Podcasts about in isaiah

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 10; 2 Chronicles 22-23; 1 Timothy 5 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! In today's episode for June 23rd, 2025, your host Hunter invites you to journey through day 174 of our Bible reading plan. Together, we'll explore dramatic chapters from 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles, witnessing the intense zeal of Jehu and the tumultuous shifts in Israel and Judah's leadership. We'll also learn about God's heart for caring for one another from Paul's wisdom in 1 Timothy 5. Alongside scripture readings, Hunter reflects on the difference between human zeal and God's radical, peace-bringing love—reminding us that only Christ's sacrifice truly brings the life and freedom we need. We'll take time to pray, settle our hearts, and reconnect with the God who walks with us each day. Plus, you'll hear a special prayer from contributor Florence Atiega, and get updates from our growing Daily Radio Bible community. Whether you're a longtime listener or just tuning in, join us for encouragement, community, and thoughtful readings that point us back to the One who loves us without fail. Let's journey together! TODAY'S DEVOTION: Jehu's Zeal and the Zeal of the Lord Jehu's devotion was extreme and violent. He personified a radical devotion and zeal for the Lord. The results were the elimination of Baal worship in Judah—and many dead people. Like Jehu, our own devotion and zeal, as great as it might be, may yield results, but it's not the ultimate answer that we're looking for. Sometimes those results have nothing to do with God. Our real need is for peace, not violence. Our real need is for right standing with God and joy in this life. Our zeal might get results, but it's not the results we really need. The zeal of the most zealous man is not enough. Holy Jihad is not the answer. There is only one man whose zeal can achieve what must be done in my life and in this world—and it's not Jehu, or you, or me who achieves it. The results are not the shedding of another's blood, but rather it was God's radical commitment to lay down his life in co-suffering love for the whole world, for those near and far, that accomplishes what is needed. Jehu is a flawed picture of this. In Isaiah 9, we see a far better picture of the person who would accomplish freedom for us: “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The zeal of the Lord of Heaven's Armies will make this happen.” His zeal—not Jehu's—has won for you and for me all that we need to start anew, to have strength, to have joy, to have a new beginning. Rest in the results of his zeal and no one else's. No one else will do. Christ has done for us what no man could do. He has achieved for us life. That's a prayer I have for my own soul. That's a prayer I have for my family, for my wife, and for my loved ones. And that's a prayer that I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord of life, you have awakened me again to the gift of this day. You go before me, walk beside me and dwell within me. Let me walk slowly in your presence. May I resist the hurried spirit of this world and instead breathe deep of your peace. Open my eyes to beauty, my ears to your voice, and my heart to the quiet work of grace. Help me not to strive, but to abide, not to achieve, but to receive. Today, Let my words carry your kindness, my actions reflect your mercy, my thoughts be anchored in your truth, that I am yours and you are with me. Hunter: Amen. Hunter (leading the Lord's Prayer): And now, as our Lord has taught us, we are bold to pray. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

The first portion commences"In the days when the judges ruled". The book sets the times, as paralleling the time of the second appendix to Judges 19-21, and is as vital in preparing us for David's kingship as the end of the last book was in establishing Saul's origins. Even the locality is the same in Bethlehem/Judah(' the house of bread and praise'). We are told that there was literally a famine in the land at that time, undoubtedly spiritual as well as literal; a scarcity of the word of God. Ironically the man Elimelech('my God is king'), representing what the nation should have known; yet living as though there was no king and doing what was right in their own eyes; believing sustenance could be found apart from the people of God, left for Moab. The two sons marry non-covenanted wives and die (their names also emblematic of their unfaithfulness - sickly and pining). Death overtakes them leaving faithful Naomi heirless. On hearing that "God had visited His people with bread" the three women commence the homeward journey. Orpah stays in Moab, but Ruth passionately and imploringly pleads her loyalty to Israel's God (1 verses 16-17). They arrive home at Passover- the time of the barley harvest.Chapter 2, introduces us to faithful Boaz whose description matches that of Gideon in Judges 6. Providentially he extends to Ruth the care and compassion of the Creator to strangers and widows. She is blessed bountifully and we await developments in the unfolding story. We are impressed by the Godly environment that Boaz has created for his workers despite the deplorable spiritual conditions which prevailed throughout the nation.Isaiah 44 announces the superabundance of blessings that God will bestow upon children responding to His gracious pleas. Verses 1-5 speak of the blessings Yahweh will give to Israel, His chosen people. Verse 5 tells of the time when their Sovereign's children identify with Him by surnaming themselves as the people of the God of Jacob. This theme is picked up in the Servant prophecies in chapter 65:15-19. In Isaiah 44:6-8 Yahweh declares that He alone is God and Israel's Saviour. That understanding is the reason that His people in verse 5 now choose to be known as the people of the God of Israel. Verses 9-20 contrast the Omnipotent Creator to dumb, useless, impotent idols. There is wonderful irony in the way that the prophet ridicules the idols and their makers. The fashioner of the graven image wearies himself in the task of making his image and uses a part of the same tree to warm himself and bake his bread. What complete folly there is in the idolater's failure to see the stupidity of idols and those that form them. Verses 21-25 tell us what the LORD was about to do in saving His people. Verses 26-28 reveal the work of Cyrus the Persian as the man chosen by Yahweh to overthrow Babylon. He would also decree liberty for the captives and send exiled Israel home to rebuild Jerusalem. This prophecy was made about one and a half centuries before Cyrus accomplished this great work of the LORD.. Cyrus' name is symbolic of his typical role, as the Lord Jesus Christ, meaning "one like the heir".

The tell tale words "In those days when there was no king in Israel" start the sorry saga of the final appendix of the book. They set the scene for the sad state of Benjamin from which tribe came the nation's first earthly king. An unfaithful concubine from Bethlehem-Judah in the allotment of Judah returned to her home having her Levite husband. This unnamed Levite would not, ironically, stay in Jebusite territory lest evil befall them. Instead unspeakable crimes were perpetrated upon his concubine by fellow Jewish reprobates of Jerusalem from the tribe of Benjamin. The Levite heartless husband took the carcass of the pitiful victim, who had been abused all night long by the perverted Benjaminites. The Levite dissected her into 12 parts which were sent to each tribe to invoke retribution. His actions later were copied by king Saul to arouse Israel to unite and take vengeance upon the Benjaminites. How ironic it is that Saul's own tribe: Benjamin  - was almost brought to extinction in response to the Levites actions; and that Saul cuts an ox into 12 parts in the same fashion as the Levite did with his concubine. Isaiah 41 is a prophecy about the Persian king Cyrus who overthrew king Belshazzar's Babylon in BC 538. The chapter tells us of the useless futility of idols and the stupidity of those who insanely give them credence in worship. In Isaiah 41 the faithful are reminded that, despite seemingly unstoppable calamity, their trust in the Almighty will see those He deems to be His faithful servants delivered. So the prophet urges a calmness that will come from heeding their Sovereign's Word. Verses 2-4 describe what the LORD has done for His people and tell them Yahweh alone is their Saviour and God. Verses 5-6 tell of the coastlands response. However verse 7 speaks of a futile persistence of some in idolatry. Verses 8-10 appeal to Israel to trust in their Sovereign. Verses 11-16 encourage Israel that the LORD will protect His people and destroy their foes. Verses 17-20 speak of grand promises of the Almighty to prosper and bless His people. We see some of these in Israel today, but they tell of the refreshing that comes in Messiah's kingdom. Verses 21-24 describe the total uselessness of idols. Verses 25-29 contrasts Yahweh with the stupid and dumb idols. Yahweh is infallible and reveals His will to His children. Verses 1-10 of 1 John 3 elaborates on God's love. The beloved Apostle invites his readers to behold the extent and greatness of the Father's love. Our Sovereign has chosen to condescend and to adopt us as His children. We have entered His family at the immense cost of the sacrifice of His beloved Son. John tells his hearers that they have barely begun conceiving the depth of that love; which will be further understood when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. An appreciation of that love has a purifying effect on the disciple's life. But a failure to understand the moral imperative of Christ's laying down his life has upon the believer could lead to loose living (and then finally to a lost life). It is not the sin of weakness due to the frailty of our nature, but rather the of abandonment to sin (ie living habitually for sin), that concerns the Apostle. John has addressed the weakness of human nature in his first two chapters. To continue practicing sin is to deny the grace of the Father and the great price that was paid for our redemption. Are we the children of the world (ie the devil), or are the children of God? The fruit of our life is the evidence. From verses 11-24 we are shown that how we behave towards our brethren demonstrates our parentage. Do we live a live congruent with our claims? An excursion through the gospel of John will reveal how the case is developed from the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. The motive for the first murder in the Bible was envy progressing into hate. We must always attribute the best motives to our brethren. Slandering, or belittling, others incurs the displeasure of our Father. Cain was banished from God's presence and separated from the hope of a life with the Father. Yahweh sent His Son to lay down his own precious life to bring us into fellowship. Though we may have many a doubt (because we are weak humans) the LORD knows our motives, better than we can understand them ourselves (1 Corinthians 4:1-5). Our Father is ready, willing and able to lovingly respond to our needs and requests (see Romans 8 verses 28-39). Chapter 4 commences with the need to test whether the teachings are true ("try the spirits"), and from God. John in chapter 2 has already told his readers that the errors of the antichrist were active among the community of the disciples. One of the prime identifying features would be the belief in the Trinity, which originated in catechism 312 AD (having been debated by believers for decades prior to endorsing that view. The acceptance that the Lord Jesus Christ was part of a triune God is completely counter to the entire teaching of the Scriptures (even the Encyclopaedia Britannica admits this in its article on the Trinity). Jesus was completely a man, even though he was the Son of God. John 1 verses 1-18 tell us his beginnings were when he was born (compare Acts 10verses 38-43). Jesus came in the flesh (Hebrews 2 verses 8-18) and this was the only understanding of the first century community of faithful believers (read "The Apostles' Creed"). Believers need to listen to God and His Word, not human speculations from false teachers. From verses 7-21 we are further told how "God is love". When we love each other with a true heart and fervently it is a witness that we are God's children. The Father's love in redeeming an erring race has been seen from the time of Creation. Its pinnacle was reached in the sending of His Son to provide a ransom for us. Our Lord was able to comply with His Father's will because of their unity of love and purpose in providing a place for our acceptance on the basis of Truth believed and sins forgiven. An understanding of this and a life lived sacrificially in love and service is the only life a disciple can live. Anything else is nothing but a hypocritical lie.

Samson, whose name means “brilliant sunshine”, goes to view Timnah (the inheritance ie of his tribe). There ‘he saw a woman' of the uncircumcised – uncovenanted – Philistines, who was ‘right in his own eyes' – his problem was characteristic of the entire nation (14 verse 7; 17verse 6; 21verse 25). In the vineyards of his inheritance, a place to be avoided by a sworn Nazarite. We read that a lion – representing the ravaging Philistines – roared against Samson. And he rips the beast asunder with no apparent effort. Several days later Samson returns to see the ‘ruin' (AV ‘carcass') of the lion only to find that miraculously and uncharacteristically a swarm of bees had made their hive in the putrid carcass. It was God's sign to Samson that by trusting in the Almighty the Philistines could be overthrown and sweet deliverance come for the Covenant people. Samson is deceived time and time again by the enemy and he engages tit for tat with them throughout these two chapters. Samson declares on each occasion that after avenging himself just once more against the Philistines he will leave the matter there. However this is not the intention of the Almighty – the Philistines need to be weakened. Notice how the LORD escalates the conflict: in 14verse 19 he slays 30 men at Ashkelon; then in 15verse 15 at Lehi a 1,000 are slain. Also observe the recurring of multiples of 3, as troubles escalate. Samson's mighty acts should have inspired his people to follow him as he could have been God's instrument for victory. But his own people reject him just as they had rejected Moses centuries earlier. Instead as the pressure of the Philistines grew stronger upon God's people 3,000 men of Judah come to plead with Samson for his surrender and then they bind him and hand him over to the Philistines. Surely we are reminded by this of the Lord Jesus being bound in the Garden of Gethsemane; being eventually sent to the Roman authorities to be tried and crucified. Samson, like our Lord, was thirsty after his great victory. In Isaiah 38 faithful God cures Hezekiah of the leprous boil, which threatened to end his life and which was preventing him from worshipping in the Temple. At this time of Hezekiah's and his nation's greatest need, when everything seemed hopeless, their Sovereign delivered them. However in spite of his recovery Hezekiah later becomes lifted up in pride as we will learn tomorrow in chapter 39. Nonetheless at this time the faithful prayer of a faithful man availed greatly (James 5verse 16). Hezekiah's prayer is a model prayer for us. It shows an elevation of king Hezekiah's God. The prayer gives glory to God. It also praises Yahweh's loving kindness in saving Hezekiah and delivering the people of Judah. His prayer states our lack of power to help ourselves and pleads for our Omnipotent Creator to show mercy for His children. It acknowledges our need to respond to God's love in praise and thanksgiving every day of our life. We too, like king Hezekiah, have been blessed and delivered from the gates of sheol (the grave): Matthew 16 verse 18-19; Revelation 1verses17-18. Marvel at the wonderful metaphors and imagery that Hezekiah uses to describe the frailty of humanity. Meditate on the significance of his exhortation to us in verses 19-20. King Hezekiah is given a sign that he will recover in Isaiah 38:21. 2 Peter is also written to the dispersed Jews in Asia Minor ie Turkey. It commences in the same way as the first letter. The time of writing is in 66-67 AD and the persecution by Nero is now at its fiercest. According to tradition, the two foremost leaders of the believers, Paul and Peter, were both executed in 67 AD. Clues in Peter's 2nd epistle indicate that the most likely date of the epistle is 67 AD. Believers in Christ Jesus had attained to the same precious faith as the great Apostle to the Jews. From verses 3-15 these disciples are urged to make their calling and election ie selection by God sure. Peter tells them in verses 2-4 that our Father has given them all things that are necessary for a godly life; and that these great promises, which they now share, are graciously granted them offering believers a sharing of the Father's character and life. From verses 5-7 Peter enumerates the virtues being developed by God in their lives. These virtues are not sequential, but rather they are a group of traits befitting saints, and to be cultivated simultaneously. They summarise the character of our Lord Jesus Christ, outlined in Matthew 5:1-12. Great blessings accompany such saints who, in measure, develop the character of their Lord Jesus Christ. These divine virtues are called by brother Marshall – “The Portrait of a Saint”. Belief is the foundation upon which the faithful build (and that foundation is Christ Jesus see 1 Corinthians 3 verses 10-15 and Ephesians 2:19-22. Peter elaborates further on this theme at the start of chapter 2). The last 2 are at the apex of the developing saint's life – brotherly kindness (Philadelphos) and love (agape, self-sacrificing love); embody both of these fully exemplified in our Head, the Lord Jesus Christ. Where these qualities abound fruit is produced in the disciple. But a short-sighted approach stultifies the life of a disciple; and is the product of forgetting and neglect. In the practising of these qualities the disciples will attain the glory and the kingdom, which they seek. Peter would strive with his last breath to remind them of this. The Apostle speaks of “departure” (Greek “exodus” verse 15). The Tabernacle; of “the ecclesia in the wilderness” (Acts 7:44). This was emblematic of the LORD going with them. Peter talks of the entrance (“eisodus”) into the kingdom. How frequently is the theme stated, “Yahweh BROUGHT you out of Egypt, that He might BRING you into the land promised to the fathers (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob). Verses 16-21 speak of Christ's incomparable glory and the transcending greatness of the prophetic Word of our God (compare 1 Peter 1 verses 22-25). There can be no mistaking what we (Peter, James and John) saw on the Mount of Transfiguration – compare with Luke 9 verses 28-38. The glory of Moses and Elijah paled into insignificance alongside the glory of the Son of God – John 1 verses14-15. And that glory was reminiscent of the Father's own glory (Hebrews 1-1-4). As great as the prophetic Word was when spoken through Moses and Elijah the Father's Word from heaven boomed, “This is my Beloved Son, HEAR HIM”. If this witness was not enough, we have the added testimony of the prophetic Word centred on, and embodied in our Lord Jesus Christ. The prophetic Word shines more brightly as we see its fulfilment day by day. (Proverbs 4 verses 18-19). Prophecy never originated from the prophet's own mind. Instead the inspired Word of God found its source in holy men of God being “impelled”, or “driven along” by God's power. And so although the style of the prophet is individual, the message is infallibly that of the Almighty (see 2 Timothy 3 verses 14-17). In chapter 2 Peter deals with the tragedy of false teaching. Peter uses Biblical history to show that those who would attempt to deflect God's elect are always active among the believers. The Apostle Peter uses 3 historical examples. These examples are similar to those in Jude's letter – one from before the flood; one from the era of Abraham; and another from the time of the Wilderness wanderings in Moses' epoch. Peter explains the inevitability of false teachers arising from their midst (compare Acts 20 verses 29-32). Peter says that the errorists are not genuine – the words that these false teachers use are called “feigned” (Greek “plastos”) – taught for effect, with no concern for truth. The doctrine is moulded to fit the teacher's designs (2 Timothy 4 verses 1-5). But God has long ago decided to destroy people like this (See Revelation 22verses 15). The first example is in verse 5 and speaks of the gainsayers opposing Noah (cp Jude verses 14-16). The second is from the era of faithful Abraham (2 Peter 2verses 6-10). These verses tell of total detesting by God of homosexuality. And lastly, verses 10 (the second half) to verse 11. Here Peter deals with the rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram against Moses (also in Jude verses 5-7; the original account being in Numbers 14). All of those historical events highlight two Divine principles – 1) Yahweh demonstrated His capacity to deliver the righteous out of their trial; and, 2) that the ungodly have been earmarked by the Almighty for judgment and destruction (Acts 17verses 30-31). Verse 17 uses metaphors to describe these vain talkers. Verses 18-19 reveal the true motives of those apostates. And verses 20-22 a further two metaphors describe their sickening behaviours. Those who once knew God's truth, but chose to turn away are described in two tragic pictures which illustrate God's perspective. These reprobates are like dogs eating their own vomit; or like washed pigs returning to their miry muddy past. Audio Player      

