Podcasts about Israelites

When life feels uncertain, we all cling to something for stability. The question is whether we're holding on to things that ultimately disappoint or to the God who never changes. Drawing from the Israelites' journey, today we'll explore what it means to cling to the Rock and realign our hearts with the One who remains faithful through every season of change. Where are you looking for security today?Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside's conviction that God's grace is for everyone, each episode invites you to discover God's presence and activity in your life.

Featuring God's reason for delivering the Israelites and us from Exodus 4-10.Don't forget to check out our website! https://treasurehuntpodcast.wixsite.com/realtreasure

Episode Description — “The Biology of Beginning Again: Science, Scripture & Embracing the New”What happens when life changes before we're ready?In this episode of Lipstick on Labcoats, we explore the science and spirituality of transition, transformation, and beginning again. From neuroplasticity and biological adaptation to systems theory and the biblical idea of becoming a “new creation,” we examine what happens when an old chapter no longer fits the person we're becoming.We talk about how the brain rewires through experience, how living systems adapt to changing environments, and why growth often requires releasing familiar patterns. Through the story of the Israelites leaving Egypt, the metaphor of metamorphosis, and Scripture's call to the “renewing of the mind,” we explore the difference between physically leaving something behind and actually learning to live differently.Science gives us mechanisms for understanding change. Scripture gives us a language for meaning, purpose, renewal, and faith.Maybe not every ending is failure. Maybe some chapters simply completed their function.And maybe the uncertainty of a new season isn't evidence that you're lost…Maybe you're simply between versions of yourself.This is an episode about letting go, trusting the process, embracing uncertainty, and having the courage to enter the laboratory of the unknown.

Adam and Eve knew it for as long as they knew God. They experienced it under tragic circumstances, yet on that day when they needed it most, they experienced it in a powerful and comforting way. The day that they fell into sin, and brought the entirety of the human race down with them, God came to them with a promise - a promise of forgiveness and hope and life.And that promise was repeated generation after generation to God's Old Testament people, through Noah and Abraham, through Jacob and Joseph and Moses. That promise sustained them throughout their history, through their time in Egypt and in the wilderness and right into the place that God had long before promised would be the homeland for his people.    That's where our summer podcast series begins. This summer on Most Certainly True Podcast, we will be walking through about 400 years of Old Testament history. Beginning with Joshua and commencing at the end of First Samuel -  all under the theme The God of the Promise. We'll see and be encouraged through this devotional walk that God is faithful to all his promises especially as we see him fulfill those promises in big ways to his chosen people. We'll see God make good on his promises all along the way, using these sub-themes:  Joshua - LandJudges - DeliveranceRuth - Redemption1 Samuel - KingdomWe hope that you can join us in this devotional walk through these Old Testament books.  We'll read through them, chapter by chapter, and post an episode on each chapter that we read. We hope that you join us so that you can see just what the Israelites of old saw - that God is The God of the Promise.  If you have any questions about this series or our Most Certainly True Podcast, please reach out to Pastor Hackmann at bhackmann@gracedowntown.org. If you'd like to learn more about Grace Lutheran Church, check out our website www.gracedowntown.org. FollowApple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicRSS Feed

More Than ConquerorsA podcast rooted in Romans 8:37: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Explore what it truly means to live in overwhelming victory—not by avoiding hardship, but by walking through it with Christ. Through Scripture, lesser-known Bible heroes like Shamgar and the young Israelite servant girl, and modern testimonies like Nick Vujicic and Chuck Colson, discover how God's love turns suffering into strength, scars into testimonies, and ordinary faithfulness into Kingdom impact. In every battle, the triumph is already yours.Listen in to learn more about God's abundance and victory!

What does it mean to truly draw near to God? Not as a method or a spiritual technique, but as a settled confidence in who he is and how he feels about you? In this Summer Reset episode of the Jesus Over Everything podcast, Lisa Whittle sits down with author, speaker, and renowned radio host Susie Larson for a conversation rooted in Susie's book, Closer Than Your Next Breath. Susie draws on the story of the Israelites, brain science, her own 30-year battle with chronic illness, and the transforming power of pondering God's love to make the case that the presence of God is not a feeling to chase. It is a reality to inhabit. For anyone navigating hard circumstances, carrying the weight of a complicated story, or wondering whether their prayers are reaching God's ears, this conversation is a reminder that goodness is coming, and that a settled heart will know it when it arrives.   Listen in to learn more: (05:47) Will we recognize an answer to prayer when it comes? (07:13) What to do while you wait. (12:00) Susie's 30-year battle with chronic illness and what it taught her about the presence of God. (18:00) Why the presence of God isn't a feeling to chase. (25:00) How to build a redemptive narrative at the exact moment a lie is vying for position (32:00) Brain damage, limbic rewiring, and what Susie did to reroute her own neural pathways. (39:55) A 30-day challenge that will change your brain structure, your faith, and your whole physiology. (40:23) Between "big" encounters, how you can experience the love of God. (42:02) Susie's last word: What God thinks about you and why no one can change his mind.   Mentioned in the Episode: Book — Closer Than Your Next Breath by Susie Larson: https://www.susielarson.com/closerthanyournextbreath Invite Lisa to Speak: https://www.lisawhittle.com/speaking   Connect with Susie Larson: Website: https://www.susielarson.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susielarsonauthor Radio Show: https://www.susielarson.com/susielarsonlive Connect with Lisa:Website: https://www.lisawhittle.comSubstack: https://letsbeclear.substack.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lisawhittleofficialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisawhittleFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisawhittleofficial

I ask, then, has God rejected His people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. … Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? As regards the Gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that He may have mercy on all. (Romans 11:1-2a, 13-15, 28-32)

“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!” (Psalm 42:11 NLT) It’s not unusual for sincere believers to have days of doubt, discouragement, and despair. Even the heroes of the faith struggled in these areas. Moses was handpicked by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery and to deliver the Ten Commandments. Yet, on at least one occasion, he was so overwhelmed by the consistent complaining of the Israelites that he said to the Lord, “I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy! If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!” (Numbers 11:14–15 NLT). Elijah, after his contest with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, heard that Queen Jezebel had put a contract out on his life. He was so overwhelmed by his circumstances, so discouraged, so uncertain, and so filled with doubt that he said to God, “I have had enough, Lord. . . . Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died” (1 Kings 19:4 NLT). The prophet Jeremiah struggled as well. He was ridiculed and harassed for communicating the Word of God. Because he was tired of the pressure he was facing, it made him want to stop communicating God’s Word altogether. He said, “When I speak, the words burst out. ‘Violence and destruction!’ I shout. So these messages from the Lord have made me a household joke” (Jeremiah 20:8 NLT). Even the apostle Paul had moments when he was discouraged. He wrote to the church at Corinth, “We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it” (2 Corinthians 1:8 NLT). So, if we ever feel overwhelmed, the first thing we need to understand is that we’re in good company. Wrestling with doubt or uncertainty or being perplexed as to why God didn’t work in a certain way doesn’t set us apart from other believers. The second thing we need to understand is that fear and faith are separated by a very thin line, one that often gets blurred during our walk with Christ. One moment we say, “Everything will be fine—no problem.” Then the next moment we can look at the same circumstances and find ourselves in absolute despair. So, what’s the answer? We must recognize that we’re human, just like the great people of Scripture. We must cast our burdens on God and pray for the strength to place our problems in their proper perspective. The psalmist had that perspective when he wrote, “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!” (Psalm 42:11 NLT). We can’t see the big picture of God’s work in this world. And our limited perspective is bound to cause some heightened emotions. That’s why we must place our trust in the One who can see everything and is working it all for good. Reflection question: How can you keep a proper perspective when you struggle with doubt, discouragement, or despair? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rabbi Steve Berkson uses the Exodus story as a compelling metaphor, guiding us through the journey from slavery to freedom. His message inspires belief in the possibility of change and deliverance, drawing from the Israelites' escape from Egypt. It emphasizes that true deliverance requires personal growth, not just external assistance. From Slavery to Freedom (Freeing Your Mind) | Part 10• Intro/Review• Step 1 - I shall bring you out from under the burdens• Step 2 - I shall deliver you from their enslaving• Step 3 - I shall redeem you• You desire, and do not have• Step 4 - I shall take you as my people• Hooked on a feeling?• Deuteronomy 28 - The blessings and curses (also Leviticus 26)• When you're aligned with…?• Fear can cause this…• Deuteronomy 26:16• Romans 8 - There is no condemnation for those who…• An apple doesn't fall far from the tree• Galatians 5:13 - Don't abuse your freedom• PrayerListen to the Afterburn tomorrowSubscribe to be notified of new content each week.Learn more about MTOI:https://mtoi.orgThe MTOI App https://mtoi.org/download-the-mtoi-appFollow MTOI:https://www.facebook.com/mtoiworldwide https://www.instagram.com/mtoi_worldwidehttps://www.tiktok.com/@mtoi_worldwide Contact MTOI: 

Welcome to Park Church! We are glad you are listening to this message from Sunday. We would love to meet you in person. We meet on Sundays at 1701 E 33rd St in Des Moines at 10:30 am. This week, Pastor Brad taught from Hebrews 11:30-31 about how God works through those who obey. We learned 2 ways we obey in faith from the Israelites and from Rahab. Thanks for listening!This message is from 8/9/26

Adam and Eve knew it for as long as they knew God. They experienced it under tragic circumstances, yet on that day when they needed it most, they experienced it in a powerful and comforting way. The day that they fell into sin, and brought the entirety of the human race down with them, God came to them with a promise - a promise of forgiveness and hope and life.And that promise was repeated generation after generation to God's Old Testament people, through Noah and Abraham, through Jacob and Joseph and Moses. That promise sustained them throughout their history, through their time in Egypt and in the wilderness and right into the place that God had long before promised would be the homeland for his people.    That's where our summer podcast series begins. This summer on Most Certainly True Podcast, we will be walking through about 400 years of Old Testament history. Beginning with Joshua and commencing at the end of First Samuel -  all under the theme The God of the Promise. We'll see and be encouraged through this devotional walk that God is faithful to all his promises especially as we see him fulfill those promises in big ways to his chosen people. We'll see God make good on his promises all along the way, using these sub-themes:  Joshua - LandJudges - DeliveranceRuth - Redemption1 Samuel - KingdomWe hope that you can join us in this devotional walk through these Old Testament books.  We'll read through them, chapter by chapter, and post an episode on each chapter that we read. We hope that you join us so that you can see just what the Israelites of old saw - that God is The God of the Promise.  If you have any questions about this series or our Most Certainly True Podcast, please reach out to Pastor Hackmann at bhackmann@gracedowntown.org. If you'd like to learn more about Grace Lutheran Church, check out our website www.gracedowntown.org. FollowApple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicRSS Feed

