel came our way, but the invisibility tunnel in the air that we were viewing everything from took all the impact and never got damaged. (No accidents or collateral damage can happen to those in the Secret Place. Psa.91:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand; [But] it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, And see the reward of the wicked. 9 For thou, O Jehovah, art my refuge! Thou hast made the Most High thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, Neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent. 11 For he will give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.) We were not very high up, just above everyone's head, just beyond their reach, and no one was afraid of getting hurt. We were just amazed at the number of people who never entered the tunnel after seeing the plans that were made for them to escape. (Their Babylonish training destroyed them from being able to see and hear the truth.) By the end of the battle, I turned around, thinking I would see a bunch of people in the tunnel, but the tunnel opened up and became very roomy, and I stood up and walked, but I saw there were only two women and a little baby. (At the beginning this represents a remnant of the Church with the Man-child that will be all who abide in the Word and Jesus, who were in the Secret Place.) That was so odd it actually shook me awake. I remembered the dream so clearly because of being awakened from it in this way.   Hidden and Taught in Christ Sandy Shaw - 07/20/2015 (David's notes in red) Dream #1 I found myself inside of what looked like an old apartment building. (The Church is many houses built together into a temple for the Lord.) I remember in the dream of being very tired (like the building and the old order Church). As I looked out in front of me, I saw five steps. (Steps of faith to grace, which is represented by the number 5.) And just as I began to step down onto the first step, I said, “Okay, Lord. The second part”. When I did step down onto the first step, I no longer felt tired. (Partial grace received to run the race.) I proceeded up the remainder of the steps, and the first door I needed to take was on the right. (Steps of faith bring us to a higher place in God and fullness of grace to go through the door, who is Christ; i.e., they left the sheepfold, as in John 10, following Christ. The Bride comes out of the mother church but according to Song of Soloman they seek to bring their beloved there. John, seeing the disciples following Jesus, said, “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom”.) The door was old, and there was evidence of a sign on the door, but the sign was no longer there, just the shadowy outline of where the sign had once been. (Jesus gave the sign that He was and is the door, but He is no longer here in person; His spirit and Word are manifest in those who go through the door.) I opened the door and the room was very dark. (The old order mother church is very much in darkness. The Bride has not been in this place for many years.) I turned on the light, and the light itself reminded me of one of the old-fashioned types of light fixtures that they would have had years ago, that you turned on by hand. (We turn on the power and light by faith for the mother church. the old-fashioned light is the original light of those who were in mother. We must start out where they are and slowly bring them higher and out.)  1Jn.2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him: 6 he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked... (He who loves his brother turns on the light so they can walk in the steps of Christ.) 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him... (We are called to be weak to the weak that we may gain some as Paul said.) 24 As for you, let that abide in you which ye heard from the beginning. If that which ye heard from the beginning abide in you, ye also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father. Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.) When I turned it on, I noticed that the walls were painted navy blue, and I did not see any windows. (No windows shows their lack of discernment. Navy blue is heavenly, but in a time of darkness.) On the right side of the room was a door. I went up to the door and opened it, and discovered it was a closet with three babies inside. These babies looked to be four or five months old. (All those in the mother churches are babies. Many innocent spiritual babies will be entrusted to the Bride, such as it was with Esther and the people of God.) The babies were dressed in heavy snowsuits of a grayish color. (These babies are coming in out of the cold of persecution and tribulation to be sheltered by the Bride for instruction and to be delivered of their beastly or grayish works.) I took the babies out of the closet, and there was a braided rug of variegated brown colors in the middle of the floor, so I laid the babies down onto this rug. (These babies may be resting in a time of brown-shirt Nazism -- those traitors who turn on their own people to deliver them to the beast.) I noticed that there were boxes all over the place. It looked like someone was moving in or moving out. (Some Christians start out in moms church but soon leave to get spiritual food.) I thought in this dream that it was summertime because I was dressed in a sundress. (A time of new life and blessing to the Bride.) I thought to myself, “Why are these babies dressed in snowsuits when I'm dressed in a sundress?” (They are dressed for the winter because tribulation comes. After the light is turned on the testing comes when the Woman goes into the wilderness tribulation following the Man-child. The first 3 1/2 years of the tribulation, they are relatively protected while in training, as it was under Jesus' ministry. Just as Jesus first raised up the Bride and sent them into the harvest, so it will be with the Man-child and Bride in our day. The old order woman is part of the harvest for they have not come completely into the Kingdom. Rev.12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that there they may nourish her a thousand two hundred and threescore days... 14 And there were given to the woman the two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness unto her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.) On the kitchen table was a shiny silver box with a white cotton bow. (A free gift.) I untied the bow and opened the box and discovered three white baby t-shirts and three pairs of white shorts. I took these clothes and put them on the babies. (The immature will be clothed in the pure works for the season. The innocent are covered and are expected to learn slowly.) After dressing the babies, I began feeling the walls because I felt something wasn't right about this room, and that's when I discovered a window that had been boarded up. (It is time for them to be given spiritual discernment for the light has been turned on. Pray for the old order church to be prepared for the wilderness.) I took out the screws that were on the left side of the boards that were covering up the window. You could not see out of this window very well, as it had a lattice blocking the view from the other side. (Lattice is easier to see out of; from the inside but it is harder to see in from the outside. The old order are hiding out in suspended animation but now the light is on.) However, as I was looking through the lattice, I could see falling ash. (Could this be volcanic ash that falls after the time of the earthquakes? We are expecting revival at that time.) As I was looking at the ash, I heard a conversation going on in the hallway. This is what I heard: “Man, you see that snow? It's really snowing hard! It's really coming down”. I closed the window back up and screwed the boards back into place. (Many are still in a state of denial, not seeing the evil time for what it is.) I still could hear voices and what sounded like a commotion out in the hall. I looked over to the right side of the room, and there was a blanket lying on the floor. I reached down and picked up the blanket, and I covered the babies who were lying on the rug. (The Bride will cover those “on the right,” the sheep, when the right wing and Christianity are being persecuted, having lost all rights under dictatorship and martial law.) I then began walking toward the door, and as I was walking, I began to pray. I asked the Lord for His protection and to please make it so I didn't have to lie. The room changed from a dark navy blue color to a light bright blue color, and the door opened before I could get there. (Those whose darkness has turned to light will be under the protection of the Lord.) Just then, a Chinese man walked into the room, wearing a heavy black coat. (These martial law people are in the winter of tribulation.) He had a very heavy accent, and his English was very broken. He said to me, “What you do? What you do?” I said to him, “I have done nothing”. (Truly, the Bride has done nothing wrong, except in the eyes of the government.) Then he said back to me, “We know you don't”. Just then, a Chinese soldier walked into the room, and these two Chinese men began talking to each other. Then, the first man turned around, and he asked, “How many children did you have?” I said, “I only have one son, and he is grown with a family of his own and does not live with me”. (A time of martial law when Christians are not in favor with the Beast, but those who are holy have favor with their Father who rules over the Beast.) The soldier then turned toward the hallway, and he spoke to someone outside of the room whom I could not see. He asked the man in the hallway, “Who gave you this information?” The man in the hallway, whom I could not see, said, “Sam and Joe”. Then the soldier said, “Bring them to me”, meaning Sam and Joe. They all left at this time and slammed the door as they left. They never at any time saw the babies. (Sam and Joe are factious traitors against the Christ in us, represented by the Bride and babies. Judas led the Beast to Jesus, but then he died by his own hands. The factious who have not repented will go into captivity. They are out of favor with the Father who rules the Beast. Anyone found lying to the martial law authorities may be killed.) I sat down in an Indian-type position on the floor with the babies, and I helped them hold their bottles, which were filled with clear water. (The milk of the water of the Word.) I said to myself in this dream, “I need to ask M. L. how to feed multiple babies”. I took one of the babies in my arms, and I said, “You don't have to worry. The Lord is our refuge, and He will provide for us. He is our deliverer”. (That's how to feed them with faith.) End of dream. Dream #2 I dreamed I was on a road that looked like a four-lane highway, which is close to me in real life. The outside lanes were filled with people walking, running, and riding bikes. I was in my wheelchair going with them. (The Bride will not go into captivity on the broad road with everyone else.) I went off the road through some trees and discovered a brook-type body of water. I wanted to put my foot down into this water. I was excited, and I thought the water was going to be cold, but it wasn't; it was just refreshing. (This represents the living waters of the Word from the throne of God through Jesus in the Man-child ministry.) I stood up out of my chair, and when I did, I had both of my feet! (A healing awaited for it has come through the living waters, as it will for many. Many will walk in the Word, too.) I started walking in this water. When I got to where the water was chest high, I stopped. I stopped because I thought I was going to swim in this water, but I needed to submerge myself and swim over to the other side. (These are the deep waters of the Word to swim in, as in the Ezekiel 47 revelation, where the living waters flowed from the house of God and brought healing wherever it went.) Then I heard three toddlers, and they were speaking on the side of the road, but I could not understand what they were saying. (In parallel to the first dream where the three babies were hidden safely in Christ.) I got out of the water and walked toward the road and the babies, and no one was paying any attention to them. (Because they are hidden, even beside the broad road.) I said to them, “Shh”, and picked them up and went back into the water. I waded in the water with the babies, and on the right side of this brook was a lady, and behind her was a cave. (She brought them to a hidden place of discipleship in the wilderness, the underground Church.) She was a beautiful older lady with long white hair past her hips. She was wearing a white flowing dress made out of scarf-like material. (Those of the Bride with wisdom and maturity to teach the babies.) The bottom of the dress appeared to have points like a scarf, and the dress had long, flowing sleeves. This woman looked at me and said, “You found them! Bring them to me. Now go and get the others”. (Some of the Bride will be evangelists to bring in the wayward, and some will be wise teachers to raise up the babies.) So, I went back into the water, and I waded a little way, and I saw B. off to the right of the brook, standing on the bank, and she had 12 women with her. (The Bride bringing in the elect of God, represented by the number 12. Only the chosen will escape captivity at this time. Later, others, after suffering under the crucifixion of the Beast, will be chosen to escape captivity, too. Rev.13:10 If any man is for captivity, into captivity he goeth: if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.) B. A. asked, “Are you ready to take us?” Rev.12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that there they may nourish her a thousand two hundred and threescore days. Then B. A. and the 12 women got into the water with me, and we walked in the water together until it was chest deep. I knew in this dream that we were headed for the cave. (Our heart must be bathed in the living waters, even before our mind is.) Why do we need to obey God's Word and be faithful servants? Several reasons: God has called us to do something very important for many Christians in these days, but first we must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him and His Word. If we do not obey the Lord, we will miss His will for ourselves and a multitude of other people, including our children, spiritual and physical. Hos.4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children. We have to believe and obey or there is no promise for our children to be saved. 1Co.7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. Pro.11:21 [Though] hand [join] in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished; But the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. Psa.102:28 The children of thy servants shall continue, And their seed shall be established before thee. Pro.20:7 A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him. Psa.112:2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: The generation of the upright shall be blessed. Gen.6:18 But with you will I establish my covenant; and you shall come into the ark, you, and your sons, and your wife, and your sons' wives with you. Gen.7:1 And the LORD said to Noah, Come you and all your house into the ark; for you have I seen righteous before me in this generation. Gen.13:15 For all the land which you see, to you will I give it, and to your seed for ever. Gen.19:12 And the men said to Lot, Have you here any besides? son in law, and your sons, and your daughters, and whatever you have in the city, bring them out of this place... 15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters that are here, lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. 16 But he lingered; and the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters, Jehovah being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. Deu.4:37 And because he loved your fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought you out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt; 2Ki.8:19 Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David his servant's sake, as he promised him to give him always a light, and to his children. Psa.37:26 He is ever merciful, and lends; and his seed is blessed. 112:2 His seed shall be mighty on earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. The seed, spiritual and physical, of the David/Man-child will be blessed. Psa.89:3 I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant: 4 Thy seed will I establish for ever, And build up thy throne to all generations... 29 His seed also will I make to endure for ever, And his throne as the days of heaven. 30 If his children forsake my law, And walk not in mine ordinances; 31 If they break my statutes, And keep not my commandments; 32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, And their iniquity with stripes. 33 But my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, Nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. See our free PDF book Saving Our Families By Faith   Man-child, Bride, Two Witnesses: Hidden in Christ Amos Scaggs - 02/13/2008 (David's notes in red) In a dream, I saw myself escorting a beautiful young woman to different places. She had been seen with me on many occasions. (I represent the first-fruits ministry. The young woman is the new Bride-to-be.) (“Amos” in Hebrew means “carried by God” and “Eagle”, which symbolizes the overcomer man-child. John the Baptist said of Jesus as the man-child who led the Bride of His day, “He that hath the bride is the Bridegroom”.) While doing so, I met my previous romance, which was over and done with many years ago. The older romance person commented on how beautiful the young woman was, but in a sarcastic manner, and went on her way, not wanting to stay around. (This is the apostate church as we know it today. She was very old and jealous and will say all kinds of harsh things about the new young bride emerging from her.) (Amos outgrew the fellowship of the apostate church years ago. She is old because the curse of 2000 years is heavy upon her.) I saw the older romance person later on, lined up in a slave labor group. She looked very old and ridiculed me for escorting the young woman around and being with her so much. She said it didn't look right, and other words were muttered. (The apostate church will go into bondage to the beast system and try to do whatever it takes to survive in the upcoming tribulation.) Next, I was also in the company of two friends who were taking me to a secret location. I hadn't really considered them close friends at first, but now they were closer to me than I thought they were. (These are the Two Witness company that will also assist in God's harvest.) (The Man-child company will raise up the Two Witness company in the first 3 !/2 years of the tribulation, as it was foreshadowed by Jesus and His corporate Two Witnesses. Then they will solo.) We found ourselves riding beside a number of railroad tracks, which were on the edge of a very large cliff, of which you couldn't see the bottom. It was terrifying to look over the edge. (These many railroad tracks represent multitudes on a traditional way that never changes paths and are in great danger of falling into the pit.) We were on the way over a hill to the secret location. (Those on the broad road are not able to go to the secret place of the Most High, which is abiding in Jesus Christ.) All of a sudden, the truck we were riding in left the tracks and took a backward turn down a hidden, narrow road leading to the secret location. I couldn't have made that turn in my truck even if I had known where it was. (You can't do this on your own accord or ability.) (This is the narrow road; the highway of holiness, the road to Zion, on which no unclean or beast can go. Isa.35:1 The wilderness (tribulation) and the dry land shall be glad; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose... 8 And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but is shall be for [the redeemed]: the wayfaring men (Hebrew meaning: Traveler on a well-traveled road; i.e., the broad road of the tracks), yea fools, shall not err [therein]. 9 No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast go up thereon; they shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk [there]: 10 and the ransomed of Jehovah shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads: they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. This secret place was hidden in a cliff in the mountain. There was only one way to enter the secret road that could not be seen until you arrived at its entrance. Then only the ones being escorted by the Witnesses could enter in, otherwise it could not be seen. (The Witnesses will cause many to leave the broad path to become disciples. The one narrow way to escape death is Jesus, the door, the life. Joh.14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me. Mat.7:14 For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it. This gate to the secret way cannot be seen by the worldly church and the beast who live in the way of darkness. Pro.4:19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: They know not at what they stumble. Job 38:19 Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And as for darkness, where is the place thereof.) After arriving at the location, we busied ourselves repairing things to prepare for our own and others' transportation and living quarters. (The Man-child, Two Witnesses and Bride are companies of people who will each, in turn, prepare to preserve the rest of the Church in the coming tribulation.) There were people arriving at the location who were bringing along things that couldn't survive in this place. One was a white pig with a pink ribbon tied around its neck, trying to eat off a bare concrete floor. There were some other animals that also could not survive the environment. (The pig and ribbon represent people arriving at the secret location with unclean habits that they cherish. Those habits cannot live in God's environment. A pig is an unclean animal like the fleshly; in society, it is dressed up so it can be accepted and justified in the sight of men, but all this will die in the wilderness tribulation.)   Protection from the Beast Eve Brast, 9/7/19 (David's notes in red) I dreamed that I was in a very large house with many rooms. (Representing the church worldwide?) There were many other people in the house. Suddenly, there was an awareness of an evil danger in the house. People started to panic and say things like, “It's coming!” And “We need to find a place to hide!” They began running past me, looking for places to hide. But the places they were choosing weren't adequate enough, but it was all they could find, and they trembled in the hiding places in despair, knowing they would, more than likely, be found and killed. I wasn't afraid, but I did feel an urgency to find a place of safety from this evil. I went into one of the bedrooms and saw a queen-sized bed with a white down comforter and a blonde colored wooden headboard and footboard that looked like the slats of a crib. (Just like Queen Esther found safety and comfort in the house of the King from the “beast” Haman, so the corporate Bride and Man-child will find safety from the Beast of our day.) I crawled underneath the bed, which enlarged itself for me, and began praying. Suddenly, a bunch of children who were somehow mine ran into the room and crawled under the bed with me. There was plenty of room under the bed for all of us. (The rest in the promises of God will hide us from the Beast. Psa 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of Jehovah, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in whom I trust. 3 For he will deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, And from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover thee with his pinions, And under his wings shalt thou take refuge: His truth is a shield and a buckler.) The door of the room was standing open, and I heard something roaring and coming down the hall. It stopped in the doorway of the room we were in and looked at me under the bed and let out a roar that sounded like a cross between a lion's roar (Satan is the roaring lion) and a dinosaur's roar (The T-Rex or dragon beast). It was a chimera creature. It was a blue lion, a red dragon, and a brownish-black wolf. (The wolf is the religious predator and deceivers among the children of God, like Judas, the son of perdition. As we have seen, the faction are members of the dragon body to try to devour the Man-child, and they kill many but fail to kill the Man-child and his true chuldren.) It had four legs and two arms like a centaur. The part that was the red dragon was the chest, neck, arms, and head with many sharp teeth. The part that was the blue lion was the four legs and most of the body, plus the head of the dragon, which had the lion's blue mane. The rear or rump was the brownish-black wolf, but with the lion's blue tail. (Satan uses the dragon and wolves among the sheep to attempt their destruction.) It narrowed its eyes at me with pure hatred and stomped into the room, lowering its head to look under the bed at my children and me. But the bed let down wooden railings with the same type of slats that the headboard and footboard had, all around the underneath of it, to protect us from the beast, and it knew it couldn't kill us because we were protected. So it screamed in anger and turned to go out of the room in search for the other people who were hiding in all the inadequate hiding places and had no protection. Rev.12:13-17, 13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast down to the earth, he persecuted the woman that brought forth the man child. 14 And there were given to the woman the two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness unto her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman water as a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream. 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon waxed wroth with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, that keep the commandments of God, and hold the testimony of Jesus. I knew in the dream that some of the people escaped the beast, even though they were in poor hiding places, because God had mercy on them. (Pray for mercy for these people) After the danger had passed, I went into a connecting room to the one my children and I had been hiding in. It was connected by two white double doors, and it had a king-sized bed with a white down comforter on it. I heard a couple of small parrots, a male and a female, talking to each other in the double doorway between the rooms. I looked at them in the doorway, and they were pastel colors: blue, green, yellow, and pink. (The same colors as the pastel plaid shirt that my dad wears in my dreams.) (Those who “parrot” the Word of the Father will find rest.) They flew over onto the king-sized bed, and then many more pairs of animals, male and female, came through the doors and got up onto the bed. (The animals of the ark, seeking an escape from the flood of destruction, find escape in the rest. Peter saw the animals that came down from heaven as the Gentile church.) I thought, “Wow! This is like Noah's Ark!” Luk.17:26-30, 26 And as it came to pass in the days of Noah, even so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise even as it came to pass in the days of Lot; they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all: 30 after the same manner shall it be in the day that the Son of man is revealed. End.   The Ark Leads to the Safety of Holiness Suani Guzman - 11/30/2008 (David's notes in red) In a dream, I was going to be part of a Christian cheerleading team that was going to do its routine in a pool. We all had to take a shower before we got in the pool. I went to a car and got a clean change of clothes and a bottle of baby shampoo. Later, I saw the car running on its own and went and put it in park and took the keys out of the ignition. The car was parked close to a corner. When I came back, the car was gone. It had left on its own. It turned right at the corner and went down the street. I ran down there with someone else and saw that it had gone through an opening on the ground into the basement of the building. We stood there looking at it, and that's when it came to me: “The ground in the basement was made holy by God, and the Ark of the Covenant that was in the car needed to be on holy ground.” That is when I woke up. This dream is saying that the Ark of God's presence will supernaturally lead His holy people underground, as a type of the safety of the secret place of the Most High, and they will not be steered there by man. The Ark led the children of Israel, not the other way around. Rom.8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. According to type, the Ark of the Covenant went underground when God's people were in danger of invasion and captivity by the Babylonian beast army. The Apocrypha says that Jeremiah hid the Ark in a cave in Mt. Nebo before the invasion, and that its location would not be revealed until God was ready. Ron Wyatt says he found the Ark in Jeremiah's Grotto, but that God told him it was not yet time to reveal it. In the Second Temple, the Ark of the Covenant was missing from the Holy of Holies for its entire 500 years. When the Roman General, Pompey, conquered Jerusalem around 63 B.C., he entered the Holy of Holies but came out saying that he could not understand what all the interest was about since it was only an empty room. His army was able to conquer Israel because God's presence was not in their Holy of Holies. Many Rabbis believe that the Ark was hidden in a cave under the Temple Mount in the heart of Israel during the time of King Josiah because of the prophesied coming Babylonian invasion. Jesus left their temple desolate, too, because God had chosen Him and His body as the new Temple. In fulfillment of this type, the Church is definitely threatened with a prophesied invasion and captivity by the Babylonian U.S. Great Eagle and going underground is next for the Ark. It is clear from scripture that God's people are the Temple and its court, and that individuals have different positions in the Temple, according to their maturity in the Lord and closeness to the Lord. Rev.11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and one said, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2 And the court which is without the temple leave without, and measure it not; for it hath been given unto the nations: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. Notice there are those in the Temple and those who worship in the altar area, due to their sacrificial life, who will be safe. But those in the outer court will be left out of the safe place and trampled under the foot of men as a crucifixion because, as Jesus said, they have lost their saltiness. That leaves us with the Ark of the Covenant in the safe place of the Holy of Holies. Who is it that is a container as the Ark for God's presence, the Manna of the Word, the tables of testimony, and Aaron's rod that budded as a sign of authority? In Jesus' day, He was God in a vessel of a Son of David Who had these qualities inside; He was the Ark of the Covenant who led the Bride through the wilderness. In these days, the Man-child is God manifested in a vessel of the spiritual sons of David with these qualities: He will be the Ark of the Covenant that will lead the Bride through the wilderness. The Man-child is the first-fruits to manifest “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Suani's car represents the body of the Bride that will be guided by the Ark to the foundation of the building, which is holiness. The basement is the foundation of the Temple that God is about to lay again through the corporate man-child ministry. Hag.2:23 In that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith Jehovah, and will make thee as a signet; for I have chosen thee, saith Jehovah of hosts. Notice Zerubbabel, meaning “born from Babylon”, will be a signet, which is a seal of authority, such as kings have. The first-fruits Man-child company will come with the authority of God to bring God's people out of bondage to the world and through the wilderness tribulation. The foundation of the Lord's house, not made with man's hands, will be laid again after a great falling away since the time of the Apostles. Hag.2:18 Consider, I pray you, from this day and backward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth [month], since the day that the foundation of Jehovah's temple was laid, consider it. It is through the shaking of the nations in the tribulation that God's “desired” people come out of them to become the temple of peace. Hag.2:7 and I will shake all nations; and the precious things (Hebrew: desired) of all nations shall come; and I will fill this house with glory, saith Jehovah of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith Jehovah of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, saith Jehovah of hosts; and in this place will I give peace, saith Jehovah of hosts. In the former rain, Jesus, the Man-child, was the foundation of the former glory house. 1Co.3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. So also in the latter rain, Jesus in Zerubbabel as a type of the Man-child and Ark of the Covenant will lay the foundation of the latter, greater glory house. Zec.4:9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that Jehovah of hosts hath sent me unto you.” Notice this verse is saying that it is the Lord who is coming in Zerubbabel to build the house of God. It will be founded on holiness, which is separation from the World and conformity to the Word. Back to Suani: I would like to say that God has been helping me a lot to walk in holiness. Things I used to brush off are not OK anymore. Isa.35:8 And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but is shall be for [the redeemed]: the wayfaring men, yea fools, shall not err [therein]. This is a new level of holiness. I have been corrected very quickly lately. Heb.12:5-6 My son, regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord, Nor faint when thou art reproved of him; 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened [us] as seemed good to them; but he for [our] profit, that [we] may be partakers of his holiness. Now thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions must be holy. I know this is impossible in the flesh, and I rely on the Holy Spirit continuously for help. He is interested in not only outward obedience but in inward surrender and trust. I think He is doing this to save us from judgments that are soon to come. 1Co.11:31 But if we discerned ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. Delayed obedience, as well as doing anything against my conscience, are also things He has brought to my attention. Rom.14:23 But he that doubteth is condemned if he eat, because [he eateth] not of faith; and whatsoever is not of faith is sin.   God's Hand Protects the First Fruits C. P. - 6/28/21 (David's notes in red) I dreamed my husband and I, together with some others whom I did not recognize, were standing on the white deck of a boat. (This represents the remnant first fruits who are in God's Ark of safety floating above the waters of the curse.) I saw a hand come out of heaven, and I heard the words from our Father say, “My hand covers my people.” (Psa.91:1-12 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of Jehovah, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in whom I trust. 3 For he will deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, And from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover thee with his pinions, And under his wings shalt thou take refuge: His truth is a shield and a buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, Nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 For the pestilence that walketh in darkness, Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand; But it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, And see the reward of the wicked. 9 For thou, O Jehovah, art my refuge! Thou hast made the Most High thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, Neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent. 11 For he will give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.) There was a tremor, or a push or jolt from somewhere. (Representing the tribulation shakings that are coming upon the world to get the attention of God's elect.) We fell overboard into the water below. (This represents being plunged into the tribulation in order to overcome the curses of this world.) God's hand literally came into the water with us and became a glass sheet between us and a giant sea creature. It was black and white like an Orca whale and had really sharp teeth. (This black and white sea creature represents the beast in the sea of this world's people. The beast is always looking to devour God's people like the dragon of Revelation 12. The black and white means it has also been dictating to this world what is true and false, and what is right and wrong.) Rev.12:13-17 And when the dragon saw that he was cast down to the earth, he persecuted the woman that brought forth the man-child. 14 And there were given to the woman the two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness unto her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman water as a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream. (The woman here is the Church, but within this larger body is the chosen bride.) 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon waxed wroth with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, that keep the commandments of God, and hold the testimony of Jesus.) Our skin was glossy or shiny. (Representing the Bride's lampros garments, which are the righteous acts of the saints according to Rev.19.) It was like God's hand had emitted some sort of repellent onto us so the sea creature could not devour us. There was no fear or confusion, and we breathed easily underwater. (Meaning, the waters of the curse cannot hinder their breath or spirit.) We were so small compared to this sea creature; we looked like shrimp. God's hand was over us the whole time. (Isa.43:1-5 But now thus saith Jehovah that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed thee; I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine. 2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 3 For I am Jehovah thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour; I have given Egypt as thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in thy stead. 4 Since thou hast been precious in my sight, and honorable, and I have loved thee; therefore will I give men in thy stead, and peoples instead of thy life. 5 Fear not; for I am with thee…) I asked the Lord for a word by faith at random and received Eze.18:19 Yet say ye, Wherefore doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. (They are not under the genetic curse of the Adamic nature passed down through their parents.) I asked Him for another Word, specifically about His hand, and received Hebrews 3:7, with my finger on Holy Spirit. (In context 7-9) 7 Wherefore, even as the Holy Spirit saith, To-day if ye shall hear his voice, 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, Like as in the day of the trial in the wilderness (tribulation), 9 Where your fathers tried me by proving me, And saw my works forty years (the number of tribulation).