Once a powerful hub of trade and influence, the fall of Tyre sends shockwaves through the nations. In Isaiah 23, we explore how even the most prosperous empires can crumble—and why God's sovereignty over the nations still speaks volumes today. Let's uncover the prophetic warning hidden in the fall of a global powerhouseAs always be blessed and enjoy.Please follow, like, and share our podcast with a friend or family member!

Long before Jesus came to earth…God was speaking of what He had planned for His Son. In Isaiah 22:22 we see God declaring the authority that He would lay on the shoulder of His Son that would make the way for the Victory He would take over evil through His death and resurrection. Join Melissa for Lesson 2 as we continue to study Isaiah 22 and learn how to win victory over evil through the authority given to Jesus - The Key & the Nail.

In Isaiah 36, the Rabshakeh, an Assyrian representaive, goes to Jerusalem to convince the Jewish people to surrender. However, the people of Jerusalem ignore whta the Rabshakeh says to them, and God delivers him. We should learn from this story to ignore fears, lies, and desires that do not align with God's will, and instead trust in God to deliver us.

Be a LightGod calls His people to walk in his light so they can be a light for others who are in darkness. In Isaiah's time, God challenged His people to be an example to the surrounding nations, even as a rising global superpower posed a serious threat. This five-week sermon series explores the metaphor of following God's light and being a light for others through the writings of Isaiah.

Last Sunday, I mentioned Solomon as an example of a life of faith that began so wonderfully but ended very tragically. Solomon knew the scriptures well, we know this because of what he wrote in the book of Proverbs, and one such verse that he wrote was Proverbs 3:5, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In fact, according to Proverbs, real wisdom is the Old Testament Law applied to all of life. Yet, at some point, Solomons heart was turned away from God and foolishly pursued what God warned would lead to heartbreak, shame, and disaster. The thing that Solomons father, David, was known for was that he was a man of war (1 Chron. 28:3), which Solomon was not. Solomon was known as a man of peace. The problem was that he pursued peace even if it meant that he ignored the very Law of God that influenced his writing of Proverbs. One of the ways the kings of other nations would enter into a peace agreement or an alliance (i.e. covenant) was by marrying the daughter(s) of the king of that nation. We are told that Solomon, loved many foreign women (1 Ki. 1-2). The problem with this is multifaceted, but here is what God commanded in His word that Solomon ignored: Be careful that you do not make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, or it will become a snare in your midst. But rather, you are to tear down their altars and smash their memorial stones, and cut down their Asherim for you shall not worship any other god, because the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous Godotherwise you might make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they would prostitute themselves with their gods and sacrifice to their gods, and someone might invite you to eat of his sacrifice, and you might take some of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters might prostitute themselves with their gods and cause your sons also to prostitute themselves with their gods. You shall not make for yourself any gods cast in metal. (Exod. 34:1217) Solomon, who had been known for his godly wisdom and the building of the Temple, loved many foreign women (1 Ki. 11:1-2). So what happened? Listen to what the Bible says about Solomons ending legacy: So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not follow the Lord fully, as his father David had done. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh, the abhorrent idol of Moab, on the mountain that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abhorrent idol of the sons of Ammon. He also did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods. (1 Ki. 11:68) What Solomon thought would bring peace, contentment, and success... created a crushing burden the wrecked his life and led to the dividing of the nation of Israel into the North and the South. After the death of Solomon, the divisive spirit Solomon was responsible for creating through his many compromises led to the splitting of the nation he loved. The king of the northern kingdom (Jeroboam) established two alternative places to worship to keep those in the North from traveling to the Southern kingdom to worship Yahweh in the Temple that Solomon built. King Jeroboam set up golden calves not unlike the one made by the Hebrews after Moses was up on the mountain receiving the commandments of God; Jeroboam then said to the people: It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem; behold your gods, Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt (1 Ki. 12:28). The Northen Kingdom in Israel was known for its rampant and evil idolatry that included child sacrifice and gross perversions of marriage and sex, all while promoting a worldview contrary to the one of their forefathers. After many years of God warning the Northern Kingdom through His Word and His prophets to repent from their sins, and after many years of ignoring those warnings, God used the Asyrian Kingdom to judge, destroy, and exile many of the people. The Southern Kingdom was initially led by Solomons son, Rehoboam. In many respects, the Sothern Kingdom remained somewhat loyal to the faith and vision of their forefathers such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and David. There were no doubt periods of idolatry, but there were also seasons of religious reform with an emphasis to return and maintain the worship of Yahweh at the Temple in Jerusalem. Many in the Southern Kingdom believed that because they had Solomons Temple, that they had the presence of God. Eventually the Southern Kingdom grew increasingly nominal in their faith to the point that God also sent them prophets to warn them of a similar fate that the Northern Kingdom suffered if they did not repent. Because they had Solomons Temple, were more conservative, and were not as bad as those in the Northern Kingdom, that they were safe. Eventually the Southern Kingdom became known for their worship of the idols of the nations, instead of their worship of the God of Abraham, Moses, and David. Both the Southern and Northern Kingdoms eventually experienced the crushing burden that their idols created. But it was after the Northen Kingdoms demise and Gods repeated warnings to the Sothern Kingdom to turn from their sins that Isaiah wrote what we read in 46:1-13. Creaturely Idols Create Crushing Burdens for those who Bow Before Them Idols come in all shapes and sizes; they are not only physical creations made with human hands. Idols include established gods worshiped by people groups and cultures, but they also come in the form of ideologies, things, or people that are made ultimate in the heart of their devotees. Some of the ancient idols of long ago have taken different shapes or even cloaked in a different dress... but they are not new. In Isaiah 46, the prophet calls out the worship of the Babylonian gods known as Bel and Nebo about a century before we are introduced to Nebuchadnezzar in the book of Daniel. Bel was the chief god worshiped by the Babylonians who was also known as Marduk and believed to be responsible for creation and worshiped as the supreme god. Nebo, the son of Bel (Marduk), was worshiped as the the Babylonian god of wisdom, writing, and scribes. In Isaiah 46, Bel and Nebo are depicted as burdens pulled by cattle; the irony of the way they are depicted is that in the days of Isaiah, when a nation was conquered, because it was believed that their gods were unable to save, the victorious army would put on display in a parade the idols of the defeated people. At least the defeated worshipers of Bel and Nebo can move, but the gods the Babylonians attribute power and knowledge to are stooped over because they are powerless, motionless, and without life. Like every other idol in the world, Bel and Nebo have no power to save or produce what they promise. The weight of Bel and Nebo is crushing even to the cattle forced to transport them. Why? Because according to verses 6-7, Those who lavish gold from the bag and weigh silver on the scale, hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; they bow down, indeed they worship it. They lift it on the shoulder, carry it, and set it in its place, and it stands there. It does not move from its place. Though one may shout to it, it cannot answer; it cannot save him from his distress (Isa 46:67). Those who worshiped Bel and Nebo, essentially worship a god of their own creation. All that the gods add to the lives of those who worship them is a burden. The word for burden that is used (mǎś-śā) can be translated weight. There is a universal fact about what people chose to worship: Anything we create to worship... will require its creator to carry it. Idols always promise what they cannot give, and rob those who worship them the life, joy, and salvation that those idols offer. The only thing that created idols offer is the crushing weight of their burden. Unlike the idols of the world, there is only one God who created all things! Because He is the Creator, all of His creation is dependent upon Him. Because He is the Creator, He is the One who carries those who worship Him: Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will carry you! I have done it, and I will bear you; and I will carry you and I will save you. To whom would you liken Me And make Me equal, and compare Me, that we would be alike? (vv. 45). The Uncreated God Powerfully and Purposefully Saves (vv. 8-13) Just as He did with the gods of Egypt, the God of Abraham, Moses, and David promised to do the same with the gods of Babylon. The reality and existence of Yahweh puts everything and anyone who would set themselves up to be more than what they are... to shame. Lucifer attempted to usurp the God who made him, God cast Him out and Jesus said of that day: I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning (Luke 10:18). In Isaiah 14, we are given a glimpse into the heart and motives of Lucifer: How you have fallen from heaven, you star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who defeated the nations! But you said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High. (Isa. 14:1214) Because God is God, He declares the end from the beginning. What does that mean? It means what He wills, He not only does but accomplishes! What else could verse 10 mean? It is God who is responsible for, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, My plan will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure. There is no room for luck, chance, or karma in a universe with a God who declares the end from the beginning. Because Yahweh is God, he does not need anything from us. There is no deficiency in Him because He is complete; but not complete in the way we think of completion... no, He is infinitely and eternally complete. Only six chapters earlier, we are reminded of how big and great our God really is: Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, And are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales; Behold, He lifts up the islands like fine dust.... To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare with Him? As for the idol, a craftsman casts it, A goldsmith plates it with gold, and a silversmith fashions chains of silver. He who is too impoverished for such an offering selects a tree that does not rot; he seeks out for himself a skillful craftsman to prepare an idol that will not totter. (Isa. 40:15, 18-20) Think about the foolishness of worshiping something you create with your own hands. Is it not just as foolish to bow down to idols of other shapes and sizes? As great as Solomons Temple was, it ultimately became an idol to the people in that they became more concerned about the performance of worship than who they were worshiping. In Isaiah 66, God reminded Judah why it was that He did not need anything they created: This is what the Lord says: Heaven is My throne and the earth is the footstool for My feet. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? For My hand made all these things, So all these things came into being, declares the Lord. But I will look to this one, at one who is humble and contrite in spirit, and who trembles at My word (Isa. 66:12). God does not dwell in temples, and He does not need anything from us. Because there is not a God like Him, He does not need us to carry Him and His promises are not dependent upon our strength. However, what He desires from us is our hearts and our devotion. Now here is the crazy thing about what we learn of God in Isaiah 46, and we see it in verses 12-13, Listen to Me, you stubborn-minded, who are far from righteousness. I bring near My righteousness, it is not far off; and My salvation will not delay. And I will grant salvation in Zion, And My glory for Israel (Isa. 46:1213). The God who has no equal and cannot be added to, is He who brings His righteousness to those who are far off! If you are a Christian, you were once far off, but now you have brought near! If you are not a Christian, you are still far off, but it doesnt have stay that way! Oh dear Christian, this is great news for you! We have seen Isaiah 46:12-13 in another passage in the New Testament, and that place is in Ephesians: But now in Christ Jesus you who previously were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ (Eph. 2:13). Listen, there is only One who spoke all that exists by the word of His mouth in six days and rested on the seventh day (Exod. 20:11). There is only One who reduced Pharoah and his gods to nothing with the Ten Plagues (Exod. 7:14-11:10). There is only One who was able to part the Red Sea (Exod. 14). There is only One who is able to make time stand still (Josh 10:13). There is only One who is able to move kingdoms and empires to bring about the birth of His promised Son! There is only One God and there is no other, and it is He who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit He is Yahweh! Christian, it is He who brought you near through the blood of His Son! It is He who made you His Priesthood, His People, and His Treasured Possession. You who were once far off, have become the objects of His love, His mercy, His grace, and are now the apple of His eye! You who ran from Him, have been found by the One who said: Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light (Matt. 11:2830). You who were weary and burdened, have found rest in Jesus. Conclusion So here is the rub regarding what we read in Isaiah 46: If it is true that the God of the Bible is God and there is no other; if it is true that the God of Isaiah 46 is God and there is no one like Him, and because of God, that which He wills will come to pass, then dont you think that it is foolish to make or treat anything in your life as equal or greater than He? Yet, there are all kinds of things, dreams, and people in your life competing for the greatest and most valuable place in your life. This is nothing new, for it has always been the tension since the garden of Eden. Just because God found you, does not mean that you will not struggle with and fight against the pull and temptation to substitute God with something else. Adam and Eve faced this struggle in the Garden, and they lost. Abraham wrestled throughout his life with this same struggle. King David struggled and lost on several occasions, the most notable was his desire for Bathsheba. Judas struggled and lost, Ananias and Saphira struggled and lost, and you may be struggling and now you find yourself losing. Anytime we place a thing, person, dream, or ideology above the God whose rightful place in your life in preeminence... you will find the burden to be crushing. We will look at Isaiah 45:22-24, but for now, I want you to consider what it is saying: Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself; the word has gone out from My mouth in righteousness and will not turn back, that to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance. They will say of Me, Only in the Lord are righteousness and strength. People will come to Him, and all who were angry at Him will be put to shame. There is only one to whom all will bow, and there is no God like Him... and His name is Jesus: And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2:811) What you need and what this country needs most is not for anything other than Jesus Christ to be great in your life. He is the hope of the nations.

Walk In the LightGod calls His people to walk in his light so they can be a light for others who are in darkness. In Isaiah's time, God challenged His people to be an example to the surrounding nations, even as a rising global superpower posed a serious threat. This five-week sermon series explores the metaphor of following God's light and being a light for others through the writings of Isaiah.