The miracle of the loaves and fishes is often heard as a story of abundance: Jesus takes what is limited, blesses it, and feeds the crowd. But Joe Rockey asks a more personal question: What if I were actually there with my family? Would I trust enough to receive, or would I hold back because I could see how many people were still waiting behind me? That question opens a deeper reflection on faith, fear, scarcity, and the way we receive God's gifts.Father Boniface Hicks connects the miracle directly to the Eucharist. At Mass, Jesus does not give some people “more Jesus” and others “less Jesus.” Even when Father tells a parish story about running low on hosts and needing to divide them, the reality remains the same: each person receives the whole Christ. The limitation is not in Jesus' gift, but in the capacity of our hearts to receive Him.The conversation also connects the loaves and fishes to manna in the desert. God provided enough each day, yet the Israelites still struggled with trust, routine, and weariness. The same can happen to us. Even the greatest miracle can become ordinary if we stop paying attention. The Christian life asks us to keep opening our hearts: not taking God for granted, not shrinking back from fear, and not limiting what Jesus wants to do in our lives.The invitation is simple but demanding: give God permission to be more present. Let go of the narrow spaces we protect for comfort, control, and self-preservation. Whether in parish life, family life, work, or prayer, the path of faith is learning to receive more fully, surrender more honestly, and love more perfectly through Christ.Key IdeasThe loaves and fishes invite us to examine whether we receive God's abundance with trust or hesitation.The Eucharist is not divided by amount: every communicant receives the whole Christ.The miracle of manna shows that even daily miracles can become routine when gratitude fades.Our fear, comfort, and need for control can limit how fully we receive what God offers.Giving Jesus more permission in our lives opens the path to deeper love, mission, and interior freedom.Scripture MentionedThe miracle of the loaves and fishesManna in the desertBook of WisdomLinks & ReferencesNone explicitly referenced with a clear official/source link in this episode.CTA: If this helped, please leave a review or share this episode with a friend.Questions or thoughts? Email FatherAndJoe@gmail.com.TagsFather and Joe, Joe Rockey, Father Boniface Hicks, loaves and fishes, multiplication of loaves, Eucharist, Mass, Holy Communion, real presence, receiving Jesus, abundance, scarcity mindset, trust in God, manna in the desert, Book of Wisdom, gratitude, routine, spiritual complacency, daily miracles, first Mass, last Mass, only Mass, parish life, Catholic faith, Catholic podcast, surrender, permission to God, dying to self, comfort, fear, generosity, love, perfect love, family life, mission, discipleship, relationship with God, relationship with others, relationship with self, spiritual growth, interior freedom, Jesus gives himself fully

A fascinating portion of scripture as God promises the Israelites that he will send an angel to them who will bring them into the place He has prepared for them. And he promises to drive out the Canaanites “little by little”.But at the same time, he warns them again: do not bow before the Canaanite gods and carry out their practices.How does this relate to our call and our own exodus?

Reading 11 Kings 19:9a, 11-13aAt the mountain of God, Horeb,Elijah came to a cave where he took shelter. Then the LORD said to him,“Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD;the LORD will be passing by.” A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountainsand crushing rocks before the LORD—but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake—but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was fire—but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this,Elijah hid his face in his cloakand went and stood at the entrance of the cave.Reading 2Romans 9:1-5Brothers and sisters:I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie;my conscience joins with the Holy Spirit in bearing me witnessthat I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christfor the sake of my own people,my kindred according to the flesh. They are Israelites;theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants,the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises;theirs the patriarchs, and from them,according to the flesh, is the Christ,who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.GospelMatthew 14:22-33After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boatand precede him to the other side,while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night,he came toward them walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply,“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter,and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,“Truly, you are the Son of God.”

Adam and Eve knew it for as long as they knew God. They experienced it under tragic circumstances, yet on that day when they needed it most, they experienced it in a powerful and comforting way. The day that they fell into sin, and brought the entirety of the human race down with them, God came to them with a promise - a promise of forgiveness and hope and life.And that promise was repeated generation after generation to God's Old Testament people, through Noah and Abraham, through Jacob and Joseph and Moses. That promise sustained them throughout their history, through their time in Egypt and in the wilderness and right into the place that God had long before promised would be the homeland for his people.    That's where our summer podcast series begins. This summer on Most Certainly True Podcast, we will be walking through about 400 years of Old Testament history. Beginning with Joshua and commencing at the end of First Samuel -  all under the theme The God of the Promise. We'll see and be encouraged through this devotional walk that God is faithful to all his promises especially as we see him fulfill those promises in big ways to his chosen people. We'll see God make good on his promises all along the way, using these sub-themes:  Joshua - LandJudges - DeliveranceRuth - Redemption1 Samuel - KingdomWe hope that you can join us in this devotional walk through these Old Testament books.  We'll read through them, chapter by chapter, and post an episode on each chapter that we read. We hope that you join us so that you can see just what the Israelites of old saw - that God is The God of the Promise.  If you have any questions about this series or our Most Certainly True Podcast, please reach out to Pastor Hackmann at bhackmann@gracedowntown.org. If you'd like to learn more about Grace Lutheran Church, check out our website www.gracedowntown.org. FollowApple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicRSS Feed

Because of his father’s alcoholism and mistreatment of his mother, Pablo left home when he was a teenager. He moved in with an uncle, graduated high school, married, and had three children. But sadly, Pablo began repeating the same destructive behavior he’d once fled. His own alcohol addiction and behavior began to tear his family apart. Soon, it was all gone—his marriage, family, job, and home. “My life was terrible, and it got worse,” he said. Finally, he turned to a treatment facility for help. “I was in bad shape, and God opened the door for me.” One day after praying, he experienced God through the beauty of nature. Soon his youngest daughter noticed he’d changed and reconciled with him. Today he’s working to rebuild trust with his other children. In Lamentations, Jeremiah grieved over the plight of his people, who had turned from God and were exiled to Babylon: “I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall . . . and my soul is downcast within me” (Lamentations 3:19-20). Like the Israelites, Pablo was far from God. And like Jeremiah, he found hope in God: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (vv. 22-23). Like Pablo, the Israelites got a fresh start. We can turn to Him and find hope.

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, "Maybe this time he really means it" — and then hated yourself for thinking it again? You are not weak. You are not foolish. You are caught in something far more powerful than willpower alone. In this deeply honest and compassionate episode, Leslie Vernick names two forces that work together to keep women stuck in destructive relationships: Hopium — the counterfeit hope dressed in spiritual language — and the trauma bond that keeps feeding it. You will walk away understanding what is actually happening in your mind, your body, and your faith, and you will leave with a clear framework, real questions to ask yourself, and the courage to trade a false hope for a genuine one. Key Takeaways Hopium Is Not Biblical Hope. Hopium sounds like faith. It uses words like trust, submission, forgiveness, and patience — but it places all the weight of your husband's choices onto your faith. True biblical hope, the kind found in Psalm 33, is rooted in God's character alone, not in a husband's potential or his latest promise. Leslie draws a clear and important line: God can change a heart, but God never forces a heart to change. Confusing those two things will crush you. Biblical hope gives you the courage to face reality; Hopium asks you to deny it. Trauma Bonds Are Real, and They Are Not Your Fault A trauma bond is a specific kind of toxic attachment created by three conditions working together: an imbalance of power, intermittent reinforcement (the cycle of warmth and cruelty that hijacks your nervous system), and coercive control, which in Christian settings often includes the weaponizing of Scripture. Leslie explains that trauma bonds are frequently mislabeled as godly virtues — long-suffering, loyalty, unconditional love — which is precisely what makes them so hard to name and so hard to leave. Even the Israelites, after escaping slavery, idealized Egypt and wanted to go back. That is not weakness; that is a predictable, understandable response to long-term trauma. Hopium and Trauma Bonds Feed Each Other These are not two separate problems. The trauma bond creates the neurological and emotional pull toward him regardless of what he does; Hopium gives that pull a spiritual costume. Instead of "I cannot stop wanting him even though he hurts me," it becomes "I believe God will restore this marriage." Instead of "my nervous system is hijacked," it becomes "I just need more faith." Leslie uses the disciples on the road to Emmaus as a powerful anchor: the hope they expected died, but Jesus was still walking right beside them. Your marriage may not become what you prayed for, and that grief is real — but God has not abandoned you. He offers his presence, his truth, and a different kind of hope than the one you expected. How to Tell Whether Change Is Real Leslie answers six listener questions with remarkable clarity, including the one so many women are afraid to ask: how do I know if his change is genuine? She introduces the framework of old history versus new history — what patterns defined the past, and what consistent new patterns are you seeing now, not just during the honeymoon phase and not just when he fears consequences? Genuine change looks like humility without minimizing, ownership without blaming, patience with your healing, and changed behavior that persists even when no one is watching. Using the language of change without the fruit of change is not change — it is manipulation. The HOPE Framework: A Practical Path Forward Leslie closes with a simple, memorable framework to help you take your next step. Honesty: what is actually true right now, what is the real pattern, what is the real impact on you and your children? Ownership: what is his work to do, and what is yours, and what have you been carrying that does not belong to you? Protection: what needs protecting right now: your body, your mind, your children, your finances, your faith? Empowered next step: what is one wise decision you can make today, whether he changes or not? You do not need his transformation to begin your own. Personal Invitation If this episode stirred something in you — if you have been trying harder and praying harder and still feeling crazy, powerless, or trapped — I want you to know there is a next step waiting for you. I am hosting a free webinar called the Four Lies that Make Christian Women Feel Crazy and Powerless in Their Destructive Relationships. We are going to unpack exactly why these beliefs sound so biblical, how they are shaping the way you respond, and what Scripture actually offers instead. This is for the woman who loves God and loves her marriage but is starting to wonder if something has gone deeply wrong. Come and find out what is really true. Register here: https://leslievernick.com/lies Closing Encouragement Wherever you are today — still in the relationship, newly separated, grieving a marriage you never wanted to lose — God sees you. He sees what you have tried. He sees what it has cost you. He sees every time you forgave, waited, hoped, and tried again. He is not asking you to live in denial. He is not asking you to endure destruction and call it faithfulness. Hopium waits for him to change so that you can finally live. Biblical hope helps you live faithfully and wisely whether he changes or not. A trauma bond whispers that you cannot survive without him. The truth is you were made to survive, to heal, and to flourish in the freedom God intended for you from the beginning. That freedom begins with honesty. It grows with wisdom. And it is sustained by a God who is still walking right beside you — even on the road to Emmaus, even when the hope you once carried is gone. You are not alone, and you are not without genuine hope. Take one step this week, and trust that He will meet you there.