God's Word is packed full of power … power unlimited … to transform your life. But one of the biggest problems people have with the Bible is understanding it. Making sense of it. Knowing where it comes from, and where what they're reading today fits into the big picture. Well, I think it's time we did something about that.   About the Bible – Old and New We've all heard of those word association tests that psychologists use. You know, they say 'black', you say 'white'; they say 'rabbit' and you say 'carrot'; day/night; God/mmm love; devil/mmm evil; Bible/hmm … Bible? How do you respond to that? Stuffy, old, irrelevant? Well, different people will have some different views but actually in Australia where I live, the Bible is one of the least trusted of all historical documents. Over the last week and a bit on the program we've been talking about the incredible power that we unlock, when we read the Bible. But this thing that we call "the Bible", it's a big book, it's massive and it can be daunting. So today I thought it might be useful just to have a look to see what this Bible is exactly. I want to share with you a secret, it's sad but true. I never read a book cover to cover until I was in my early twenties. I managed to get through school and university and did pretty well I might add, without ever reading a book from beginning to end. I remember at university, in first year English, we studied the book Wuthering Heights which absolutely bored me to tears, I'm sorry and I never opened the book once. There are companies that publish crib notes, you know the summary of the book and a summary of what's in it and a summary of what some of the critics say, so I just quickly read those, crib notes, wrote essays and did, by and large, reasonably well. And I never, ever liked libraries either. You know how libraries have this kind of dusty, dank smell; all of them are the same. Every library on the planet has the same smell. I thought about it for a while, I thought 'Berni, why don't you like libraries? Why did it take you so long to read books?' The answer I guess has two parts. Firstly, libraries for me always felt really big and inaccessible. They have tens of thousands of books and in the old days when I was at university, they had card systems for accessing, for finding things, I mean these days they have computers. The old card systems had what they call the Dewey Classification system and finding anything just took so incredibly long. And secondly, when you did find the stuff, there was always so much of it, there was so much time involved to, I don't know, look through all those books and research them. I mean, some people are natural book worms, well I'm not. I still frankly don't like libraries. I'm sorry if you're a librarian, I just don't like libraries. I haven't darkened the doorstep of one since I finished my last degree quite a few years ago now. You know something; I think for a lot of people the Bible is exactly like that. It feels big and inaccessible. There are many, many people who wouldn't mind having a read but, for goodness sakes, where do you start? Well today let's break it down a bit, let's make it a bit more accessible. I remember when I started Bible College only a few months after becoming a Christian, everyone took for granted that we knew about the Bible. The reality was, I didn't and my hunch is, I wasn't alone. Let's unpack it a bit, let's demystify it a bit. All of a sudden you know it becomes a whole bunch more accessible. The thing that we call the Bible is made up of 66 different books written by different people over somewhere between 1,000 and 1,500 years. That's the kind of period over which the Bible was written. And it wasn't just written by different people but at different times and the last book was written, well almost 2,000 years ago. There are essentially two parts to the Bible, this was complete news to me when I first opened it, the Old Testament and the New Testament, and when I started at Bible College I didn't know which one was which. The Old Testament, well the Old Testament is God's story and the story of how He interacted with and engaged with His chosen people, the Israelites. The Old Testament is written completely B.C., before Christ, before Jesus came to be on earth with us here. What Christians call the Old Testament is in fact exactly the same as the Jewish Hebrew scriptures, Jews still use those same scriptures today, Christians call it the Old Testament. It's written mostly in the original language of Hebrew, the language of the Jews. Now there's small parts of books like Daniel which is written in a language called Aramaic which is the language that Jesus actually spoke but by and large, the Old Testament was originally written in the language of Hebrew. And what we have today, the thing that we call the Old Testament is an English translation of that. Now there are lots of funny name books, Deuteronomy and Judges and Chronicles and there's Ezekiel, there are 39 separate books and there are kind of 4 main parts of the Old Testament. The first 5 books, Genesis to Deuteronomy, are the Jewish or Hebrew Law, the Torah. And then you go Joshua through Ezra and Nehemiah and that's kind of the history of what God did and how His people responded. And then after that are the wisdom books, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon and Lamentations. And the rest of the books in the Old Testament are written by men called Prophets. Men whom God called to call His people back to Him. That's the Old Testament, it's a story of God engaging with Gods people. And the New Testament is 27 books. Now, it was mostly written in the language of Greek. The first 4 books, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are gospel accounts, they're the historical account of Jesus' life and His ministry. And the next book, the book of Acts is the story of the first 20 or so years of the Church after Jesus rose again to be with His Father. Then there's a whole bunch of letters called Epistles from people like Peter and John and Paul, written to Churches that they were involved in or in some cases, to individuals. This may be old hat to some, but I know to many, just a simple understanding of the basic structure of the Bible is going to be a real help. I know that when I was a new Christian, no one ever bothered to explain it to me – I wish they had. Now some people might be saying to themselves, that's all well and good, but how accurate is the Bible. Because before the printing press was ever invented by Gutenberg in 1450, the Bible – there's this massive thing, the Old Testament and New Testament – was transcribed over and over by hand by people called Scribes who copied them by hand. It's hard to imagine. But these days, there's a science called Textual Criticism. It studies whether any errors crept into the Bible as it was copied through all these generations manuscripts. And what it tells us, is that having studied thousands of manuscripts, the levels of accuracy are remarkable. I mean it's a science, people have done it. There are very, very few words or sentences where there is any doubt what was originally written. And blessedly these days, this thing called the Bible has been translated into easy to read, contemporary versions. No more thee's and thou's – great, modern day, accurate, easy to understand translations. And did you know that in the Bible, over half of the 66 books, over half, you can read in half and hour or less. Now look, in a few minutes we can't hope to do anything but scrape the surface. Today we've just talked about some basic factual stuff. No-one really taught me this stuff. I remember becoming a Christian and going and sitting in a Church and people just teach from the Bible which is wonderful but no-one ever explained to me that it was 66 books written by a whole bunch of people over different periods of time. That some of it was stories and history and some of it was letters and some of it was poetry. But when you simplify and demystify all that stuff, it turns out that it's just a wonderful book. And with the many contemporary translations, it's much, much easier to read than I ever thought. As I started to read the Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the New Testament, I was completely blown away by this amazing Jesus. Who would have thought … the Bible.   Getting Practical – Useful Resources I have to tell you, that thing they call the Bible was a real problem for me. I mean, first coming to grips with the fact that it is what it says that it is, the Word of God but then, just getting into it. It's made up of 66 separate books written over about 1,500 years in different times, in different places and different cultures. So there are words and names and places and concepts and ways of thinking … well, we're not always familiar with them. We're continuing in our series 'Power Unlimited' – because that's what Go's Word brings into our lives so today, we're going to get down and really practical on just how to get into the Bible because unless we do, we're going to miss out on much of the power that God wants to pour into our lives. Over the years I've discovered a few very simple helps or resources that have made such a difference in making sense of God's Word. You see, it turns out there's a whole bunch of people much smarter than me who have done some great research and put the information together in such easy usable ways and all their work makes getting into God's Word, the Bible, so much easier for the likes of you and me. Today I just want to share some of those resources with you. I remember twenty or so years ago, just after I became a Christian, I started attending a tiny little Baptist Church in the southern suburbs of Sydney. A little place called Oyster Bay. Our pastor, Phil, was a passionate and gifted Bible teacher and that man has had a huge impact on my life. Now as well as Sunday services, the Church used to have these little home Bible studies and we'd meet one night a week in someone's house. In our small group, five of us would gather together. And at the time, the particular little home fellowship that I'd joined, was studying the Old Testament book of Hosea. So we'd lob in there each Wednesday evening, we'd have a cup of tea and some fellowship and then we'd sit down and do a Bible study together. And right through that book, over and over and over again, Hosea talks about Ephraim – that word is mentioned 29 times by Hosea. So I remember asking these people, most of them had been Christians for a good many years, "Okay, who or what is this Ephraim thing?" I mean, Hosea kept talking about it and so it seemed to be quite central to what he was saying. But you know something, no-one could tell me who or what Ephraim was. Now it turns out the Ephraim was one of the tribes of Israel, Ephraim was one of Joseph's sons and there's a whole history around this tribe and how they rebelled against God, but we didn't know that in that Bible study so a lot of what God was saying to us, through this amazing, powerful book of Hosea, well it was frankly lost on us. And that sort of thing happens a lot more than you might think. Consider the story of the Good Samaritan. It loses its whole meaning if we don't understand the Samaritans and who they were and what the Jews thought of them. Now when Jesus told that story to the assembled masses they all knew the Samaritan story but we don't, it's not natural to us. And there are names and places and concepts and ways of thinking in the Bible that are foreign to us, because we're separated from them by time and culture. It might have made sense to the people back then but not to us now. And unless we understand those things, we miss out on the richness, on the gravity, on the power of what God is trying to say to us. I remember coming to grips with the Jewish system of blood sacrifice in the Old Testament. Now I kind of think about blood sacrifice and it's pretty ghastly to me here and now, but it's something I really had to understand to understand what Jesus did for me on the Cross. So I decided I was going to find out, not just skim the surface, not read through a story and have them talk about Ephraim or Samaria or all these other things I didn't know about and miss out on what God was trying to say to me through the story. Now these accounts were written such a long time ago and God has preserved them and kept them accurate for us here and now but there is indeed a gap of culture and time in history that we have to bridge to understand completely what's happening in what's been written. I mean after all if the Bible is God's Word and if God is speaking to us through it, I decided I needed to know what He was saying. And surprisingly, that's not as difficult as I thought it would be. Right now, I'm going to talk about a handful of really simple resources that made absolutely the world of difference. The first one was my Bible, a simple English translation, not the King James with the 'thees' and 'thou arts', there are so many good contemporary language translations available to you and me today. The New International Version or the NIV as it's called, is really popular. I happen to use the New Revised Standard Version (the NRSV). There's a translation called The Message which is really in here and now language. The Contemporary English Version (CEV). The New English Translation (NET). Which one is the best one? The one you're going to read. You can get a thing called A Study Bible, it's got not just the words of the Bible, but it's also got a huge amount of resources packed into it. It explains the meanings of different words, there are notes and maps and cross references. They're really good, they don't cost a whole bunch more than a Bible with just the Bible words. So if you want to do more than just skim across the surface, it's really good to have one of those – a Study Bible. Check them out. One of the most helpful features in a Study Bible is a summary of each book: who wrote it, when, to whom and why because context is so important isn't it? Before I read Ephesians I read four or five paragraphs in my Study Bible which explain the context and all of a sudden the book of Ephesians made a whole bunch more sense to me. A Study Bible is a really worthwhile investment and it's not much more than an ordinary Bible. You can get one from a Christian bookshop or you can buy one online. I happen to have an electronic one these days on my tablet device. The second resource is my Bible dictionary. Now I happen to purchase a Bible dictionary called the Holman Bible Dictionary, years ago – it's just one, single volume. You can get Bible dictionaries that are 25 volumes, mine is just one volume and it has pictures. So when I was reading and it talked about the Temple in the Bible, I could go to my Bible dictionary and look at it and see a picture and plans and explaining the different parts. So I'm able to read a few paragraphs in just a few minutes, and I'm there, I understand what the writers saying about the Temple, about the Holy of Holies, wow! When the Bible talks about Ephraim I look it up, half a column, three minutes, I know who or what Ephraim is. The story of the Good Samaritan; who were the Samaritans? What was their relationship to the Jews? Ah! That's what Jesus meant by the story of the Good Samaritan. And lastly, the third resource was a Bible timeline. It's one of these things you can fold out and it's about four pages wide that show the chronology of the Bible. You read about King David, when was he king? Who was King before him? Who was King after him? What else was going on? Which prophets were writing when David was alive? And all of a sudden you put the whole Bible thing in time sequence, that's huge. And just to top things off, let me tell you about two stunning websites. The first is biblegateway.com where you can compare different Bible translations. The second is studylight.org, it has Bible dictionaries online, the meanings of Greek and Hebrew words, and so many more great resources. All free. So let me ask you? Do you take Jesus seriously? If you do then we need to take the Bible seriously. And for just a small investment on your part in just a few simple resources, they pay such huge dividends in hearing and understanding what God is saying to us today through His Word.   Listen and Learn If you spend anytime with me here on the program one of the things you will know is that I'm really passionate about God and what He has to say. Not in a religious sort of a way but in a Jesus sort of way. The thing that really strikes me about Jesus when you read about Him, is how plain and matter of fact He was about sharing with people who God is and what His plans are. Over these last couple of weeks on the program we've been looking at what it means to lay hold of God's power unlimited, God's resurrection power that's available to you, as you open His Word the Bible and listen to what He has to say. The Bible is God speaking to us and He means to challenge us and stretch us and encourage us and bless us through His Word. One of the ways that many people get God's Word into them is by listening to people speak. Radio programs like this or on television and of course, if you attend a Church. But how can preaching and teaching be a part of really getting God's Word into us? Over these last twenty years or so, the time that I've been a Christian, I've seen two things. On the one hand I have been so blessed by some really good teaching and on the other hand I've seen some pretty bad stuff too. In my very first Church, a little Baptist Church, our pastor's name was Phil Littlejohn. Now Phil was a gifted teacher, he just had this ability to open God's Word and speak God stuff into my heart. I learned later this is a real gifting, different people have different gifts and abilities given to them by God and teaching is one of them. Jesus had that, I mean time and time again when He opened His mouth people were amazed because He spoke with a plainness and a power and an authority that they hadn't heard before. And you know something, He didn't always tell them things they wanted to hear. "Love your enemy." "Take up your cross and follow me." "Lose your life for my sake and you'll gain your life." It's not exactly good marketing, I mean the spin merchants would not have let Him get up and speak like that today. I've spent quite a bit of time looking at how Jesus preached. It's real, it's powerful. It's balanced on the one hand and radical on the other and it sort of, well, it cuts through all the selfish rubbish we go on with, right to the heart of what God wants to talk about. And my prayer is that when I discharge my gifting to teach in my own way, I'll always try to teach like He did. But you know I've also sat in Churches over the years and listened to preachers drone on with dry and theoretical, completely cerebral stuff, that's not relevant to my life. On more than one occasion I've walked out after church and two hours later I ask myself "Do I remember what he talked about?" And the answer is, "No, not really." Or you listen to other speakers and there are lots of words and they're very entertaining and they make people laugh and they tickle their ears with great stories and things they want to hear and they yell and people slap them on the back afterwards, 'praise the Lord' but I've been to some of those too and well, I felt like I'd been at the Lord's table to be fed but I left hungry and empty. The flip side of that is that with some other preachers, I can remember years later what they were talking about, years later in difficult circumstances God seems to bring into my heart the words they spoke to me. Preaching and teaching is one of the ways that God gets His Word into us. You see it right through the Bible; He uses men and women to speak to others, to teach them. I mean the Samaritan woman at the well; she went and told people about Jesus. Paul and Peter and all the other guys that went out preaching. The question is, how do you get the most out of that? How does preaching and teaching play a part in us reading our Bible and unlocking the power unlimited that God has for us? Well, here are just some of my observations. I see people come into a Church on a Sunday and listen to the preacher and they don't take any notes and they don't bring their Bible and they don't follow what the preacher's saying in their Bible. I take my Bible with me, I open my Bible and I read what the preacher is talking about. People can speak all the words that they like, everything that they say, they can crack jokes and have great stories – the most important thing is God's Word, the most important thing is what God is saying. And secondly I take some notes. I mean you can't even get through kindergarten on a half an hour a week without taking notes. You know, if we take God seriously, if we want to follow Jesus and really take that seriously, you know something, we've got to take learning seriously. Do you know what a disciple is? A disciple is literally "a learner", that's what the word disciple means, to be a learner. And thirdly, the thing I do when I've listened to some really good preaching, is I spend some time afterwards in God's Word reading it for myself. Sometimes it's not until you get home and you pray it through and you spend some time in that passage and maybe looking at some other related ones, that God really drops it into your spirit. I mean, years ago I heard a preacher teaching on a profound passage: 1 Peter 5:6,7: Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God so that He may exalt you in due time. Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you. Now I've learnt so much from what God taught me through that preacher in this passage but I've learned just as much and maybe even more from pondering and praying over this scripture and looking at other related passages. Learning in my heart – that's when I humble myself, when I get off my little tin pot throne and just walk each day faithfully with God. He's the one who later opens the doors; He's the one that's got an eternity ready for me. I've looked at this whole thing of preaching, and listened to some incredibly sermons and some dreadful ones too, I've come to the conclusion that there are two types of preaching; dead and alive. Dead preaching is full of words, it's boring and dry or maybe it's hyped up and frothy and bubbly but at the end of the day, there's no eternal food there because God's Word is not being preached in the power of the Holy Spirit. It's only God's Word by the power of the Spirit that can change us. I can't change you, I can't say things in my own strength that will change your life, but if I'm speaking God's stuff, if the Holy Spirit somehow takes God's stuff and puts it into your heart, that's when change happens and only God can do that. This is how the Apostle Paul put it: 1 Cor 2:1-5: When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God Can I encourage you to be discerning as to what you listen to? Go and listen to the preachers who are proclaiming God's Word in the power of the Holy Spirit.. Go and have a read about how Jesus preached in the Gospels Matthew or Mark or Luke or John, the first four books of the New Testament. It's edgy and profound and real and dealing with the hard issues, and find yourself some preachers like that. Not ones that just entertain and tickle your ears with things you want to hear. The ones that open up God's Word and say, 'Well, what's God saying to us today?' and then take what they said home, open your Bible there where they left off and go and lay hold of God's power unlimited for you, for your life.