Anxious about a health issue my teenage niece had, I was relieved when I heard of a promising natural remedy. My sister, however, felt it might cause side effects, based on her daughter’s medical history. I wanted to argue but refrained. No matter how concerned I was about my niece, I had to defer to her mom’s authority. Later, a doctor told us, “That natural remedy would’ve caused a strong allergic reaction.” When it comes to my niece’s welfare, her mom truly knows what’s best for her─in ways that I don’t. I remember this incident when I’m anxious about other loved ones, asking God to help them the way I think they should be helped. I remember that God, who loves them and knows them infinitely more than I do, knows best. In Isaiah 55:9, God says, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways.” The Hebrew word for ways means “journey” or “manner.” God’s wisdom and manner of doing things aren’t just different from ours; they’re infinitely greater. The journey He plans for a loved one may not be what we want, but we can trust Him to work in their lives as He sees best. Let’s keep entrusting those we love to God by “present[ing our] requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). He alone is perfect in love, mercy, wisdom, and sovereignty (Isaiah 55:3, 7-11).

Did you know that rest is a choice? In Isaiah 30:15–16, God offers His people a powerful invitation: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and trust shall be your strength. But you were unwilling…” So often, we choose hustle over stillness, control over trust. We run hard—only to end up weary, anxious, and empty. In today's episode, we're talking about the kind of rest that only God can give. If your pace feels unsustainable or your soul feels unsettled, this conversation is your invitation to press reset and step into God's rhythm of grace.   ABOUT: Lina AbuJamra is a Pediatric ER doctor, now practicing telemedicine, and founder of Living With Power Ministries. Her vision is to bring hope to the world by connecting biblical answers to everyday life. A popular Bible teacher, podcaster, and conference speaker, she is the author of several books including Don't Tell Anyone You're Reading This, Still Standing, and her Bible Study series Mapping the Footsteps of God. In her “spare” time, she provides medical care and humanitarian help in disaster areas and to refugees in Lebanon. Learn more about her at LivingWithPower.org. Follow on Insta: linaabujamra Follow on Facebook: Lina Abujamra  

In Isaiah, Cyrus the Great emerges as a unique figure chosen by the God of Israel to fulfill a specific historical task: the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple and the liberation of the Judahites from exile in Babylon in direct fulfillment of the prophecy spoken by Jeremiah.Cyrus's rise to power is depicted not as a product of his strength but as the result of God stirring his spirit and granting him authority over all nations.God bestows upon Cyrus exceptional titles: “my shepherd,” a nomadic-pastoral, Bedouin-styled function typical of prophetic literature, signifying his role in guiding the people of Israel back to God's land, and “my anointed,” indicating a special divine commissioning that parallels, though does not equal, the messianic expectations normally associated with Israelite kings.Through Cyrus's conquests, especially the subjugation of Babylon, the Lord demonstrates his universal sovereignty, demonstrating to all nations that he alone is the Unipolar Hegemon that directs the course of history and holds ultimate authority over the kingdoms of the earth.While Cyrus plays a pivotal role as a pawn on God's political chessboard, Isaiah carefully distinguishes him from the Slave of the Lord.The Slave—often wrongly identified with Israel itself—points to a future messianic figure who carries a broader, more enduring mission: to establish justice, bring light to the nations, and embody God's ultimate purpose. Unlike Cyrus, whose mission is temporal and political, the Slave's work is a universal call to the path of the Lord, extending beyond the restoration of Jerusalem to the transformation of the human race.Thus, Isaiah presents Cyrus as a divinely appointed instrument for a limited, though critical, historical role. At the same time, the Slave of the Lord stands as the ultimate fulfillment of God's plan of victory and liberation for his people and the entire world.Then, in Luke, the Slave landed on the beaches of the Gerasenes.Everything I do, I do for the Slave.This week, I discuss Luke 8:29.Show Notesπαραγγέλλω (parangellō)order, summon, command, send a messageשׁ-מ-ע (shin-mem-ayin) / س-م-ع (sīn-mīm-ʿayn)hear, submit!1 Samuel 15:4 - Saul, Israel's first king, asserts his leadership by gathering a vast army (200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah) to fulfill a divine command: to destroy the Amalekites utterly. Centralized, royal power at its peak.1 Samuel 23:8 - Saul, now insecure in his power, redirects his military might to pursue David at Keilah, driven by jealousy and fear of losing his throne.1 Kings 15:22 - King Asa commands all of Judah to dismantle Baasha's fortifications at Ramah and repurpose them to fortify Geba and Mizpah. Asa's leadership is pragmatic and defensive, focused on security rather than prophetic utterances.Jeremiah 26:14 (LXX) - Jeremiah stands alone before religious and political leaders, “I am in your hands; do with me as seems good and right to you.” Luke's lexical itinerary at Decapolis follows the biblical storyline, shifting from the king's authority to the prophet's vulnerability.Jeremiah 27:29 (LXX) - Jeremiah warns Judah that resisting Babylon will only bring destruction; the people must submit to Babylon's yoke as God's instrument of judgment.Jeremiah 28:27 (LXX) - The theme of the yoke—submission to Babylon's dominion—continues. This reinforces the prophet's earlier warning that Judah's fate is sealed unless they accept God's judgment.ע-ב-ר (ʿayin-bet-resh) / ع-ب-ر (ʿayn-bāʼ-rāʼ)pull along, pass through, pass by, go your way; consistent with nomadic pastoral or shepherd life2 Chronicles 36:22 - This verse marks the beginning of the return from exile. It records that in the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord moved his heart to make a proclamation allowing the exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. This aligns with the prophecy of Jeremiah being fulfilled — God's promise to bring his people back from captivity after seventy years.Ezra 1:1 - This verse parallels 2 Chronicles 36:22. It highlights that in the first year of King Cyrus of Persia's reign, God stirred his spirit to make a decree throughout his kingdom allowing the Judeans to return and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, again, fulfilling the prophecy of Jeremiah.In Arabic, this root carries various functions, including “to cross,” “to pass over,” “to interpret,” or “to take a lesson.”عُبُور (ʿubūr) crossingمَعْبَر (maʿbar) crossing placeتَعْبِير (taʿbīr) expression, interpretation (especially of dreams)א-מ-ר (ʾaleph–mem–resh) / أ-م-ر (ʾalif-mīm-rāʾ)In Arabic, this root is the foundation for words like أَمْر (ʾamr) (“command” or “order”) and مَأْمُور (maʾmūr) (“one who is commanded”). Matthew Cooper observes that אָמַר (amar) “he spoke,” is inter-functional with the Arabic word أمير (emir), which means “prince,” “commander,” or “leader,” from the same root.Joshua 6:7 - Joshua commands his army to advance on Jericho. Specifically, he orders the armed men to proceed, and the seven priests with the trumpets to go before the Ark of the Covenant as they prepare to encircle the city. This is part of the famous account of the fall of Jericho, where the walls come down after the Israelites' obedience to God's instructions.צ-ע-ק (ṣade-ayin-qof) / ص-ع-ق (sīn–ʿayn–qāf)In biblical Hebrew, צעק (ṣāʿaq) means “to cry out, to shout, to call loudly.”1 Samuel 10:17 - Samuel gathers the people of Israel at Mizpah to publicly present Saul as the chosen king. This follows God's command to anoint a king, as the people had demanded one like the nations around them. Samuel is about to cast lots to reveal Saul as God's chosen king formally.In Arabic, صعق (ṣaʿaqa) means “to be struck by thunder, to be shocked, to be stunned.”י-ע-ץ (yod-ayin-ṣade) / و-ع-ظ (wāw-ʿayn-ẓāʾ)1 Kings 12:6 - Rehoboam, Solomon's son and the new king, consults the elders who had served his father about responding to the people's request to lighten their burdens. The elders advise him to show kindness. He does not listen.“To advise, to give counsel.” The Arabic triliteral carries the core function “to exhort, to admonish, to preach.”وَعْظ (waʿẓ) exhortation, admonitionوَاعِظ (wāʿiẓ) preacher, admonisherتَوْعِيظ (tawʿīẓ) act of exhorting, preaching“Call to the path of your Lord with wisdom and the beautiful exhortation (الْمَوْعِظَةِ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ al-mawʿiẓati al-ḥasanati), and discuss with them in that which is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from his path, and he is most knowing of the guided.” Surah An-Nahl (16:125) ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Thursday, 22 May 2025   Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city! Matthew 10:15   “Amen! I say to you, it will be sufferable – land Sodom and Gomorrah – on judgment day than that city” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus instructed the apostles to out-swing the dust from their feet of any house or city that rejected their word concerning the coming of the kingdom of heaven. Now, He tells them what that act signifies, beginning with, “Amen! I say to you.”   As has been seen, this forms an emphatic declaration concerning what follows. He is stressing the importance of what follows. In this case, it is the ramifications for rejecting the word they carry, saying, “it will be sufferable.”   It is a new adjective, anektoteros, signifying more endurable, more tolerable, etc. It is derived from the verb anechó, to endure, bear with, tolerate, etc. In this case, a single word that will fit the surrounding thought is sufferable. Next, to describe what is sufferable, He says, “land Sodom and Gomorrah.”   The epitome of what is considered biblical punishment and judgment on sin is found in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. So poignant was this lesson found in their writings that the memory of it is referred to throughout their history.   At times, the cities are referred to as the epitome of wickedness. At times, they are used as the epitome of judgment upon it. In Isaiah 1, both thoughts are referred to at one time –   “Unless the Lord of hosts Had left to us a very small remnant, We would have become like Sodom, We would have been made like Gomorrah. 10 Hear the word of the Lord, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the law of our God, You people of Gomorrah.” Isaiah 1:9, 10   These warnings didn't end with Jesus' words, though. They are referred to in 2 Peter and Jude. Finally, in Revelation 11, Jerusalem of the tribulation period is equated to Sodom and Egypt, a stinging and shameful rebuke.   Of these cities and what will be sufferable for them, Jesus says, “on judgment day than that city.” In other words, at the time when judgment is meted out upon the world prior to the lost being cast into the Lake of Fire, Sodom and Gomorrah will receive less punishment than such a city. How could that be?   The reason isn't the direct, flagrant, and open wickedness of these cities. Rather, it is a matter of revealed light. As Jesus says elsewhere –   “But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:48   Sodom and Gomorrah were cities filled with perverts and wicked people, but they only had the light of general revelation to direct them, along with the consciences that God gave them. Israel, on the other hand, had God's special revelation in the form of the law, the writings, and the prophets.   They were given these things to lead them to the coming of the Messiah, Jesus. Upon His arrival and His proclamation that everything they were promised was about to be presented to them, they rejected what these writings proclaimed. In their rejection, there could be no excuse. This is a truth that continues to this day.   Life application: Today, it is popular among Christians to give Israel and the Jewish people a pass for their conduct and their way of life. Condemnation of those around her comes quickly, as it should, but when it comes to pointing out the behavior of Israel, there is often not a peep made.   And yet, it is Israel the people who bear the name of God, who openly hold “pride” parades, condone abortion, promote or tolerate wickedness, etc. Christians should support the nation in their state of return because God has ordained it, while not failing to call out their corruption as well as their rejection of Jesus.   Jews must be evangelized like any other group of people. Those who reject Jesus will be eternally separated from God. What came upon them for the past two thousand years was a self-inflicted wound. Paul explicitly says this when writing to those at Thessalonica –   “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. 14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16   Be sure to pray for Israel, be willing to call out their flaws, and be sure to have tracts ready to hand out to any Jews you meet, just as you would for any other person.   Heavenly Father, help us to think clearly about how You have presented Your word, including its warnings, to the people of the world. Judgment really is coming, and people must be warned of the consequences for failing to heed the word You have given us. May we be bold in this, O God. Amen.  

In Isaiah 40, the Lord speaks through Isaiah to his people to give them comfort. The greatest comfort you can ever have in this world is knowing God. No one cares about you more than God does. God wants the people to see him the right way. The people think that God does not care […] The post Wise Creator (Isaiah 40:12-17) appeared first on Biblical Truths from West Palm Beach church of Christ.

Pastor Rob Byker joins us with a message from Isaiah 61, titled “A Planting To Display His Splendor.” God's people were in exile and in despair. They felt like ashes. Their life had fallen apart. Sometimes we can feel that way too! In Isaiah 61, God promises to restore us and give us beauty for ashes. He will give us the beauty of a righteous character. Indeed, we will be called “oaks of righteousness for the display of His splendor.”(verse 4). But this gift is also a task. A task to praise His restoring grace, prize His promise to beautify and pursue His righteousness. Want to learn more about Connections Church? Visit our website: https://myconnections.church/

In this sermon on Mother's Day, we’re reminded that God's invitation is not to the strong, polished, or put-together, but to the thirsty, the tired, and those who come with nothing to offer. In Isaiah 55, God says, "he who has no money, come, buy and eat," offering daily provision and soul-deep satisfaction that cannot be earned. Jesus echoes this in Matthew 11, calling the weary to come and find rest—not by performing, but by bringing their emptiness to Him. Moms, this is for you you—but not just for you. None of us have to be enough, fix everything, or hold it all together. In the daily demands and quiet struggles of life, we are all invited to come to Jesus again and again, and find in Him the grace, strength, and rest our souls truly need.

Malachi 4 Tells Us God Takes Care of His Own and that Those Who Wait Upon Him and “fear my {God's} name” Will Not Be Disappointed MESSAGE SUMMARY:  Isaiah, in Isaiah 64:3,8, says that God is the awesome God who created everything: “When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence . . . But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.”. In Isaiah 65:11-13, Isaiah expresses God's disappointment in being snubbed by His chosen people, the Jews. However, Isaiah expresses how pleased God is with being welcomed by the Gentiles {my servants}: “'But you who forsake the LORD, who forget my holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny, I will destine you to the sword, and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter, because, when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not listen, but you did what was evil in my eyes and chose what I did not delight in.' Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Behold, my servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but you shall be put to shame.'". Malachi tells us, in Malachi 4:1-3, that God will punish evildoers while sparing those who fear His name: “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts.". God takes care of His own, and those who fear the Lord and who wait upon the Lord will not be disappointed.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, help me to be still and to wait patiently for you in silence. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 125). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because I am in Jesus Christ, I will trust in the Lord with all my heart. I will trust in the Lord with all of my heart and lean not on my own understanding.  In all my ways I will seek to know Him, and He will make my pathways straight.   From Proverbs 3:5f SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Isaiah 64:3-10; Deuteronomy 28:58; Nehemiah 4:1-11; Malachi 4:1-6; Psalms 66b:11-20. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Being in Christ, Part 1” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

In Isaiah 6, the prophet is drawn into a dramatic vision that serves as the theological and spiritual anchor for everything he has proclaimed. Before he can continue speaking to the people on God's behalf, Isaiah must see himself in the overwhelming reality of God's holiness. This passage is not simply a mystical experience; it is a transformational encounter with the Holy God, the One who reigns above every earthly throne, is worshiped by heavenly beings, and before whom all creation trembles. In a time of national uncertainty and loss, Isaiah receives a vision that re-centers the narrative.