Welcome to Day 2922 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2923 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 150:1-6 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2923 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2923 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Cosmic Crescendo – Everything That Has Breath Praise the Lord! On our previous expedition—on Day Two Thousand Nine Hundred Twenty-Two—we explored the fourth movement of the "Final Hallel" in Psalm One Hundred Forty-Nine. We marveled at the powerful, revolutionary posture of God's faithful ones, who sing a new song of victory, rejoice on their beds of rest, and carry both the high praises of God in their mouths and the two-edged sword of divine truth in their hands to execute the written judgments of heaven. Today, on Day Two Thousand Nine Hundred Twenty-Three of our trek, we reach the ultimate summit, the grand finale, and the absolute crown of the entire Book of Psalms: Psalm One Hundred Fifty, verses one through six. This brief, six-verse hymn is the grand crescendo toward which all one hundred forty-nine preceding psalms have been steadily marching. The tears of lament, the pleas for rescue in dark caves, the struggles against deceptive enemies, the prayers for direction, and the celebrations of royal victory all dissolve into one uninhibited, all-encompassing, galactic explosion of pure praise. In this final psalm, we are given the ultimate masterclass in worship, answering the four fundamental questions of praise: where to praise, why to praise, how to praise, and who should praise. The Dual Sanctuary: Praise in the Heavenly and Earthly Courts Let us open our ears to the thunderous opening salvo of this final psalm, as recorded in the New Living Translation, grouping together the logical, contiguous thoughts found in verse one and verse two. Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness! The psalmist launches this final doxology with an explosive series of commands, shouting, “Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens!” He then immediately provides the unshakeable foundation for this worship, declaring, “Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness!” Notice how verse one answers the critical question of where God is to be praised! The psalmist points to two interconnected locations: "in his sanctuary" and "in his mighty heavens." To fully appreciate the spiritual magnitude of this pairing, we must view it through the Ancient Israelite divine-council worldview. In ancient biblical theology, the earthly sanctuary—the tabernacle, and later the temple in Jerusalem—was understood to be a physical micro-copy and Earthly anchor of the true, celestial temple in heaven. When the psalmist calls for praise in both the earthly sanctuary and the "mighty heavens"—or literally, the raqia, the radiant dome of the sky—he is calling for a complete synchronization of the two realms! He is summoning the human worshipper on earth to lift their voice in perfect harmony with the angelic hosts, the seraphim, and the heavenly assembly gathered around the supreme throne of Yahweh. Then, in verse two, the psalmist answers the question of why we offer this praise! We praise Him for two distinct reasons: His actions and His character. We praise Him for His "mighty works"—His tangible, historical acts of creation, deliverance, covenant-keeping, and redemption. And we praise Him for His "unequaled greatness"—His inherent, infinite, unsearchable majesty that sets Him completely apart from every created entity, every earthly monarch, and every rival spiritual power in existence. He stands entirely without equal! The Full Symphony of Sacred Sound: The Heavenly Orchestra The narrative now transitions into a magnificent, detailed blueprint answering the question of how God is to be praised, weaving together every category of musical instrument in verse three, verse four, and verse five. Praise him with a blast of the ram's horn; praise him with the lyre and harp! Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes! Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud, clanging cymbals! The psalmist unleashes a dizzying, symphonic array of instruments, commanding, “Praise him with a blast of the ram's horn; praise him with the lyre and harp! Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes! Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud, clanging cymbals!” Look at the astonishing variety and sensory richness of this worship band! The psalmist intentionally gathers instruments from every sphere of Israelite life to create a total, unrestricted environment of praise. He begins with the shofar—the ram's horn—whose piercing, resonant blast was blown by priests to announce sacred assemblies, signal royal coronations, and sound the charge on the day of battle. He then adds the delicate, melodic elegance of royal court music: the lyre, the harp, wind flutes, and plucked stringed instruments. Furthermore, he brings in the joyous, rhythmic percussion of village celebrations: the tambourine, expressive communal dancing, and the metallic, reverberating crash of loud, clanging cymbals! In the ancient world, different instruments were often reserved for specific social classes or localized rituals. The elite played the lyre; the priests blew the shofar; the women danced with tambourines. But here, in the grand finale of the Psalter, all artificial boundaries are completely demolished! Every sound, every rhythm, every melody, every instrument, and every cultural art form is recruited into one massive, glorious, roaring avalanche of sacred sound, dedicated entirely to the King of kings. The Universal Anthem: Everything That Has Breath Having established where to praise, why to praise, and how to praise, the psalmist reaches the final, climactic verse of the entire Book of Psalms, answering the ultimate question of who should praise in verse six. Let everything that lives and breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! With one final, breathless, cosmic shout that echoes across the centuries, the psalmist closes the entire collection, commanding, “Let everything that lives and breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” What a staggering, magnificent climax to this multi-month journey through the psalter! The Hebrew phrase used here for "everything that lives and breathes" is kol ha-neshamah—literally, every single breath! This single line brings the entire biblical narrative full circle. Way back in Genesis chapter two, Yahweh bent down into the dust of the earth and breathed the neshamah—the divine breath of life—into human nostrils, animating humanity to become living souls. Now, at the end of the Book of Psalms, the purpose of that breath is fully disclosed! Every lungful of oxygen you inhale, every pulse of air that moves past your vocal cords, and every breath taken by every living creature across the entire planet is designed for one supreme purpose: to return to its Creator in grateful, joyous adoration! Notice how this final verse connects seamlessly with the journey we have taken together through the "Final Hallel," from Psalm One Hundred Forty-Six through One Hundred Fifty. In Psalm One Hundred Forty-Six, the psalmist vowed, "I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath." In Psalm One Hundred Forty-Eight, he called upon the stars, the stormy winds, the sea monsters, and human kings to praise the Lord. Now, here in Psalm One Hundred Fifty, all individual voices, all instruments, all celestial beings, all earthly creatures, and all breathing life unite into one final, eternal Hallelujah! As we stand at the summit of this magnificent book today, let us carry this ultimate legacy of wisdom into our daily lives. Whatever wilderness you are trekking through, whatever dark caves you have lived in, and whatever mountains you must climb, remember the ultimate destination of your story. You were created by an infinite, loving God; you were redeemed by His mighty works; and your very breath belongs to Him. Take a deep breath right now, lift your heart to the heavens, and join the cosmic choir in shouting: Hallelujah—Praise the Lord! If you found this podcast insightful,...

We explore Saul's first major test as Israel's newly anointed king. The siege of the coty of Jabesh-gilead puts Saul's leadership to the test, revealing his potential as a decisive and godly leader. Filled with the Spirit of God, Saul rallies the Israelites to a stunning victory, solidifying his kingship. We delve into the historical and spiritual significance of this battle, examining how Saul's actions reflect his obedience and reliance on God. Samuel's subsequent speech serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of following God's commandments for both the people and their king.Support the showRead along with us in the Bible Brief App! Try the Bible Brief book for an offline experience!Get your free Bible Timeline with the 10 Steps: Timeline LinkSupport the show: Tap here to become a monthly supporter!Review the show: Tap here!Want to go deeper?...Download the Bible Brief App!iPhone: App Store LinkAndroid: Play Store LinkWant a physical book? Check out "Bible Brief" by our founder!Amazon: Amazon LinkWebsite: biblebrief.orgInstagram: @realbiblebriefX: @biblebriefFacebook: @realbiblebriefEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.orgWant to learn the Bible languages (Greek & Hebrew)? Check out our partner Biblingo (and use our link/code for a discount!): https://biblin...

Big life changes can leave us feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and emotionally drained. Whether the change is expected or completely unexpected, even positive transitions can bring stress. As we begin this special replay series, we'll look at the Israelites' journey through the wilderness and discover timeless principles for navigating seasons of change with confidence, resilience, and God's presence. What if God is doing more through this season than you can see?Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside's conviction that God's grace is for everyone, each episode invites you to discover God's presence and activity in your life.