A sermon preached by Rev. Ginger Gaines-Cirelli with Foundry UMC, March 29, 2026. “Ignite the Light” series. Palm Sunday.            Text: Matthew 21:1-17   Before the tables are turned; before the coins scatter; before the system is exposed…there is a procession. Crowds gather around Jesus, filling the streets as he makes his way into Jerusalem—waving palm branches, spreading their cloaks on the road, shouting “Hosanna!” But this moment does not begin with the crowd. It begins with Jesus. Everything about the way he enters the city is carefully chosen. He comes from the Mount of Olives—and that isn't a random detail. Because the prophet Zechariah had long promised that when God finally showed up to set things right, God would arrive from that very place. The Mount of Olives was not just a location—it was a signal. And then there's the donkey. Not a warhorse. Not a chariot. A donkey. Again, Zechariah: “Look, your king is coming to you; humble, and mounted on a donkey.” This is not accidental. Jesus is enacting the prophecy. And the people respond. They start waving palm branches—which, to us, might just feel festive—but to them meant something more. Palm branches were part of the Festival of Booths—Sukkot—a time when the people remembered how God had delivered them from slavery in Egypt. They built shelters from the branches and lived in them for a week, remembering what it meant to depend on God in the wilderness. And they waved branches in joy—a sign of hope that God would do it again. So when the crowds wave palms at Jesus, they are recognizing what he is doing. “This is the one who will set us free, the one we can depend on.” And then they take off their cloaks and lay them on the road—a sign that they receive Jesus as king. But here's the thing. Jesus lets them do all that—and then immediately begins to redefine what kingship means. Because he doesn't go to the palace. He doesn't go to seize the seat of government. He goes to the Temple, the center of religious life, economic life, the place where faith and money and power are all tangled together. And that's where the light falls. Because when Jesus gets there, he doesn't bless the system. He disrupts it. Tables get flipped. Coins get scattered. “My house shall be called a house of prayer,” he says, “but you have made it a den of robbers.” It's important to understand this wasn't just about a few corrupt individuals. The people changing money and selling doves—they weren't rogue operators. They were the system. Pilgrims had to exchange their currency into Temple currency. Animals had to be purchased for sacrifice. The whole thing was structured, normalized, accepted. It worked. Unless you were poor. Because doves—the ones Jesus specifically names—were the offering of the poor. Which means the system was set up in such a way that even the most vulnerable had to pay into it.  And Jesus walks in and shines a light on all of this. Not just on individual behavior—but on the whole arrangement. Because when the light falls…you start to see things differently. What looks like devotion can actually be exploitation. What looks like order can actually be injustice.  When the light hits the money, you start to see what's really going on. And that pattern doesn't stay in the Temple. It follows Jesus all the way through the week. A disciple slips away and asks, “What will you give me if I betray him?” Thirty pieces of silver. (Mt 26:14-16) And later—after the cross, after the tomb is found empty—more money changes hands. Coins given to soldiers to keep quiet. To bury the truth. To protect the story that those in power want told. (Mt 28:11-15) Again and again in this story—money is used to control, to betray, to silence. And every time, Jesus shines a light on it. And if we're honest we recognize that these dynamics don't just live in this old story. Because Lord knows we are still living in a world where money and power are tangled together in ways that distort truth and burden the most vulnerable. We are living in a moment where those who already have extraordinary wealth are given even more advantage—where access and influence can mean getting a heads-up, an inside track, a chance to profit before anyone else even knows what's coming. We are living in a moment where war is not only a tragedy—it is also an industry. Where violence can drive markets, and suffering becomes someone else's gain. We are living in a moment where proximity to power—family ties, loyalty, allegiance—can open doors and secure advantage, while others are told to tighten their belts and make do with less. And all of it has consequences—rising costs, disappearing jobs, communities carrying burdens they did not create. And we know this is not new. We have long lived with systems where incarceration becomes profit, where human beings are turned into revenue streams. And we are seeing new forms even now—where enforcement is incentivized, where brutal force is rewarded over care, often without the accountability justice requires. If we are willing to let the light fall here—to really see it—then we have to admit: this is not just about a few bad actors. It is about systems. Systems that reward extraction over equity. Systems that protect power instead of people. Systems that make it easier to profit from vulnerability than to alleviate it. And all of it is being baptized by a perverse version of white, so-called “Christian” nationalism. And on this Palm Sunday weekend people have again taken to the streets. Not with palm branches, but with signs. Not shouting “Hosanna,” but crying out for justice, for sanity, for peace. There is still a deep human longing to resist systems where power concentrates, privilege protects itself, and the many are burdened for the gain of the few. But Palm Sunday pushes us deeper than the clever slogans on our signs. The crowd in Jerusalem had a slogan. And within days, many turned away. Because Jesus did not become the kind of king they expected. He didn't overthrow the empire. He didn't seize control or immediately relieve their suffering. He didn't play the game. Instead he exposed it. And that is far more threatening than simply replacing one ruler with another. And the question I always want us to ask of ourselves is this: if Jesus rode into our city, our institutions, our economy, our own lives today, where would the light fall? Where have we accepted what we know is not aligned with the heart of God? Where do we benefit from systems that harm others? Where have we told ourselves, “That's just how it works”? Because the Temple system felt inevitable, too. Until Jesus came in and turned over the tables. // But while that part of the story often gets most of the attention, what happens next is really the turning point. Because once the tables are overturned—once the system is disrupted—something else happens. // People who had been pushed to the edges come forward. Matthew tells us that those who were living with physical disabilities—people who had not been granted full access, full participation, full belonging in the life of the Temple—come to Jesus. And in that kind of system—he heals them. Right there. In the Temple. And that is significant. Because the Temple wasn't just one open space. It was structured in layers, each one marking who could come closer. There was the outer court, where Gentiles could gather—but no further. Then the court of women—closer, but still limited. Then the court of Israel—for men. Then the court of priests. And at the very center, the Holy of Holies, where only the high priest could enter, and only once a year. Every step inward came with restriction—conditions, boundaries about who belonged where. And those boundaries weren't just architectural—they were social and economic, too. Some were kept at a distance because of where they were from. Some because of their gender. Some because the system defined their bodies as lacking purity or wholeness. Some because they simply could not afford the cost of participation. And some—like children—because their voices didn't count. So when Jesus walks into that space, he is not just entering a building. He is stepping into a whole system of managed access to God. And now, in the very place where exclusion had been normalized, Jesus does not reinforce the boundaries. He removes them. He collapses the distance. He restores people not just to health, but to community, dignity, and full participation in the life of God's people. And then—while the religious leaders are indignant—children start shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” The ones with no status. No authority. No voice in the system. They are the ones who recognize what is happening. And Jesus affirms them, quoting Psalm 8, “Out of the mouths of infants… God has prepared praise.” (Ps 8:2) Which means the scene has completely turned. The powerful are outraged. The excluded are restored. The least expected voices tell the truth. This is what the Temple was always meant to be: not a place of transaction, but restoration; not a system that restricts access, but a community where people are brought fully in; not ordered around power, but reordered around mercy. Where value is no longer measured by what can be extracted, but by what can be restored. That is the alternative. Not just tables turned over, but lives turned back toward wholeness. An economy of grace. A community shaped not by profit, but by love. Palm Sunday is not just a parade. It is a confrontation. A moment when Jesus walks straight into the center of power and shines a light on what everyone else has learned to live with. And once the light falls—you can't unsee it.  But the story does not end with exposure. It moves toward restoration. Because following the light doesn't just mean seeing more clearly. It means moving differently. It means loosening our grip on what benefits us when it harms someone else. It means refusing to call something “normal” when it is wounding our neighbors. It means becoming part of God's work of restoration, not just naming what is broken. We've been taught: if you want to understand the system, follow the money. But here—if you want to see the kin-dom—follow what happens when the light falls. Follow the people being brought in. Follow the people being restored. Follow the voices that are finally being heard. Because where the light of Christ falls, the margins begin to disappear, and what was structured around power and greed is reshaped around love. May we have the courage to follow where the light falls—and to take our place in God's restorative work.