Bearing the Fruit of Christ (audio) David Eells – 4/23/25 Saints, The Lord told me a few days ago that the Man-child and Bride are not quite ready for all He has planned.  He indicated the time would be soon, but they need to “…Behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord.” This is justification by faith and also is how the power to manifest Christ in us comes. 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. Today I'm going to talk to you about bearing the fruit of perfection in Christ. We have learned that we were sanctified and perfected. (Heb.10:14) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. We shall be manifested in these things. We receive sanctification and perfection by this position in Christ Jesus. Now we need to cooperate with God to manifest what we've received by faith. (Heb.11:1) Now faith is assurance of [things] hoped for, a conviction of things not seen. We want the evidence to be made manifest in our life so that Christ can live through us in this world. I usually study the Parable of the Sower out of Matthew 13, but I would like us to look at Luke this time. (Luk.8:4) And when a great multitude came together, and they of every city resorted unto him, he spake by a parable: (5) The sower went forth to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden under foot, and the birds of the heaven devoured it. (6) And other fell on the rock; and as soon as it grew, it withered away, because it had no moisture. (7) And other fell amidst the thorns; and the thorns grew with it, and choked it. (8) And other fell into the good ground, and grew, and brought forth fruit a hundredfold. As he said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (9) And his disciples asked him what this parable might be. (10) And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to the rest in parables; that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.  (11) Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. (12) And those by the way side are they that have heard; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved. (13) And those on the rock [are] they who, when they have heard, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. (14) And that which fell among the thorns, these are they that have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of [this] life, and bring no fruit to perfection. So obviously, we're talking about the manifestation of perfection, which is to bring fruit to perfection. Notice, even though they were receiving the seed, they didn't bring the fruit to perfection. (15) And that in the good ground, these are such as in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it fast, and bring forth fruit with patience. These bring forth fruit unto perfection. Glory to God! That's our hope, that the Lord Himself will manifest His fruit in us. It's the seed that brings forth the fruit unto perfection; it's not us. It's the seed, the Word of God in us, that has power. One of the points is that we have to hold it fast, hold fast the seed. We see that the seed is being sown in the heart (verse 11) and the seed is the Word of God. If the heart holds it fast, it will bring forth fruit unto perfection. (12) And those by the way side are they that have heard; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved. Here the Word is not held fast so that it bears fruit; this is a miscarrying womb. The heart is the womb that brings forth the fruit, just like the womb of a woman has to hold fast the seed in order for that seed to come to birth. (1Jn.3:9) Whosoever is begotten (the word “begotten” here is the same word for “born”) of God doeth no sin, because his seed abideth in him…. In other words, it stays, it's being held fast, it “abideth in him.” He cannot sin because he is born of God. So, when the seed abides, it can come to birth, it can bring the fruit to perfection. And we know, since the seed is the Word of God, and Jesus is the Word of God, that the fruit that is born in us is “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col.1:27); that is, Christ manifested in His people. We know that we were perfected at the cross, that His life was given for ours, and that we don't live anymore – Christ lives in us by faith. But as we hold fast the promise in the midst of the many trials of riches, temptations, and so on, as we hold on to the Word, that Word will bear fruit. Many times in the trial, our mind wants to revert back to the things of the world. Our mind wants to walk by sight instead of by faith, but in the trial, we have opportunity to hold on to the Word and not turn it loose, so that it bears the same fruit of Jesus Christ in us, the same faith, the same miraculous power, the same sanctifying power, manifested through His saints. When we're in the midst of the trials, we have to hold fast to the Word and cast down everything else. (2Co.10:5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. That's the whole point: we are to hold fast to the Word and cast down every other word that empowers the curse. We must cast down the seed of the devil, which is his word and thoughts. Cast it down, cast it out of our mind. We only want the one seed that can bring forth the fruit of Christ. That's the only seed we want to accept and we have to hold fast to it, because the devil is seeking to take away the seed that's been sown in our heart. He desperately has to do that, or we will bear fruit and it will be too late. We have to “hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not.” When you're in the fiery trial and you know what the promise is, remember that promise is the seed that you have to hold to in order to bear the fruit. We don't want to have a spiritually-miscarrying womb. Remember, Jesus said, The words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life (Joh.6:63). Any other word besides the Word of God is also spirit and is also life, but not the spirit and life of Christ. We don't want another life. We don't want to have “strange children,” as the prophet spoke: (Hos.5:7) “They have borne strange children”. They have to look like the father. If you have a child who looks strangely different from the father, you wonder, “Now, whose seed is this?” It wasn't the seed of the father. Well, so it is today. We read the Scriptures in order to become familiar with the Father, Jesus said, He that hath seen me hath seen the Father (Joh.14:9). In other words, Jesus manifested His Father. He was a seed which was in line with His Father, and we have to also be such a seed. The fruit in us has to also be a seed, which is in line with our Father's Word. There is an example in Leviticus 19 that points this out pretty well: (Lev.19:19) Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with two kinds of seed…. In other words, each seed brings forth after its own kind; you don't want a mixture here. I remember my father-in-law told me one time about how he planted a row of hot peppers too close to a row of bell peppers and his bell peppers became hot. I can imagine, in some cases, hot bell peppers might be pretty handy, but if you want bell peppers, you want bell peppers. What the Father is looking for is Jesus. He's not interested in anything else. He has planted that seed in His field and He wants Christ. (Joh.3:13) … No one hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended out of heaven…. The Lord wants Jesus, so we don't want two kinds of seed sown in our field, because this is going to be a mixture; it's not going to be the fruit of Christ. Any mixture takes away from the fruit of Christ. (Lev.19:19) … Neither shall there come upon thee a garment of two kinds of stuff mingled together. That's a good example of “putting on the works of Christ” along with putting on our own works. “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof]” (Rom.13:14). The problem is making sure that the seed is the true seed of the Father, which is the Word of God, making sure that we hold fast to the seed, and making sure that we don't have a spiritually-miscarrying womb. Leviticus 15 speaks about that in another verse: (Lev.15:19) And if a woman have an issue, [and] her issue in her flesh be blood (notice that it doesn't say “in her body”; it purposely says, “in her flesh”), she shall be in her impurity seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. This is a parable and, therefore, types and shadows. There's nothing unclean about the natural thing that this is speaking about. But the spiritual revelation here is that it's very unclean. (1Co.10:11) Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come. So what we see here is something concerning a miscarrying womb, because of the issue of blood, where what's in the blood represents our nature. (Lev.17:11) For the life of the flesh is in the blood…. The life, the nature, the soul (“soul” is sometimes translated in the New Testament as “nature”) has been passed on to a person through the blood of their parents. This nature of the “old man” is our enemy; it's the whole problem we're fighting against. It's struggling with us and there's a war going on, but the Blood of Jesus represents His life, His nature, His soul, and bearing fruit is to bear the fruit of the Spirit and soul of Christ in us. That is what the Word manifesting itself in us is all about. We see here that, if a woman has an issue of blood in her flesh, this is impurity. Why? Because the blood of the old life washes away the seed, and the seed doesn't bear fruit. The woman is not fertile. In fact, it says here that she will be impure for seven days. She's not going to be fertile until the eighth day. The eighth day is a new beginning. So in a spiritual way (the verse is not talking about natural women), the “women” spoken of refers to sects and divisions of God's people, as Scripture speaks about them. (Isa.4:1) And seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name…. These “women” are the seven churches doing their own thing. Women can also be local churches. (2Ti.3:5) Holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof: from these also turn away. (6) For of these are they that creep into houses, and take captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts, (7) ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. So they're studying, studying, studying. They continue receiving seed, but they're never coming to the knowledge of the truth. It happens all the time. “Silly women,” as the Scripture calls them, these sects of God's people who don't grow up in Him are led captive by these men making disciples of themselves. (Lev.15:19) … She shall be in her impurity seven days…. (Mat.15:6) … Ye have made void (“of no effect”) the word of God because of your tradition. We see from this that the blood of the woman represents her carnal nature, by which she rejects the seed of Christ (the Word of God), the seed that is to bring forth the life and nature and fruit of the Husband. The Jews were doing just that. They were like a menstruating woman, who were not going to bring forth fruit, because their old nature had determined that they were going to walk after their traditions – those things that were pleasing to their natural life and to their flesh. Therefore, when the Word of God comes along, which sometimes is crucifying to the “old man,” they reject it. It gets washed away by their own nature. Jesus rebuked them and He told them, Not that which entereth into the mouth defileth the man; but that which proceedeth out of the mouth, this defileth the man (Mat.15:11). Their thinking was coming out of their mouth. That was what was defiling them because they were rejecting the true Word of God. They were making of no effect the Word of God by their tradition, making the seed ineffectual in bringing forth any fruit. (Lev.15:19) And if a woman have an issue, [and] her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be in her impurity seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. Note that the word used here for “unclean” is the same word for “defiled.” Remember Revelation 14:4: “the firstfruits unto God and unto the Lamb.” It says they “were not defiled with women.” This is talking about them not being defiled with those sects of God's people who are rejecting the true Seed of God. If we're not holding fast the Word, then we're washing it away with our own unclean, fallen nature. (Lev.17:11) For the life of the flesh is in the blood…. As we read on down, we see: (Lev.15:24) And if any man lie with her, and her impurity be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days…. Well, we know who it is who “lieth” with these women. It is those who are supposed to be sowing the Seed of the Lord. Paul said, For though ye have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet [have ye] not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I begat you through the gospel (1Co.4:15). In other words, Paul sowed the Seed of the Lord God, and it brought forth the fruit of Jesus in those early disciples, and so on. But we see here that those who lie with the woman who was not willing to give up her old life, to give fertile ground to the seed, then that man is unclean, too. (2Ti.3:6) For of these are they that creep into houses, and take captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts, (7) ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Jesus said the same thing, “Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to the rest in parables; that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand” (Luk.8:10). Jesus wasn't going to sow the seed in that infertile ground. He wasn't going to give the true Word of God to those people who had no respect for it, and who would just wash it away, like throwing pearls before swine. It's that same way today. The true Word of God will not be received by many apostate Christians, and a person wastes their time trying to give it to them. Those apostate Christians will disrespect God's Word and will cast it to the ground. So the woman with an issue is going to stay in her impurity and the man who sows seed in her is going to stay in his impurity seven days. These people have the unscriptural idea that they're going to escape by flying away and miss the seven days of the Tribulation. They're not going to do it. (Lev.15:28) But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean. We're coming to the time when people need to be cleansed so that at the end of the seven days (the seven-year Tribulation), they'll be ready to meet the Lord. (Lev.15:29) And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tent of meeting. (30) And the priest shall offer the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her before the Lord for the issue of her uncleanness. (31) Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is in the midst of them. Now we see here that we're talking about a defiling of a tabernacle, a body of God's people, a temporary temple of God's people. This tabernacle is being defiled because they've cast the Word of God to the ground. They have been caught up in the traditions of men, so that their own opinions and their own ideas are more important to them than receiving the Seed of the Word. I'm reminded of this: (Isa.32:9) Rise up, ye women that are at ease, [and] hear my voice; ye careless daughters, give ear unto my speech. (10) For days beyond a year shall ye be troubled, ye careless women; for the vintage shall fail, the ingathering shall not come. The ingathering harvest (the Rapture) that they're all expecting to be at the beginning of the seven days won't come until the end of the seven days. Why? Because they're defiled. The vintage did not bear fruit. (11) Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones; strip you, and make you bare (in other words, take off those mixed garments), and gird [sackcloth] upon your loins. And when does He say they are going to bear fruit? (15) Until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be esteemed as a forest. The wilderness is called the Tribulation in Revelation chapters 12 and 17. The “firstfruits” in Revelation 14 “were not defiled with women.”  So we see these women who are defiled, have to go through the Great Tribulation in order to be purified. God's plan is going to be fulfilled. For those of you who are walking undefiled now, that's great, and praise be to God when we come to respect God's Word above our own thinking and the traditions of men. It's going to take a pure Word. Jesus said to these people, “ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world” (Joh.8:23). We can't have the mixture of two seeds in our field. There can only be one seed that is not of this world and brings forth the fruit of Jesus Christ. Remember the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares? The word there for “seed” is the word sperma, letting us know this is not just talking about plants here. The Word, sperma, is what's going to bring forth this wheat. When a person sows good seed in their field, the Lord's sperma is there. Who sowed those tares among the wheat? Jesus said, “an enemy hath done this” (Mat.13:28). There's not supposed to be two seeds sown in the same field. The field, here is in the Kingdom of God on this earth. But in our life, it's up to us to make sure we cast down the bad seed, which is, “imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God” (2Co.10:5). Receive only and hold fast to the good seed because the good seed will bring forth the birth. In Luke 8, we're told, (Luk.8:15) … that in the good ground, these are such as in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it fast, and bring forth fruit with patience. I pointed out that in the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, the Lord used the word sperma. The sperma only brings forth after the nature of the Father, so that's using a human analogy. Jesus does the same thing again in this chapter: (21) But he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these that hear the word of God, and do it. Jesus also said, (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. And He said that the wind and the storm and the rain that comes will not tear down that house because it's built on the Rock (verse 25). So we see that to be Jesus' brother, we must be from the same Father and through the same “mother.” And to be His mother, we must bear the same fruit. We must bear the fruit of Jesus Christ. His fruit must be born in us. We must hold fast to the Seed of the Word of God, so that His fruit will be born in us. When the disciples came to Him and they said, “Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee” (Luk.8:20), He responded, (Mar.3:33) “Who is my mother and my brethren?” He always wanted to bring things to a spiritual level. (34) And looking round on them that sat round about him, he saith, Behold, my mother and my brethren! (35) For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. We have another example in Luke 11 of a woman on a natural level who came to Jesus: (Luk.11:27) And it came to pass, as he said these things, a certain woman out of the multitude lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the breasts which thou didst suck. (28) But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. This woman could have been a Mariolater, of Mariolatry in our day. It was important to her to know who the physical mother of Jesus was, but He said, “No, that's not important,” because God could have picked anybody to do that, in that she was the mother of His flesh, not the mother of His spiritual “man.” The important thing is that this parable is fulfilled in our day. Who should bring forth Christ now? Those who hear the Word of God and keep it. So when we think about the mother of Jesus, Jesus applies this to us. In Isaiah 7, we see this parable: (Isa.7:14) Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign (The word “sign” here is owth and it means “omen,” which is a sign of something to come. Now this is the sign of something to come.): behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son…. How is it that Mary was a sign of something to come? Most importantly, she was a virgin. There was no seed of man; it was the seed of God that brought forth the fruit of Jesus Christ in her. In Revelation 12, we see what appears to be a virtuous woman with the 12 stars around her head, standing on the moon (in other words, reflecting the light of the Son), and she's clothed with the sun (she has put on the Lord Jesus Christ), and she's bringing forth, or birthing, the “man-child.” So, that woman must be a virgin. Just to fulfill the type and the shadow, she has to be a group of people who are rejecting the word of man. They're rejecting the seed, or sperma, of man. She must be a virgin. So, therefore, in these end-times, at the time of the birthing of the man-child, there is a group of people who are rejecting the seed of men. There are two things about that little parable in Revelation 12: one, I think, that is individual and the other that is corporate. Each one of us, as the mother of Christ, must be rejecting the seed of man: what man has to say, what man has to think, what this man in whom we walk thinks and believes with his sight and with his feelings, and so on. We're to reject those things in order to believe, to stand on, and to hold fast to only the Word of God, so that it bears fruit. Corporately, there is a body of people who are at this time rejecting the words of man, the seeds of man, and they will bring forth a corporate man-child who is the firstfruits of those who walk in the steps of Jesus Christ in the coming days. We see here that this sign is that they have to be a virgin: (14) … A virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (God with us). Jesus wasn't just with them; He's just as much with us. He is still Immanuel, God with us. In fact, every Christian carries Jesus, as God, with them, because they're all pregnant with Jesus. They have all been pregnant with Jesus because of the Word of God, to which they highly respect and hold fast. They're going to bring forth His fruit. In Luke 1, we see the story of Mary, which is that sign. The angel Gabriel came and appeared to Mary, saying to her, (Luk.1:28) … Hail, thou that art highly favored (or, indued with grace), the Lord [is] with thee. This is very similar to what we saw about “Immanuel” or “God with us.” “The Lord” here is the word kurios, which is “lord” or “master,” and is used all through the New Testament. The Will of the Lord (Who is “God with us”) is being fulfilled through the type and shadow of Mary in His church and in His people, because everyone who hears and does the Word of God is like Mary. They are like His mother. Then Gabriel says, (30) … Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor (or grace) with God. Mary wasn't the person that a lot of Mariolatry religions want to make her out to be. She had to have grace; she had to be saved; she had to be filled with the Spirit, and she had other children after Jesus, after she fulfilled this type. It goes on: (31) And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb (this is the Word of the Lord going through the angel Gabriel, God's leading messenger angel), and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS (which originally meant “YHWH is salvation”). He is “Immanuel” – “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14) but the promise to Mary, as the mother of Jesus, was that she would bear the fruit of Jesus. This was the promise, and that's the promise to us, too. The Bible says the same thing about us, that we will bear His fruit: (32) He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. Once again, a firstfruit is coming forth in this day who will sit in the throne of David. It is Jesus Christ in a body of David, just like it happened in Luke at that time. (33) And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. (34) And Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? Well, there it is. We see she had not known a man; it was not a man's seed that would bring forth this Son of God, obviously. Each seed brings forth after its own kind. If it's the seed of man, the only thing she could have would be man. Jesus said, “Ye are from beneath; I am from above” (Joh.8:23). He is born from above. No seed of man can bring forth anything from above, and so, she knew not a man. She was a virgin. (Luk.1:35) And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power (dunamis) of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also [it says in the Numerics, “that which is born”] shall be called holy, the Son of God. That's a better translation than in the ASV text, which reads, (35) … wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God. (36) And behold, Elisabeth thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that was called barren. The next verse is very enlightening, especially in the original wording, which says, (37) For no word from God shall be void of power. You see, Mary had a Word from God, a Word that by itself could bring forth in her the Son of God. Now I know some translations say, “Nothing shall be impossible with God,” but the word here is “no word (rhema) from God shall be void of power (paI dunateo).” “Impossible” does not represent the original wording there. Everything that God says has the power; it is the Seed that has the power to bring forth itself in a fertile womb. So the Word of God in our heart has the power to bring forth Jesus Christ in us. It is His sperma. It has the power. All we have to do is give it fertile ground. We are Mary if we give the Word of God, which comes down out of heaven, which is not from man, fertile ground. And what did Mary say? (38) And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word…. In other words, she was in agreement with the Word of God. “Let it be so, Lord.” “Just as You say.” “I agree with that.” “I accept that, Lord.” Many people today are just washing the seed away. They argue with the Word of God, thinking that they have a right to their own opinion. We don't have a right to have our own opinion – we're dead. Dead men don't have their own opinions. We died with Christ and He now lives in us. We have His opinion, so believe what He says. Mary was in agreement with the Word that came from the Lord. Every word from God is powerful. It has the power to bring forth what it says. (38) … And the angel departed from her. She said, “be it unto me according to thy” rhema, and he “departed from her.” (39) And Mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah; (40) and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth. (41) And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit; (42) and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry, and said, Blessed [art] thou among women, and blessed [is] the fruit of thy womb. And the same is true today: blessed is the fruit of the womb of this natural life that brings forth the fruit of Christ. (43) And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come unto me? (44) For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. (45) And blessed [is] she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord. The things that were spoken to her from the Lord, the Word of God, shall not be void of power. And, because she believed, there was a fulfillment of the words of God – all the words of God. Many Christians believe that these words of God are just naturally going to be fulfilled. However, they won't be fulfilled if a person doesn't have faith. The Word of God has power, but Mary had to agree with what was promised to her by the Word of the Lord: (45) And blessed [is] she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord. Yes, the Lord says, For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified (Heb.10:14), but there may never be a fulfillment of that for us, unless we believe, as Mary did. Belief gives fertile ground to the seed, which will bear fruit when a person agrees with it, accepts it and walks in it by faith. We fight a battle with the devil, who has an ally, the old carnal nature, working with him and against us. The devil can steal the seed because he has agreement in the carnal nature, which washes the seed away. The carnal nature won't let that seed be held fast, so that it can bear fruit. We're like Mary only if we hold to the Word of God, as 2 Thessalonians says: (1:10) When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be marvelled at in all them that believed (because our testimony unto you was believed) in that day. Why? “[O]ur testimony unto you was believed.” Jesus is coming to be glorified in His people because that testimony of “Christ in you, the hope of glory” will be believed “in that day.” This is talking about the time immediately before the coming of the Lord; look at the text. So, right before the coming of the Lord, God's people are once again going to believe in the Gospel that has been spoken to the “woman” church. Remember what Jesus said: (Mat.9:29) … According to your faith be it done unto you. (Mat.8:13) … As thou hast believed, [so] be it done unto thee. Do you believe that the seed of the promise of the Word of God can bring forth Jesus Christ in you? If you do, it will happen. We hear all the time in the churches that we can't be perfect, but there's no such verse in Scripture. We're going to read over and over in the Bible what it has to say about perfection before we're through with this teaching. What we have to agree with is, “Okay, Lord. You said it and I believe it. If, at the cross, You perfected me forever, as Hebrews 10 says, then I accept that Word. Be it unto Thy handmaid, according to the Word of the Lord.” Believe it; receive it. If God says it, it's yours. When you believe it, (Luk.1:45) Blessed [is] she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord. We believe it. We receive it. In Colossians, we read, (Col.1:25) Whereof I was made a minister, according to the dispensation (or, the word is actually “stewardship”) of God which was given me to you-ward, to fulfil the word of God. In other words, even though God has made this promise, He sends forth ministers (a messenger) to share the truth of this revelation with us, just like the messenger who came to Mary. And it's the same message of “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Now, when we believe that, blessed are we who believe, for there shall be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to us from the Lord. Some people say, “Well, I don't believe that. We believe we're sinners saved by grace.” Now that's not in the Bible! That's a tradition. The Bible says, “He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Heb.10:14). “Sanctified” means “separated from the world.” If we are separated from the world, then we believe what God says: (Col.1:25) … (A stewardship) of God, which was given me to you-ward, to fulfil the word of God, (26) [even] the mystery which hath been hid for ages and generations; but now hath it been manifested to his saints. So, in the time of Paul, the wonderful revelation that he was about to share was made known. And, though they lost it shortly after that, in our day, once again, it is being made known. And what is that wonderful revelation? (27) To whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We have no hope of glory outside of Christ in us. The seed brings forth the fruit of Jesus Christ. The part of us that was original, this old man, this old life, is just the dirt in which the seed was sown, but the seed is what brings forth Christ. Each of us must hold fast the seed and not be a miscarrying womb. (27) … Christ in you, the hope of glory: (Col.1:28) whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ. In other words, this is talking about manifestation. We preach the wonderful mystery of “Christ in you,” the holding fast of the seed of the Word, as the mother of the Son of God – being manifested in us and soon to be seen of men. “Present every man perfect in Christ.” Some may say, “But I thought we were already perfect?” Yes, we are by faith, and now Scripture is talking about manifesting that faith. Faith is the substance of the thing hoped for while the evidence is not yet seen, so faith gives us this substance, as a position in Christ, until the manifestation comes. It's like believing for a healing – it's a whole lot better to get one. The faith is just a meantime substance. God wants us to manifest that healing, that deliverance, that provision to us, and that is Christ in us! That is what we hold fast, what we're not shaken away from. We're not going to let the devil steal it from us. It's our right in Jesus Christ. Amen! Paul goes on to say, (29) whereunto I labor also, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. The Lord is working in us to bring this to pass, as the Lord was working through Paul, His minister, to share this wonderful mystery, this revelation with the disciples in those days. Now we're entering into a time when God is going to share this wonderful revelation in these days with His people. He's going to work mightily through His ministers and He's going to work mightily through His people to manifest Christ in them. It's a wonderful revelation and it's a wonderful fulfillment! Christ is once again going to walk in this earth because God's people are going to believe. (2Th.1:10) When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be marvelled at in all them that believed (because our testimony unto you was believed) in that day. Paul was saying that he didn't think it was completely believed in his day: “Our testimony unto you was believed … in that day.” In other words, God is going to share special grace with His people to believe once again this mystery of “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Glory to God! We are the mother of Christ! We hear and do the Word of God. We're not hearers deluding ourselves, beholding our natural face in the mirror: (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. We accept from the beginning that Christ now lives in us, that we no longer live. We accept it by faith, and because we accept it by faith, God says it is going to be manifested. So glory be to God! This is the perfection that we have in Christ and it will be manifested through us as we abide in Christ. This is “that perfection.” Also, we have this word: (Luk.8:14) And that which fell among the thorns, these are they that have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of [this] life, and bring no fruit to perfection. The word “perfection” here is a strange word not used anywhere else in the Bible. It's the word telesphoreo. There's a common word for “perfection” – teleios – but this word is telesphoreo and it means “to bring to perfection” or “end in view.” In other words, we have to see the end from the beginning. We have to call these things that be not as though they were. We're “beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord” (to look in the mirror and see Jesus; that's having farsightedness) and “are transformed into” that “same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.” And Paul prefaces that with, “But we all, with unveiled face,” so this telesphoreo we see from the beginning. We're seeing it, accepting it and we're walking toward it, and we're going to receive it by faith. Isn't it awesome? This is God's promise to us! Oh, praise be to God! Listen, saints, get into the Word of God. It's the only thing that brings forth Jesus. Love the Lord. Don't be distracted. Cast down the words of man.