Daily Dose of Hope August 10, 2026   Scripture: Genesis 4   Prayer:  Abba Father, You are our Creator, Provider, and Sustainer.  Thank you, Lord, for wanting to be in relationship with us. You are a God who sits high and looks low.  You, who are over everything, also care deeply for us.  We are so grateful.  Help us do all we can to glorify you.  We desperately need you, Jesus.  Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently doing a deep dive into Genesis and Exodus.  Right now, we are in the beginning of Genesis; today's reading is Genesis 4.   Let's talk a bit about this chapter.  The sons of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, give God a first fruits offering. A first fruit offering is when we give God the first and best of a harvest or flock before we have used any of it.  So, Abel gives God his best, the fat of his firstborn of his animals, the best of the best; Cain gives God some veggies, but obviously not his best. Why did Cain hold back on God? We don't know, but we begin to get a sense of his heart. So, not surprisingly, God is pleased with Abel's offering but not Cain's. What's interesting is that Cain isn't sorry, he doesn't show remorse. Rather, he gets angry.   So, God confronts Cain and gives him a chance to change his offering. Cain must know the right thing but he is refusing to do it. He is refusing to give God his best. His attitude is terrible. And God knows this. God knows exactly what he is thinking, he knows the anger and jealousy that he has allowed to grow in his heart. And God gives him a warning. "Cain, be careful, because sin in crouching at your door. It is right there. If you don't get this in check, then things are only going to get worse. Watch yourself." But Cain doesn't heed God's guidance.  In fact, he ends up killing his brother!   God decides to punish Cain by making him a wanderer.  He will no longer work the land.  We might think of a wonderer in this instance as a nomadic person.  This means Cain will no longer have the protection of his home and village but will be banished from the land and live a nomadic lifestyle, which means being exposed to all kinds of dangers. And while I think Cain is getting off kind of easy here, he is devastated.   The story ends with a token of God's grace. Cain tells God how scared he is of all that is out there. And God, in his compassion, gives Cain a mark. We have no idea what the mark is but it was a mark that meant he would be protected. No wild tribe could kill him as he slept in his tent. He would go with God's protection. Truly God's grace when he totally didn't deserve it. God is good.   Bottom line:  Cain and Abel had a dysfunctional relationship characterized by comparison and jealousy. And my guess is it didn't start with this one story. The kind of anger and jealousy that Cain demonstrated tends to grow over time.    A few reflections:   ·      Friends, sin is always crouching at our door.  But we have a choice. We don't have to give into it. We don't have to choose sin. There are a lot of things in life that we have no control over, but we always, always have a choice how we respond. Maybe Cain didn't like farming.  God chose that for him and he didn't have a lot of choice there.  But Cain did have a choice when it came to his first fruits.  He did have a choice how he responded to his brother.   This is the thing, we don't typically stumble into sin. We make choices to allow sin to seep into our hearts and lives. Maybe we don't think of it as a choice but it is. We open the door to "small" sins by allowing things to seep into our heart. If I am jealous, if I am bitter, if I harbor serious resentment, if I say unkind things about people behind their back, those things affect our heart. Whether you are aware of it or not, these sins create a wedge between us and God. Not only do they keep us from growing in our walk with Jesus, but they make it so much easier for us to allow more sin to seep in.   ·      God knows our hearts. God knew Cain's heart. There is nothing we can hide from God. Cain couldn't hide his jealousy and greed from God. Even before Cain gave his sub-par veggie offering, God knew. God knew his heart wasn't in it, that he was holding back. God knew that Cain was harboring a lot of anger toward his brother, hence his warning that sin was crouching at the door.   ·      Comparison never turns out well.  Scripture doesn't offer us a lot of details about the relationship between Cain and Abel. I can't help but think there was a history there. A history of comparison. A history of ill will. He obviously compared himself to Abel. But regardless, when we compare ourselves to others, it never turns out well. Either it leads to pride (if we think we're better) or sorrow if we think we are not.  Comparison is the death of joy. Comparison of jobs, comparison of salaries, comparisons of children, comparisons of appearance.. You get the point. Comparison never ends well. This has been the hardest thing for me to learn. That I'm good enough the way I am. That God created me and designed me. And that the only thing that matters is the AUDIENCE of ONE   ·      God's grace is always present. Cain killed someone. The typical punishment for murder would have been death, but God doesn't do that. He makes him a nomad. Even then, Cain is highly distressed that he won't be safe out wandering the area alone. He is worried about being attacked or killed out in the world. So God extends more grace by giving him some kind of mark that would protect him for the remainder of his days.   No matter what we've done, no matter what's been done to us, no matter how dire our circumstances may seem, God's grace is always present. God's grace was extended to Cain, God's grace was extended to the complaining Israelites over and over again, God's grace was extended to David, God's grace was offered to the world through Jesus' death on the cross, God's grace is available to us today.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

A fascinating portion of scripture as God promises the Israelites that he will send an angel to them who will bring them into the place He has prepared for them. And he promises to drive out the Canaanites “little by little”. But at the same time, he warns them again: do not bow before the Canaanite gods and carry out their practices.How does this relate to our call and our own exodus?

Early on the first day of the week… — John 20:1 While I was growing up, there were certain things our family did not do on Sundays. We did not eat at restaurants, go shopping, or work in the yard, among other things. Occasionally we would go swimming on a Sunday, but only after sunset. Over the years, that definition of “keeping the Lord's Day” has changed for many of our friends and family.The understanding of keeping the fourth commandment has changed since the people of Israel received it as well. The Israelites strictly and carefully (and often legalistically) observed their Sabbath on the seventh day of the week (Saturday). But after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven, the early Christians began to celebrate their Sabbath on the first day of the week (Sunday), calling it “the Lord's Day” in celebration of Jesus' rising from the grave.While observance of this day has varied in different times and places, a core element stands at the center of remembering and celebrating Jesus' victory over sin and death: worship.Though we can and should worship God in everything we do, the New Testament emphasizes the importance of meeting weekly as Christ's body to worship together— praising God, hearing his Word, sharing the sacraments, and fellowshiping with each other. Till Jesus returns, worship will remain at the heart of keeping the Lord's Day.  Lord Jesus, your resurrection frees us from sin and death and unites us as one body throughout the earth to worship and praise you when we gather together. Amen.

Rahab was a woman, a Canaanite, and a prostitute. She is the kind of person the Israelites would have written off and ignored. And yet, her faith in the God of Israel defies expectations. Before she even asked to be included amongst the people of God, she offers that kind of inclusion to the Israelite spies. In faith, she's already done the very thing that she hoped God would do for her. As she welcomed enemy spies, she trusted that God would welcome her. As she provided safety to them, she prayed God would provide safety to her. As she protected the life of another by endangering her own, she had faith that God would protect her. Who have you already written off that God has not?  Maybe it's someone you categorize as not belonging for whatever reason or maybe it's yourself.

In this sermon, guest speaker Jordan Ickes explores the concept of the “soggy gospel” by examining the Biblical journey of the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt. He draws a parallel between their struggle with bitter waters in the desert and the spiritual challenges believers face in their own lives. Key themes include: Ultimately, the message encourages congregants to visualize laying their burdens, sins, and sorrows at the foot of the cross, trusting in Jesus as the healer of their How COVID has affected us The post The Lord who Heals from Sin appeared first on Kalkaska Church of Christ.

In this Bible study on Deuteronomy chapters 2-4, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the journey of the Israelites during their 40 years in the desert. He explains Moses' recounting of God's guidance and protection, the allocation of lands to surrounding nations, and the battles fought before entering Canaan. Fr. Matthias highlights the significance of God's commandments, the purpose of the law as protection rather than restriction, and the warnings against idolatry and compromise with sin. He reflects on Moses' plea to enter the Promised Land and God's reasons for denying it. The study also covers the spiritual lessons from Israel's history, including the establishment of cities of refuge and the importance of faithfully passing on God's statutes to future generations. Fr. Matthias concludes with a prayer emphasizing God's mercy and grace. #Deuteronomy #BibleStudy #MosesJourney #GodsLaw #IsraeliteHistory #SpiritualLessons #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias Subscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhouston Follow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhouston Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhouston Visit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

Adam and Eve knew it for as long as they knew God. They experienced it under tragic circumstances, yet on that day when they needed it most, they experienced it in a powerful and comforting way. The day that they fell into sin, and brought the entirety of the human race down with them, God came to them with a promise - a promise of forgiveness and hope and life.And that promise was repeated generation after generation to God's Old Testament people, through Noah and Abraham, through Jacob and Joseph and Moses. That promise sustained them throughout their history, through their time in Egypt and in the wilderness and right into the place that God had long before promised would be the homeland for his people.    That's where our summer podcast series begins. This summer on Most Certainly True Podcast, we will be walking through about 400 years of Old Testament history. Beginning with Joshua and commencing at the end of First Samuel -  all under the theme The God of the Promise. We'll see and be encouraged through this devotional walk that God is faithful to all his promises especially as we see him fulfill those promises in big ways to his chosen people. We'll see God make good on his promises all along the way, using these sub-themes:  Joshua - LandJudges - DeliveranceRuth - Redemption1 Samuel - KingdomWe hope that you can join us in this devotional walk through these Old Testament books.  We'll read through them, chapter by chapter, and post an episode on each chapter that we read. We hope that you join us so that you can see just what the Israelites of old saw - that God is The God of the Promise.  If you have any questions about this series or our Most Certainly True Podcast, please reach out to Pastor Hackmann at bhackmann@gracedowntown.org. If you'd like to learn more about Grace Lutheran Church, check out our website www.gracedowntown.org. FollowApple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicRSS Feed

When following God makes life harder, will you keep trusting Him even before you see the outcome?In Exodus 5, Moses and Aaron do exactly what God called them to do. But Pharaoh refuses to listen, the Israelites' suffering increases, and Moses is left wondering what went wrong. Sometimes obedience doesn't bring immediate relief. Sometimes following God leads us straight into resistance, disappointment, and circumstances we never expected.This week, we'll see that difficult circumstances don't necessarily mean we've missed God's will. When obedience makes life harder, we can still trust that God is at work—even when we can't yet see what He is doing.

In part two of the “Rent Free” series, Pastor Chad Veach preaches a message titled “No Turning Back,” challenging believers to stop romanticizing the very things God delivered them from. Using the Israelites in Numbers 11, he shows how they were physically free from Egypt but still craved their old life. Pastor Chad explains that freedom is received, freedom is learned, and freedom is fought for—and learning to live free means refusing to linger in old relationships, habits, mindsets, lusts, and patterns. “God can get you out of Egypt, but it take a long time to get Egypt out of you.” Drawing from Lot's wife, Paul's instruction to flee youthful lusts, and his own experiences, Pastor Chad urges the church to “don't look back and don't stir up.” Instead of constantly revisiting the past, believers are called to throw off their old life and embrace the new life Jesus has given them. He challenges listeners to examine what needs to be removed during 21 days of prayer and fasting—old attitudes, thinking patterns, speech, relationships, and anything else pulling them away from God. As he puts it, “Don't tolerate where you're going. Celebrate where you're going.” Ultimately, Pastor Chad calls believers to “feed your future.” Rather than sowing back into the life God rescued us from, we should invest in where God is taking us: “Sow where you wanna go.” Staying free isn't accomplished through human effort alone, but by continually being filled with the Holy Spirit. The same God who delivered you is faithful to sustain you and complete the work He started. Your past may explain where you've been, but it doesn't determine where you're going—there's no turning back.

The Israelites were stuck in the wilderness for forty years. In this message, we learn three reasons why—and how we can avoid going in circles ourselves!Find out more about NewSpring Church in Wichita, Kansas, at newspring.org.