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040526.cfmEaster Sunday is the culmination of salvation history, yet the liturgical celebration extends beyond a single day. As Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, explains, the Easter Octave is not merely a week of celebration but a single liturgical day lasting eight days. While many believe the feast ends on Sunday, the Church teaches that every day of the Octave is a solemnity. This period connects Easter Sunday directly to Divine Mercy Sunday, forming a unified mystery of grace. Father Chris emphasizes that we are at the top of the pyramid of the liturgical year, where the seven days of the Octave symbolize our earthly pilgrimage, and the eighth day represents eternity.On the first day, Jesus opened the door to Heaven, which had been blocked since the Fall. However, an open door is insufficient if we do not walk through it. The eighth day symbolizes the moment we enter eternity. To walk through this door, we must be dressed in a white wedding garment, spotless and pure. Father Chris uses the analogy of a wedding feast where Christ is the Bridegroom and the Church is the Bride. If the bride arrives with a stained garment, she is not prepared. The stains on our soul are sin and the temporal punishment due to sin. While Confession removes the guilt of sin, penance addresses the consequences.On Divine Mercy Sunday, Jesus promises a unique grace. If we go to Confession and receive Holy Communion on this day, we receive the complete forgiveness of not only all sins but all punishment due to sin. Father Chris describes this as a second Baptism, where the soul is wiped clean and returns to the purity of original Baptism. This fulfills the Jewish Day of Atonement, where the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies. Now, the Precious Blood is applied to our souls, cleansing us entirely. This grace is available to those who prepare their hearts between Easter and the eighth day. ★ Support this podcast ★

2,000 years ago, the King of Kings looked across the horizon of time, saw your face, and spoke your name in a prayer. Do you actually know what He asked for? In this message, we step into the "Holy of Holies" to hear the longest recorded prayer of Jesus. Often called the High Priest's Prayer, John 17 isn't just a religious transcript—it's a battle plan for your life. Jesus covers everything from His own authority to the protection of His disciples, but He ends with a "nuclear-bomb statement" that includes every single person who would ever believe through their message. That means you. If you're tired of dragging worldly baggage down a narrow trail, it's time to unsaddle and ride for the right Brand. *** JOIN THE OUTFIT: Take your faith to the next level at LXRanch.org Catch the full visual experience: Watch on YouTube Help us keep the trail open: Support the Mission & Donate #SavetheCowboy #John17 #HighPriestPrayer #CowboyChurch #JesusPraysForYou #FaithVsBelief #RidingForTheBrand #BibleStudy #SermonSeries #LastSupper #GospelTruth #KevinWeatherby #ChristianGrowth #TheChosen