In Isaiah 53, the prophet writes, “He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds, we are healed.” In this program, we will witness the fulfillment of that prophecy as our Bible teacher, Chip Ingram, dives into Mark chapters 14 and 15. Learn why the heartbreaking events of Good Friday paved the way for the most significant moment in all of human history.Main Points I. The trials of Jesus = Mark 14:53-15:20a The trial before the Sanhedrin = Mark 14:53-65 The denials by Peter = Mark 14:66-72 The trial before Pilate = Mark 15:1-15 The mockery by the soldiers = Mark 15:16-20a II. The death of Jesus = Mark 15:20b-41 Simon of Cyrene – the bearer of His cross = Mark 15:20b-21 The first three hours = Mark 15:22-32 The last three hours = Mark 15:33-39 Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of James the less and Joses, and Salome – the bearers of His shame = Mark 15:40-41 Broadcast Resource Download Free MP3 Message Notes Additional Resource Mentions The Road to Calvary 16-day Devotional About Chip Ingram Chip Ingram’s passion is helping Christians really live like Christians. As a pastor, author, and teacher for more than three decades, Chip has helped believers around the world move from spiritual spectators to healthy, authentic disciples of Jesus by living out God’s truth in their lives and relationships in transformational ways. About Living on the Edge Living on the Edge exists to help Christians live like Christians. Established in 1995 as the radio ministry of pastor and author Chip Ingram, God has since grown it into a global discipleship ministry. Living on the Edge provides Biblical teaching and discipleship resources that challenge and equip spiritually hungry Christians all over the world to become mature disciples of Jesus. Connect 888-333-6003 Website Chip Ingram App Instagram Facebook Twitter Partner With Us Donate Online 888-333-6003

In Isaiah 40:3-5 we read the prophecy of John the Baptist who was sent as a voice in the wilderness to prepare the way for the coming Messiah.Pastor Brenden helps us to focus on the events leading to Easter as we prepare out hearts for this season.

Jesus says of the Old Testament Scriptures that “they … bear witness about Me” (John 5:39). This is especially true of two central messianic prophecies, Isaiah 52:13–53:12 and Psalm 22, which feature prominently in Holy Week services. In Isaiah 52–53, we gain remarkable details about Jesus' crucifixion from a prophecy that was written more than 700 years before His death. In Psalm 22, the Holy Spirit inspired David, about 1,000 years before Jesus' birth, to record words that apply in part to David himself but above all to the Messiah. It would not be a stretch to say that Isaiah 52–53 is a biographical portrait of Jesus Christ, and Psalm 22 is autobiographical, since Jesus took the words of David on His own lips at His crucifixion. Or perhaps we should view it the other way around, with “David's Son, yet David's Lord” (LSB 451:1; cf. Matthew 22:41–46) lending the words to His ancestor. Either way, opening the Old Testament leads us straight to Jesus. Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the April 2025 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled “The Suffering Servant” on Isaiah 52:13–53:12 and Psalm 22. This year, “Searching Scripture” is themed “Opening the Old Testament” and will walk through ways that the Old Testament witnesses to Jesus Christ and His grace, mercy and peace, delivered through the holy Christian church. Follow along every month and search Scripture with us! Find online exclusives of the Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.org and subscribe to the Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness.

Jesus says of the Old Testament Scriptures that “they … bear witness about Me” (John 5:39). This is especially true of two central messianic prophecies, Isaiah 52:13–53:12 and Psalm 22, which feature prominently in Holy Week services. In Isaiah 52–53, we gain remarkable details about Jesus' crucifixion from a prophecy that was written more than 700 years before His death. In Psalm 22, the Holy Spirit inspired David, about 1,000 years before Jesus' birth, to record words that apply in part to David himself but above all to the Messiah. It would not be a stretch to say that Isaiah 52–53 is a biographical portrait of Jesus Christ, and Psalm 22 is autobiographical, since Jesus took the words of David on His own lips at His crucifixion. Or perhaps we should view it the other way around, with “David's Son, yet David's Lord” (LSB 451:1; cf. Matthew 22:41–46) lending the words to His ancestor. Either way, opening the Old Testament leads us straight to Jesus. Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the April 2025 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled “The Suffering Servant” on Isaiah 52:13–53:12 and Psalm 22. This year, “Searching Scripture” is themed “Opening the Old Testament” and will walk through ways that the Old Testament witnesses to Jesus Christ and His grace, mercy and peace, delivered through the holy Christian church. Follow along every month and search Scripture with us! Find online exclusives of the Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.org and subscribe to the Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness.

Wednesday, 2 April 2025   And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”   “And, you behold! Some of the scribes, they said to themselves, ‘This, He blasphemes'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus saw the faith of those who brought the paralytic who was lying on a bed. Because of how they came to Him, He said, “You embolden child! Your sins, they are forgiven you.” Now, Matthew continues with, “And, you behold! Some of the scribes.”   Luke provides the background for these words –   “Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem.” Luke 5:17   These men had heard about Jesus and had come to see what was going on. Whether those from Jerusalem and Judea knew of Him from His time there, or whether word had come about Him and they went to see Him isn't known, but they were clearly there with the intent of ascertaining what He was doing. Having heard Jesus' words to the man, “they said to themselves.”   One might question if this means they spoke to one another or if they spoke in their minds to themselves. The answer is found in Mark and Luke. Mark said they were “reasoning in their hearts,” something Jesus confirmed by asking, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?” (Mark 2:8). Luke confirms this, essentially saying the same things.   This demonstrates a power and ability that is ascribed to God alone, such as –   “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:10   This sentiment is found several times in the Old Testament. It is a capability only the Lord God possesses. And yet, the way the gospel writers have presented the matter, they confirm that Jesus is fully capable of this. It is a thought later confirmed in Revelation –   “I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.” Revelation 2:23   Understanding this ability of Jesus, who is God, it next says, “This, He blasphemes.”   Saying “This,” appears to be a contemptuous way of speaking of Jesus. That then leads to the thought of Him blaspheming, which is a new word in Scripture. The Greek is blasphémeó, a verb originally signifying to speak evil of, slander, or revile. In the case of God, however, Bengel rightly states –   “Blasphemy is committed when (1.) things unworthy of God are attributed to Him; (2.) things worthy of God are denied to Him; (3.) when the incommunicable attributes of God are attributed to others.”   Jesus is claiming an ability and a prerogative that belongs to God alone. That is noted, for example in Isaiah 43:25 –   “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.”   It is true that there are times when one person will say to another something like, “Please forgive me of my sin.” However, that is referring to a matter between the two, not the forgiveness of transgressions against God that can only be forgiven by Him. What Jesus is doing is placing Himself between God and the sinner in a manner similar to the role of the priest.   However, a priest in Israel only performed a function that allowed sin to be forgiven according to the law set forth by the Lord. He was not the one who provided the forgiveness, only the means by which it was secured for the person. Jesus is actively saying that He forgives the man of sins against God, something only God can do. Of this, Kubel says the following –   “No passage of the Old Testament affirms that the Messiah himself will forgive sins. Thus Jesus ascribes to himself what even the highest Old Testament prophecies of the Messianic time had reserved to God; e.g. Jeremiah 31:34; Isaiah 43:25.”   This is correct. In Isaiah 53, it notes that Jesus would be the One to bear the sins of the people, but it was not fully understood that this meant both in the forgiving of them actively, such as in this case in Matthew, as well as bearing them in the manner which the animals under the Old covenant were supposed to do, meaning in a substitutionary manner.   Jesus provided both types of forgiveness before God, meaning He is equal to the Father.   Life application: The words of this short verse are filled with hints of the deity of Jesus. He is capable of reading the hearts and minds of the people, something that is ascribed to God in the Old Testament. He holds the approval to forgive sin. Again, it is an authority that belongs to God alone in the Old Testament.   And yet, these things are shown to be capabilities that belong to Jesus in the New. And it is not just during His earthly ministry to Israel that it is so. Rather, since His resurrection, He is the One to judge sin, wield the full power of God – having all authority in heaven and on earth, and He is the One who reads the hearts and minds of the people of the world.   The Bible leaves no doubt as to the nature of Jesus Christ. To deny these fundamental truths concerning Him is to deny what is clearly presented in the word. If the Bible is the word of God, then to deny what it clearly presents concerning Jesus is blasphemy against God.   Lord God, help us to understand the nature of Jesus intimately. May we pursue the knowledge of Him with every fiber of our being. We ask Your help in this because we know that in knowing Him, we will know You. Be with us in our pursuit of the wonderful Lord Jesus! Amen.

Isaiah 53 and the image of Jesus as the Suffering Servant goes straight to the core of our Gospel theme. This prophecy highlights why the Good News is truly "good." The cross is so much more than a historical event, it's the Divine plan in action. Something that was prophesied centuries before, where Jesus takes on our sins and offers us forgiveness and new life. In other words, Jesus is the heart of the Gospel! In Isaiah 53, we see the atoning work of Christ—His willing, sacrificial love—is the Good News we share. Hopefully this will equip us all to more effectively explain the Gospel to others. It was always God's intention to redeem us through Jesus' suffering. As we continue to "bring Jesus to the people," we must pay special attention to His sacrificial role from Isaiah 53 which grounds us in the ultimate message of hope and reconciliation.

After addressing the dangers of corrupt passions and possessions, Isaiah turns to an even deeper issue—corrupt principles. When greed and indulgence dominate society, the next inevitable step is the distortion of truth itself. In Isaiah 5:18-23, the prophet condemns those who redefine morality, calling evil good and good evil, embracing deception, arrogance, and injustice. This woe highlights the tragic reality that when people reject God's standard, they create their own, leading to widespread moral decay.

Don't Let Them In by Heather Bragg.  March 23, 2025.  Big Idea: As we learned about Hezekiah's story, he would seek the Lord first, pray to Him in his time of need, and often go to the house of the Lord. In Isaiah 39, we learned he did none of that when Babylon (the enemy) came knocking on his door. Hezekiah thought by showing the enemy around then he would have peace and security. Jesus teaches us to seek His Kingdom first. We are able to find true peace and security in Him only.  EDGE Student Ministries

This week we continue in our series in ISAIAH called "DWELL". Today's message from Isaiah 46 & 47, is from pastor Jeff Haynes and is titled “These Things We Carry”. As followers of Christ, our lives are so often defined by the things we carry. In Isaiah 46 and 47, we are reminded by one of the great falls in history, the fall of Babylon, that we are to be defined not by what we carry, but by the God who carries us. Thanks for watching!

Scripture Reading: Matthew 12:14-21 It is easy for individual churches to become so absorbed in their own local programs that the idea of missions plays a secondary, and not very important, role.  After all, the programs of any church (Sunday School, children's groups, youth work, music, women's and men's groups, building maintenance) take a great deal of effort on the part of many people if they are going to be effective.  This is all well and good and absolutely necessary for the health of any congregation.  But we must not forget that the ministry of a church has twofocuses.  The inward focus is that we care for each other, through teaching and friendships and mutual encouragement.  The outward focus is to care for those outside the church, including those who live in the far ends of the earth. We are moved by world evangelization (and local evangelization) when we consider our personal relationship to Jesus and when we consider who Christ is to the nations, globally.  Personally, He is the tender lover of our souls.  He does not run roughshod over our fragile hearts.  He cares for us in our brokenness and comforts us in our weaknesses (Mt 12:20).  On a global scale, Jesus is the hope of the nations.  "And in His name the Gentiles will hope" (Mt 12:21).  In Isaiah 49:6, God declares that to redeem Israel alone is too small a thing.  The Father says to the Son, "I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."  This is the wondrous purpose for missions ... universal and eternal glory for God.

Judgment is coming—but why? In Isaiah 3, we see a sobering picture of a nation crumbling under its own corruption, as God removes its leaders and exposes the consequences of pride and oppression. Yet, even in the midst of chaos, there's a call to the righteous—an assurance that God sees, God knows, and justice will prevail. Join us as we unpack this powerful chapter and its relevance for todayAs always be blessed and enjoy.Please follow, like, and share our podcast with a friend or family member!

In the laments of Isaiah 63 and 64, God is asked to look down at his people in salvation. In Isaiah 66 a response comes, declaring at whom the Lord will look: Those in Israel afflicted by this world, who tremble at his word. Dr. Andrew Abernethy is Professor of Old Testament, Assistant Dean of Biblical and Theological Studies in the Litfin Divinity School, and Program Director of the M.A. in Biblical Exegesis at Wheaton Graduate School. Among other things, he has published, The Book of Isaiah and God's Kingdom: A Thematic-Theological Approach and Eating in Isaiah: Approaching the Role of Food and Drink in Isaiah's Structure and Message. He is currently President of the Institute of Biblical Literature.  Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/4bcR9UU  M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/4baJGps 

What are your expectations when you come into church on a Sunday? When you leave church, how would you describe your experience?In Isaiah 6, Isaiah is going to the temple with the congregation to worship, something he would have routinely done. But there is nothing routine about the experience he describes in Isaiah 6. Even so, we can identify five elements of worship in Isaiah 6 that ought to be present in every gathering for worship.

In Isaiah's day, the people had started to treat the worship of God in a very casual way. But God does not want rote worship, rather, He wants our whole heart.

It's Tuesday, February 25th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson Muslims beheaded 70 Christians in Congo The Islamic State of Central Africa Province, a terrorist group, is reported to have killed 107 Christians between mid-October 2024 and early January 2025 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.   In fact, more than 5,000 Christians have been killed by this Muslim terrorist group since October of 2017, according to figures recorded by the Terrorism Research and Analysis Consortium.   This just in.  International Christian Concern reports that the Islamic State of Central Africa Province, formerly known as Allied Democratic Forces, is thought to be responsible for the horrific massacre of 70 Christians by beheading in Congo's eastern Lubero Territory near the country's border with Uganda and Rwanda last week. Pray for the Congo. It's the 35th most dangerous country worldwide for Christians, according to Open Doors. God transformed Central Asian prison with Bible In their March/April Magazine, Barnabas Aid included an article entitled ”God's Word Unchained.” (page 13) It tells the story of a Christian woman who was released from prison in Central Asia after serving four years.  The unnamed Christian was able to smuggle a Bible into the prison. When administrators confronted her, she told them, “The Bible is God's Word and shows you the way for eternal life.” Four days later, the official came into the cell and told her, “You must read the book -- all of you.” Pointing to the woman, the official said, “Let her teach you all and you must listen to her!” The Christian prisoner reported that she “started to read the Bible for everyone. Many women asked me to give them the Bible, so they could read it personally. … We read the Bible aloud during the day, and some women read it in the night. The cell in which discord, slander, and enmity reigned turned into a quiet place. Women became friendly with each other.”   The sister recounted how women were healed from sickness by prayer. and even the prison staff began to request prayer for themselves and their sick relatives. She was released from prison recently, after having served four years and one month of her ten-year sentence. In Isaiah 55:11, God makes a promise about His Word: “My Word that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” German voters move right The German elections over the weekend produced one more political shake-up for Europe.   The far left gained only four percent, while the right gained 14%, reports the Associated Press. America refused to blame Russia for invasion of Ukraine On Monday, the United States parted with European countries in an important United Nations vote.  The United States refused to blame Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in votes on three U.N. resolutions Monday which sought an end to the three-year war. The resolution, which passed 93-18, called for the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops and referred to Moscow's aggression as a violation of the United Nations Charter.  America voted with Russia and 16 other countries. J.D. Vance affirmed young men at CPAC Last Friday, Vice President J.D. Vance had a word for young men at the Conservative Political Action Conference held in National Harbor, Maryland. VANCE: He told the group that “our culture sends a message to young men that you should suppress every masculine urge.” He also spoke to the cultural zeitgeist. VANCE: “Wants to turn everybody, whether male or female, into androgynous idiots who think the same, talk the same and act the same. We actually think God made male and female for a purpose. We want you guys to thrive as young men and as young women, (applause) and we're going to help with our public policies to make it possible to do that.” Gallup: 9.3% of Americans now identify as homosexual or transgender The prevalence of homosexuality in the United States increased by 22% in just a single year.  That's according to a recent Gallup poll, revealing that now 9.3% of Americans identify on the sexually-perverted LGBTQ spectrum. That's also up from 3.5% in 2012.   Incredibly, 31% of young Gen Z women, and 12% of Gen Z men identify themselves with some form of sexual perversion that violates the laws of God. Romans 1:25-27 explains how they “worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator. … For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise, also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another.” West Virginia might allow religious exemption for vaccines West Virginia's legislature is considering a religious exemption for vaccinations applying to children attending schools in the state. The state senate voted 20-12 to approve the measure on Friday. Only seven states provide for no religious exemption on vaccinations.  How God used a one-arm woman to triumph in softball Despite the fact that Katelyn Pavey was born with only one arm, she excelled in women's softball. Conceived by parents involved in a sinful affair who became Christians, they raised her in the church. Remarkably, Katelyn became an all-state player in high school and received a full-ride to Cincinnati Christian University. Her story is told in a new movie entitled “I Can.” MovieGuide, the Christian movie review site, wrote, “'I Can' has a strong Christian, moral worldview stressing God's grace and forgiveness. … Ultimately, ‘I Can' tells an uplifting, inspiring, heartfelt story that champions God's faithfulness to help people overcome problems. The movie has many Christian elements like church and prayer. Circumstances point Katelyn to faith in God when she hits rock bottom. [However], due to some mature themes like death, an affair and injury, MovieGuide advises caution for younger children.” “I Can” can be streamed for free and is available on DVD through a special link in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com.   Blue Ghost spacecraft reveals new video of moon And finally, another moon landing with a craft produced by a private company is scheduled for March 2nd. This comes on the heels of last year's Odysseus landing last February. Blue Ghost, also known as one of the Ghost Riders in the Sky, produced by Firefly, is circumnavigating the moon right now, sending back some pretty awesome video of God's creation.  Check it out through a special link in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com. In Psalm 8:3-4, David asked, “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, February 25th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

One of the sharpest and most consistent criticisms God gives against His people throughout the scriptures is the sin of neglect. As God's people, the Israelites were chosen as a nation among nations to bring God's light to a dark world. God's people were always supposed to care for the poor and marginalized, and to bring the good news of God's Kingdom to the lost around them. But rather than care for them, they often neglected them. In Isaiah 58, God's people wonder why their prayers and fasts haven't been acknowledged by God. God's response is that they fast in vain; their focus is only on themselves while they neglect those in need around them. Instead, God describes a holy and honoring fast as one that leads to care for their neighbors. When we fast, we have an opportunity to direct our attention and our prayers away from ourselves and toward others. We use our bodies to cry out to God on behalf of those who have needs in our cities, communities, and neighborhoods. In our hunger, we identify with those who don't have food in abundance like we do. We align ourselves with the poor and needy among us. From those with deep physical, relational, and emotional needs to those who have the ultimate spiritual need: reconciliation with God through the power of the gospel.

Hi, I'm John Sorensen, President of Evangelism Explosion International, and you're listening to Share Life Today. Why do we traditionally use diamonds in wedding rings? Well, it's because of that age-old phrase, "A diamond is forever." They symbolize the never-ending love that a couple vows to one another. Now, truthfully, diamonds do not last forever...yes, they are sturdy rocks, but all things on earth decay or break. You know what is forever? The eternal, never-ending love of God. Once we put our trust in Jesus Christ alone for our salvation, we gain a priceless relationship with God. And it is eternal. His love for us will never end. In Isaiah 54:10, God tells us, "'For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,' says the Lord, who has mercy on [us]." This truth changes everything. Who do you know that needs to hear about the everlasting love of God? Learn more on how to share your faith at sharelife.today.

In Isaiah 53:7 the Messianic prophecy clearly states that the sin bearing Servant of God was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. In this episode, Danny and Kurt will consider the Lamb of God, and all that He means to us today.

Welcome back to the kitchen table. When conflict arises, it's easy to feel lost, wondering what's truly going on with your child. But God cares about your child's heart and invites you to ask him for insight. In Isaiah 42:16, God promises to guide us, especially in difficult seasons. Even when we feel abandoned or disconnected, he will not leave us.If you're struggling to connect with your child, bring your questions to God. Ask him for wisdom to see their wounds and understand their heart. Trust that he will guide you with light and never abandon you. Cling to his promises and keep praying—God is always at work.Connect with Bethany hereFollow her on Instagram @bethanykimseyStop feeling defeated in your motherhood. Join the Reset:Anchoring Your Motherhood in Gospel Truths course and transform your story in just 6 weeks. Grab your spot here. Purchase the Warrior Mama's Prayer Journal https://bethanykimsey.co/products/a-warrior-mamas-prayer-journal

Are you stuck? So many settle for an unsatisfying life because it's familiar and they are afraid to trust God to take them to something better. In Isaiah 43, God reveals his deep love for us and his plan to take care of us all the way to the Promised Land. His love will keep us moving forward.

What I mean by the statement, All dogs go to heaven, is really a question I have been asked numerous times by both young and old: Will my pet go to heaven when it dies? I want to do my best to answer that question, but I want you to know that my answer will also address a much broader question related to what Gods ultimate plan is for his creation. We know what His plan is for humanity, but do you know if Gods plan of redemption includes animals? Let me begin by stating some things that could not be any clearer from the Bible and then we will dive into Psalm 8. So, here is what I know beyond a shadow of a doubt: The Bible assures us that God is the giver of every good thing (James 1:17); what this means is that God is not the taker of every good thing. When Nathan was five years old, we got him a kitten because we believed that he would enjoy having a cat. You have given gifts to your children out of your love for them as well. Here is what Jesus said about what we do for our children: If you, despite being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him (Matt. 7:1011)! God is so good that there is no room for improvement for Him to be better. I already mentioned James 1:17 but listen to what the verse actually states: Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. In Psalm 106, we are told to give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy is everlasting (v. 1). According to Psalm 145, God is righteous in all His ways, and kind in all His works (v. 17). Because there is no room for improvement, God is not trying to get it right in the way He exercises His goodness. However, we live in a reality where the curse of sin is inseparable from our human experience and sorrow and sighing are like the compounds that come out of the curse that suck the joy out of life. You may even feel like Bruce from the movie Bruce Almighty in the way he described God: God is a mean kid sitting on an anthill with a magnifying glass, and I'm the ant. He could fix my life in five minutes if He wanted to, but he'd rather tear off my feelers and watch me squirm. So, lets walk through Psalm 8 together with the hope that there is enough in these verses to help us gain a fuller appreciation of what God is doing with this sin-cursed world. A Good God Created a Grand Creation I love the way the Bible begins: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was a formless and desolate emptiness, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters (Gen. 1:12). The earth was a formless and desolate emptiness until God spoke. He did not speak out of any need, for He was perfectly content within the fellowship of Himself in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God was not lonely or bored, nor was He obligated to speak and create. No, God created because He wanted to, and He wanted to create because He was motivated by love. Out of love, God desired to share that which nothing else could top or compare, which was Himself. God was motivated by love to share Himself with us. Our solar system is estimated to be about 12 trillion miles wide. The diameter of our sun is estimated to be 109 times the size of our earth, and if you were to drive from the Sun to Pluto, it would take an estimated 6,000 years to complete the trip. If that were not enough, you should know that our galaxy, the Milky Way, contains thousands of solar systems like ours. On our little planet, in our vast galaxy, lives just over 8 billion people. The renown astronomer, Carl Sagan, died believing that there was no compelling evidence for the existence of a Judeo-Christian-Islamic God, and said of our earth and the universe: If we are alone in the Universe, it sure seems like an awful waste of space. David, in Psalm 8, answers Carl Sagans question, and if only Sagan could have opened his eyes to see what David saw: Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth, You who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens! If you are wondering if the universe is too big if life on earth is all there is, the answer is a resounding NO! The universe is the size that it is because it is testifying to the majesty and splendor of the One who spoke all of it into existence. The God who spoke all things into existence out of the overflow of His love and goodness is not only knowable but created us with purpose! A Grand God Created Mankind in His Image with Purpose There is only one creature of all the creatures created that was created in the image of God, and that creature is all of humanity. On the sixth day, after God created the animal kingdom and everything else, He created Adam and Eve: Then God said, Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the livestock and over all the earth, and over every crawling thing that crawls on the earth (Gen. 1:26). To Adam and Eve, God gave them the responsibility to manage His creation as His image bearers. Humans were commissioned and commanded to care for creation and at the same time add to creation by filling the earth with humans like themselves. We are not a part of the animal kingdom; we stand above the animal kingdom as stewards of what Almighty God created! King David marveled over this magnificent reality in his psalm: When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place; what is man that You think of him, And a son of man that You are concerned about him (Ps. 8:34)? David does not stop there, for what he says in the following verses ought to be enough to answer what place your pet has in the universe: You have him rule over the works of Your hands; You have put everything under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the animals of the field, The birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes through the paths of the seas (vv. 68). Adam and Eve were commanded to manage the Garden, to be fruitful and multiply, and not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. As you know, they ate the forbidden fruit from that one tree, and by eating the fruit they brought a curse upon Gods creation. As a result, all of creation was cursed as the Scriptures testify: Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind, because all sinned... (Rom. 5:12). There is only one creature who bears the image of God, and that creature is mankind. As image bearers of the living God, we were created to live forever. There is a part of us that lives on after death known as our soul which is also referred to as our spirit (not to be confused with the Holy Spirit).[1] Unlike the rest of creation, humans have a soul that only God is able to destroy. So, when it comes to death, our soul lives on even after our body dies, but death for the Christian is not the end as we are assured from the Bible: For we know that if our earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made by hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed, in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, since in fact after putting it on, we will not be found naked. For indeed, we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. (2 Cor. 5:14) So, when your pet dies, there is no immaterial part of them that lives on because they do not bare the image of God and therefore do not have a soul. What this means is that when your pet does eventually die, regardless of the behavior, there is no eternal punishment or eternal life waiting for them... they simply cease to exist. The only creature that is born and lives in active rebellion towards God are humans. Unlike the animal kingdom, sin is now a part of our nature. A Good and Gracious God Has Provided Redemption Through a Second and Perfect Adam Now, remember what I said at the beginning of my sermon: Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights... (Jas. 1:17). God is a good God who is the giver of every good thing, not the taker of every good thing! After Adam and Eve sinned, they were promised a Descendant who would reverse the curse of sin. A second and more perfect Adam was promised who would come to reverse the curse of sin: For if by the offense of the one, death reigned through the one, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:17). The second and more perfect Adam was also promised to David who wrote Psalm 8! God assured David, When your days are finished and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever (2 Sam. 7:1213). What will this second and more perfect Adam do? According to Jeremiah 23:5-6, He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land.... Oh, and the Name by which the Son of David will also be called will be, The Lord Our Righteousness. In Isaiah we are promised that when He reigns as King, He will judge between the nations, and will mediate for many peoples; and they will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning knives. Nation will not lift up a sword against nation, and never again will they learn war (Isa. 2:4). The second Adam would, be born of a virgin as fully human and fully diving: ...a Son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. When the second Adam comes to reign as King, His reign will bring the kind of peace only God is capable of restoring: ...the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and fattened steer will be together; and a little boy will lead them. Also the cow and the bear will graze, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.... They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. (Isa. 11:6-7, 9) When it was announced by the angels to the shepherds that the promised King was born, it was declared to them: Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10-11). Jesus, as the second and better Adam, humbled Himself by, taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men.... He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross (Phil. 2:7-8). He was born to live the perfect life we could not live to die the death we all deserved. There is only One who is qualified to reverse the curse of sin, and it was and is Jesus! In Revelation 21:5, we are told that through His death and triumphant victory over death, that He is making all things new! This is what we all want and what all of creation is longing for! We long for a day without the dark cloud of the curse of sin. This is why Paul wrote, For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the eagerly awaiting creation waits for the revealing of the sons and daughters of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (Rom. 8:18-21) When Jesus entered into Jerusalem the week before He was to be crucified for the sins of mankind, the children in the temple area shouted something that irritated the chief priests and scribes. As Jesus entered into Jerusalem, the children shouted: Hosanna to the Son of David! (see Matt. 21:15-16). The chief priests and scribes said to Jesus, Do you hear what these children are saying? What were the children saying? They were celebrating the promised second Adam, the righteous Branch of David, and the One who is to be called The Lord our Righteousness (see Jer. 23:5-6). Guess how Jesus answered the irritated religious leaders who were concerned about what the children were saying? He answered them by quoting Psalm 8:2, here is what He said: Yes. Have you never read [chief priests and scribes], From the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise for Yourself? Do you realize what Jesus said to the chief priests and scribes? He was essentially saying that although Adam made a mess of creation through his sin in the Garden, there was a Son of Man who was made a little lower than the angels and God when He willingly took on human flesh to become fully human while remaining fully God at the same time! Jesus did this for the purpose of redeeming mankind through His cross for our sins, and by doing so, made redemption possible for all creation, and this is the point of Psalm 5, Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and You crown him with glory and majesty! Do you hear Philippians 2 in Psalm 8? And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2:8-11) Now, against the backdrop of Philippians 2:8-11, listen what Psalm 8:7-8 promises: You have him rule over the works of Your hands; You have put everything under his feet, All sheep and oxen, And also the animals of the field, The birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas. All of creation, including your pets, are eagerly awaiting for the completion of our redemption because when it happens to us, creation will enjoy the good and faithful reign of the second Adam over them as well, and when He comes to do that, He will make all things new and it is what He will restore that all of creation is longing for: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. And He who sits on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new. And He said, Write, for these words are faithful and true. On the Day Revelation 21 becomes our reality, all that was lost, will be restored and it will be even better than the Eden the first Adam lost! I am not sure if that means He will restore and make new your pet that was lost to the curse, but I do know that it will be better! The glory we will be crowned with will be the glory of King Jesus when, There will no longer be any curse... (Rev. 22:3). We will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away (Isa. 51:11)! The great hope of our future is not who is in office as our president, but the King who is coming to restore all that was lost through the first Adam. Christian, because you belong to the second Adam, you can declare with David: Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! [1] Soul and spirit are used synonymously in the Bible (e.g. Acts 7:54-60; Matt. 10:28).

What I mean by the statement, All dogs go to heaven, is really a question I have been asked numerous times by both young and old: Will my pet go to heaven when it dies? I want to do my best to answer that question, but I want you to know that my answer will also address a much broader question related to what Gods ultimate plan is for his creation. We know what His plan is for humanity, but do you know if Gods plan of redemption includes animals? Let me begin by stating some things that could not be any clearer from the Bible and then we will dive into Psalm 8. So, here is what I know beyond a shadow of a doubt: The Bible assures us that God is the giver of every good thing (James 1:17); what this means is that God is not the taker of every good thing. When Nathan was five years old, we got him a kitten because we believed that he would enjoy having a cat. You have given gifts to your children out of your love for them as well. Here is what Jesus said about what we do for our children: If you, despite being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him (Matt. 7:1011)! God is so good that there is no room for improvement for Him to be better. I already mentioned James 1:17 but listen to what the verse actually states: Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. In Psalm 106, we are told to give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy is everlasting (v. 1). According to Psalm 145, God is righteous in all His ways, and kind in all His works (v. 17). Because there is no room for improvement, God is not trying to get it right in the way He exercises His goodness. However, we live in a reality where the curse of sin is inseparable from our human experience and sorrow and sighing are like the compounds that come out of the curse that suck the joy out of life. You may even feel like Bruce from the movie Bruce Almighty in the way he described God: God is a mean kid sitting on an anthill with a magnifying glass, and I'm the ant. He could fix my life in five minutes if He wanted to, but he'd rather tear off my feelers and watch me squirm. So, lets walk through Psalm 8 together with the hope that there is enough in these verses to help us gain a fuller appreciation of what God is doing with this sin-cursed world. A Good God Created a Grand Creation I love the way the Bible begins: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was a formless and desolate emptiness, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters (Gen. 1:12). The earth was a formless and desolate emptiness until God spoke. He did not speak out of any need, for He was perfectly content within the fellowship of Himself in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God was not lonely or bored, nor was He obligated to speak and create. No, God created because He wanted to, and He wanted to create because He was motivated by love. Out of love, God desired to share that which nothing else could top or compare, which was Himself. God was motivated by love to share Himself with us. Our solar system is estimated to be about 12 trillion miles wide. The diameter of our sun is estimated to be 109 times the size of our earth, and if you were to drive from the Sun to Pluto, it would take an estimated 6,000 years to complete the trip. If that were not enough, you should know that our galaxy, the Milky Way, contains thousands of solar systems like ours. On our little planet, in our vast galaxy, lives just over 8 billion people. The renown astronomer, Carl Sagan, died believing that there was no compelling evidence for the existence of a Judeo-Christian-Islamic God, and said of our earth and the universe: If we are alone in the Universe, it sure seems like an awful waste of space. David, in Psalm 8, answers Carl Sagans question, and if only Sagan could have opened his eyes to see what David saw: Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth, You who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens! If you are wondering if the universe is too big if life on earth is all there is, the answer is a resounding NO! The universe is the size that it is because it is testifying to the majesty and splendor of the One who spoke all of it into existence. The God who spoke all things into existence out of the overflow of His love and goodness is not only knowable but created us with purpose! A Grand God Created Mankind in His Image with Purpose There is only one creature of all the creatures created that was created in the image of God, and that creature is all of humanity. On the sixth day, after God created the animal kingdom and everything else, He created Adam and Eve: Then God said, Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the livestock and over all the earth, and over every crawling thing that crawls on the earth (Gen. 1:26). To Adam and Eve, God gave them the responsibility to manage His creation as His image bearers. Humans were commissioned and commanded to care for creation and at the same time add to creation by filling the earth with humans like themselves. We are not a part of the animal kingdom; we stand above the animal kingdom as stewards of what Almighty God created! King David marveled over this magnificent reality in his psalm: When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place; what is man that You think of him, And a son of man that You are concerned about him (Ps. 8:34)? David does not stop there, for what he says in the following verses ought to be enough to answer what place your pet has in the universe: You have him rule over the works of Your hands; You have put everything under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the animals of the field, The birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes through the paths of the seas (vv. 68). Adam and Eve were commanded to manage the Garden, to be fruitful and multiply, and not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. As you know, they ate the forbidden fruit from that one tree, and by eating the fruit they brought a curse upon Gods creation. As a result, all of creation was cursed as the Scriptures testify: Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind, because all sinned... (Rom. 5:12). There is only one creature who bears the image of God, and that creature is mankind. As image bearers of the living God, we were created to live forever. There is a part of us that lives on after death known as our soul which is also referred to as our spirit (not to be confused with the Holy Spirit).[1] Unlike the rest of creation, humans have a soul that only God is able to destroy. So, when it comes to death, our soul lives on even after our body dies, but death for the Christian is not the end as we are assured from the Bible: For we know that if our earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made by hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed, in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, since in fact after putting it on, we will not be found naked. For indeed, we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. (2 Cor. 5:14) So, when your pet dies, there is no immaterial part of them that lives on because they do not bare the image of God and therefore do not have a soul. What this means is that when your pet does eventually die, regardless of the behavior, there is no eternal punishment or eternal life waiting for them... they simply cease to exist. The only creature that is born and lives in active rebellion towards God are humans. Unlike the animal kingdom, sin is now a part of our nature. A Good and Gracious God Has Provided Redemption Through a Second and Perfect Adam Now, remember what I said at the beginning of my sermon: Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights... (Jas. 1:17). God is a good God who is the giver of every good thing, not the taker of every good thing! After Adam and Eve sinned, they were promised a Descendant who would reverse the curse of sin. A second and more perfect Adam was promised who would come to reverse the curse of sin: For if by the offense of the one, death reigned through the one, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:17). The second and more perfect Adam was also promised to David who wrote Psalm 8! God assured David, When your days are finished and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever (2 Sam. 7:1213). What will this second and more perfect Adam do? According to Jeremiah 23:5-6, He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land.... Oh, and the Name by which the Son of David will also be called will be, The Lord Our Righteousness. In Isaiah we are promised that when He reigns as King, He will judge between the nations, and will mediate for many peoples; and they will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning knives. Nation will not lift up a sword against nation, and never again will they learn war (Isa. 2:4). The second Adam would, be born of a virgin as fully human and fully diving: ...a Son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. When the second Adam comes to reign as King, His reign will bring the kind of peace only God is capable of restoring: ...the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and fattened steer will be together; and a little boy will lead them. Also the cow and the bear will graze, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.... They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. (Isa. 11:6-7, 9) When it was announced by the angels to the shepherds that the promised King was born, it was declared to them: Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10-11). Jesus, as the second and better Adam, humbled Himself by, taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men.... He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross (Phil. 2:7-8). He was born to live the perfect life we could not live to die the death we all deserved. There is only One who is qualified to reverse the curse of sin, and it was and is Jesus! In Revelation 21:5, we are told that through His death and triumphant victory over death, that He is making all things new! This is what we all want and what all of creation is longing for! We long for a day without the dark cloud of the curse of sin. This is why Paul wrote, For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the eagerly awaiting creation waits for the revealing of the sons and daughters of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (Rom. 8:18-21) When Jesus entered into Jerusalem the week before He was to be crucified for the sins of mankind, the children in the temple area shouted something that irritated the chief priests and scribes. As Jesus entered into Jerusalem, the children shouted: Hosanna to the Son of David! (see Matt. 21:15-16). The chief priests and scribes said to Jesus, Do you hear what these children are saying? What were the children saying? They were celebrating the promised second Adam, the righteous Branch of David, and the One who is to be called The Lord our Righteousness (see Jer. 23:5-6). Guess how Jesus answered the irritated religious leaders who were concerned about what the children were saying? He answered them by quoting Psalm 8:2, here is what He said: Yes. Have you never read [chief priests and scribes], From the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise for Yourself? Do you realize what Jesus said to the chief priests and scribes? He was essentially saying that although Adam made a mess of creation through his sin in the Garden, there was a Son of Man who was made a little lower than the angels and God when He willingly took on human flesh to become fully human while remaining fully God at the same time! Jesus did this for the purpose of redeeming mankind through His cross for our sins, and by doing so, made redemption possible for all creation, and this is the point of Psalm 5, Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and You crown him with glory and majesty! Do you hear Philippians 2 in Psalm 8? And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2:8-11) Now, against the backdrop of Philippians 2:8-11, listen what Psalm 8:7-8 promises: You have him rule over the works of Your hands; You have put everything under his feet, All sheep and oxen, And also the animals of the field, The birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas. All of creation, including your pets, are eagerly awaiting for the completion of our redemption because when it happens to us, creation will enjoy the good and faithful reign of the second Adam over them as well, and when He comes to do that, He will make all things new and it is what He will restore that all of creation is longing for: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. And He who sits on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new. And He said, Write, for these words are faithful and true. On the Day Revelation 21 becomes our reality, all that was lost, will be restored and it will be even better than the Eden the first Adam lost! I am not sure if that means He will restore and make new your pet that was lost to the curse, but I do know that it will be better! The glory we will be crowned with will be the glory of King Jesus when, There will no longer be any curse... (Rev. 22:3). We will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away (Isa. 51:11)! The great hope of our future is not who is in office as our president, but the King who is coming to restore all that was lost through the first Adam. Christian, because you belong to the second Adam, you can declare with David: Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! [1] Soul and spirit are used synonymously in the Bible (e.g. Acts 7:54-60; Matt. 10:28).