Are you dealing with your character or just getting more discreet? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our MOSES series with a message about the cost of character.Numbers 20:11-12Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”Moses' life serves as an encouragement and warning to all of us. His successes and failures can teach us about how we can faithfully live out God's purposes for our lives. What does this story teach us?1) Your CHARACTER counts.If we look at the story of Moses' life, we can see anger is a persistent and unresolved issue. Character flaws will remain in our lives when we choose to hide them instead of addressing them. There is no healing in hiding.Moses' crazy, rock-striking anger comes because he values his own leadership and the people's respect more than obedience to God. He reacts in a way that diminishes God in front of the people, and God declares a judgment over Moses that he will not personally enter the promised land. 2) Your CALLING is not your healing.The scariest part of the story is that even though Moses was wrong to strike the rock, God still caused the water to flow. Don't make the mistake of thinking that your gifting and calling is the same as God's approval. Gifting can provide validation, but it won't produce transformation.3) CHRIST is the pattern for our lives.Anger can reveal so much about what we love. God's plan and purpose is to grow us up to love what He loves, in the way the He loves. It's easier to act like a Christian than to react like a Christian.Pastor Mark BattersonGod does not call you to greatness; He calls you to Christlikeness. He calls you to the humility and meekness and love and righteousness of Jesus. And He has promised to help you!Philippians 2:13For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

We wrap up our series on Sabbath by confronting our insatiable appetite for "more" and stepping into the radical freedom of "enough." In this sermon, we explore how the ancient gift of manna interrupts our relentless counting, releases us from the anxiety of scarcity, and invites us to sit still long enough to receive God's daily grace. We might ask, like the Israelites, "What is it?"

SHOW NOTES   In Podcast Episode 387, “When Will You Stop Running?” Kim discusses the vivid imagery in Jeremiah 2 that describes the Israelites' unfaithfulness. The Lord asked them: “When will you stop running? When will you stop panting after other gods?” Good questions for us to answer today, don't you think?   Our focal passage for this episode is Jeremiah 2:23-37, with 23-25 as the focal verses:   23 “You say, ‘That's not true!     I haven't worshiped the images of Baal!' But how can you say that?     Go and look in any valley in the land! Face the awful sins you have done.     You are like a restless female camel     desperately searching for a mate. 24 You are like a wild donkey,     sniffing the wind at mating time. Who can restrain her lust?     Those who desire her don't need to search,     for she goes running to them! 25 When will you stop running?     When will you stop panting after other gods? But you say, ‘Save your breath.     I'm in love with these foreign gods,     and I can't stop loving them now!'     WEEKLY ENGAGEMENT FEATURE:   To which gods have you been running?   Additional Resources and Scriptures:   Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/encouragingothersinlovingjesus X - https://x.com/eoinlovingjesus?s=21&t=YcRjZQUpvP7FrJmm7Pe1hg INSTAGRAM -  https://www.instagram.com/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus” YouTube Channel: Check it out at https://www.youtube.com/@EncouragingOthersInLovingJesus   I WANT TO BEGIN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.   RESOURCES USED FOR BOOK OF Jeremiah/Lamentation PODCASTS: “The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: The Complete Old Testament OT in One Volume” “Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Jeremiah & Lamentations by Steven Smith “Life Application Study Bible” “The Swindoll Study Bible: NLT” by Charles R. Swindoll Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary “The Baker Illustrated Bible Background Commentary” by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays (Editors) Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): Old Testament, 2004, by Kenneth L. Barker, John R. Kohlenberger, III. OpenAI. (2026). ChatGPT     "Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus" Facebook Group:   Our Facebook Group is devoted to providing a place for us to encourage each other through all the seasons of life. Follow the provided link to request admittance into “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus”—https://www.facebook.com/groups/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ Feel free to invite others who will be good encouragers and/or need encouragement to follow Jesus.   This podcast is hosted by Kim Smith, a small town Country Girl who left her comfort zone to follow Jesus in a big City World. Now, she wants to use God's Word and lessons from her faith journey to encourage others in loving Jesus.   In each episode, Kim will share insights regarding a portion of God's Word and challenge listeners to apply the lessons to their daily lives.   If you want to grow in your faith and learn how to encourage others in loving Jesus, subscribe and commit to prayerfully listening each week.   Remember, “It's Always a Trust & Obey Kinda Day!”   If you have questions or comments or would like to learn more about how to follow Jesus, please email Kim at EncouragingOthersinLovingJesus@gmail.com.     National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline   988   https://988lifeline.org/   Reference: Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Tyndale House Publishers. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Wheaton, Ill: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004.   Podcast recorded through Cleanfeed and edited through GarageBand. The soundtrack, entitled “Outlaw John McShane” was obtained from Pixabay.     The HIDDEN Episodes:  If you can't access episodes 1-50 on your podcast app (the podcast was then entitled "A Country Girl in a City World - Loving Jesus"), you can get all the content at my Podbean site at https://acountrygirlinacityworldlovingjesus.podbean.com/  