At Jesus' Crucifixion and Death, the “Temple Veil” Was Torn; After Jesus Easter Resurrection, You Now Pray Directly with God MESSAGE SUMMARY:  Think about the magnitude of your direct and personal access to God that your prayers give you, through Jesus, if you will only pray. Before Jesus, ordinary people did not have direct access to God, through the Throne Room of God, with a direct personal relationship with God. In Old Testament times, people would come to the priests; and the priest would offer up a sacrifice on behalf of the people. The priests, and not the people, were communing directly with God. On Good Friday and at Jesus death on the cross, the “Temple Veil” was torn from top to bottom (i.e. “Temple Vail” was a large, very thick, and very heavy barrier that divided that portion of the Temple accessible by those wishing to sacrifice for prayer and the “Holy of Holies” where the only the High Priest could meet with God and pray on behalf of the people of God.). At Jesus Resurrection, no longer was an intermediary (e.g., a Priest) required for direct prayer with God by the people in Christ (i.e. Jesus Followers).  Because Jesus created a New Covenant relationship with His followers, now your prayers are in direct communion with God, the Creator of the Universe. Everyone, who is in Christ, may have access to the Throne Room of God in the name of Jesus. What a privilege this direct access to God is for those who are in Christ. The author of Hebrews, in Hebrews 4:16, tells Jesus Followers that, because of the Gospel, you have direct access to God's “throne of Grace” for your needs: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.".   TODAY'S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM RIGHTEOUS IN GOD'S EYES. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Philippians 4:1-13; John 15:9-10; Revelation 4:1-2; Psalms 69c:25-36. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “He Is Risen: From Good Friday To Easter” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/    DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Opening Prayer and Why We’re in Leviticus on Easter Lord God, thank you for this morning. Thank you for an opportunity to celebrate your resurrection. Lord, it is such a sweet truth that so often throughout our lives we forget or put on the back burner. I’m grateful that we live in a society where, even though most people do it wrong, they at least set aside a day to remember that you have risen. As we come to your Word this morning, as we open up the book of Leviticus, help us remember and be in awe of what it means to be in your presence and of how significant an act it was for you to go to the cross. In your name, amen. Well, he is risen. All right. This is not a church that does that very well, so I figured we’d try. This morning I’m doing one of our NGM lessons. It covers five lessons the kids are going over over the next several weeks, because we don’t have NGM today and we don’t have NGM on the 25-year anniversary service. So this is our Leviticus overview. The last time we touched the kids’ curriculum, we were in Exodus back in February. I don’t expect anyone to remember it, so let me lay the groundwork for what we’re talking about today. In Exodus, God’s presence returned to his people, but there was still a significant distance. So God gives them sacrifices, priests, the Day of Atonement, and then says, “Now live like people who belong to me.” That is the arc of what we’re going to be talking about today. The main point of our story this morning is that God built an entire system to teach his people that earning their way into his presence is impossible. However, we sit on this side of Calvary, so we must remind ourselves daily of this distance that the cross had to cross. It happens to be Easter. It wasn’t planned this way, but as I reviewed what I was supposed to teach, I thought, man, this is a perfect preview to Resurrection Sunday. From Sinai to Separation Let’s open up our Bibles, and we’re actually going to start in the book of Exodus. When we read together, we’ll be reading in Exodus 33. But let me give you some background. In our February NGM lesson, we walked through three chapters in Exodus. God brought Israel to the base of Mount Sinai. He had carried them out of Egypt, parted the Red Sea, fed them manna, and when they arrived at the mountain, he spoke to the entire nation. God himself, out of the fire and the smoke and a shaking mountain, directly spoke to his people, giving them the Ten Commandments with his own voice. They were terrified. They begged God to stop talking. They told Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen, but don’t let God speak to us or we’ll die.” So Moses stepped in as a go-between. He went up into the thick darkness where God was, and the people stayed at the base of the mountain. This was the first time in the story where the need for a mediator was obvious. Then God gave Moses seven chapters of a construction plan for a tent: measurements, materials, furniture, fabrics, detail that feels endless in a reading plan. And he did it because he wanted to live with them. The people had just begged God to stop talking to them, and his response was, “No. Make me a tent. Let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them.” The tabernacle was his answer to the distance that sin had created. He is both holy enough to kill anyone who touches that mountain and willing to live in a tent in the middle of their camp. That’s the tension the gospel shows us. While Moses was up on that mountain receiving those plans, Israel was at the base making a golden calf. Aaron, the guy who was the voice for Moses, who had walked through the Red Sea on dry ground, asked for every piece of gold and melted it down and said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you from the land of Egypt.” He assigned the credit for what Yahweh had done to a piece of metal that had barely even existed in that form. Then he put God’s name on it: “Tomorrow shall be a feast to Yahweh.” So he made this graven image and then named it God. This wasn’t just rejecting God. It was redefining him. God told Moses he was ready to destroy them. He said, “Let’s start over.” Moses argued with God, not on the basis of Israel’s character, but on God’s. He appealed to God’s ownership of the people, God’s glory, God’s promises to Abraham. So God relented, but 3,000 men still died on that day. The sons of Levi went through the camp with swords. These were everybody’s friends and brothers, and Israel felt the weight that their sin had caused. Then Moses went back up to God and said, “If you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out from your book which you have written.” Moses said, “Take me instead.” And God said, “No.” He said, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot him out of my book.” Moses couldn’t ransom them. He could not be the mediator. He could not be the true payment for their guilt. That’s where we ended two months ago. We ended at Exodus 32. We knew that God is just, because God killed 3,000 men for their sin. And we knew that God is merciful, because he carried forward a people that didn’t deserve to be carried. After the golden calf, God tells Moses he’ll still give Israel the land. He’ll still send an angel to drive out their enemies. But he says this in Exodus 33:3: “Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey, for I will not go up in your midst because you are a stiff-necked people, lest I consume you on the way.” They still get what they were promised. They’re going up to the land. But they don’t get the most important part: God. And the text is very clear about the reason. God didn’t withdraw his presence as punishment. He did it to protect them: “lest I consume you on the way.” His holiness is so pure that his presence among a stiff-necked people would destroy them. That word stiff-necked is an agricultural term. An ox that stiffens its neck against the yoke refuses to be led. You can pull all you want; you’re not moving that ox. He’s stiff-necked. He won’t be led. That is what God was calling Israel: a people that would not be led. He speaks to them and they build a calf. He commands and they do what is right in their own eyes. The text doesn’t hold Israel up as an example of repentance. They mourn when they hear this news. They strip off their jewelry as a sign of grief. But this is the same people who will grumble for 40 years in the wilderness. They didn’t really understand what they did. They just didn’t like the punishment. God didn’t just refuse to dwell in their midst. He physically separated himself from them. Moses takes the tent of meeting and pitches it outside the camp. Exodus 33:7 says he put it a good distance from the camp. So if you want to seek Yahweh, he’s not in your midst anymore. You have to leave the camp. You have to go a good distance. You have to see a physical picture of the reality that God is not existing among you anymore, because God’s glory and human sin cannot coexist. Then Moses goes into that tent and prays. He doesn’t point to anything in Israel. He reaches for God’s own character. Moses says, “You have said, ‘I have known you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.'” His intercession rests on God’s initiative, not Israel’s improvement. That word favor is the same Hebrew word that shows up throughout the Old Testament for grace. It’s unmerited. It’s already in motion before Moses opened his mouth. This is the picture of New Testament grace. Paul says in Ephesians, “By grace you have been saved through faith, not of yourselves. It’s a gift from God.” The pattern is the same with Moses. God moved first. The entire sacrificial system in Leviticus exists because God chose to be gracious. Israel didn’t design it. God did. So when we read Leviticus, we should read it thinking, this is a gracious gift from our Lord. Every word in this book is a way God made so that he could be among his people. The next morning Moses climbed Sinai alone, and God descended in the cloud and stood there with him, and he called upon the name of Yahweh. In Exodus 34:6–7, God speaks about himself: “Then Yahweh passed by in front of him, Moses. And Yahweh called out, ‘Yahweh, Yahweh, God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness and truth, who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet he will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.'” In these verses, God is defining himself. He calls himself compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin—three different words for sin, and God forgives it all. Then, in the same breath, God says he will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. He forgives sin and he punishes sin. If you don’t feel the tension in that sentence, you’re not paying close enough attention. How does a God who abounds in lovingkindness and will by no means leave the guilty unpunished deal with a stiff-necked people that he’s chosen to love? This isn’t resolved in Exodus. Frankly, it’s not resolved in Leviticus. Every sacrifice, every priest, every Day of Atonement is God saying, “I’m holding both of these truths at once, and I’m giving you a system to live under while you wait for the real answer.” The Question Leviticus Exists to Answer After Moses’s intercession, after God proclaims his name on the mountain, and after the tabernacle is finally completed, the people built it exactly as God commanded. So God keeps his promise. Turn a couple of pages to Exodus 40. “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of Yahweh filled the tabernacle, and Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had dwelt on it, and the glory of Yahweh filled the tabernacle.” God is near. God came back. God chose to dwell in the middle of his people. And even Moses—the man who just saw God’s back on the mountain, the man who has spoken to God face to face—can’t even walk in. The glory fills the place so completely that no human can enter. That’s the question Leviticus exists to answer. The same God who told Moses, “No man can see me and live,” is now dwelling in the center of a camp full of sinful people. How can they survive? How can anyone get near him? The answer isn’t something the Israelites figured out on their own. God himself built a system. He designed every sacrifice. He appointed every priest. He established every ritual because the gap between his holiness and their sin was too wide for them to cross. So he said, “Let me build a bridge.” That’s the story that leads us to the book of Leviticus. That’s where we stand when we open it and ask, “Why all of these rules?” The next lessons in the curriculum for the kids go through that answer. Over the next couple of months, they’re going through Leviticus, and this is an opportunity for us to show them how important this book is for every Christian. God’s glory fills the tabernacle. He’s now in the middle of his people. The first thing he does from that tabernacle is speak, and he gives Moses instructions for the sacrifices. In these, God establishes the cost of being near him. The Cost of Nearness: Blood, Atonement, and the Offerings Leviticus gives us five different types of offering: the sin offering and the guilt offering, which dealt with the problem of sin; the burnt offering, which expressed total dedication to God; the grain offering, which honored God’s provision; and the fellowship offering, sometimes called the peace offering, which celebrated the restored relationship between God and his people. Five offerings, each doing something different. But the system has a logic to it, and this logic matters more than the mechanics of it. When the offerings were brought, the order was fixed. Leviticus 9 shows this order of offering: sin offering first, then burnt, then fellowship. You can’t skip to peace with God. Sin has to be dealt with. You can’t dedicate yourself to him before you can be dedicated to him. And you have to be dedicated to him before you can enjoy fellowship with him. Sin, burnt, fellowship. The order isn’t arbitrary. The order is the gospel. You don’t start with fellowship. You start with the blood. In the last lesson, we talked about the bronze altar, the largest piece of furniture in the entire tabernacle complex, and the first thing inside that gate. You couldn’t skip it. You couldn’t go around it. Two lambs every day, one in the morning, one at night, plus whatever individual offerings were brought throughout the day. The four horns of this altar were smeared dark with blood. It was probably never fully clean. The next day, it would start again. This wasn’t necessarily a spectacular event. The person bringing the offering did most of the work himself. Look at Leviticus 1:3–5: “If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall bring it near, a male without blemish. He shall bring it near to the doorway of the tent of meeting that he may be accepted before Yahweh. And he shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering that it may be accepted for him to make atonement on his behalf. Then he shall slaughter the young bull before Yahweh.” The person bringing this offering brings the animal himself. He lays his hand on its head, and then he kills it. I’m not a hunter. I’ve never field-dressed an animal, because that sounds like a terrible thing to do. I have no desire to do that. But this process is doing that before the animal ever dies. He draws the blade across the animal’s throat while his hand is still on its head. The animal bleeds out while the man’s hand is still pressing down on its skull. Blood pours onto the ground at his feet. The animal’s legs buckle. Its body convulses. And the man stands there with blood on his hands because God designed this system so that the cost of sin would be something you felt. They held the animal down while it struggled. Then the person who brought this offering kept working. He skinned the animal himself. He cut it into pieces, removed the internal organs, and the priest arranged the pieces on the altar. Then the priest offered up all of it in smoke, a burnt offering, an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to Yahweh. The whole area smelled of blood and burning flesh. This is the aroma of worship under the old covenant. This is what it costs to come near to a holy God. I think we sanitize this. We’ll read, “He shall slaughter the young bull before Yahweh,” and our minds skip right to the theology. But God designed this process to be experienced and felt, with blood running down your arms, soaking your feet in the dirt, and the smell of an open carcass—which, I’ll tell you what, is awful. Back in the day, I did a Tyson chicken and International Beef Packers tour project, and walking into that space when it was not cooled will punch you in the face. I was proud. I was the only one that did not puke. Standing there in that moment must be atrocious. The cost of sin must feel like so much weight. It’s not just a hymn. This was not theological abstraction. This was life draining out of an animal while the offerer holds a blade in his hand. And God wanted his people to feel that every single time. This should have been you. You should be the one bleeding. You should be the one dying. The cost of your sin is life. Have you ever dealt with blood? Not like the paper cut I got yesterday moving cardboard. Real blood. Significant blood. That’s why I don’t want to do anything in the medical industry either. Blood is not cool. I’m good without it. I have to tell myself it’s just Hershey’s chocolate. They dye it red. This was flowing with blood. It stains everything. And God chose to use blood as a means of atonement, not water, not oil. Leviticus 17:11 says: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls. For it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.” Blood equals life. God designed it that way so that when blood was shed, we could see the cost of sin. The cost of sin is not effort. It’s not good intentions. It’s not a scale where your better acts outweigh your bad acts. Something has to die so someone else can live. The blood on the altar is visible, physical, unavoidable proof that sin is a life-and-death situation. And God is the one who provided the solution. The priest splashed blood around the altar, blood on the altar, blood at the doorway. There’s no way to approach God in this system without passing through blood. The author of Hebrews says, “Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin.” This isn’t just theology. It is the architecture of the system God built. There’s a grain offering too. It’s not about atonement. It’s a gift. Leviticus 2:1 describes fine flour mixed with oil and frankincense, offered to honor God’s provision. But even here he says there is no yeast. Throughout Scripture, yeast represents sin. You can’t bring an offering to God while clinging to the thing that separates you from him. Even the non-atoning offering teaches holiness. The guilt offering dealt with sins that caused specific harm to another person or to God’s holy things. Leviticus 6:5 describes someone who swore falsely or defrauded their neighbor. You didn’t just sacrifice a ram. You made full restitution, giving 20 percent more, and you gave it back on the day you brought your guilt offering. You had to make it right. There’s a phrase that repeats throughout these chapters: “The priest shall make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven.” Over and over. Atonement, forgiven. This is the system God created, and the worshiper walks away forgiven. But he’s going to sin again, and he’s going to need another animal. The priest will need to do this again—over and over and over, next week, next month, next year. The repetition is the point. If this had been sufficient, he would have only needed to do this once. Hebrews 10:1 says: “For the law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.” The author of Hebrews is making an argument about the whole system. It is a shadow. It shows you the shape of something real, but the shadow itself can’t do what the object does. That’s what the law is. That’s what the sacrifices are. God genuinely accepted them, but they could never make the worshiper permanently right with God. They could never change the heart that kept producing the sin. The people living under the shadow were being trained year after year, sacrifice after sacrifice: recognize what the real sacrifice will be. Every animal that died on that altar was God teaching Israel the same lesson: you need this, and this isn’t enough. The system didn’t fail. It did what it was designed to do. It created a desire for something better. The Priesthood and the Danger of Casual Access What they needed was a mediator, and that’s the priesthood. God’s presence fills the tabernacle. The sacrificial system is now in place. Someone has to stand between God and the people and carry the blood past the curtain on behalf of a nation. So God chose the last person we probably would have expected: the guy who just made a calf. He chose Aaron and his sons, sinful men, to stand in his presence on behalf of the nation. God gave them what they needed to wear to be set apart. He put a plate on Aaron’s forehead to show that he doesn’t belong to himself; he’s in God’s service. He had a robe with bells on, just in case he died. If you don’t hear bells, you know the sacrifice didn’t work. He had a breastplate with 12 stones, one for each of the tribes of Israel. When he walked into God’s presence, he carried the entire nation with him. He goes in so they don’t have to. That is what a mediator does. He stands where the people cannot stand, and he carries them with him. We don’t have time to work through all of the details this morning, but they are worth reading and understanding. After all of this preparation, the priest still has to offer a sin offering for himself before he can offer anything else for the people. The man standing between God and Israel is a sinner, and he needs grace before he can even administer the sacrifice for the people. So every time he serves, the preparation begins over again. The priesthood is God’s provision for the gap, but it’s also a reminder of how wide this gap is. If the mediator himself needs atonement, what does that tell you about the distance between a holy God and the people he’s mediating for? God tells them what this is for. In Leviticus 9:6: “This is the thing which Yahweh has commanded you to do, so that the glory of Yahweh may appear to you.” The sacrifices weren’t just a list. They were a condition of seeing God’s glory. Obey the system he built and he will show up. Then, jumping down to verses 23–24: “And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, then came out and blessed the people, and the glory of Yahweh appeared to all the people. Then fire came out from before Yahweh and consumed the burnt offering and the portions of fat on the altar. And all the people saw it, shouted, and fell on their faces.” Fire from the presence of God consuming the offering is God accepting the offering. God saw the blood, accepted the substitute, and demonstrated that the way was open. In that moment, the system was functioning exactly as God designed it. But it didn’t take long for us to screw it up. Leviticus 10, starting in verse 1: “Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective fire pans and put fire in them. Then they placed incense on it and offered strange fire before Yahweh, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from the presence of Yahweh and consumed them, and they died before Yahweh. Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘It is what Yahweh spoke, saying, “By those who come near me, I will be treated as holy, and before all the people, I will be glorified.”' So Aaron kept silent.” The same fire in chapter 9—the fire from God’s presence—consumed the offering and the people shouted for joy. Then in chapter 10, the fire from God’s presence consumed the priests and everyone went silent. Same God, same holiness, same fire. The only difference was how God was approached. One chapter earlier, the entire nation was on its face in worship because God had accepted their offering. Now two of Aaron’s sons are dead, burned up in the tabernacle, because they decided the details of God’s instructions were flexible. The exact nature of their violation is debated. The text may hint they were drunk, because immediately after their death God gives Aaron a direct command about not drinking wine or strong drink when entering the tent of meeting. The specific violation matters less than the principle: “By those who come near me I will be treated as holy.” God defines the terms of nearness, and Aaron’s sons decided those terms were optional. The fire that had just accepted the sacrifice turned on the men who thought they could improvise. Aaron kept silent. His two oldest sons are dead on the ground, and he doesn’t say a word. He was grieving, but he knew Moses was right. God’s holiness is not negotiable, not even for a father’s grief. The silence is heavier than any words Aaron could have said at that moment. He stood there in his priestly garments, the blood of his ordination still probably on his ear and his thumb and his toe, and he had nothing to say. Because what do you say when you know God is just and your sons were wrong? You stand there in silence. We approach God every day, every week. We pray, we sing, we take communion. Christ secured that access for us. Nadab and Abihu are permanent reminders that access and casualness aren’t the same thing. The God we approach through Christ is the same God whose fire consumed unauthorized worship. His holiness has not changed. What changed is the sacrifice. A better priest offered a better sacrifice, and our access is permanent. But the God on the other side of that access is still the God whose fire fell in Leviticus 10. We come boldly, as Hebrews tells us, but we must come on his terms. We must come honoring his holiness. The Day of Atonement and the Two Goats The next lesson for the kids is on the atonement. The atonement sacrifice happens once a year, every year. These daily sacrifices are in the individual lesson: one person, one offering, one act of forgiveness. I’ve often wondered how long the line is for that. If it’s like Disneyland, you’re waiting for an hour. There’s no FastPass. But sin doesn’t just affect the sinner. It defiles the priests who handle it. It contaminates the tabernacle where God dwells. So the Day of Atonement addressed what the daily sacrifices couldn’t. Once a year, the high priest entered the room no one else could enter, carrying blood into the immediate presence of God. In Leviticus 16:2, Yahweh says to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron that he shall not enter at any time into the holy place inside the veil before the mercy seat which is on the ark, so that he will not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.” This first instruction is a warning: don’t come in whenever you want. You will die. The Holy of Holies is not an empty room. This is where God’s presence is. It’s unmediated by blood, and it will kill you. On this day, the high priest enters alone, burning incense so the smoke covers the mercy seat before he can even look in that direction. Without this incense, he will die. He brings blood first from a bull for himself, because the high priest still has to be atoned for before he can atone for anyone else. Then he slaughters a goat for the people and brings its blood inside the veil. Inside the ark sit the stone tablets, the law that every person in the camp has broken. Above the ark is the mercy seat, where God appears. The law underneath, God’s presence above, and the high priest sprinkles blood on the mercy seat and in front of it. Leviticus 16:14 tells us he sprinkles this blood seven times. That blood is the only thing standing between a nation of sinners and the holy judgment their sin deserves. It satisfies God’s judgment so that his mercy can reach his people. There are two goats brought for the people’s sin offering. The first goat is killed. Its blood goes inside the veil: payment for sin. But the second goat isn’t killed. In Leviticus 16:21–22: “Then Aaron shall lay both of his hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities of the sons of Israel and all their transgressions in regard to all their sins. And he shall lay them on the head of the goat and send it out into the wilderness by the hand of a man ready to do this. And the goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an isolated land. And he shall send out the goat in the wilderness.” This is both hands, a full confession, a full transfer. The text uses, once again, the three different words for sin that we saw earlier: iniquities, transgressions, and sins. All of it laid on this goat and sent into the wilderness. The first goat dies as a payment, and the second goat signifies a removal. These truths are what God does with sin. He pays for it, and he carries it away. Eric read from Isaiah 53 on Friday, and it uses this same language. Isaiah 53:4–6 says: “Surely our griefs he himself bore, and our sorrows he carried away. Yet we ourselves esteemed him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was pierced through for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The chastening for our well-being fell upon him, and by his scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his own way. But Yahweh has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on him.” Both of those goats point to Christ. The goat that died is Christ paying the penalty for our sins. The goat sent away is Christ removing our sins as far as the east is from the west. Two goats on the Day of Atonement, because it takes two pictures to show what one Savior accomplished in a single act. And once every year, that’s what Leviticus 16:34 says: “This is a perpetual statute.” If this had solved the problem, once would have been enough. But every year the high priest goes back behind the curtain. Every year the blood is sprinkled. Every year God is teaching Israel, “This isn’t the final answer.” In those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year, for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Hebrews 10:11 tells us, “And every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But he, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God… For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” Every priest stands. You stand when your work is not complete. Christ sat down at the right hand of the Father. He offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, and he sat down. The distance between those two realities is the distance Christ crossed, and we cannot fathom that distance. Scott talked Friday night about Matthew 27. In verse 51, when Jesus died, the veil of the sanctuary was torn from top to bottom. The veil existed for one reason: to keep people out. Not even the high priest could pass except once a year, covered in blood, hidden behind incense, and scared to death. For 1,500 years this curtain was saying, “You can’t come in here.” No animal sacrifice could remove it. The veil stayed because the sacrifice that could tear it had not yet been offered. When Christ died, God tore it from top to bottom. The sin that required the separation was dealt with permanently. Again in Hebrews 10:19: “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is through his flesh, and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from every evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” We are not trembling high priests. We’re not sitting in clouds of incense when we walk in here on a Sunday or when we sit in our quiet time. The blood of Jesus did what the blood of bulls and goats could never do. So draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. Our nearness to God cost the Son everything. And now he sits. The job is complete. Be Holy: What the System Was Pointing Toward There’s one last lesson in the curriculum, and it’s in Leviticus 19. After everything we’ve walked through this morning—after the presence, after the sacrifices, after the priesthood, after the Day of Atonement—God says one more thing to his people. Leviticus 19:2: “Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy.'” The reason for holiness isn’t self-improvement. It’s to reflect God. God’s people look like God, not like the surrounding nations, not like whatever feels comfortable. “You shall be holy because I, Yahweh your God, am holy.” When we walked through holiness in the attribute series a few weeks ago, we looked at how Charnock described it. He called holiness the beauty of the Godhead. Power is God’s hands. Omniscience his eyes. Mercy his heart. Holiness is his beauty. Every other attribute is glorious, but holiness is what makes every other attribute beautiful. Power without holiness is tyranny. Sovereignty is oppression. Even love without holiness is sentimentality. Holiness is the purity that makes everything else about God trustworthy. And God says, “Be like that.” The commands in Leviticus 19 touch everything: honor your parents, no idols, leave grain in your field for the poor and the foreigner, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t take advantage of the deaf, don’t put a stumbling block before the blind, don’t pervert justice for anyone, rich or poor, don’t hate your brother in your heart. Holiness is more than don’t steal or cheat on your wife. The commands in this chapter push into territory that most people would consider optional. Leave part of your harvest in the field for people who can’t afford food. Keep your body clear of markings for the sake of being set apart as God’s holy people. Pay your workers on time. Don’t hold a grudge. Holiness touches your wallet, your body, your calendar, the conversations you have when the other person isn’t even in the room. Holiness is comprehensive. It’s relentless. It leaves no corner of your life untouched. And God says, “Be holy.” Leviticus 19:18 says, “You shall not take vengeance nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am Yahweh.” Jesus called this the second-greatest commandment, and this is the first time you see it. Some of these commandments carry into the New Testament, and some were fulfilled in Christ or belong specifically to Israel’s identity as a nation set apart from its neighbors. But the principle beneath every single one of these commands carries across every page of Scripture. God’s people are different, not because we’re better, but because God’s people belong to a holy God. And belonging to him changes what you do with every part of your life. Here’s where this section serves our main point this morning: nobody kept it. Nobody looks at Leviticus 19 and goes, “I did every single one of those perfectly.” Not fully, not consistently, certainly not for long. The call to holiness reveals the same thing the sacrifices revealed, the same thing the annual Day of Atonement revealed: there’s a distance. Even after God provides the presence, the sacrifices, the priests, and the atonement, the people still can’t close this gap on their own. God gave them the command, “Be holy.” He gave them detailed instructions for what holiness looks like, and they couldn’t do it. The law is perfect. We’re not. And the system teaches that we need him. That’s the whole point. Leviticus 19 is the last piece of evidence in the case that God has been building for us this morning. His presence is real, and still the people can’t be what God calls them to be. We need more than a system. We need the one the system was pointing to. And on this side of Calvary, what God commanded from the outside he now accomplishes from the inside. As Ezekiel 36:27 says, “I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes.” Christian, God gives you the power to be holy. It is a new power that you have when you commit your life to Christ. So that’s what these five lessons talk about. They talk about God’s presence. They talk about sacrifice. They talk about the need for a mediator and an atonement and holiness. Five layers of the same truth. God drew near to a sinful people, and he built an entire system so that they could survive his nearness. Every piece of that system worked, and every piece of that system was insufficient. The sacrifices had to be repeated. The priests needed their own atonement before they could offer. The call to holiness exposed what everybody already knew: we couldn’t do it. And the system did exactly what it was designed to do. It taught a people, and it teaches us, what we need. Then Christ came. The presence that filled the tabernacle became flesh and dwelt among us. The sacrifice that had to be repeated was offered once for all time. The priest who needed his own atonement was replaced by one who knew no sin. The Day of Atonement that came back every year was fulfilled in a single afternoon. The holiness that no one could keep was credited to everyone who belongs to him. The depth of our gratitude for what Christ accomplished is directly tied to how well we understand what he replaced. That’s why we spend time in Leviticus. That’s why we have Leviticus, so we can truly understand what Christ’s death replaced. Closing Prayer Lord God, many of us have heard the truth that you went to the cross to die for our sins our entire lives. We grew up either in the church or in a society that just assumes that. And yet we grew up 1,500 years or 3,500 years removed from these words on the page. This sacrificial system that was so significant and so difficult and so vivid—what it means to see a life taken for our sins—are words on a page. Lord, help these words on the page to penetrate our hearts, and help us to be lost in, to be consumed by, the truth of what your death on the cross meant. So this morning, as we celebrate your resurrection—because your resurrection shows that not only did you defeat sin, but you defeated death, that the work was finished—Lord, as we celebrate that, help this day not to be about family, but to be about you. Lord, we love you. Amen. The post Equipping Hour: Presence, Priesthood, and Atonement appeared first on Grace Bible Church.

The sermon presents a theological exploration of the resurrection of Christ as foreshadowed throughout the Old Testament, demonstrating that God's redemptive plan—centered on both the cross and the resurrection—was established from eternity. Drawing from key narratives such as Adam's deep sleep and the creation of Eve, Abraham's near-sacrifice of Isaac, the mercy seat in the tabernacle, the high priest's annual entry into the Holy of Holies, Aaron's rod that sprouted almonds, the water from the rock, and Jonah's three days in the fish, the preacher reveals how each event symbolically prefigures the resurrection as a victory over death and the foundation of new life. These Old Testament types are not mere parallels but intentional divine images pointing forward to Christ's triumph over death, affirming that His resurrection was not an isolated event but the fulfillment of a long-standing, divinely orchestrated plan. The tone is both reverent and revelatory, inviting the audience to see the entire biblical narrative as a unified story of divine redemption, where the resurrection is the ultimate proof of Christ's saving work and the guarantee of future resurrection for believers.