It's Inauguration Day, Monday, January 20th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Indonesian officials allow church permit Want some good news about our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ? Well, a church in East Jakarta, Indonesia, is getting a home after 56 years without one, reports International Christian Concern. The Pasundan Christian Church Congregation of Kampung Tengah recently received a certificate of ownership from Nusron Wahid, the minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning. The certificate handover, which took place on Christmas Day 2024, marked the end of the congregation's long journey in obtaining legal certainty for the land they use as a place of worship. As officially recognized landowners, the congregation, established in 1968, can now conduct worship more calmly and comfortably.  President-elect Donald Trump to be sworn in today Today, President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in to serve a second term as the 47th president of the United States of America. The swearing-in ceremony, which is expected to begin at 12 noon Eastern Time, will feature Trump getting sworn in on two Bibles – the Bible his mother gave him in 1955 at First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, New York and the Bible Abraham Lincoln used in 1861, reports The Hill.com. Exodus 18:21 offers guidance for selecting civic leadership.  Our leaders should be “men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain.” Because of the frigid weather forecast today in the nation's capital, Trump's inauguration ceremony has been moved indoors to the Capitol rotunda. The last time the ceremony was held indoors was in January 1985 for President Ronald Reagan. Country music star Carrie Underwood will perform “America the Beautiful.” Other performers include Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Lee Greenwood as well as Liberty University's Praise Choir. You can watch the inauguration on any major news outlet and at CSPAN beginning at 12 noon Eastern. Trump's Defense Chief pick affirms support for Israel In the midst of the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Trump nominee Pete Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense, a protestor interrupted the proceedings to make this verbal accusation against Hegseth. PROTESTOR: “You are a Christian Zionist.” Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas followed up with this comment and question. COTTON: “The first one accused you of being a Christian Zionist.  I'm not really sure why that is a bad thing. I'm a Christian. I'm a Zionist. Zionism is that the Jewish people deserve a homeland in the ancient holy land where they've lived since the dawn of history. Do you consider yourself a Christian Zionist?” HEGSETH: “I'm a Christian, and I robustly support the State of Israel and its existential defense. And the way America comes alongside them as a great ally. COTTON: “Great. Thank you. Another protester, and I think this one was a member of Code Pink, which, by the way, is a Chinese communist front group these days, said that you support Israel's war in Gaza. I support Israel's existential war in Gaza. I assume, like me and President Trump, you support that war as well, don't you?” HEGSETH: “Senator, I do. I support Israel destroying and killing every last member of Hamas.” Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has vowed to uphold Trump's pro-life policies Following four years of the Biden administration reversing the pro-life federal policies established during President Trump's first term, Republican senators are expressing confidence that the incoming Trump administration will re-implement pro-life policies, reports LifeNews.com. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris allowed federal funds to go to abortion businesses, blocked pregnancy resource centers from receiving federal funds, and used tax dollars to promote abortion internationally. After Trump nominated former Democrat Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to serve as his secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, concerns arose that pro-life policies would be sidelined. During his presidential run, Kennedy had called the abortion issue “nuanced and complex” and also said that the state should not “dictate choices that the woman is making” regarding abortion. He has also previously supported (and walked back support for) three-month pro-life protections. However, Senate Republicans like Josh Hawley of Missouri say they have received personal assurances from Kennedy that he will not pursue pro-abortion policies while in office and will, in fact, enact pro-life ones. Last month, Hawley posted a series of tweets describing his conversation with Kennedy regarding the issue. Hawley wrote, Kennedy “committed to me to reinstate President Trump's pro-life policies at HHS. That includes reinstating the Mexico City policy & ending taxpayer funding for abortions domestically.” The senator further noted Kennedy's promise to have all pro-life deputies at Health and Human Services, and that he “believes there are far too many abortions in the US and that we cannot be the moral leader of the free world with abortion rates so high.” In addition, Hawley stated that Kennedy promised to reinstate “the bar on Title X funds going to organizations that promote abortion” and to “reinstate conscience protections for healthcare providers.” This morning, Biden that “the Equal Rights Amendment is now the law of the land.” Well, there you have it: The Constitution has a 28th amendment, and women's rights have been enshrined across the country. Biden falsely claimed Equal Rights Amendment part of Constitution On Friday, President Joe Biden falsely claimed that the Equal Rights Amendment had become the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Listen.   BIDEN: “Just over 100 years ago, a pioneering group of women proposed Equal Rights Amendment to enshrine the principles of gender equality our Constitution. Throughout my career, I've been clear. No one should be discriminated against based on their sex. “And in order for the amendment to be ratified, it requires three-fourths of the states to ratify it. That benchmark was passed when Virginia ratified the E.R.A. a few years ago. “Today, I affirm the Equal Rights Amendment to have cleared all the necessary hurdles to be added to the U.S. Constitution now. The Equal Rights Amendment is the law of the land now. It's the 28th Amendment to the Constitution now. “I consulted dozens of constitutional scholars to make sure there was all within the power to do this, and the fact is, we did.” However, according to the National Archive and Records Administration Archivist Colleen Shogan, the Equal Rights Amendment died on June 30, 1982 when only 35 states ratified it, reports The Epoch Times. 50,000 Scriptural booklets will be handed to inauguration attendees Dozens of volunteers led by a Florida-based Christian ministry are expecting to give out 50,000 Bible booklets to attendees at the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump today, reports The Christian Post. The evangelistic organization Faith & Liberty, working with Seedline International and HOPE to the Hill, will pass out the Bible booklets, which contain the scriptural books of John and Romans, to commemorate President Donald Trump's 2025 Inauguration. Peggy Nienaber, the Senior Vice President of Faith & Liberty, said,  “In times of national division like America has recently seen, a new presidential administration can offer hope. The commemorative scripture booklets were published for this significant occasion for that same reason — to offer hope to people in the Savior Jesus Christ.” In Isaiah 55:11, God said, “My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Inauguration Day, Monday, January 20th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Does the future scare you? If it does, that's understandable, from a human standpoint. After all, so much is unknown.And yet, God gave us His Word as a guidebook. The Bible tells us certain specific things that can bring us great comfort.Colossians 1:17 says, “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”For the most part, we know the past. We are navigating through the present. But the Word tells us that Jesus is standing there at the end, bringing all things to their proper conclusion. In Isaiah and Revelation, we have virtually identical verses that promise Jesus will make all things new one day. There will be no more tears, pain, or suffering. He won't allow it!If the future scares you, focus on the truth of Scripture. Jesus isn't intimidated, or moved, or unsure about anything, and that includes what is to come.Whatever your future holds, make sure Jesus is at the center of it!Let's pray. Lord, you stand above time. Outside of time. You know everything that's happened, and what is to happen. And God…we can rest in that. Thank you. In Jesus' name, amen.Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Part of God's unchanging nature is that He is sovereign and does things His way. In Isaiah 55, we read that God's ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. In other words, He's infinitely more powerful than we are, especially when it comes to perspective. We read in the Old Testament that sometimes other nations mocked the Israelites when they were exiled from their homeland. Really, they were mocking God because it was said that maybe He couldn't keep His promises after all. This after the Assyrians and Babylonians conquered Israel. Neighboring pagan nations remembered that God had promised to give the land to the Israelites. But did that mean God had lied, and was in reality no more powerful than man? No, not at all. Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” In fact, God tells us clearly that He does exactly what He wants, when He wants. We see this in Isaiah 46. When God led the Israelites out of Egypt, but they were then confronted at the Red Sea by Pharaoh's army—did that mean God had lied when He promised to lead them out of slavery? Of course not. In fact, it was then He performed one of history's greatest miracles. In Psalm 16:10, we read that God would not allow your holy one to rot in the grave, and this is a reference to Jesus. Yet, when Jesus died on the cross, many assumed that God had either lied or was powerless to stop Jesus from being entombed. We know how that story ended, and the triumph of life over death. God did raise Jesus from the dead. His body did not decay in the grave. So it's a matter of perspective, then. Humans, with their limited understanding, think from time to time that God cannot keep His promises, but He keeps them all the time. All promises fulfilled—100% of the time. He cannot lie. Let's pray. Father God, you alone are powerful and you are our strength. You are perfect in all of your ways and have demonstrated that time after time. Help us let others see that—those who might doubt you. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

At Jesus's baptism, a voice from heaven declared him “beloved.” In Isaiah, God calls Israel “precious.” These special designations about the value of God's people occur throughout scripture. So, Jonathan and Seth discuss what's precious to them. They also talk about seeing others as precious and specific, concrete ways to help do that. This theme of preciousness will continue to pop up throughout Epiphany too. We're glad you're with us, as always. We hope life has settled a little from the Christmas season. And we'd be thankful if you'd write us a review or send this podcast to someone you know. It really does help us grow. 

We often talk about the love God has for us and the love of Jesus we can share with others. However, we might forget that God actually likes us! In Genesis, God declares creation - including us - very good. He created us and wants to have a relationship with us. In Isaiah 43:25 He doesn't say, “I will blot out your sin for your sake.” He declares, “I will blot out your sin for my sake.” He forgives our sins and remembers them no more because He wants a relationship with us. As we move forward in our spiritual life, it's better to build a foundation on that knowledge rather than attempting to earn anything from God. We can't earn His approval and we don't have to worry about losing it either. He gives it freely. 

In Isaiah 8-9, the prophet foresees a time of darkness and despair for Israel, especially in the northern regions, but offers a message of hope through the coming Messiah. This child, Jesus, both fully human and fully divine, will bring light, peace, and salvation, establishing a kingdom of justice and love that will endure forever. This child was born for you, for your salvation.

Having had two teenage boys who loved football, there was one Christmas gift that was a sure hit - a new leather football. And seeing how it was a rare 60-degree Christmas morning, do you think we were going to just sit around the Christmas tree and admire that ball? No! They went right outside and did what you're supposed to do with a football. So here we were - the three men of the house - running quickly out of the house, out into the middle of the street, passing that football back and forth. See, I went back for a long one; the pass was right to me! And I caught it! Right on the end of my little finger, like the Christmas klutz. The emergency room? Yeah, that's not where you want to spend a chunk of your Christmas, but that's where I was with a special souvenir of that Christmas - a broken finger. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Broken at Christmas." Hey, take it from me; it is no fun having something broken during Christmas. Especially if what's broken is a relationship you really care about, or your family is broken, or your heart is broken. All the "joy to the world" around you just seems to make the hurt even worse. And often the Christmas season brings painful reminders of the things that have hurt us the most. You need to know that the One whose birthday we're celebrating knows about what's broken and He knows how much it hurts. He cares about that pain, He cares about your loneliness, and He really understands. Remember, this Jesus who came that first Christmas was, in the words of the Bible, a "man of sorrows and familiar with suffering" (Isaiah 53:3). He was misunderstood, He was abandoned, He was betrayed, falsely accused, and put to death. So while everyone around you may be celebrating and totally unaware of how you're hurting, you've got to know that Jesus is moving close to you today, and He wants to do something very powerful for you this Christmas. That's why I think He's led me to talk about this today. His Word says, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18). In Isaiah 61:1, our word for today from the Word of God, the Son of God says, "The Lord has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted." He really is the fixer of broken hearts, and broken lives, and broken people. Because He came to do something about what's at the root of all our brokenness. There's a reason we use each other, hurt each other, and let each other down. Something's very wrong in our world; something's very wrong in us. It goes back to our living with our back to the God who put us here. We simply aren't living as we were made to live, which is God's way. We have this deadly disease of "me" called sin. It's ignored God over and over again. And sin is a killer of everything beautiful - everything that matters. In fact, sin killed Jesus. He absorbed our death penalty for our sin to remove that wall between us and the God whose love we need so desperately. And the broken things in your life are a painful reminder of your deep heart need for a love and a security that you can't lose. Only God can give you that. So the body of Jesus was broken to repair the broken relationship between you and God, so He can move in and fix and forgive what's broken inside you. In fact, this very day, the one who came on Christmas is coming to you, offering you this opportunity for Him to come into your life with His love. But you have to open the door to let Him in. And this could be the day that happens, the day you finally experience what it is to belong to the one who loved you enough to die for you and then was powerful enough to conquer death. Just tell Him right where you are, "Jesus, I've lived without you long enough. You died for me. I can trust you. I'm yours." And please go check out our website today - ANewStory.com. It will help you know that you really belong to Him. What a Christmas this could be. What a new beginning! Being broken can actually drive you into the loving arms of Jesus Christ where you can finally be whole.

In Isaiah 9:6, the titles of Jesus reveal His multifaceted role in our lives: as Wonderful Counselor, He guides us with divine wisdom; as Mighty God, He has the power to conquer sin, death, and all challenges we face. As the Everlasting Father, He offers unchanging love and care, and as the Prince of Peace, He brings reconciliation with God and a deep, abiding inner peace. In this powerful message, Jon calls us to trust in Jesus fully, allowing Him to rule every part of our lives.