The Temple Comes to Samaria Acts 8:4-25 by William Klock Remember back in Chapter 5, when Peter and John were arrested and brought before the priests and elders, and Gamaliel, one of the leading Pharisees, told his fellow council members: “Leave them alone.  If what they're doing is of human origin, it will come to ruin.  But if it's from God, you won't be able to stop them.  You might even be found to be fighting against God.”  They let Peter and John go that day, but since then they haven't been heeding Gamaliel's advice.  They stoned Stephen.  And at the end of last week's text Luke told us that Saul of Tarsus was going house to house, dragging men and women to prison and that, while the apostles remained in Jerusalem, everyone else was scattered through Jerusalem and Samaria.  And it turns out Gamaliel was right.  Neither Saul nor anyone else could stop what God was doing.  This new temple, not made with hands, not made of bricks and mortar, but instead of people, purified by the blood of Jesus and indwelt themselves by God's Spirit, this temple was going to fill the earth.  Persecution won't stop it.  Just the opposite, in fact.  Luke writes in Acts 8:4 [Page 1089 in the pew Bibles]: “Those who were scattered went all over the place announcing the word.”  These were people who knew, first hand, the transforming power of the gospel.  Many of them had been eyewitnesses to the risen Jesus.  They had seen signs and wonders, done by Jesus and then done by the apostles.  They knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that God was at work and Israel's hopes were being fulfilled.  There was no stopping them.  If they had to flee Jerusalem, so much the better.  Now the good news about Jesus would be proclaimed all over the place.  Think back to Stephen's speech before the Sanhedrin and how he'd highlighted how God works through rejection and persecution.  Joseph's brothers had sold him as a slave, but through their evil God delivered his people.  Ditto with Moses.  Pharaoh wanted all the baby boys of the Hebrews drowned, so Moses' mother put him in a basket and Providence floated him down the river right to Pharaoh's daughter.  And Jesus, the supreme example: The forces of evil and death rose up to do their worst in killing Jesus, but in doing so they played right into God's hands.  They concentrated themselves all in one place, in one great act, allowing Jesus to rise from death to conquer them.  So Saul of Tarsus, threatening the church?  God's going to use that to—to get the gospel out of Jerusalem, to all of Judaea—and even to Samaria. So Philip.  You remember Philip?  He was one of the seven in Chapter 6, whom the church chose and laid hands on to do the work that was taking the apostles away from their prayer and preaching.  Stephen was another of them.  When the church calls people and lays hands on them and commissions them to be servants of the gospel, there's no telling where that may lead.  So “Philip,” says Luke in verse 5, “went off to a town in Samaria and announced the Messiah to them.” I suspect no one would have thought—or wanted—to take the gospel to Samaria—at least not for a long time—even though Jesus had said that his church would take the gospel there.  But in the context of Acts, I think Luke wants to stress that even more than taking the gospel to Samaria, what Philip is doing is taking the temple there.  And that's pretty significant.  Samaria was the piece of land between the two Jewish territories, between Judaea in the south and Galilee in the north.  The Samaritans were the people who had lived there while the Jews were off in exile in Babylon.  We don't really know for certain the origins of the Samaritans.  They claimed—and they still claim, as they're still there to this day—that they're the descendants of what was left of the northern Israelite tribes after the nation was destroyed by the Assyrians.  The Jews claimed that the Samaritans were the people resettled in the land by the Babylonians after they'd sent the Jewish people into exile.  There's probably some truth to both.  Whatever the case, the Samaritans followed their own form of Judaism.  They had their own version of the torah, of the first five books of the Old Testament.  They rejected the Prophets and other books.  They looked forward to their own version of the Messiah.  They called him the Ta'eb or “The Returner”—the prophet Moses promised would come.  But maybe what's most important in the context of Acts, was that the Samaritans had their own temple on Mt. Gerizim.  The Jews would never let them anywhere near the temple in Jerusalem—they weren't real Jews and they had corrupted Israelite religion—but even if the Jews allowed them into the temple, the Samaritans would never go there.  As far as they were concerned, theirs was the real temple.  The Samaritans were a people utterly without God's presence. And now Philip finds his way there and carries the for real real temple to a people who didn't even know the old one.  And when God's temple arrives in Samaria, the people can't help but notice.  Verse 6: “The crowds, acting as one, clung to what Philip was saying, as they heard him and saw the signs he performed.  For unclean spirits came out of many of them, and several who were paralyzed or lame were cured.  So there was great joy in that town.” “But there was a man named Simon, who had lived in the town for some while and who practiced magic. He used to astonish the Samaritan people, giving out that he was some great personage.  Everyone, small and great alike, paid attention to him, and said, “This man is the one called ‘God's Great Power'!”  [Luke might be hinting that the people thought of Simon as maybe being the Ta'eb, the Samaritan “Messiah”.] They had been under his spell for some time, since they were amazed at the magic he could perform.  But when they believed Philip as he was announcing to them the message about God's kingdom and the name of Jesus the Messiah, they were baptized, men and women alike.  Simon too believed and was baptized, paying close attention to Philip.  When he saw signs, and great and powerful deeds, it was his turn to be astonished.” The devil was doing one thing in Judaea in a futile attempt to quash the gospel.  He was doing something else to the same end in Samaria.  He'd been doing it for a long time, leading the Samaritans away from God's torah and God's temple.  Now there's this man, Simon, who has enchanted these Samaritans with his magic.  Maybe it was just sleight of hand magic, but the way Luke, throughout Acts, contrasts magic with the power of the Holy Spirit, it seems like Simon actually did have some kind of power and if that power wasn't from God, it was coming from demonic forces of some kind.  That's just the sort of thing the devil would do to lead people astray.  But Philip, empowered by God's Spirit, it's obvious to everyone—even to Simon—his power was different and it was far superior.  Seeing it, these people believed the good news about Jesus that Philip was proclaiming.  And they did what believers do: they were baptised.  Like Israel following God through the Red Sea and into the promised land, in faith these Samaritan followed Jesus through the waters of baptism and into God's new creation. Samaritans embracing and giving their allegiance to Jesus may not seem like a big deal to us, but it was a really big deal to everyone involved.  Again, Samaritans and Jews didn't mix.  Even though Jesus had said that his disciples would take the good news to Samaria, they had no plan to go there—and probably little or no desire to.  But God had a plan to get them there, and when Philip does end up in Samaria, he doesn't let that hold him back.  It's pretty clear that these early believers thought of the gospel as something for Jews, but—hey—if gentiles came to them and wanted in, if Samaritans heard and believed, that was great.  They saw God at work in these people, even if these people weren't their evangelistic priority. And yet, something odd happens.  These Samaritans hear the gospel, see God at work, they believe, they're baptised, but there's something missing.  I suspect Philip noticed it immediately and sent word back to Jerusalem—excited on one hand, but concerned on the other.  Verse 14: “When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received God's word, they sent Peter and John to them.  When they arrived, they prayed for them, asking that they would receive the Holy Spirit, since up to that point the Spirit had come upon none of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.  Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” Like I said, something was missing.  The Spirit was clearly at work.  Faith in Jesus is a gift of the Spirit and no one comes to Jesus without the Spirit first moving in the heart.  But so far in Acts, when people believed and were baptised, they all had some kind of experience of being transformed by the Spirit  They were obviously different.  The Spirit did a work of new creation in them.  And they typically—and immediately—displayed supernatural gifts.  Some prophesied, some healed, some spoke in other languages, and so on.  Whenever we see God doing something new in the story of redemption, it's usually got miracles clustered all around it and we see this no less in the early days of the church.  Bringing Samaritans to Jesus was very much something new.  But this time the miracles didn't happen.  I expect Philip was surprised.  What was wrong?  So he sent word to Jerusalem and Peter and John decided to go see for themselves.  And, sure enough, something was missing.  These people had believed, but the Spirit—God—hadn't yet come to live in them  They were not yet part of the new temple. I don't know if Peter and John understood everything at this point.  I suspect that they just recognised that these new believers were lacking the indwelling Spirit.  It was weird and inexplicable at the time.  And so Peter and John just did the only thing that made sense: they laid their hands on these people and prayed that God would give them his Spirit.  And God did.  Luke doesn't say how it was obvious, but it was apparently obvious that the Spirit had filled the Samaritans.  And I think as time passed, Peter and John and the others started to figure out what God was doing in withholding the very thing—I should say, the very person—who fulfils God's promises to dwell with his people.  By the time Luke wrote, it all made perfect sense. You see, there was always a danger that the Samaritans would hear the gospel and believe, but that because of the divide between them and the Jews, the Samaritans would end up with a separate church of their own.  A lot of them would have been perfectly happy to have it that way and plenty of Jewish believers would no doubt be happy to have it that way.  But that would undermine the very gospel itself.  God doesn't have multiple people.  He has one.  With all our divisions in the church today, it's easy to forget this, but Jesus was clear: God has one people and one of the essentials of the gospel is that it heals the breaches, heals the divisions, heals the animosity between the people of the world.  We saw the first dramatic sign of this healing at Pentecost as the men there heard the gospel proclaimed in their own languages.  It was a dramatic reversal of the Tower of Babel episode.  And now it happens with the Samaritans.  God withholds his Spirit from them in order to get Peter and John to pray and lay hands on them and in that God makes it clear to everyone that they are all united in Jesus and the Spirit.  The apostles and the Jewish believers can't dismiss the Samaritan believers and neither can the Samaritans—with their long history of doing their own thing and having their own temple—neither can they act as if they have no need of or can be separate from the Jewish believers. We need to be careful we don't mistake Luke's point here.  We often read this passage at confirmations when the bishop lays hands on us and prays for us to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit.  But Luke wasn't thinking about confirmation.  Confirmation is a rite that developed centuries later.  Pentecostals and Charismatics use this passage to explain their experience, arguing that this passage proves that receiving the Holy Spirit is a second work of grace apart from baptism and conversion.  But that's not Luke's point either.  In fact, his point is that what happened with the Samaritans, with God withholding the Spirit, was unique—a one-off thing—that was necessary to ensure everyone knew that there is one church, one body and that our unity in diversity is one of the gospel's most powerful witnesses to God setting the human race to rights.  The whole thing that made this episode stand out was the delay in the Samaritans receiving the Holy Spirit, because the indwelling of the Spirit it not a second blessing or a second work of grace.  It's what happens when we believe and are baptised.  It's what makes us God's temple.  Jesus purifies us so that the Spirit can fill us. And then Simon the Magician. The gospel goes to a new place, but the same old problem comes up again.  In Jerusalem it was Ananias and Sapphira.  The devil crept in.  They let their love of money compromise the purity so essential to being God's temple.  They serve as a warning: Jesus purifies us so that we can be God's temple, but to remain God's temple requires continued purity.  And now the Samaritan believers their own warning about this.  Verse 18: “When Simon saw that the spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money.  “Give me this power too,” he said, “so that anyone I lay my hands on will receive the holy spirit.”  “May your silver die with you!” retorted Peter. “Did you really think that God's gift could be bought with money?  You have no part or share in this word!  Your heart is not straight before God.  So repent from this wickedness, and pray to the Lord.  Perhaps he will forgive the scheme you had in your heart.  I can see that you are still stuck in the bitter poison and chains of unrighteousness.”  “Pray to the Lord for me,” said Simon in reply, “that none of what you've said will happen to me.”  After Peter and John had finished bearing witness and speaking the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, announcing the good news to many Samaritan villages.” Simon liked the status his magic gave him.  And now he sees something really amazing, something that clearly and dramatically upstaged whatever it was that he was doing.  And Simon wanted it.  But it wasn't so much the Holy Spirit that Simon wanted.  Tricks were nice.  He'd been doing them for a long time.  But what Simon wanted was the ability to control people.  He didn't want the Holy Spirit.  He wanted what he thought Peter and John had: he wanted the ability to lay hands on people and to give them the Spirit. And in that, Simon was exposed.  It wasn't about Jesus for Simon.  It wasn't about being God's temple.  It wasn't about being purified by the cross.  It wasn't about being part of God's new creation.  Simon was still firmly part of the old.  He wanted to use and control people for his own personal gain and prestige.  His old magic had been upstaged.  No one would be impressed by it anymore.   But if he could be like Peter and John, if he could lay hands on people himself and impart the Spirit to them, well, then he's be back on top of things.  For those who read The Magician's Nephew this month, he's like Uncle Andrew, seeing a new world being miraculously born around him and new life sprouting from the ground, and all he can think of is bring bits of iron to plant so they can grow into factories and battleships to make him rich. He was blind.  He heard the gospel.  He heard the good news about Jesus.  He saw the life the Spirit in these people and he saw new creation being born.  But he wasn't interested any of it.  He just wanted to be in control.  He saw it as a way to get rich.  So he offers to buy this gift from Peter and John—as if it was theirs to sell.  As if it was their power to impart the Spirit. But Peter and John had no such power.  They didn't go around laying hands on people and giving them the Spirit any more than a modern-day Anglican bishop or Pentecostal evangelist does so.  This was a unique situation.  God gives the Spirit, not men, not preachers, not bishops, not even apostles.  This was simply a case in which it was necessary for both the Jews and the Samaritans to understand that they were one people in Jesus and the Spirit. The crazy thing is that we still see this sort of thing despite all the warnings in scripture.  There are far too many people out there, preachers—people calling themselves “apostles”—offering the Spirit or his gifts for money, as if those gifts are the work of human beings and not God.  I expect that when Simon asked Peter and John to sell him this gift—one they didn't even actually have—Peter immediately remembered Ananias and then Sapphira falling dead at his feet.  Because he knew, this false idea needed to die.  If allowed to fester, it would corrupt the church. And so he rebuked Simon—who, by God's mercy isn't struck dead on the spot.  “You're no believer, Simon.  You're still stuck in the bitter poison and chains of unrighteousness.” Luke tells us that Simon asked them to pray for him so that he wouldn't fall under God's judgement.  I have to wonder if they told him about Ananias and Sapphira and left him quaking in his boots.  Luke doesn't tell us what happened to him, whether he eventually understood and actually believed the gospel or not.  What Luke wants to stress here, what we shouldn't lose of, is that the Spirit is not under human control.  The Holy Spirit isn't magic.  Magic is the human attempt to manipulate God.  Humans have been trying to figure out ways to do that ever since our fall.  Magic treats God like a vending machine.  Push B5 to get this or push D2 to get that.  Say this spell, offer this sacrifice—follow the right formula and you can control the divine.  The so-called “Prosperity Gospel” is a modern version of this.  But you don't have to be into the Prosperity Gospel or the Word-Faith movement to be guilty of thinking you can control God.  When we bargain with God, we're doing the same thing.  We think that if we offer God this or that, we obligate him to give us something in return.  Brothers and Sisters, God's been teaching his people from the beginning that he doesn't work this way.  He's sovereign.  He sends his Spirit as a mighty rushing wind and, as Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Those who are born of that Spirit are blown along with it.”  Those who surrender themselves to Jesus and the Spirit are blown into purity, blown into holiness, blown into godliness, blown into ministry and blown into mission.  That's what Luke shows us in Acts.  Jesus purifies us, the Spirit fills, and in those acts God make us his living temple.  A temple through which he will make himself known and through which he will eventually fill the earth with his presence. In this morning's Collect we asked the Lord to teach to us to ask for the things that please him.  Brothers and Sisters, if we understand ourselves to be his temple, his working model of new creation in the midst of the old, I can hardly think of a better prayer.  It's a prayer very much like “on earth as in heaven”.  A prayer that sets aside our own agendas and ask for God to bring us into his.  I'd like to close praying that Collect again. Let your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of your humble servants; and, that we may obtain what we ask of you, teach us to ask for those things that please you, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

8-9-26 The Wilderness Isn't a Wasteland | Exodus 16:1–35 | Pastor Joel Eugene The Wilderness Isn't a Wasteland Pastor Joel Eugene Take Flight Series

Reflecting His glory I. Abraham II. Israelites in Egypt III. Moses IV. Solomon V. Stephen

During basketball practice, Enrique’s dad asked him and his friend to show the team how to pass the ball correctly. Enrique had practiced for weeks but feared messing up. He prayed, completed the drill, and said, “Thank You, Lord!” Later, his dad said, “I’m proud of you for working hard, Son. But I’m prouder that you prayed and praised God.” Enrique shrugged and said, “I just did what you do.” Throughout history, God has worked through healthy cross-generational relationships. Sharing His decrees and laws with the Israelites, He said not to add to them nor subtract from them (Deuteronomy 4:1-2). “Observe them carefully,” God said, “for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations” (v. 6). But God wasn’t only interested in how others perceived His people. He said, “Teach them to your children and to their children after them” (v. 9). Why? So that they “may learn to revere” God and teach “their children” about Him (v. 10). We don’t have to be parents or serve in children’s ministry to share our Spirit-empowered faith with younger people. Whether we’re praying for a younger person or a young family, providing resources to nurture spiritual growth, or offering encouragement, God uses our healthy cross-generational relationships to impact generations to come.