Good Friday: It is Finished Hebrews 10:1-25 & St. John 19:1-37 by William Klock Picture again the scene we read about in last night's Gospel: Jesus and the disciples gathered in that “upper room”.  Their feet were dusty from a day spent walking the streets of Jerusalem.  There should have been a servant there to wash their feet.  But, instead, Jesus took up the towel and pitcher of water and began to wash the dust, the grime, the dirt from their feet.  Even Judas, whose feet were covered with dust from his journey to visit the high priest to betray Jesus.  Jesus washed even that dust from the feet of his betrayer.  Here was truly the Messiah, the suffering servant who came to wash his people clean from their sins.  Peter drew back.  “No Lord!  You can't wash my feet!  If anything, I should be washing yours.”  But Jesus insisted.  This is what he'd come to do. Jesus turned everything upside-down.  After washing the disciples' feet—something totally inappropriate for a teacher to do for his disciples—he took the bread and the wine of the Passover meal and started talking about them as a new sacrifice.  These men knew all about sacrifices. They knew all about bulls and goats and lambs sacrificed for sin, their bodies broken and their blood poured out before the altar to purify the people from the impurity of their sins, to make them fit for God to draw near.  And yet Jesus now took the bread and wine and said that it was his body broken and his blood poured out—that they were all on the verge of a new exodus, but this time he would be the Passover lamb, his body and blood would be broken to free them from the slavery of sin and death.  The disciples didn't understand.  Not at this point.  Picture them looking at Jesus and looking at each other with confusion.  What was he trying to say about the Passover?  They really did want to follow Jesus, they wanted what he had to offer, but they didn't understand yet what it was he was offering.  When Jesus had tried to wash Peter's feet, Peter had indignantly refused, but Jesus explained that he needed it—that if we wanted any part in his master, this washing was essential.  Of course, then Peter did want it—he wanted even more of it (“Wash all of me, not just my feet, Lord!”)—but he still didn't understand what it meant.  He just trusted Jesus.  This was the Messiah.  Peter wanted what was coming…whatever that might be. After supper Jesus took his friends to the garden of Gethsemane to pray.  Even after the foot washing and that last supper and all Jesus' talk about servants and sacrifices, they still didn't understand.  They had no idea what was going to happen.  They knelt among the olive trees as Jesus went off a little way away to pray by himself.  And as Jesus prayed like he'd never prayed before, the disciples drifted off to sleep.  They had no idea that something was about to happen that would change the world forever.  Jesus woke them up in time for Judas to return, leading a pack of Jewish soldiers who had come to take him away.  Peter drew out his sword, ready for the attack, and cut off the ear of one of the soldiers.  Maybe he thought that now was the time Jesus, the conquering Messiah, was going to throw off his clever disguise of humility and start the revolution that everyone expected.  Now was his chance!  But it didn't happen.  In fact, Jesus actually healed the soldier and told Peter: “I can appeal to my Father and he'll send twelve legions of angels.  But if I did that, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled?”  I can only imagine just how much more confused Peter was at that point. And the disciples ran away as the chief priest's soldiers took Jesus away in chains.  They figured it was over.  Chalk Jesus up as yet another failed Messiah.  But Peter wasn't ready to give up on his friend, so he followed along to the high priest's house to see what would happen.  He watched the sham trial they put Jesus through.  They condemned Jesus, and as the priests and soldiers spit on him and struck him, Peter gave up just like the other disciples had done a few hours before.  Three bystanders noticed Peter in the crowd and recognised him: “Hey, you!  You were with him.  You're one of his friends.  You're one of his followers.” And each time Peter denied knowing Jesus: “I don't know what you're talking about!  You must be blind!  I've never seen this man before!”  It wasn't just Judas.  By morning Jesus had been betrayed and denied by his closest disciples and friends.  All of them. And in the morning, the Jews dragged Jesus to the court of the Roman governor.  The Jews weren't allowed to execute anyone; the Romans had to do it.  And so Jesus went through another sham trial before Pilate, who caved to their pressuring.  He didn't want a riot on his hands and the Jews were crying for blood—and not just blood—they were crying out for a Roman crucifixion.  Pilate asked them, “But this man is King of the Jews?”  And they shouted back, “No he's not!  We have no king but Caesar!”  That had to be the most unJewish thing ever shouted by a crowd.  I expect that shout left Pilate utterly speechless.  If they'd all suddenly began feasting on roast pig he couldn't have been more surprised.  I expect it had Jesus in tears.  He knew, just as they knew, that the Lord was Israel's king, not Caesar.  But they were so angry with him, they were so set on their rejection of Jesus the Messiah, that they would do the unthinkable and declare their allegiance to Caesar instead.  On Sunday the crowd outside the city had hailed him as King, but now their voices were drowned out by this great hoard calling for his blood.  Not wanting trouble, Pilate gave them what they wanted. His soldiers, the whole battalion, took Jesus to be scourged.  They spit on him, they put a reed in his hand and a crown plaited of thorns on his head and mocked him as king, and then they beat him senseless.  They led him away with two violent thugs, revolutionaries, very possibly from Barabbas' gang.  On a hilltop just outside the city, the soldiers held Jesus down on a cross while they nailed him to it with spikes through his wrists and through his feet.  Then they raised the cross up and dropped it heavily into the ground.  His mother and his friends watched as his blood poured and as he struggled for breath.  For three long hours he hung there.  Roman crucifixion was known for its agony.  The shoulders were dislocated.  Hanging, you couldn't breath.  So you pushed yourself up, putting all your weight on the spike through your feet to gasp for air—alternating between the agony of asphyxiation and the agony of being nailed to a piece of timbre.  Some men lasted for days like that.  Jesus had been abused so badly, all it took was three hours.  He cried out to his Father—in relief, in exhausted victory, “It is finished.”  And just to make sure he was dead, John says the soldiers pierced his side with a spear.  Blood and water gushed out from the wound.  Not what anyone would normally expect, but a detail noted by John.  Maybe to stress the reality of Jesus' body, because there were those at the time John wrote who claimed that Jesus' body had only been an illusion.  As John saw blood pour from Jesus' side, he couldn't help but remember the blood pouring from the animals sacrificed in the temple, and as the wind sprinkled Jesus' blood on the group gathered at the foot of the cross, John remembered standing in the temple as the priests sprinkled the blood of bulls and goats on him and the gathered sons of Israel.  Purifying them from the stain of sin and death. The clouds darkened the sky.  The earth shook.  The great, heavy curtain in the temple that closed off the holy of holies, the place of the Lord's presence, was violently torn in two.  The graves gave up their dead, who went walking through the streets of Jerusalem.  Something remarkable had happened and everyone noticed, but no one understood—except maybe that centurion who confessed, “Surely this man is the son of God!”  Despite all that, the city was quickly back to its business.  Jesus' friends wept in sadness or in anger, and they went home to lie low lest the authorities come after them next. That evening Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate to claim the body of Jesus.  They took it down from the cross, wrapped it in linen, placed it in a tomb, and sealed it up. Maybe now the disciples started to ponder what Jesus said last night when he had talked about his body and blood being given as a new—as a perfect—sacrifice.  In our epistle lesson from the tenth chapter of Hebrews, we read some more about the nature of Jesus' sacrifice.  The Law and the old sacrifices were but a shadow of the good things to come.  “It can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.  Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?  But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.  For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:1-4). The blood of bulls and goats, sacrificed over and over, could only convict the people of sin as it pointed to the perfect sacrifice of the Messiah that had not yet been made.  And so Hebrews 10 says that Jesus came to do “away with the first in order to establish the second.  And by that…we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Messiah Jesus once for all”(Hebrews 10:9-10).  The writer of Hebrews goes on to give us a vivid picture contrasting the old and the new: “Every priest [and he's talking about the priests of the old covenant] stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sin.  But when the Messiah had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God…for by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:11-14). Jeremiah wrote, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds…I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”  And Hebrews reminds us, “Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin” (Hebrews 10:16-18). When Jesus breathed his last and cried out, “It is finished,” it was finished.  Whereas in the old covenant the priest laid the sins of the people on the bulls and goats sacrificed repeatedly on the altar, Jesus, our great High Priest, took our sins upon himself and died the death that we deserved.  The old sacrifices fell short.  They could cleanse the people from the impurity of their sins, but the blood of bulls and goats could never deal with the sin itself.  That's the difference between the old sacrifices and the perfect sacrifice of Jesus.  In the shed blood of Jesus we are purified so thoroughly that, in the Holy Spirit, God himself can live in us, renewing our hearts, writing the law—once carved on tablets of stone—now the Spirit writes that law of perfect love on our hearts. When Jesus breathed his last and gave himself up to his Father, the temple served its last function in redemptive history.  Under the old covenant the holy of holies—the most holy place—was where the presence of the Lord resided visibly for the people, resting on the ark of the covenant.  And yet the people weren't allowed into that place—into the direct presence of the Lord.  Only the high priest was allowed there and then only once a year.  No sinful human being could enter the presence of the Lord and the priest only did it to make an annual sacrifice for sins—and he did so only after a series of purification rituals for himself.  Nobody went there, because sinners can never enter the presence of a holy, just, and righteous God. But when Jesus made his perfect sacrifice on the cross that day—as he breathed his last and pronounced, “It is finished”—the heavy veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the people was torn in two.  By his death, Jesus opened the way into the presence of the Father.  Through Jesus sinners now find perfect forgiveness and, through God's indwelling Spirit, they become the new and perfect temple. On the cross Jesus stretched out his hands; he stretched out one hand to all those who had trusted in him, seeing the future and coming Messiah as they made their sacrifices at the Temple.  And with his other hand Jesus reached out to us, reaches out to the Gentiles, to the nations who had never heard of the Messiah.  On the cross he reaches out with both hands, uniting both peoples to himself, establishing his body by giving new life to dead and paralysed limbs through his life-giving body and blood.  Jesus said, “When I am lifted up, I will draw all men to myself” (John 12:32).  That's exactly what he did.  In fact, it's exactly what he still does.  He stretches out his hands to draw us in, to unite us to himself.  Through his perfect sacrifice he offers perfect forgiveness of sin.  Through his body and his blood he offers new and eternal life.  Through his Holy Spirit he renews and regenerates hearts and minds and leads us on the path of holiness.  And through his cross, he leads us through the torn veil and into the holy of holies—into the very presence of God.

He Is Series Immanuel (God with us) — When You Feel Far from God but He Never Left Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.” Every time I think about this, I am still amazed. I still can't believe God loves us so much that He sent his only Son to die on a cross for us. What makes it even more remarkable is that when God created us, He knew this was going to have to happen, and He created us anyway! Doesn't that feel crazy to you? I can definitely understand a parent doing something extreme to get their child out of a difficult situation. We have all heard the stories of the incredible things parents have done to save their children. However, they didn't know they would have to do it in advance. God did. God knew exactly what was going to happen in the garden. He knew the betrayal before it even happened. Yet, He created us anyway! I love to think about Adam and Eve and how they got to walk in the garden with God. I can't even really picture it, as I don't know what God looks like or how that worked. However, it is a great thing to sit and meditate on. Was God just a voice in the wind? Did he have a body when He visited them in the garden? What was that like? No one knows, but we can sit with the Lord and ask Him to help us visualize it. I feel as though that would be a calm and peaceful exercise in feeling the Lord around us. I can think of so many ways that God is with us. He is with us in church in so many ways. His Word is proclaimed during Mass. His body and blood are contained in the Eucharist. He is consumed by each person who approaches communion. God also sent the Holy Spirit to be within us all the time. It was really important for God to be with us. So important, He sent Jesus. After Adam and Eve betrayed Him, He separated Himself from them and from His people. Yet, he still looked after them and protected them. He was still their God, but it was more from a distance. They could no longer see Him as they did in the garden. Before Jesus came, God stayed separate from his people. When they built the temple, they built a special place called the “holy of holies,” where God's presence could dwell in a special way. However, only one person could enter this area, only once a year on the day of atonement, and it was only to make a sacrifice. God would talk to his people through a prophet. Everyone couldn't hear God's voice; only a select few whom God trusted passed along his messages or performed his signs of wonder. No one was allowed to see His face. All that changed when Jesus arrived on the scene. Another amazing thing is that God revealed his plan to his people over 700 years before Jesus was born. In Isaiah 7:14, it says, “Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” This is such a good example of God knowing when the right time is. He mentioned Jesus coming a long time before He came. However, He did promise to come. He did promise that He would walk among them again. I think the 700 years are important for us because they show that God has a plan for everything. God wasn't just waiting in heaven for a random day and time to bring Jesus to earth. He was in all the details. He was arranging everything perfectly. He picked Mary out specifically. He ordained her for this task, and she said yes! His timing was and is perfect. We don't know why God picked the time and place that He did for Jesus to come into the world. We don't know why he picked Mary or Joseph. We do know that Mary and Joseph were the perfect parents for Jesus. We know God's plan worked, and we are not reunited with Him. Do you remember when I told you about the special room in the temple where the presence of God was kept? It was called the Holy of Holies and was separated from the rest of the temple by a curtain. Did you know that the curtain was torn in two when Jesus died? In Matthew 27:50-52, it says, “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.  And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.” God wanted us all to know that there was nothing in between us anymore. He is no longer separated from us! I think most of us know this on some level, and yet I am not sure we are internalizing what that really means for us. I think most of us know that we can talk to God anytime we like. I think this has always been the case. However, did you know that you can hear the voice of God as well? God is talking to each one of us, and if we sit and listen, we will hear Him talking to us. This is very different than the people in the Old Testament. Before Jesus came, direct communication with God was pretty limited to the Priests, Prophets, and Kings. The Priests mediated between God and the people through sacrifice and the law. The Prophets, men like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Elijah, received direct divine revelation from the Lord. The Kings, like David, were anointed and guided by the Spirit of God. The ordinary people, like you and me, could encounter the Lord through the Torah and sacred Scripture, the liturgy of the Temple, and the prophet's public proclamations. But direct, personal, intimate access to God was not the common experience. The Holy Spirit would come upon people for a specific purpose, then would withdraw. Aren't you so excited that you came into the world after Jesus did? After Jesus died on the cross for us, everything changed! God sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within each baptised person. Not just for a purpose, or a season, but ALWAYS. We now also have direct access to the Father through Christ. (Hebrews 4:16). Prayer is no longer just a petition from a distance. According to the CCC#2564, prayer is a living relationship- a covenant relationship between God and man in Christ. It is life, not merely words. Here is an analogy to help you see the difference. Before Christ, it was like writing a letter to someone across the ocean, hoping they would read it. After Christ is like having a conversation with someone sitting right next to you. We are so lucky to have the opportunity to have such a close relationship. My prayer for each one of you is that if you didn't know this was possible, you do now. I hope if this information is new to you, you are so excited to see what is possible for your relationship with God. Did you know you can sit down and have a conversation with Him, and He will talk back with you? He also talks to us through Scripture, other people, songs, visions, and so many ways. God is with you. He is right there next to you. He is in every situation you are in. He is rooting for you. He is protecting you. He is guiding you. He loves you. He is with you in the good times and in the bad times. I know sometimes we feel alone. We all do. The truth is that we are never alone. God is always with us. If we can't feel his presence, it is not because he is hiding from us. Many things can get in the way of feeling God's presence. They are things we put there, though, not Him. Here are some of them. Unconfessed sin busyness and distraction, a false sense of self-sufficiency, treating prayer as a technique instead of the gift that it is Physical and emotional exhaustion Spiritual dryness (this is not always caused by us; this could be God's invitation to love Him for who He is, not merely for the consolations He gives. Interior Distractions Anger or Bitterness towards the Lord Not taking Spiritual experiences seriously Unforgiveness I am not going to go into detail about each of those. I just wanted to show you that if you are not feeling God's presence, you are not alone, and also, it is not because God is not there. Also, if you want to feel God's presence more, you can do the opposite of those things. For instance, if you have unconfessed sin, you can confess it and remove that barrier. If you have unforgiveness, you can learn to forgive and remove that barrier, too. The CCC#45 says, “We are created to live in communion with God, in whom we find our happiness.” Dear Immanuel, I ask you to bless everyone listening to this episode today. Jesus, we are so grateful you are with us. We are grateful that you walk with us through all the fires of our lives. We are grateful you are there to celebrate the good times. Lord, we ask you to help us to feel you more in our lives. Help us notice you more in our lives. We want more of you and less of us, Lord!! We ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus's holy name, Amen! Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus. If you are enjoying this podcast, please share it with a friend. Also, if you could help me out and leave a review that would be great. I look forward to seeing you here again tomorrow. Remember, Jesus loves you just as you are, and so do I! Have a blessed day! Today's Word from the Lord was received in October 2025 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email CatholicCharismaticPrayerGroup@gmail.com. Today's Word from the Lord is, “My children, let your hearts know that I am with you until the end of time. Let my words resonate through every trial. Let my presence soothe you. Let my presence go beyond any circumstance.” www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

This weekend, we'll step into Holy Week with a look at a detail it's easy to miss when we talk about the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, His death, and His resurrection. We're going to look at the veil in the temple that set apart the Holy of Holies. While Mark 11:1-11 doesn't speak to the veil directly, it does show us Jesus' focus on the temple, and how that set the scene for all that would come next.

We talk about distance from God like it's something we have to fight through. We picture barriers, walls, and separation. In the temple, there was a veil that kept people from the Holy of Holies, a thick curtain no one could casually pass. But when Jesus was crucified, that veil was torn from top to bottom. Pastor Gary will explain to you today that it wasn't just the fabric that was ripped; Jesus was, too. Jesus was torn so we could come near. And you don't have to stand at a distance anymore; you have full access to God.

One Bride – Gifts and Anointing (Audio) David Eells – 3/25/26 I'm going to share with you some revelations of the anointing and gifts that we can look forward to receiving and operating in soon. I Am Strengthening My People G. M.- 05/12/2016 (David's notes in red) I received this Word and vision: I AM strengthening My people. I AM drawing them closer and closer to Myself and to each other. Giving them a genuine agape love for each other, that they hold one another accountable to My standards, accountable to My Word. It is by their joining together in a tightly knit fellowship that they become strong. Satan is not able to divide and separate. They have each other's backs. They actively partake in one another's spiritual warfare battles through prayer and fasting. The enemy is defeated. The open doors have been closed, and My saints have girded themselves with My truth. They stand strong and unwavering in the faith that I have given them. Their focus is on the prize - the gift of the full manifestation of Eternal Life. They are of one mind and one spirit. They will not be denied their rightful inheritance. Their hearts are full of praise and thanksgiving. Murmuring and complaining have no place in them. They look past the present and see what shall be. They see the end from the beginning. They waver not in the midst of their trials. They are full of joy as they rest in Me and My faithfulness. As I was receiving the last few phrases, a vision appeared. I saw a large circle of God's people standing together, shoulder to shoulder. I saw a solid circle of people; there were no gaps or empty spaces anywhere. I sensed strength and unity and a deep love for all the brethren gathered together to pray and believe God for His answers to their prayers. Eph.4:16 from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love. I felt a strong commitment of this group to God and to each other -- a bond that couldn't be broken. It seemed as though there was an invisible shield (like shrink-wrap) that could not be penetrated by the enemy. Most of the people I saw were adults and a few children; all were wearing blue jeans and white t-shirts. This group of God's people was on a hillside, standing in the bright sun. I felt this was a representation of the local and greater UBM fellowship. The scripture I received by faith and by random was Joh.10:30 I and the Father are one. Praise God! What an awesome verse to go with the word and vision He had already given me. I'll share verses 27-30 in context: 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: 28 and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who hath given (them) unto Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch (them) out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one. And in Joh.17:11 And I am no more in the world, and these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are. ... 22 And the glory which thou hast given me I have given unto them; that they may be one, even as we are one; 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that thou didst send me, and lovedst them, even as thou lovedst me. The numbers and their meanings in the date 5/12/16 of this revelation are equally awesome: 5=Grace; 12=Divine power, rule or authority; 16=Love It is such a blessing to be a part of God's family and UBM!   Gifts and Anointings Given to the Repentant Sandy Shaw - 02/11/2017 (David's notes in red) In a dream, I saw two angels with their arms held out and in their hands, holding two very large baskets. I don't know what the two baskets were made out of, but they were soooo white. One basket had a mix of silver and gold that was almost like fine powder. But you could see the individual gold and silver. God put His hand into the gold and silver and gently let it fall from His hand. I knew that they were blessings and gifts. I saw it fall on different individuals. The first one I saw it fall on was for the gifts of healing. This person sees a man in a wheelchair. (This person is no doubt representing a corporate body of people.) She feels compelled to pray for him, but does so only from a distance. Then, on a different day, this same woman sees a woman wearing a leg brace and using a crutch. She feels compelled again to pray. This time, she goes to her and lays hands on her and prays. After the prayer, the lady walks away. As she is walking, the brace on her leg falls away. She pushes the crutch down, throwing her hands in the air, clapping, and gives glory and praise to God. Then the same lady feels compelled again to pray as another woman in front of her, who is deaf, dumb, and blind, and she is instantly healed. The Lord says, “Just as I knew the woman who touched My garment, so shall you know whom to pray for.” I saw three Christians who were lacking boldness walking, and four people of the world were yelling and saying crazy things to them. They just put their heads down, and the four who had spoken finished and left. Then a different group of worldly people came up to them. And they yelled at them too. But this time the Christians spoke in love, and it calmed the others down, and then they were able to listen. Then they had a group hug, and they all prayed and left. Next, I see all of us at a meeting. And there was a prophecy given in tongues. But there is a battle going on inside of this woman: “Is this You, Lord? Should I say it?” And the boldness in her brought it forth. She couldn't contain it any longer. They waited for an interpretation, but it did not come. There was a man across the room who opened his eyes and looked around. For the Lord was giving him the interpretation. But he was fearful and did not say it. He questioned God and did not speak it. Then it was a different day, and we were in a meeting. We were praising and worshiping the Lord. Then, once again, the same woman felt the stirring of the spirit, but she questioned it because there was no interpretation the last time. But the Spirit kept stirring, and with boldness it came out. But this time, the man was able to allow God to move, and the interpretation was given. Now we were all at another meeting. We were singing and praising, and I saw white songbooks open. Then they are closed and put down on the seat. Everyone stands up with their hands raised, and the music changes. Now people are singing in tongues. They continue to sing in tongues, and the music continues. There is no doubt that the Holy Spirit is present there. Now, at another meeting, everyone came with their hearts prepared by worshiping the Lord long before they arrived. When the music started with the first song, the anointing was there. We did not use the books. We were singing from our hearts. We went from English to tongues. (We are commanded to desire and zealously seek these spiritual gifts. 1Co.14:1 Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts ... 12 So also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the church. Some will have to obey to receive the Giver of these gifts. And some will have to repent to receive His gifts. Act.5:32 And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey him. 1Co.12:7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit to profit withal. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom; and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit: 9 to another faith, in the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, in the one Spirit; 10 and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 but all these worketh the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one severally even as he will.) Then I was standing with the angels who were holding the baskets. I saw the Lord put His hand in the second basket that was full of oil. Then He let the oil flow down his fingertips as drops. He sprinkled the oil, but we were all doused. (Great anointings to minister will be given also to those who walk with Him.) End of dream. I asked for a verse by faith at random and amazingly got verse 1Co.14:13. In context, 12-15 1Co.14:12 So also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the church. 13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.   John the Baptist Ignored Eve Brast - 02/15/2017 (David's notes in red) We were all praying for Father to show us more concerning what He was telling us through Sandy's dream (above) and I was given the following dream. I dreamed I was standing in the living room of David's house (representing the larger house of David) where the wood-burning stove normally is. (Standing in the place of the fiery furnace.) David was standing to my right, and he was telling me something important about John the Baptist, who was standing on my left. There were three of us in the furnace (just like the three Hebrews). (The Bride, the Davids, and the John the Baptists are in the furnace of crucifixion -- priests offering the sacrifice of flesh.) (I asked for a verse by faith at random for this and amazingly, I got: Dan.3:26 (My finger was on Abed-nego, which means “servant of Nebo”, their “god of wisdom”. But Jesus is the wisdom of God.) Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace: he spake and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the Most High God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came forth out of the midst of the fire.) (As we just saw: Three groups of people who have been purified in the furnace of fiery trials.) While David was speaking to me, I was facing the direction of the kitchen. The wall between the living room and kitchen had only 2x4 framework. I could see that the kitchen was well-lit and was twice as big as in real life. (This is a sign that the house of David will be preparing much more spiritual food in the light of God's Word.) There was an old rectangular wooden table and chairs in the center. The house was larger than in real life, too. (A sign this is the larger house of David.) John the Baptist was standing to my left and looked to be 17 or 18 years old. He had beautiful olive skin, wavy, brown, shoulder-length hair, and piercing brown eyes that seemed to look past the exterior and directly inside an individual. He was wearing a white linen shirt and was holding a square wicker basket out in front of him with both hands. The basket was lined with white linen that folded outward over the top edge. The basket was filled with loaves of bread. (John the Baptist's bread is primarily about repentance, which means change your mind and believe and act on the Bible. To know the Bible in experience is to know what repentance is. The bread being the Word and in David's house could mean he received this teaching from the Davids, who sent him forth with the bread below. David had a ministry to feed his Father's sheep before he was anointed to be king. Just before Jesus was anointed, John said to Him that it was he who should be baptized by Jesus, recognizing Him as his leader and teacher.) I asked Father for a word concerning John the Baptist and received: Mat.26:18 (My finger was on the phrase “My time is at hand”.) 18 And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Teacher saith, My time is at hand; I keep the passover at thy house with my disciples. 19 And the disciples did as Jesus appointed them; and they made ready the passover.) (If we understand that just the phrase is meant as an answer, then John the Baptist's “time is at hand.” If we look at the larger context, we can see that the Man-child's “time is at hand” to go to the cross, his furnace, and they are both in the furnace with the Bride. Also, a Passover of judgment is being offered to the disciples. A Passover is not possible without repentance and faith, which John preached.) There were quite a few people from UBM standing around in different areas of the house in groups of two, three and four. They were all chit-chatting and talking about all the usual stuff people talk about. I then heard David tell John to go around to the different groups of people and distribute the bread to them. (John's bread primarily represents repentance and belief of the Word.) Next, I was with him in the Spirit as he attempted to offer the loaves of bread to these people. As we approached each group, some were absorbed in conversation concerning their problems; others were laughing and cutting up; others were discussing various news articles they had read. This sounds like “the cares of the world.” Mat.13:22 And he that was sown among the thorns, this is he that heareth the word; and the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. I watched as John earnestly went from group to group and person to person, trying to get their attention and hand them the bread that David wanted them to eat. But it was as if he were invisible because they paid no attention to him. (David is sending the bread through the spirit of John, but these particular groups are not repenting. This is not to say that others are not repenting, but these groups are ignoring the warning. Are you one of them? Part of the problem is the denial of sin. People with rejection do this commonly. It makes them blind and repentance invisible. They are afraid to admit or confess sin because of fear of rejection. The problem is always someone else whom they are glad to pin the blame on. When you face them with their sin, they ignore you and get mad. Their denial of sin is a blindness to the repentance of John the Baptist. On the day of this dream, Leon received by faith at random: Isa.59:9 Therefore is justice far from us, neither doth righteousness overtake us: we look for light, but, behold, darkness; for brightness, but we walk in obscurity. 10 We grope for the wall (sanctification) like the blind; yea, we grope as they that have no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the twilight.; among them that are lusty we are as dead men. And this same day, Eve received by faith at random: Joh.9:20 His parents answered and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: 21 but how he now seeth, we know not; or who opened his eyes, we know not: ask him; he is of age; he shall speak for himself. Let us call upon Jesus to open their blind eyes and repent. Let us ask for mercy and grace from our God for those who are blind to their sin. I just received this: Psa.119:17 Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live; So will I observe thy word. 18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold Wondrous things out of thy law. And this: 80:18 So shall we not go back from thee: Quicken thou us, and we will call upon thy name. 19 Turn us again, O Jehovah God of hosts; Cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved. And I thought of these verses: 119:25 My soul cleaveth unto the dust: Quicken [make alive] thou me according to thy word. ... 32 I will run the way of thy commandments, When thou shalt enlarge my heart. Son.1:4 Draw me; we will run after thee.... Php.2:13 for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.) Back to Eve's dream: Finally, in discouragement and frustration, John the Baptist gave up and went and sat down at the kitchen table and placed the basket on the table in front of him. He looked over at me and back at the basket and shook his head slowly, and sighed deeply, as if to say, “Look at what they're missing!” He reached his hand down into the basket and pulled up a huge handful of gold and silver coins the size of half-dollars. (The value of repentance is beyond worldly value.) He then let the coins slowly slip through his hand. (Just as these are letting the gifts slip through their hands.) The bread had transformed into coins. I realized these were the gold and silver gifts from Sandy's dream, and I thought to myself, “That's the basket from Sandy's dream. It's sad that none of these people wanted those gifts.” (Those who have repentance will receive God's gifts and those who don't have repentance will not. Without repentance from what they are hearing from John the Baptist, they will not receive these gifts of the Spirit. We must repent and act on what we hear to receive these gifts that we need to minister Jesus to ourselves and others.) They weren't interested or were too carnally minded and dull in their awareness of the Spirit. Then I woke up. (Our flesh wants to do anything and everything except focus on the things of the Spirit. (Food, entertainment, leisure, fellowship, ego, sports, news.) I asked Father for a word concerning these people and received: Eph.5:13 (1-20 in context) 1 Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints; 4 nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them; 8 for ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 proving what is well-pleasing unto the Lord; 11 and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them; 12 for the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of. 13 But all things when they are reproved are made manifest by the light: for everything that is made manifest is light. God is shedding the light on those who are intent on hiding their sin in darkness. 14 Wherefore he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee. 15 look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit. 19 speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ. I asked Father for a word for this dream, and my finger was on the phrase “Pray now unto the Lord our God for us” in Jer.37:3 And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now unto Jehovah our God for us. Recently, I had been speaking a bunch of unprofitable words concerning a situation in my life, and afterward I heard Father very clearly say to me in a stern tone, “No more idle words!” I understood that these words sabotaged my prayers and the faith I was trying to have concerning the situation. After this dream above, I realized this was more than an individual warning, but a corporate warning. Because a lot of idle speaking can also be a distraction and detraction from the things of the Spirit when the people of God are gathered together. (Idle words cancel words of faith. We call the things that be not as though they are and then we call the things that are to cancel the things that be not. Jas.1:2 Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations; 3 Knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience. We must consistently and patiently confess what we pray for or command as ours. 4 And let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing. 5 But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord; 8 a doubleminded man, unstable in all his ways. It seems the Father's message for both Sandy's dream and this one is that we need to get serious about our priesthood and the ministration of the gifts for the body. He is more than willing to bestow these gifts upon us if we will focus on the things of the Spirit and not allow distractions and idle words to detract from what He wants to do in us and through us.   Coming Anointing and Hidden Manna Revealed Bill Steenland - 07/29/2014 (David's notes in red) A few weeks ago, I had two visions and a word of knowledge as I was waking up at about 3:30 AM. The visions were more like experiences than visions, but they were not dreams. In the first vision, I was at my grandparents' house in New Jersey. (Representing being In the house of the early Church. Jud.3 Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints.) I was alone and in a two-door open garage where we would have barbecues and parties when I was a little child. (It is open for the chosen to partake of. A place of rest for a vehicle or vessel, as we are receiving spiritual food and celebrating.) Just outside the garage was a huge pool where I would play as a child. (A place for immersion in much water of the Word that puts to death the self-life.) Bill: Isa.8:18 Behold, I and the children whom Jehovah hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from Jehovah of hosts, who dwelleth in mount Zion. Mat.18:2 And he called to him a little child, and set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.... I was standing in the garage, in front of a refrigerator, opening the freezer. (I believe the freezer means what has been “preserved” and is coming or stored up for the tribulation.) When I opened the freezer, a golden white light anointing shone onto my face. (I had been reading the Book of Zechariah and Hidden Manna for the End Times a lot. This scripture jumped out at me when I was reading Zechariah 4 about the Two Witnesses, and it reminded me of the light and anointing that I felt in this first vision. Zec.4:11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive-trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? 12 And I answered the second time, and said unto him, What are these two olive-branches, which are beside the two golden spouts, that empty the golden oil out of themselves? 13 And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these are? And I said, No, my lord. 14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth. I felt the most love, faith, joy and peace I've ever felt in my whole life. It was like being in the glory of God in Heaven. This lasted for only a split second before it ended. I do not doubt that if anyone walked in that anointing and presence of God, there would be more miracles and power (and holiness) than anyone could imagine. It was the most awesome thing I've ever felt: peace, wholeness, faith, joy, love, and Jesus. The Bride is going to walk in this? Wow! I had the second vision directly after this one. In it, I was standing about 3-5 feet to the right of the first freezer, opening up a second freezer, but this one was on the ground, and it had a blue lid. (Representing A Heavenly door. Rev.3:8 I know thy works (behold, I have set before thee a door opened, which none can shut), that thou hast a little power, and didst keep my word, and didst not deny my name.) It was about 3x5 feet wide and there was ice and water in the freezer. (Ice and water because the contents are thawing for use very soon.) The second vision started with me in the middle of pulling out a huge rack of meat (Ribs? Steak?) with my right hand. (The meat of the Word, as well as the works of God, are about to be seen. It has been preserved for this day, but now it's thawing for use.) Joh.4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to accomplish his work. 35 say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white already unto harvest. 36 He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal; that he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37 For herein is the saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye have not labored: others have labored, and ye are entered into their labor. ... Joh.6:28 They said therefore unto him, What must we do, that we may work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. This vision was more like an experience in that I could hear the water dripping off the meat and echoing as it dripped back into the freezer; it was strange. More than half asleep, still I awoke to go to the bathroom when this word came to me: (Joh.2:8) “And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the ruler of the feast. And they bare it.” (Get ready for the greater works. Joh.14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto the Father. 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask anything in my name, that will I do.) Notes: I was praying and seeking the Lord on my face, asking Him for this anointing of faith, peace, love, and joy in the Lord. When I finished, I turned to get up. I looked to my left at my alarm clock, and it was 1:44! (I have been seeing this so often that I don't even mention it anymore.) About a week later, I was about to go to sleep when I went to get my cell phone to put it on the charger. The lights were off, and I was reaching in the dark for my cell phone and knocked my copy of Hidden Manna for the End Times into a white cooler where my roommate keeps extra beverages because there is no room in the fridge. As I pulled it out of the water, I heard the water drip a couple of times. My eyes widened as I immediately thought of the vision I had in which I was pulling the huge rack of meat out of the freezer, except now the meat was Hidden Manna for the End Times. (To know what we are called to in these end times, read that book.) I thought to myself, there is no way that is a coincidence; no way at all, considering I have been praying and believing for this gift from God to be manifested in my life, and the two visions had a very profound effect on me. I'll never forget them. So now I have the faith to do the works, as God was using this scenario of events to show me that the time has come, and it is time to do the works of God in my life and change that water to wine and manifest Jesus. Interesting note: These two visions in a two-door garage, two freezers -- two witnesses? (As we learned in Hidden Manna, the Two Witnesses are two corporate witnesses, just like those who went out two-by-two after the Man-child Jesus.) Here we see that God has preserved His glorious anointing, meat of the Word, and greater works for this end-time revival. These will be hated and attacked by the religious, just as they were in Jesus' time. Get ready, saints! Bill's updated notes - 9/15/14: This is something that the Lord showed me after thinking about these visions so much! The second vision, where my hand was holding the rack of meat -- the flesh of Jesus, the veil! (Hebrews 10:20) Combining both interpretations from top to bottom will tell the whole story, but this is what the Lord gave me about the rack of meat I took out of the blue freezer/cooler on the ground: Joh.6:55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me, and I in him. (Partaking of Jesus' meat causes one to grow up past the milk of childhood, becoming Sons and not just children. Partaking of His blood represents His nature, replacing our fallen nature. This enables us to live in His presence.) Heb.10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (We were crucified with Christ. We don't live anymore; Christ lives in us.) Exo.26:33 And thou shalt hang up the veil under the clasps, and shalt bring in thither within the veil the ark of the testimony: and the veil shall separate unto you between the holy place and the most holy. (The veil that hides the presence of God is the flesh.) Heb.9:2 For there was a tabernacle prepared, the first, wherein were the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the Holy place. 3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holy of holies; 4 having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was a golden pot holding the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded (Showing His authority through signs and wonders like Jesus and the Man-child.), and the tables of the covenant (representing the true Word); 5 and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat; of which things we cannot now speak severally. David makes the point in Hidden Manna that the Ark of the Covenant and the mercy seat represent the throne of God. Below is an excerpt from Hidden Manna “Caught up to the Throne” chapter, sub-section “Spiritual Nature of the Throne”: Notice that the Man-child will speak to God's people on earth from behind the veil, which is exactly what Moses did when He was before the mercy seat, the place of God's throne, “behind the veil” of the Tabernacle in the wilderness. (Exo.25:21) And thou shalt put the mercy-seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. (22) And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy-seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. Notice that Moses, as the Man-child of his day, spoke with God behind the veil in the heavenly place and then told the people what he heard. (They saw the veil but the glory of God on His face was hidden by his flesh.) (Joh.5:30) I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge.... Another confirmation is when Moses began to wear a veil when speaking to the people about what God was saying. In other words, he spoke to the people from behind the veil; (inside his flesh). (Exo.34:33) And when Moses had done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. (34) But when Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he took the veil off, until he came out; and he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded. (35) And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the veil upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him. Notice Moses wore no veil when he spoke with the Lord because he was in the typical place of the Holy of Holies behind the veil, but when he went to give the Word to the people, he wore a veil that we might know he was still behind the veil and in the presence of God. As a type for the end-time Man-child, Jesus was of the order of the Melchizedek high priesthood. (Heb.6:20) ... Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. Every high priest ministers both behind the veil before God and to the people. Also, an “order” is not just one but a series. The next in the series is Jesus manifested in the body of the corporate end-time Man-child who will go behind the veil and minister to the people, as Moses did. In Psalm 110 we are told of this Melchizedek corporate priesthood. (Psa.110:4) ... Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek. What we will see here is that this chapter also speaks of the end-time Melchizedek.