What you love in life: misery. Whites kneel, kiss boots. Anger, God's attribute? Ladies argue: Pick up that trash! $1M or a father? Harmonica Nat'l Anthem. Dating a Christian.

Welcome to Day 2922 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2922 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 149:1-9 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2922 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2922 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The Title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The New Song of High Praise and Two-Edged Swords – The Sovereign Triumph of the Faithful On our previous expedition—on Day Two Thousand Nine Hundred Twenty—we stood in awe before the majestic, sweeping panoramic view of Psalm One Hundred Forty-Eight. We listened as the psalmist summoned the entire cosmos into one massive, harmonious choir, calling upon angels, stars, sea creatures, stormy winds, snow, fruit trees, wild beasts, kings, maidens, and little children to join in shouting praises to the exalted name of Yahweh! Today, as we step onto Day Two Thousand Nine Hundred Twenty-Two of our ongoing trek through the Book of Psalms, we advance directly into the fourth movement of the “Final Hallel”—Psalm One Hundred Forty-Nine, verses one through nine. If Psalm One Hundred Forty-Eight was the universal, cosmic anthem of all creation, Psalm One Hundred Forty-Nine zeroes in with laser-like focus upon the specialized role of God's covenant people, the chasidim—His faithful ones. In these nine powerful verses, we discover a striking, revolutionary synthesis that will challenge our understanding of spiritual authority: a movement that weaves together vibrant, exuberant worship with the execution of divine, cosmic justice. The first segment is: The New Song in the Assembly: Exulting in Our Maker and King Let us open our ears to the joyful invitation that opens this psalm, as recorded in the New Living Translation, grouping together the deeply connected thoughts in verse one, verse two, and verse three. Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful. O Israel, rejoice in your Maker. Rejoice, O people of Jerusalem, in your King. Praise his name with dancing; celebrate him with tambourines and harps. The psalmist begins with an energetic, soul-stirring blast of praise, exclaiming, “Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful!” He then immediately directs the heart of the community toward their true identity, declaring, “O Israel, rejoice in your Maker. Rejoice, O people of Jerusalem, in your King. Praise his name with dancing; celebrate him with tambourines and harps.” Notice the specific context established in these opening lines! The worship called for here is not merely private, solitary devotion; it is explicitly located “in the assembly of the faithful”—the kahal chasidim. This is the corporate gathering of those who are bound to Yahweh by covenant loyalty. They are commanded to sing a “new song”—a shir chadash—which, throughout the Old Testament, always signifies a fresh anthem composed in response to a newly experienced, mighty act of divine deliverance! To appreciate this through the ancient Israelite divine-council worldview, consider the titles given to God here: He is both “Maker” and “King.” The surrounding pagan nations bowed before earthly tyrants and territorial deities who claimed to be rulers of the land. But Israel's true King is the very Master of the divine council—the uncreated Creator who spoke the universe into existence! When the covenant community gathers to dance, beat tambourines, and play harps, they are not engaged in mindless ritual; they are holding a joyous royal court celebration, publicly declaring that their ultimate allegiance belongs solely to the supreme Sovereign of heaven and earth. The second segment is: Crowned with Salvation: Rejoicing on the Beds of Rest The narrative now transitions from public, expressive celebration to the deep, intimate affection that Yahweh harbors for His humble servants, combining the logical thoughts found in verse four and verse five. For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. Let the faithful rejoice that he honors them. Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds. The psalmist pulls back the curtain on the heart of God, declaring, “For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. Let the faithful rejoice that he honors them. Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds.” What an astonishing, deeply comforting reality! The supreme Ruler of the cosmos—the One who commands trillions of stars—takes genuine, personal delight in His people! Look at who He elevates: not the proud, arrogant conquerors of the world, but the anavim—the humble, the lowly, and the gentle. He takes those whom the world dismisses and “crowns them with victory”—or as the Hebrew word yeshua implies, He decks them with salvation, deliverance, and royal beauty! And notice where this joy spills over in verse five: “Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds.” In the ancient world, lying on one's bed was a posture of vulnerability, rest, and private reflection in the quiet hours of the night. In earlier psalms, like Psalm One Hundred Forty-Two, the night and the isolated places were associated with deep anxiety, tears, and hiding from enemies in cold caves. But now, under the secure reign of Yahweh, even the bedroom becomes a sanctuary of peace and quiet exultation! The faithful can lie down in safety, resting in divine honor, breaking into spontaneous songs of joy in the middle of the night because their King keeps watch over them. The third segment is: The Dual Weapon: High Praises and the Two-Edged Sword The narrative takes a dramatic, intense turn in verse six and verse seven, introducing a startling juxtaposition that bridges the atmosphere of praise with the arena of cosmic combat. Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a two-edged sword in their hands, to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, The text shifts from sweet lullabies on night beds to high-stakes spiritual warfare, proclaiming, “Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a two-edged sword in their hands, to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples,” Look at this extraordinary dual posture! In one breath, the faithful have the “high praises” of God in their throats; in the next, they hold a sharp, two-edged sword—a cherev pipiyot—in their hands! To modern ears, combining joyous worship music with hand-to-hand weaponry sounds jarring, but in the biblical worldview, worship and warfare are two sides of the exact same coin. When viewed through the ancient Israelite divine-council framework, this passage carries profound theological depth. In the ancient worldview, the hostile pagan nations were governed by rebellious spiritual principalities—lesser gods who incited human empires to wage war against Yahweh's order and His covenant people. The “vengeance” and “punishment” spoken of here are not acts of personal malice, bitter revenge, or lawless vigilantism. Rather, they represent the enforcement of divine, covenant justice! Praise is not merely an emotional release; it is a spiritual weapon that declares the supremacy of Yahweh, disarming the dark spi“itual pow”rs, w“ile the sw”rd of truth cuts through systemic human rebellion, enforcing the sovereign decrees issued by the heavenly court. The fourth segment is: The Written Judgment: The Glorious Privilege of the Saints The psalmist brings this powerful, martial hymn to its ultimate climax, weaving together the contiguous thoughts in verse eight and verse nine. to bind their kings with chains and their leaders with iron shackles, to execute the judgment written against them. This is the glorious privilege of his faithful ones. Praise the Lord! The psalmist describes the complete overthrow of corrupt power structures, declaring that the saints are called, “to bind their kings with chains and their leaders with iron shackles, to execute the judgment written against them. This is the glorious privilege of his faithful ones. Praise the Lord!” Look at the absolute authority described here! The proud monarchs, oppressive tyrants, and elite leaders of the earth—who previously thought themselves completely invincible above the law—are bound in iron...

As each of the three annual feasts of the Israelites approached, the roads leading up to Jerusalem were lined with pilgrims making their way to the Temple. The feasts reflected the desire of God for His people to remember and give thanks, and the desire of the people to worship their God. Join Dr. James Boice as he studies Psalm 120, the first in a series of psalms known as the Psalms of Ascent. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/81/29?v=20251111

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.'” — Exodus 3:14 In the third commandment, God teaches his people to revere his holy name, warning that they may not treat his name lightly. Over time, the Israelites took this command so seriously that they refrained from even saying God's name aloud.As a result, whenever we read the name “LORD” in our English Bibles today, we are reading what the people of Israel said—Adonai, meaning “Lord” —in place of the name that God revealed to Moses: Yahweh, or “I AM WHO I AM.” The word “Lord” (Adonai) fittingly indicates “power,” “authority,” “influence,” and other important attributes of reverence for God's name, showing respect for God's ultimate place and authority over the whole universe.Today, many Christians boldly say aloud God's name “Jehovah” (a rendition of Yahweh) because the opposite of taking God's name lightly is to take it too seriously, as ancient Israel did. We need to acknowledge and confess God's greatness and almighty power by properly expressing and honoring his name. Even better, we may respectfully and devotedly call God “Father,” as Jesus taught by his own example. Calling God “Father” not only acknowledges the Lord's power and authority but also reveals God's tender, loving care for us. We are God's children, reconciled to him and adopted through the work of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.  Father, thank you for making us your children through Jesus, your Son. Help us to live each day in devotion to you and with love for others. Amen.

We are all familiar with the heroic deeds of the gladiators of ancient Rome. But did you know the Bible records a gladiatorial-style contest in the early history of the Israelite kings? It pitted a heavily armed giant, equipped with the latest fighting gear, against a simple shepherd armed only with a sling and a stone. The story sounds highly improbable. Was it true? Even though David was one of the most famous kings of ancient Israel, many historians and Bible critics rejected the Bible stories as myths. Many said King David didn't really exist. Was he just a mythical hero? Join us as we search for evidence of King David.

Archaeologist Jodi Magness and her team have been excavating a synagogue in the ancient village of Huqoq in Lower Galilee where they’ve found an incredible collection of mosaics, paintings, and carvings. Particularly rare, however, is a mosaic telling the biblical story of Deborah and her role in Israel’s battle against the Canaanites; there’s no other known ancient depiction of this heroine. During twenty years of oppression by Canaan, Deborah, a prophetess, “was leading Israel” (Judges 4:4). At God’s prompting, Deborah urged Israel’s general Barak to mount an attack on the Canaanite forces and their commander, Sisera. Barak heeded God’s instructions to “take . . . ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor” (v. 6) and Deborah lured the enemy’s army to the area. The Canaanite troops indeed fell in the battle, and though Sisera initially fled on foot, he too ultimately met his demise. “On that day God subdued . . . Canaan before the Israelites” (v. 23) through the courageous obedience of Deborah and Barak. The Bible preserves for us a literary mosaic of historical events in the life of God’s people—collectively and individually. Through it we’re offered examples from which we can glean courage to heed God’s instructions even in the face of hardship and struggle. We can trust Him to equip us with the strength to do so.

We explore the dramatic events surrounding Israel's demand for a king. We begin with the Philistines capturing the ark of the covenant and experiencing divine retribution until they return it to Israel. Samuel leads a spiritual revival, urging the Israelites to turn away from idols and serve Yahweh alone. However, as Samuel ages, his corrupt sons take over as judges, prompting the Israelites to demand a king to rule over them like other nations. Despite Samuel's warnings about the consequences, the people insist, and God instructs Samuel to grant their request.Support the showRead along with us in the Bible Brief App! Try the Bible Brief book for an offline experience!Get your free Bible Timeline with the 10 Steps: Timeline LinkSupport the show: Tap here to become a monthly supporter!Review the show: Tap here!Want to go deeper?...Download the Bible Brief App!iPhone: App Store LinkAndroid: Play Store LinkWant a physical book? Check out "Bible Brief" by our founder!Amazon: Amazon LinkWebsite: biblebrief.orgInstagram: @realbiblebriefX: @biblebriefFacebook: @realbiblebriefEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.orgWant to learn the Bible languages (Greek & Hebrew)? Check out our partner Biblingo (and use our link/code for a discount!): https://biblin...

Deuteronomy 12 looks to a future day when the Tabernacle no longer needs to be portable. Until now, God has moved his cloud of presence from camp to camp, following the Israelites in their forty-year journey. God promises that they are entering a place of rest from their wanderings and from surrounding enemies. When they are living in relative safety, God desires his presence to also have a place of rest.Deuteronomy 12 looks to a future day when the Tabernacle no longer needs to be portable. Until now, God has moved his cloud of presence from camp to camp, following the Israelites in their forty-year journey. God promises that they are entering a place of rest from their wanderings and from surrounding enemies. When they are living in relative safety, God desires his presence to also have a place of rest.Support the showConsider donating (one-time or recurring) to www.TheJerusalemConnection.us so we can continue to bring valuable content via podcasts free to the public. Help us increase our audience reach and improve production quality. Your donation is 100% tax-deductible to our non-profit organization. Bible Fiber and The Red Alert Report are available via YouTube and all major podcast platforms. The Jerusalem Connection also engages in additional educational and advocacy programs. Check our "Projects" tab for all the endeavors we invite YOU to be part of.

We are exploring Numbers 14:39-45. In these passages, the Israelites override God's instructions to stay in the wilderness for 40 years. Instead of accepting God's delay, they attempt to conquer the promised land and they are completely defeated. The revelation we are going to process is that God may intentionally delay us, which is designed to grow our faith, so we should not try to speed up the growth process. Instead, we need to patiently wait it out and grow.  __________ Partner with Us: https://churchforentrepreneurs.com/partner Connect with Us: https://churchforentrepreneurs.com __________    

“To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity. To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.” (Psalm 18:25–26 NLT) Some of the most exciting passages of Scripture involve theophanies, occurrences when God made Himself known in observable and tangible form. What’s especially fascinating about these encounters is how God appeared to different people in the Bible. To Abraham, He came as a traveler. According to Genesis 18, Abraham was sitting outside his tent one day when three messengers arrived. Two of the messengers were angels; the other was God Himself. Centuries later, Jesus commented on the encounter. “Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad” (John 8:56 NLT). Why did the Lord come to Abraham as a traveler? Because that’s what Abraham was: a traveler. According to Joshua 5:13–15, on the night before the Israelites began their siege of Jericho, God appeared to Joshua as the commander of the Lord’s army. Why? Because Joshua was the commander of Israel’s army. According to Genesis 32:22–32, when God appeared to Jacob, He came as a wrestler. Verse 24 says that God “wrestled with him until the dawn began to break” (nlt). Why did God choose that guise? Because Jacob was always fighting, conniving, resisting, and wrestling to get what he wanted. Maybe you can relate to Jacob. Maybe there’s something you want from God, perhaps even a good thing, such as the salvation of a loved one. Maybe you’re tired of being single and want to get married. Or maybe you want to serve God in a ministry. Don’t resort to conniving, because you may get what you want, but at a great cost. Jacob got what he wanted and paid dearly for it. I believe that if he had waited on God, he would have received what he needed and what God had promised. And perhaps God would have appeared to him in a different form. These three biblical accounts reveal an amazing truth about our heavenly Father. He meets us where we are. That’s not to say you can expect a theophany in your life. You don’t need one. If you’re a believer, you have something better. God’s Holy Spirit dwells within you. That’s what Jesus was talking about when He told His disciples, “But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you” (John 16:7 NLT). God communicates to us from within, through His Spirit. And He does it in ways that resonate powerfully with us, just as He did with Abraham, Joshua, and Jacob. The bottom line is this: God wants to do His will in your life in His way and in His time. If you need something from God, be patient and wait on Him. God will meet you wherever you are to lift you to where He wants you to be. Reflection question: When has God met you where you were? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Little by little Exodus 23:27-30 Here we have the Israelites moving through the wilderness and received the hopeful promise of a land they would possess.  But it would not come at the snap of God's fingers. It wouldn't even come in a year. It would be a gradual process. Little by little.  There are very practical reasons for this: - If the land were cleared of its inhabitants immediately, the lack of human maintenance would cause crops to fail and the land to quickly revert to wilderness…oh great, more wilderness!  - With vast, uninhabited, and uncultivated territories, predators and wild beasts would multiply and pose a severe physical threat to the Israelites and their livestock. - The phrase "little by little" highlights God's method of preparing His people. He gives them time to increase in numbers, become organized, and learn how to manage and care for their new inheritance.  For you mothers and fathers out there, think about the preparation and planning that takes place in those 9 months of pregnancy. Not only buying and receiving baby items but the preparation of your hearts and a 9 month course in maturity as you wait for this gift from the Lord.  As each of us prepares to give birth to our book babies, there is a process God takes us through. Little by little He molds and shapes us. We grow as Kingdom Writers one hard earned sentence at a time.  Yes, there are moments when we wish we could snap our fingers and have the book published. But we would miss out on so much and wouldn't be prepared if put in that position so quickly.  Just as the Israelites wanted to possess the land immediately, people often desire instant answers, success, or perfection. These verses remind us that "little by little" growth protects us from being overwhelmed by blessings or situations they are not yet equipped to handle.  What are some examples of "wild animals" that could become too numerous in our lives if not for the little by little process God takes us through in life and with our books?  (Pride, self-sufficiency, overwhelm with new responsibilities, lack of structure in place, worshiping success, etc).  I see one other glaring reason I think the Lord gives His people this "little by little" strategy: He wants us to rely upon Him every step of the way. If we got everything we wanted in an instant, we would be so prone to living our lives as if to say, "Ok God, I'm good to go! I'll let you know if I need anything else."  Maybe the Lord has given you a vision of a promised land to come. If so, embrace the "little by little" process He has for you. It will be worth the wait. Resources: If you're ready to take a step of faith and finally finish your book, we have a few ways we can help you.  1. Free Writing Week Challenge: Create a Writing Habit in 15 Minutes a Day Even if you feel overwhelmed or stuck in procrastination, sitting down to write for just 15 minutes a day is the best way to finally reach your writing goals. Most writers think they need hours of uninterrupted time to make progress in their writing. However, in this free challenge, we will show you how much you can accomplish in just 15 minutes of focused writing.  Click here to create a consistent writing habit this week. 2. Book Writing Lab Workshop - Map Out Your Book in Just 90 Minutes If over the last year, you've struggled to get your book written, this workshop is for you. Choose your book topic, write an outline, and create a writing plan in just 90 minutes! Finally, feel confident that you will actually finish your book. Get started now for just $27 3. Want More Support? Join Christian Book Academy Most writers stay stuck and never finish their first draft. Inside Christian Book Academy, we help you partner with God to write your book so you can become a published author. Finally, ditch your self-doubt and take a step of faith so you can finish your book. Join Christian Book Academy (coupon code PODCAST) Get 50% off your first month by using the coupon code PODCAST at checkout.

Rabbi Steve Berkson uses the Exodus story as a compelling metaphor, guiding us through the journey from slavery to freedom. His message inspires belief in the possibility of change and deliverance, drawing from the Israelites' escape from Egypt. It emphasizes that true deliverance requires personal growth, not just external assistance. From Slavery to Freedom (Freeing Your Mind) | Part 9• Intro/Review• Chasing Feelings vs. Producing Results• Back to the review• I shall take you as my people. This is conditional.• Exodus 19:03 - Elohim has demonstrated who He is• Guarding the Covenant?• Pleasing a wrong authority?• When you serve the Spirit of Elohim by choice• Leviticus 26:3 - The Blessings (Mind of the Spirit)• Leviticus 26:14 - The Curses (Mind of the Flesh)• Elohim uses these for instruction • Lowering the bar?• Performance under duress or by choice • Evaluating others• Are you showing wisdom?• An 80-year trial for the ForeverListen to the Afterburn tomorrowSubscribe to be notified of new content each week.Learn more about MTOI:https://mtoi.orgThe MTOI App https://mtoi.org/download-the-mtoi-appFollow MTOI:https://www.facebook.com/mtoiworldwide https://www.instagram.com/mtoi_worldwidehttps://www.tiktok.com/@mtoi_worldwide Contact MTOI: 

Fr. Mike touches upon the prophecy of judgment against Babylon and Israel, and how God still promises to be Israel's redeemer despite their disobedience. We also read about Ezekiel's vision of the temple and how the markings on the foreheads of the Israelites symbolizes the mourning of true worship, and also foreshadows Jesus' death on the Cross. Today we read Isaiah 47-48, Ezekiel 8-9, and Proverbs 12:13-16. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.