In this quick but powerful shiur on Vayakhel-Pekudei, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe shares an insight from Rabbi Yaakov Nagel (Senior Rabbi of Heimish of Houston) about the unique double-sided drapes (Yeri'ot) in the Mishkan. While most embroidery (Ma'asei Choshev) was identical on both sides, one special curtain at the entrance to the Kodesh HaKodashim (Holy of Holies) featured a completely different image on the inner side—yet no human ever saw it. The Kohen Gadol entered once a year, performed the Yom Kippur service, and exited backward, never turning to view the inner curtain. So why invest in an unseen design?Rabbi Wolbe explains: It teaches that Hashem's perspective often differs radically from ours. We may undervalue a mitzvah (thinking it's "small") or ourselves (feeling unworthy or limited), but Hashem sees infinite worth. A simple act—holding back lashon hara, a quiet prayer, a moment of restraint—may earn unimaginable reward in heaven. Conversely, we sometimes overestimate our deeds. The hidden curtain reminds us: some mitzvot and personal potentials are visible only to Hashem, whose valuation transcends human sight. This applies especially to parenting: parents must reflect children's true greatness and potential (like the mirrors of last week's shiur), seeing beyond their self-doubt to ignite confidence and growth—just as Hashem sees our hidden light._____________This Podcast Series is Generously Underwritten by Peter & Becky BotvinRecorded at TORCH Centre in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on March 17, 2026, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on March 18, 2026_____________Listen, Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1476610783Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4r0KfjMzmCNQbiNaZBCSU7) to stay inspired! Share your questions at aw@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Our Mission is Connecting Jews & Judaism. Help us spread Judaism globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org.Your support makes a HUGE difference!_____________Listen MoreOther podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Hey Rabbi! Podcast: https://heyrabbi.transistor.fm/episodesPrayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#JewishInspiration, #Mussar, #MasterClass, #Flattery, #Chanufa, #Honor, #BadInfluence, #IntentionalLiving, #PositiveEnvironment, #DeleteTheApp, #ShalomBayit ★ Support this podcast ★

Please support TORCH at GiveTORCH.net. Thank you for your partnership in expanding our Jewish programming!In this quick but powerful shiur on Vayakhel-Pekudei, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe shares an insight from Rabbi Yaakov Nagel (Senior Rabbi of Heimish of Houston) about the unique double-sided drapes (Yeri'ot) in the Mishkan. While most embroidery (Ma'asei Choshev) was identical on both sides, one special curtain at the entrance to the Kodesh HaKodashim (Holy of Holies) featured a completely different image on the inner side—yet no human ever saw it. The Kohen Gadol entered once a year, performed the Yom Kippur service, and exited backward, never turning to view the inner curtain. So why invest in an unseen design?Rabbi Wolbe explains: It teaches that Hashem's perspective often differs radically from ours. We may undervalue a mitzvah (thinking it's "small") or ourselves (feeling unworthy or limited), but Hashem sees infinite worth. A simple act—holding back lashon hara, a quiet prayer, a moment of restraint—may earn unimaginable reward in heaven. Conversely, we sometimes overestimate our deeds. The hidden curtain reminds us: some mitzvot and personal potentials are visible only to Hashem, whose valuation transcends human sight. This applies especially to parenting: parents must reflect children's true greatness and potential (like the mirrors of last week's shiur), seeing beyond their self-doubt to ignite confidence and growth—just as Hashem sees our hidden light._____________This Podcast Series is Generously Underwritten by Peter & Becky BotvinRecorded at TORCH Centre in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on March 17, 2026, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on March 18, 2026_____________Listen, Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1476610783Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4r0KfjMzmCNQbiNaZBCSU7) to stay inspired! Share your questions at aw@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Our Mission is Connecting Jews & Judaism. Help us spread Judaism globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org.Your support makes a HUGE difference!_____________Listen MoreOther podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Hey Rabbi! Podcast: https://heyrabbi.transistor.fm/episodesPrayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#JewishInspiration, #Mussar, #MasterClass, #Flattery, #Chanufa, #Honor, #BadInfluence, #IntentionalLiving, #PositiveEnvironment, #DeleteTheApp, #ShalomBayit ★ Support this podcast ★

Check out this great show from March 27, 2025 (2:53) Bible Study: Jeremiah 7:23-28 What does it mean to believe? Luke 11:14-23 Father talks about the need for a sign from heaven. (22:57) Break 1 (24:24) Letters: Father talks about how worship works and what God’s love has to do with worship. Father gives his thoughts on the episode of the Chosen about Lazarus. Father answers these and other questions. Send him a letter at simon@relevantradio.com (36:03) Break 2 (36:41) Word of the Day: Beelzebul (38:54) Phones: Steve - The name of God is not spoken. It's only spoken by the High Priest or whoever would go into the Holy of Holies. They would tie a rope around the ankle of who was elected to go in. Could you explain? Todd - On The Chosen, my opinion is Jesus relationship w/the Apostles is way too casual. Pat - A priest told me I'm going too much to confession, once a week. What do you think? Henry - What 'haste makes waste' means and where in the Bible?

Welcome to Day 2813 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2813 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 118:19-29 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2813 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day two thousand eight hundred thirteen of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The Title for Today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Rejected Cornerstone – The Triumphal Entry into Sacred Space. In our previous episode, we trekked through the fierce, chaotic battleground of Psalm One Hundred Eighteen, focusing on verses ten through eighteen. We stood with the psalmist as he was completely surrounded by hostile nations, swarming around him like angry bees, and blazing like a fire of thorns. Yet, instead of surrendering to panic, he wielded the authority of the Lord. We learned that while God may allow His servants to face severe discipline, and agonizing trials, He will never abandon them to the grave. The strong right arm of the Lord brought ultimate victory, turning a scene of near-death into a vibrant camp of joyful celebration. Today, the dust of that cosmic battlefield finally settles. We are moving from the bloodstained trenches, directly to the majestic gates of the temple. We will conclude our journey through the "Egyptian Hallel," exploring the grand finale of Psalm One Hundred Eighteen, covering verses nineteen through twenty-nine, in the New Living Translation. As we read this final movement, picture a magnificent, royal procession. The victorious King has returned from the war. He approaches the holy city, leading a procession of worshippers, ready to cross the threshold into the sacred presence of Yahweh. These verses are bursting with prophetic, Messianic weight. In fact, these are the very words the crowds shouted as Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Let us join the procession, and experience the triumphant entry of the King. Psalm One Hundred Eighteen: verses nineteen through twenty-one. Open for me the gates where the righteous enter, and I will go in and thank the Lord. These gates lead to the presence of the Lord, and the godly enter there. I thank you for answering my prayer and giving me victory! The psalmist stands before the massive doors of the temple. He cries out with authority, "Open for me the gates where the righteous enter." In the Ancient Israelite worldview, cosmic geography is incredibly important. The world was viewed as a battleground of rival spiritual forces, but the temple in Jerusalem was the ultimate sacred space. It was the earthly headquarters of the Divine Council, the very intersection of heaven and earth. To cross through these gates was to step out of the chaotic, contested territory of the nations, and step directly into the ordered, holy domain of Yahweh. But these are not just ordinary doors; they are "the gates where the righteous enter." The text explicitly states, "These gates lead to the presence of the Lord, and the godly enter there." Sacred space cannot be occupied by just anyone. The rebel gods, the wicked nations, and the unrepentant sinners cannot survive the holy presence of the Creator. Only those who have been justified, those who walk in covenant faithfulness, are granted access. As the heavy wooden and bronze gates swing open, the psalmist steps into the courtyard. His first act is not to boast of his own military prowess. Instead, he lifts his voice in profound gratitude: "I thank you for answering my prayer, and giving me victory!" He remembers the narrow, suffocating place from verse five. He remembers crying out in distress. As he looks at the altar and the sanctuary, he acknowledges that his survival is entirely the result of divine intervention. Psalm One Hundred Eighteen: verses twenty-two through twenty-four. The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing, and it is wonderful to see. This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. As the procession moves into the temple complex, the psalmist points to the architecture of the building itself, and draws out one of the most famous, and powerful, metaphors in all of Scripture. "The stone that the builders rejected, has now become the cornerstone." In ancient masonry, builders would carefully inspect the quarried rocks. If a stone was misshapen, flawed, or deemed unworthy, they would toss it aside into the rubble heap. The cornerstone, however, was the most critical piece of the entire foundation. It was the massive, perfectly cut block that locked the intersecting walls together, bearing the weight of the structure, and setting the alignment for the whole building. In the context of the Divine Council worldview, the "builders" represent the rulers of this age. They are the hostile nations, the corrupt human kings, and the dark spiritual principalities that govern the world. They inspected God's chosen King—and ultimately, the Messiah, Jesus Christ—and they judged Him as worthless. They rejected Him. They threw Him onto the rubble heap of the cross. But Yahweh, the Supreme Architect of the cosmos, walked over to the rubble heap. He picked up the rejected, discarded stone, and He made it the chief cornerstone of a brand new, eternal temple. God takes what the world despises, and uses it to anchor His entire kingdom. The congregation looks at this incredible reversal of fortunes, and responds in awe: "This is the Lord's doing, and it is wonderful to see." Human engineering cannot explain this. Political strategy cannot achieve this. It is a sheer, unadulterated miracle of God. Because of this miraculous reversal, the choir erupts into a famous declaration: "This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it." We often quote this verse casually, to celebrate a sunny Tuesday morning. But in its original context, it is much heavier. "The Day" is a technical term for the Day of Yahweh's victory. It is the specific, appointed moment in history when God vindicates His rejected King, and establishes His cornerstone. That is the true reason for our rejoicing! Psalm One Hundred Eighteen: verses twenty-five through twenty-six. Please, Lord, please save us. Please, Lord, please give us success. Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord. The celebration reaches a fever pitch. The people cry out, "Please, Lord, please save us." In the original Hebrew, this phrase is Hoshiah-na, which translates directly into the word we know as "Hosanna." It is both an urgent plea for deliverance, and a roaring shout of praise. As the victorious King steps forward, the priests, standing on the steps of the temple, pronounce a blessing over Him: "Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord." They are officially recognizing His divine authority. He is not coming in his own name, seeking his own glory. He is acting as the authorized vice-regent of Yahweh. Then, the priests extend that blessing to the entire procession: "We bless you from the house of the Lord." The temple acts as a distribution center for God's grace. The blessing flows from the Holy of Holies, out to the King, and then washes over the entire assembly of the righteous. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, the crowds waved palm branches, and screamed these exact verses. "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" They were recognizing Him as the rejected stone, who had come to bring the ultimate Day of Salvation. Psalm One Hundred Eighteen: verses twenty-seven through twenty-nine. The Lord is God, shining upon us. Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar. You are my God, and I will praise you! You are my God, and I will exalt you! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. The procession reaches the very center of the courtyard, stopping before the great bronze altar. The psalmist declares, "The Lord is God, shining upon us." This evokes the ancient priestly blessing from the Book of Numbers: "May the Lord make his face shine upon you." It is a theophany—a manifestation of divine light and favor. The darkness of the enemy swarm has been entirely replaced by the radiant, blinding light of God's smiling presence. But true worship is never cheap. Victory always requires a cost. The leader commands: "Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar." Literally, the Hebrew says, "Bind the festival sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar." The horns of the altar were the raised corners, symbolizing the power and...

Why did Moses smash the tablets and why were the broken pieces placed in the Holy of Holies alongside the whole ones? In this heart-open class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores one of the most powerful and surprising teachings in Torah: that brokenness is not the opposite of holiness, it can be its doorway. Drawing on the story of the Golden Calf, the teachings of the Talmud, Midrash, and the Lubavitcher Rebbe, this class reveals how Judaism embraces both the “whole tablets” and the “broken tablets” of our lives. Together we explore how pain, setbacks, doubt, and struggle can become catalysts for deeper connection, compassion, and spiritual growth. The message is both radical and comforting: the fragments of our lives may contain the deepest light.Key TakeawaysHoliness is not limited to moments of perfection; it can emerge from our struggles and broken experiences.The broken tablets in the Ark teach that failure and fracture still belong in the sacred space of our lives.Sometimes our deepest connection to G-d happens not when we feel strong, but when we feel vulnerable and searching.Brokenness can soften our hearts and deepen our compassion for others.The Torah teaches that new wisdom and deeper growth often emerge after moments of spiritual collapse.Our lives contain both “whole tablets” and “broken tablets” and both are part of the sacred journey.#Judaism #Kabbalah #Jewish #BrokenTablets #Moses #GoldenCalf #JewishWisdom #spiritualgrowth #JewishInspiration #FaithInStruggle #TorahInsights #chassidus #personalgrowth #healing #resilience #MeaningInSuffering #RabbiBernath #JewishNDG #TorahClass Available now:Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Forgiveness-Experiment-What-Would-Your/dp/1069217638Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FR2QNJL6Audiobook: https://bit.ly/4tPFZhVSupport the showGot your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.comSingle? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.Donate and support Rabbi Bernath's work http://www.jewishndg.com/donateFollow Rabbi Bernath's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernathAccess Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi