Podcasts about Israelites

Welcome to Day 2912 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2912 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 145:8-13 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2912 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2912 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 tiel for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Everlasting Realm of Compassion – Unveiling the Majesty of Yahweh's Kingdom On our previous expedition—on Day Two Thousand Nine Hundred Ten—we stood in awe at the royal threshold of Psalm One Hundred Forty-Five, exploring verses one through seven. We listened as King David laid down his military sword, picked up his harp, and declared that Yahweh's unsearchable greatness must be proclaimed from one generation to the next! We witnessed how the remembrance of God's overflowing, gushing goodness naturally erupts into exuberant, generational praise. Today, we step directly onto the next elevation of this magnificent acrostic summit, advancing into Psalm One Hundred Forty-Five, verses eight through thirteen. As we continue along this pristine trail, David shifts our focus from the unsearchable, transcendent splendor of the Creator to the profound, heart-level warmth of His character. In these six verses, we are invited to gaze into the very heart of the Sovereign King of heaven—a King whose authority is not marked by cold, tyrannical control, but by boundless mercy, universal compassion, and an unshakeable, everlasting dominion that spans every physical and spiritual realm across all generations. The first segment is: The Heart of the King: Abundant Mercy and Universal Compassion Let us open our ears to the deeply comforting words recorded in the New Living Translation, grouping together the logical, contiguous thoughts found in verse eight and verse nine. The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation. In these two breathtaking lines, David delivers what can only be described as the supreme theological confession of the Hebrew Scriptures, declaring, “The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.” If these words sound familiar to your ears, it is because David is directly quoting the sacred, self-revealed character statement that Yahweh declared to Moses on Mount Sinai in Exodus chapter thirty-four! To fully appreciate the revolutionary impact of this revelation, we must view it through the ancient Israelite divine-council worldview. In the ancient Near East, the pagan nations surrounding Israel lived in perpetual, paralyzing fear of their localized deities. Gods like Baal, Chemosh, or Marduk were viewed as erratic, moody, quick-tempered, and selfish entities who demanded bloody sacrifices and cared nothing for the well-being of ordinary mortals. Furthermore, in the cosmic geography of the ancient world, those foreign nations were assigned to rebellious, territorial spiritual principalities who ruled through fear, oppression, and enslavement. Standing in stark, brilliant contrast to those dark, fickle powers, Yahweh reveals His true nature as the absolute Sovereign of the cosmos! He is not quick to wrath; rather, He is patient, long-suffering, and profoundly merciful. The Hebrew term used here for "unfailing love" is chesed—that deep, unwavering, covenant-keeping affection that never gives up on its people. But notice how far David expands this divine love in verse nine! Yahweh's goodness is not restricted to a single tribe or a select elite; He is good to everyone! He showers His tender, fatherly compassion over all His creation—from the highest angelic seraphim in the heavenly assembly, down to the smallest bird resting in the forest canopy. In a world often battered by chaos and cruelty, David reminds us that the supreme ruler of the universe is defined, at His core, by overwhelming, relentless grace. The second segment is: The Chorus of Creation and the Realm of Glory The narrative now moves from the internal character of the King to the explosive, cosmic response of His subjects, linking together the contiguous thoughts found in verse ten, verse eleven, and verse twelve. All of your creatures will thank you, Lord, and your godly people will praise you. They will speak of the glory of your kingdom; they will give examples of your power. They will tell about your mighty deeds and about the majesty and glory of your reign. David paints a panoramic, glorious vision of universal adoration, declaring, “All of your creatures will thank you, Lord, and your godly people will praise you. They will speak of the glory of your kingdom; they will give examples of your power. They will tell about your mighty deeds and about the majesty and glory of your reign.” Look at the dual choir David brings together in this passage! First, he points to “all of your creatures”—the entirety of the natural order and the unseen heavenly hosts—offering a continuous, harmonious echo of thanksgiving to their Creator. But then, he highlights a special group: “your godly people”—the chasidim, those who are bound to Yahweh in a loving, loyal covenant relationship. While creation offers silent, instinctual praise, God's redeemed people are given an articulate, vocal mission! They do not remain quiet; they step into the cosmic courtroom to publicly testify about the true nature of Yahweh's reign. Notice the three specific themes these covenant heralds proclaim: they speak of the glory of His kingdom, they give tangible examples of His power, and they tell about His mighty deeds. In the ancient divine-council framework, earthly kingdoms were constantly boasting about their military conquests, erecting arrogant monuments to their mortal kings. But David's godly people look past earthly empires and fallen principalities to exalt the true, overarching kingdom of God! They share concrete stories of how Yahweh broke the chains of slavery, how He defeated spiritual powers of darkness, how He provided manna in the barren wilderness, and how He heals broken hearts. Their testimony serves as a vibrant, undeniable public witness to the entire world—and to the watching spiritual realms—demonstrating that Yahweh's rule is unmatched in majesty, splendor, and liberating power. The third segment is: The Unshakeable Dominion: An Everlasting Kingdom The psalmist now reaches the ultimate, unshakeable bedrock of his royal hymn, anchoring his narrative in the eternal stability of God's rule, as recorded in verse thirteen. For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule through all generations. The Lord is always faithful to his promises; he is gracious in all he does. With triumphant, absolute confidence, David seals this section of his psalm, exclaiming, “For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule through all generations. The Lord is always faithful to his promises; he is gracious in all he does.” This verse contains a colossal, mind-boggling truth that provides ultimate comfort for our daily trek through life. Throughout human history, massive empires have risen with terrifying power, only to crumble into forgotten dust. The ancient Egyptian pharaohs, the ruthless Assyrian conquerors, the mighty Babylonian kings, and the vast Roman legions all believed their rule would last forever. Yet, every single one of those human regimes—along with the fallen, territorial spiritual principalities that animated them—faded away into the pages of history. But David declares that the kingdom of Yahweh belongs to a completely different category! His rule is an everlasting kingdom—a reign that knows no geographical boundaries, no political decline, no military defeat, and no expiration date! Furthermore, look at the second half of verse thirteen, which highlights the moral foundation of this eternal throne. Unlike human rulers who break treaties, abandon alliances, and act out of selfish ambition, Yahweh is "always faithful to his promises; he is gracious in all he does." In the ancient Near Eastern world, a king's word was often treacherous. But the Supreme King of the divine council binds Himself to His word! Every promise He makes to His children—promises of presence, protection, forgiveness, and ultimate restoration—is locked in an unshakeable, eternal vault. His authority is executed through pure grace, ensuring that those who take refuge under His reign will never be disappointed, forgotten, or cast aside....

Life is full of mountains and valleys. One day we’re standing on the mountaintop, taking in the view and thanking God for how good life feels. The next, we’re walking through a valley we never saw coming, wondering how we got here and how we’ll ever make it through. That’s life. No one gets a permanent address on the mountaintop, and no one stays in the valley forever. We all experience seasons of joy and seasons of sorrow, seasons of abundance and seasons of struggle. There are moments when we feel strong, confident, and full of faith, and there are moments when we’re tired, discouraged, and simply trying to take the next step. The mountains and the valleys are both part of the journey. Does this mean we hate the valleys and only live for the mountaintops? If so, we’re wasting much of our lives. It’s like the person who chooses misery all week long and only lives for the weekend. Or the person who is continually chasing greener grass, only to get there and find it’s always greener somewhere else. They’re waiting for life to begin when life has been happening all along. Sometimes I wonder if we’re guilty of doing the same thing spiritually. We endure the valleys and merely survive them while we wait for God to get us back to the mountain. We decide the mountaintop is where God is blessing us and the valley is where he’s forgotten us. We assume one is good and one is bad. But what if we’re wrong? What if God never intended for us to love one and despise the other? What if he designed both? God is in control of all things, so why does he allow these low valleys in life? Why doesn’t he take us to the mountaintop experiences and let us stay there? Why not total bliss all the time? Why can’t everything just be good and stay good? My husband and I have often joked over the years of raising three kids that when the rare moment comes along when all three are doing great at the same time—with no problems—we hold our breath. Experience has taught us it doesn’t last long. It’s our mountaintop. It’s bliss. It’s rare. We know we’re here, but we also know we probably don’t get to stay here. Before long, back down into the valley we’ll go with at least one of them. Have you ever noticed that’s the way life seems to work? We just can’t keep things at their very best for very long. The job is good, then the job is hard. The marriage is happy, then the marriage is struggling. Our bodies are healthy, then suddenly they aren’t. The bank account is full, then an unexpected expense arrives. We finally catch our breath, and then life takes it away again. The mountains are beautiful, but they’re temporary. The valleys are difficult, but they’re temporary too. And that’s not a flaw in God’s design. It’s part of it. If mountaintops became permanent, we would begin to worship the view instead of the God who brought us there. If valleys never came, we would never learn surrender and trust. The mountain gives us perspective, but the valley gives us depth. God has never promised us a life of uninterrupted mountaintops. What he has promised is something far better—His uninterrupted presence. He’s God on the mountain, and he’s God in the valley. He isn’t waiting for you at the top. He’s walking with you wherever you are. And perhaps that’s the invitation—not to spend our lives trying to escape the valleys or cling to the mountains, but to learn to look for God in both. 1 Kings 20:28, “The LORD says, ‘Because the Arameans think the LORD is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the LORD.” If you just pluck this one scripture out, it won’t make sense. So, let’s study the context and see what God is telling us. Israel are God’s people who seek him and trust him. They have enemies constantly trying to defeat them. One of those enemies is the kingdom of Aram who’s King is Ben-Hadad. The Arameans greatly outnumbered the Israelites, yet the Israelites had just defeated them in battle. As the Aramenas were trying to understand their battle and how they could have lost to an army so beneath them, they came to the conclusion it was because of the Israelites’ God. Verse 23, they said “Their gods are gods of the mountains. That is why they were too strong for us. But if we fight them in the valleys, surely we will be stronger than them.” With that in mind, the Arameans planned their next attack on God’s people in a valley. A valley, a low spot, where the Israelites’ mountaintop God would have no reign and no power. They didn’t doubt God’s existence, they doubted his authority over both the mountain and the valley. BUT THEY WERE WRONG! Our LORD isn’t just a mountaintop God. He’s not limited by good experiences and positive outcomes. He’s not just in the highs – he’s in the lows. His jurisdiction is not limited by location or circumstance. And this is why the LORD said in verse 28, “Because the Arameans think the LORD is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the LORD.” Essentially God is saying, “You’ve seen me work on the mountain, NOW WATCH ME WORK IN THE LOW VALLEYS TOO!” This is a lesson not only for the enemy, but for God’s people. “Stop thinking I will only give you victory up here, I can work in the lows too!” This was more than God winning a battle, this was God revealing himself. What? You think God has boundaries? You think there’s somewhere he doesn’t rule? Somewhere out of his reach? Somewhere his power isn’t effective? Something too hard or too big and beyond his dominion? You think there’s a place God can’t give victory. GIRL, JUST WATCH HIM. Today, we often live exactly as the Aramean’s who thought God was only the God of the mountain. We believe: God is with me when my marriage is good! God is with me when my body is healthy! God is with me when the money is there! God is with me when all the kids are doing well! God is with me when my prayers are answered! Yes, he’s with me … I can see him … look at all this goodness in my life! I’m on the mountaintop! But life doesn’t stay there, and soon we’re in a low valley and we begin asking: Where is God? Why isn’t he helping me? Has he left me? Did I do something wrong? Is he punishing me with this deep dark valley of hardship and struggle? And really what we’re wondering is if God stayed on the mountain and he’s not with us in the valley. But I want to give you one memorable fact that will stay with you forever. NOTHING GROWS ON THE MOUNTAINTOP. Have you ever climbed a really tall mountain – I’m talking a legit mountain. Have you noticed the higher you go, the thinner the air gets. And as you continue the climb, it just becomes rocky. No trees. No fruit. No grass. No flowers. The view is remarkable and it feels great to stand on top of the mountain, but NOTHING GROWS UP THERE. That, my friends, is life. You don’t grow in your moutaintop moments. When everything is so perfectly good, you’re not growing. And that’s why God doesn’t leave you up there. He lovingly brings you back down to the valley because in the valley is where YOU GROW! Trees grow in the valley. Fruit is produced in the valley. Flowers are in abundance in the valley. It’s the low places where we grow. I find it interesting that God could have simply prevented the second battle altogether. Instead, He allowed Israel to go right back into another fight. Why? Because there was something about Himself He wanted revealed that could only be revealed in the valley. God isn’t better on the mountain. He’s simply different there. The mountain may reveal His majesty, but the valley reveals His faithfulness. What God is showing us is regardless of the place we are in life, regardless of the highs and lows, he is the LORD over every place. Just as the mountain doesn’t make him God, neither do the valleys of life diminish him. He is just as present, just as powerful, and just as soverign in the lowest and hardest of valleys in your life as he is on the highest and most victorious mountain. I have a beautiful friend currently battling a relentless and ugly cancer. This cancer has dragged her through one heck of a dark valley. But here in this valley, she has discovered God’s presence unlike ever before. She has learned He is her only hope. She has learned peace that doesn’t make sense. She has learned full surrender and unwavering faith. That’s what valleys do to us, and I have to believe that’s one of the reasons God allows them. He reveals Himself in such personal and powerful ways. Perhaps her mountaintop moments will come and she will stand whole, healthy, and healed with a long, beautiful life ahead of her. Oh, how I pray she experiences that. But here’s what I know—she won’t grow up there. She’s growing down here. And maybe that’s why God doesn’t allow us to permanently live on the mountaintops. We would enjoy him there, but we wouldn’t NEED him there. We would celebrate him there, but we wouldn’t CLING to him there. It is in the valley where we discover he really is enough. It’s in the valley where we learn he wasn’t kidding when he said he would never leave us or forsake us. It’s in the valley where we find his strength made perfect in our weakness. It’s in the valley where we discover his peace isn’t dependent on our circumstances and his goodness isn’t diminished by our suffering. Mountaintops are where we often celebrate God. Valleys are where we come to know him. So perhaps we’ve had it wrong all along. Perhaps the goal isn’t to spend our lives desperately trying to escape the valleys and cling to the mountains. Perhaps the goal is to stop asking, “How do I get out of here?” long enough to ask, “Lord, what are You revealing here?” Because He’s still the LORD here. The valley has never been outside of his jurisdiction. It has never been beyond his reach. It has never been beneath his attention. And just as He told the Arameans thousands of years ago, I believe he is still saying to his people today, “You think you’ve seen me work before? Just watch me work here too.” So, if you find yourself standing on a mountaintop today, breathe it in. Thank him for the view. Celebrate the joy. Receive it as a gift. And if you find yourself in a valley today, don’t despise it. Don’t assume you’ve been abandoned there. Don’t waste this season merely trying to survive it. Look for him there. Because he isn’t just waiting for you on the next mountaintop. He’s already standing beside you in the valley. He is the LORD of both. Don’t spend your life trying to escape the valleys or trying to cling to the mountains, but learn to look for God in both. Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

Welcome to Day 2910 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2910 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 145:1-7 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2908 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2910 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 Unsearchable Majesty – Passing the Torch of Praise Across Generations On our previous expedition, on Day Two Thousand Nine Hundred Eight, we concluded our study of Psalm One Hundred Forty-Four with a breathtaking vision of kingdom flourishing. We listened as King David moved out of the smoky, chaotic fray of battle, praying for sturdy sons, elegant daughters, overflowing barns, and safe city streets, crowning his prayer with that unforgettable, majestic beatitude: “Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord!” Today, as we step onto a glorious new summit along our multi-month trek through the Book of Psalms, we advance directly into Psalm One Hundred Forty-Five, verses one through seven. This psalm marks a monumental milestone in our entire series. It is the very last psalm in the Psalter explicitly attributed to King David, and it functions as a grand, royal gateway into the final doxology of the Old Testament. In the preceding psalms—from Psalm One Hundred Forty through One Hundred Forty-Four—we heard David crying out in intense distress, begging for rescue from violent men, hidden nets, and deceptive tongues. But here, in Psalm One Hundred Forty-Five, the prayers for deliverance fall silent, and pure, uninhibited, kingdom praise takes center stage. David lays down his military sword, picks up his golden harp, and leads the entire cosmos in an eternal song of adoration. The first segment is: The Vow of the Viceroy: Exalting the Supreme King Let us open our hearts to the opening lines of this magnificent acrostic hymn, as recorded in the New Living Translation, grouping together the contiguous, deeply connected thoughts found in verse one and verse two. I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever. David opens this royal anthem with a passionate, deeply personal commitment, shouting, “I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever.” To fully appreciate the profound, revolutionary nature of these opening words, we must view them through the fascinating lens of the Ancient Israelite divine-council worldview. In the ancient Near East, earthly kings routinely claimed divine status for themselves. Pagan rulers built massive monuments, claiming to be absolute lords over their territory, demanding that their subjects bow before their supreme authority. But here stands King David—the undisputed, victorious monarch of Israel, the ruler of an expanding empire—and what does he do? He looks up into the heavens, and addresses Yahweh directly as “my God and King.” David recognizes a fundamental cosmic truth: his own royal authority is merely derivative. He is not the ultimate sovereign; he is merely the earthly viceroy, the covenant servant of the true King who sits enthroned above the celestial assembly of heaven. Notice, also, the dynamic rhythm of David's devotional life expressed in these two verses. He bridges the immediate present with the infinite future. He declares that he will praise God “every day”—establishing a discipline of consistent, daily worship along the dusty trails of life—while simultaneously declaring that this praise will endure “forever and ever.” David understands that praising the name of Yahweh—which represents His revealed character, His covenant reputation, and His supreme authority—is not a temporary earthly chore. It is the primary, joyful occupation of human beings and heavenly hosts alike, stretching past the boundaries of mortality directly into eternity. The second segment is: The Unsearchable Realm: Cosmic Greatness Beyond Measure The narrative of David's praise expands rapidly outward from his personal devotion to the infinite reality of God's nature, as recorded in verse three. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. David proclaims with unshakeable conviction, “Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.” This singular verse serves as the foundational theological anchor for the entire psalm. When David exclaims that Yahweh is “great” and “most worthy of praise,” he is making a bold, cosmic comparison against all other powers in existence. In the ancient Israelite worldview, the cosmos was populated by various spiritual beings—angels, guardians, and fallen principalities. But Yahweh stands in a category completely by Himself. He is not merely the chief deity among many; He is the uncreated Creator, the absolute Master of the divine council, and the Lord of all earthly nations. Consider that remarkable phrase: “No one can measure his greatness.” In the original Hebrew, it literally reads, his greatness has no searching out. Every created entity in the universe—whether a human king, a mighty mountain, a blazing star, or a high-ranking angelic spirit—has boundaries, dimensions, and limitations. They can be measured, mapped, and comprehended. But the greatness of Yahweh is unfathomable, bottomless, and infinite! You can swim in the ocean of His glory for ten thousand years, and you will never hit bottom. Because His majesty is completely beyond human and angelic measurement, the praise offered to Him can never be exhausted. There will always be new depths of His character to discover, and new reasons to lift our voices in awe. The third segment is: The Legacy of Praise: Passing the Torch Across Generations Having established the unsearchable greatness of the King, David turns his attention to how this glorious reality is transmitted through human history, linking his contiguous thoughts together in verse four and verse five. Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. David outlines the divine relay race of truth, praying, “Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles.” Here, right at the center of Psalm One Hundred Forty-Five, we encounter the very heart and soul of our Wisdom-Trek mission: creating a living legacy! David realizes that the incredible truths of God's redemptive power must never be locked away in the past, nor can they be assumed to automatically transfer to the future. Faithfulness requires an intentional, intergenerational handoff. One generation must stand face-to-face with the next generation, actively recounting the “mighty acts” and “power” of Yahweh. In ancient Israel, this meant teaching children about the deliverance from Egypt, the splitting of the Red Sea, the thunderous revelation at Mount Sinai, and the faithful provision in the wilderness. For us today, it means testifying to our children and grandchildren about the ultimate victory of King Jesus, and sharing the concrete ways God has proven faithful in our own family histories. Notice, however, that David does not view this intergenerational legacy as a cold, academic history lesson. Look at verse five! He combines public proclamation with deep, quiet, personal contemplation, declaring, “I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles.” The Hebrew phrasing here—hod ve-hadar—describes the radiant, terrifying beauty and regal dignity of a monarch sitting in His heavenly throne room. David takes time to slow down his racing mind, fixing his thoughts on the dazzling sple“dor of God's character. True legacy flows out of deep, private meditation. When we spend time contemplating the awe-inspiring miracles of God in the secret place, our public testimony to the next generation gains an irresistible, vibrant warmth. The forth segment is: The Cascading Fountain: Awe-Inspiring Deeds and Overflowing Goodness The narrative reaches a magnificent, joyful crescendo as David describes the infectious, widespread impact of God's mighty works, combining his final logical thoughts in verse six and verse seven. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness. David envisions a...

Ben had bought pirated computer software for years, simply because it was cheaper. Even though it was illegal and broke copyright laws, he didn’t fell that it was morally wrong. After all, everyone did it, and why should he buy expensive original software? Who would check? After hearing a talk on daily examples of living by God’s standards, however, Ben, a new believer growing in the faith, began to wonder, What does it mean to do the right thing? Ben decided to replace all his software with original versions. It cost a lot more, but, as he explained to his friends, “God knows. And He calls us to do what’s right, right?” In Amos 7, God reminded the Israelites that His standards were impartial and absolute. There was to be no compromise: they applied to all, including His favored nation. His laws and moral standards were like “a plumb line” (v. 8)—a weighted line used by builders to ensure structural integrity by showing if a wall wasn’t being built perfectly vertical. While He may extend mercy, God can’t compromise His justice—which is why He sent His Son Jesus to die in our place as payment for our sin. The Bible shows us whether we’re walking in His way or not. By His grace, God helps those who believe in Jesus to live in a way that pleases Him and brings honor to Him—to do what’s right.

Hello Friends! I love to hear from you! Please send me a text message by clicking on this link! Blessings to You!In this episode, Dr. Jori discusses with her listeners  Moses's reminder to the Israelites that they should not dread their enemies because GOD was in their midst.  Scripture References: 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Deuteronomy 7:21; Deuteronomy 1:1-8; Deuteronomy 6:25-7:26 Scripture translation used is the NASB “Scripture quotations taken from the NASB (New American Standard Bible) Copyright 1971, 1995, 2020 (only use the last year corresponding to the edition quoted) by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.Lockman.org”CHECK OUT DR. JORI'S NEW PODCAST- The First Love ProjectHere is the video introducing the podcast on You Tube-https://youtu.be/PhFY1moDDmsHERE IS A LINK TO THE YOUTUBE PLAYLIST FOR FIRST LOVE PROJECThttps://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdaujk1npuKR0BLSkTlKyxmuxavrZQHM6&si=dC10K4Qdh0xMKElU FIND DR. JORI ON OTHER PLATFORMS https://linktr.ee/drjorishaffer DAILY MUSICAL DEVOTIONAL BY THE WORSHIP INITIATIVE:Text SING to 79316CHECK OUT THE DWELL AUDIO BIBLE APP:Click this link for my unique referral code.  I use this frequently. Such a wonderful audio bible app. https://dwellapp.io/aff?ref=jorishafferBIBLE STUDY TOOLS DR. JORI USES:Note: These contain  Amazon affiliate links, meaning I get a commission, at no extra cost to you,  if you decide to make a purchase through my links.Here is a link to some of my favorite bible study tools on Amazon:https://geni.us/cHtrfEMr. Pen Bible Journaling Kitshttps://lvnta.com/lv_PTrHSCogbRim4yhEDnhttps://lvnta.com/lv_mkaMOuGe6m4oHR88uqhttps://lvnta.com/lv_dgvsxOc99t663A628z  BOOKS OF BIBLE COLOR CHARTI made this chart as a helpful tool for grouping the collections of books or letters  in the Holy Bible.  The colors in the different sections are the ones that I use in my journals.  Books of Bible Chart (color) (4).pdf - Google Drive    LOOKING TO RETAIN MORE OF WHAT YOUR PASTOR IS TEACHING?              CHECK OUT DR. JORI'S SERMON REFLECTION JOURNALS! Sermon Notes, Reflections and Applications Journal/Notebooks by Dr. Jori. Click the links below to be directed to amazon.com for purchase. Or search “Dr. Jori Shaffer” on Amazon to bring these up.  https://amzn.to/418LfRshttps://amzn.to/41862EyHere is a brief YouTube video that tells about the Journal/Notebooks as well:https://youtu.be/aXpQNYUEzds   Email: awordforthisday@gmail.comPodcast website:  https://awordforthisday.buzzsprout.com Support the show

Who are the great multitudes saved during the tribulation?Where do they come from?What is their relationship to the 144,000 Israelites?

If you are searching, "why do I keep sabotaging my business" or "how do I stop self-sabotage as a Christian entrepreneur", then this episode is for you as it directly answers that question. Is your business starting to work and you're somehow finding ways to slow it down, derail it, or talk yourself out of it?  Friend, you are not broken. But you do have a pattern that needs a name. In this episode, I break down the spiritual root of self-sabotage and why strategy alone will never fix it. Welcome to The S.A.F.E. Trap, Four faces of self-sabotage every Christian woman entrepreneur falls into: Shrinking when God said expand, Abandoning when it gets hard, Flooding your focus with comparison, and Escaping into endless preparation. Each one is grounded in Scripture, including Numbers 14:2-3, 1 Peter 5:8, Galatians 6:9, Proverbs 16:3, and Philippians 1:6. You'll learn why the Israelites in the wilderness are the original self-sabotage story and why every premature pivot resets the harvest you were about to see. This action plan gives you four concrete steps: identify your default S.A.F.E. Trap, make a 30-day no-pivot commitment, mute your comparison triggers for one week, and pray a specific prayer of repentance and recommitment over your calling. God did not give you this calling so you could talk yourself out of it every six weeks. The business He gave you hasn't expired and it has not been reassigned. It just needs your consistent, committed obedience.  I pray this episode is the one that finally makes it click.   Ready to Make Consistent Income From a Podcast? Join my 5-Day Profitable Podcast Bootcamp! I'll show you how to create a podcast that makes steady income on autopilot, without relying on social media

God loves to make us work for it by Autumn Dickson Asa is one of the kings we read about this week. He was a king of Judah, the southern kingdom. He starts out his reign really strong, tearing down idol worship and deposing his own grandmother who worshipped idols. He encouraged people to seek the Lord. Unfortunately, he also took a turn for the worse and started trusting in human solutions over God, and he died. There is one verse in the midst of his story that I want to share. 2 Chronicles 14:6-7 6 And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the Lord had given him rest. 7 Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; because we have sought the Lord our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered. Asa had a time of peace during his reign, and in the midst of this peace, he built fortified cities in Judah. Asa goes on to face an Ethiopian army, and he is vastly outnumbered. As he faces his enemy, he cries out to God. 2 Chronicles 14:11 And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee. The Lord proceeds to smite the Ethiopians, and they are driven back. So here is my question…why did they fortify their cities? Over and over and over again in the Old Testament we read about this same pattern. The Israelites (or in this case, Judah specifically), do all of the things only to have the Lord completely fight their battles. The Lord parted the Red Sea. He made the walls of Jericho come down. He struck down 185,000 Assyrians outside Jerusalem's walls during Hezekiah's reign. This is a consistent pattern throughout scripture. The Lord fights the battles. Entire armies are defeated or become confused or simply flee. So why bother even fortifying the cities? Even in this specific story where the Lord defeats an army of a million Ethiopians, it doesn't say that the fortified cities made a difference in the slightest. So why? Why fortify the city when the Lord defeats the enemy? The only way I can think to explain it is this: chores. Every Monday, our house gets totally cleaned. Bathrooms, mopping, dusting, vacuuming, all of it. Then, throughout the week, my three oldest kids are assigned one chore a day. It is usually the same list of chores that is done on Monday. I remember watching my four year old wipe down the mirrors in the bathroom on Tuesday. That mirror went from clean to streaked in no time flat. My soul kinda died a little bit watching her make the mirror dirtier, and then it died a little more when I had to sneak back in to clean it a third time in two days. But. I have to remind myself that it's not about a clean mirror. It's about a healthy, growing child. She doesn't clean the mirror so that I can have a clean mirror (obviously). She cleans the mirror so that she learns how to clean a mirror (eventually). The Lord paid for our sins. He paid for the sin you committed years ago, the sin you committed yesterday, the sin you're going to commit today, and the sin you're going to commit years into the future. The mirror is already clean. But He still asks us to learn how to clean a mirror. Even when we're actually just making the mirror dirtier again or when we're cleaning an already clean mirror. Being saved means you're clean again, and to some extent, all of us will be saved in some degree of glory. Being saved means you're clean, but being exalted means you grew up. And that's important because it determines our level of happiness. There is inherent worth in knowing how to clean a mirror. There is inherent worth in learning how to fortify your city and do labor. There is inherent worth in growth even if it's not actually contributing to anything yet. There is inherent worth in work even when it's not paying for our salvation. The Lord saves us. He cleaned the mirror. He protected His people throughout the scriptures. But He asks us to learn how to clean the mirror because we won't find happiness unless we know how. Some of the most miserable people I know are the ones who don't appreciate the value of working hard. It won't do you much good for the Lord to save you if you're still miserable, and He's not going to hook you up to constant happy drugs in heaven. Where do you think happiness comes from? It doesn't really come from the mirror simply being clean. It comes from growing, and the clean mirror enables you to live with God again. So we follow the Lord and His commandments so we learn how to be happy, and then He pays for the whole experience. He cleanses us so we can return to live with Him, and we return with the knowledge and experience required to find deep and lasting joy. I'm grateful for the scriptures that teach true doctrine. I'm grateful that I get to watch these patterns over and over and over throughout the Old Testament. The Lord does the work, but then He asks us to grow. I see it everywhere. I'm grateful He paid the price for me to get messy and come home with the knowledge and experience I need. I'm grateful that I get to learn, through my own experience, the good from the evil. I testify that the Lord saves, and I also testify that He gives commandments for our good. Autumn Dickson was born and raised in a small town in Texas. She served a mission in the Indianapolis Indiana mission. She studied elementary education but has found a particular passion in teaching the gospel. Her desire for her content is to inspire people to feel confident, peaceful, and joyful about their relationship with Jesus Christ and to allow that relationship to touch every aspect of their lives. Autumn was the recipient of FAIR's 2024 John Taylor Defender of the Faith Award. The post Come, Follow Me with FAIR – 2 Chronicles 14–20; 26; 30 – Part 1 – Autumn Dickson appeared first on FAIR.

We explore the period of the Judges in Israel's history, a time marked by a cycle of sin, oppression, deliverance, and drift. After the deaths of Moses and Joshua, the nations was tasked with continuing the campaign to conquer the Land of Canaan. Their disobedience led to Canaanite influence and oppression. Despite Israel's repeated rebellion and worship of false gods, God showed mercy by raising up judges to save them. These judges brought temporary relief, but the Israelites continued to stray.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...

Some people struggle with defeat. Some people struggle with victory. The Israelite people of Jabesh Gilead were about to be crushed by Nahash and his Ammonite army. They were filled with fear instead of faith. They were weeping instead of warring. They were desperately depending on others for help. God raised up Saul and the Holy Spirit moved upon Saul, and this became the catalyst that led to victory over the Ammonites. How would Saul handle the victory? Would it be seen as an open door to crush his detractors? Would it be a day for revenge or a day for rejoicing? Listen to this episode of Wisdom from Above and find out!

The Israelites gather to confess their sins and seek forgiveness from God. This powerful psalm, attributed to the Levites, is a beautiful expression of God's faithfulness and love for his people, despite their constant rebellion and disobedience: The Israelites, feeling convicted after hearing the law read to them, come together to fast, wear sackcloth, and mourn their sins. The Levites lead the people in a psalm of praise and worship, highlighting God's glorious name and his role as the creator of the universe. The psalmist recounts God's mighty acts, from the deliverance from Egypt to the giving of the law on Mount Sinai. Despite the Israelites' repeated disobedience and rebellion, God remains faithful, providing for their needs and sustaining them in the wilderness for forty years. As we reflect on this psalm, we're reminded of God's unwavering love and faithfulness, even in the face of our own disobedience. The speaker encourages listeners to consider their own relationship with God, recognizing that our works don't save us, because God already did the work. Join us as we explore this powerful psalm and its relevance to our lives today. Related Episodes: Romans 8:28-39 (From Christ) - If God Is Loving, Why Do We Go Through Trials? Romans 15:22-33 (From Christ) - The Holy Spirit Loves You Here's other amazing content from P40! YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnh-aqfg8rw Ko-Fi - https://ko-fi.com/p40ministries Website - https://www.p40ministries.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/p40ministries Contact - jenn@p40ministries.com Books - https://www.amazon.com/Jenn-Kokal/e/B095JCRNHY/ref=aufs_dp_fta_dsk Merch - https://www.p40ministries.com/shop YouVersion - https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/38267-out-of-the-mire-trusting-god-in-the-middle Check out LifeAudio for other faith-based podcasts on parenting, studying Scripture, and more:www.lifeaudio.com Need help memorizing Scripture? Check out Verse in the Chorus: https://www.youtube.com/@VerseintheChrous Become a member to gain access to The Bible Explained on Fridays: https://ko-fi.com/p40ministries Support babies and get quality coffee with Seven Weeks Coffee https://sevenweekscoffee.com/?ref=P40 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The Food of the Gods “I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, as to what you will tell him: for I am lovesick. What kind of beloved is your beloved, O most beautiful among women? What kind of beloved is your beloved, that thus you adjure us?” (So 5:9)   “The nations of the world say to Israel: ‘How is your beloved more than another beloved?” In what way is He God more than other gods, in what way is He a protector more than other protectors?'” (Midrash Rabbah to Shir 5§9)   Once again, the proto-typical event is the exodus from Egypt:   “For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments—I am the LORD.” (Ex 12:12) “And what one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people and to make a name for Himself, and to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land, before Your people whom You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from nations and their gods?” (2 Sa 7:23)   When did the other “gods” of the pantheon assume power over the nations?   And are these entities unruly evil demons or ruly assigned powers over the principalities (2 Pe 2:10; Jde 1:8)?   Too involved to answer, and probably not so fruitful, but when Israel goes into the principality of an assigned power, in a sense, it is the territory of that nation's assigned angelic majesty, elohim, or “judge, authority.” There are indeed, however, unruly demonic entities that operate within those principalities that are worshipped as gods.   Elohim is spirit, yet He “eats” the gifts of our worship, the human desire to be near to Him expressed in gifts and sacrifices:   ”You shall consecrate him, therefore, for he offers the food of your God; he shall be holy to you; for I the LORD, who sanctifies you, am holy.” (Le 21:8) “Speak to Aaron, saying, ‘No man of your offspring throughout their generations who has a defect shall approach to offer the food of his God.'” (Le 21:17) “…nor shall you accept any such [blemished, diseased] from the hand of a foreigner for offering as the food of your God; for their corruption (“decay”) is in them, they have a defect, they shall not be accepted for you.'” (Le 22:25)   Elohim’s food is to receive our heartfelt, lovesick obedience free of the decay of death. Our food is to do the will of the Father who sent Yeshua, the Living Word. (Jn 4:34)   The evil and unclean gods of the pantheon also receive “food” when we idolize them [we actually worship ourselves and they enable it]. As in the Garden, when the serpent offered the humans the opportunity to “be like God,” so evil spirits receive the gifts and sacrifices of human beings as food, fuel for their ability to cross into our realm and proliferate.   It was the serpent who was trying to be like God, and he needed Adam and Eve to feed that desire. He fed them what they desired; they fed him what he desired. The serpent is always eager to feed our wrong appetite, desire, emotion, and intellect. The end result, though, is death, not life.   Obedience to Elohim's voice, however, produces life and the ability to continue abundant life in the Garden, a Land flowing with milk and honey, wine and balsam.   The following recitation for the tithe of the third year contains specific language that reminds us we are not to feed the dead, whether ancestors or gods.   Instead, we feed only our Elohim with our holies of sacred obedience. In return, our Elohim sets us high above all the nations and their gods. This is why our Beloved is high above all others and why we are lovesick, seeking His Voice in the night of exile, which is what Adam and Eve should have done, waited to hear His Voice walking in the cool of the evening.   “When you have finished paying all the tithe of your increase in the third year, the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the orphan and to the widow, that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. You shall say before the LORD your God, ‘I have removed the sacred portion from my house, and also have given it to the Levite and the alien, the orphan and the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me; I have not transgressed or forgotten any of Your commandments. I have not eaten of it while mourning, nor have I removed any of it while I was unclean, nor offered any of it to the dead. I have listened to the voice of the LORD my God; I have done according to all that You have commanded me. Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel, and the ground which You have given us, a land flowing with milk and honey, as You swore to our fathers.' This day the LORD your God commands you to do these statutes and ordinances. You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul. You have today declared the LORD to be your God, and that you would walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments and His ordinances, and listen to His voice. The LORD has today declared you to be His people, a treasured possession, as He promised you, and that you should keep all His commandments; and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, for praise, fame, and honor; and that you shall be a consecrated people to the LORD your God, as He has spoken.” (Dt 26:12-19)   The unruly rebellious entities derive power when they are worshipped; in a sense, they are “fed” by human beings, which attracts greater numbers of unclean and evil spiritual beings…unclean in that those spirits are NOT assigned to the physical realm, but they hunt for physical hosts to enable them to operate there. It actually speeds the process of death and decay to the host because it is an unclean mixture. Life is only within one's assigned realm:   “Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation.” (Mt 12:45)   When we “feed” a spiritual entity our disobedience and rebellion, we transgress, mixing two realms, which invites death, not life. It has no place in the life of a believer in Yeshua, or in a human being at all. This is why disobedience is equated with witchcraft:   For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.” (1 Sa 15:23)   Because of this rebellion, the kingship and authority was forfeited. Just as in the Garden when the serpent had to entice the human beings into rebelling in order to commandeer their authority to rule, so we still can be deceived into the giving our spiritual authority to the beast by trying to be “like God.” There is only one Elohim, and all other beings are created by Him, even the rebels of the universe. An altar is a “table” connecting the physical realm with the spiritual. Why would we feed rebellious spirits the food of our own disobedience and share their demonic table fare?   “Look at the nation Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar? What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.” (1 Co 10:19-21)   Angelic powers over principalities don't need or want human worship to enlarge their influence or authority; they already have authority because it is assigned to them. Perhaps it was pre-assigned when the heavenly hosts were created, but more likely their creation prepared them to be assigned to their supervisory divisions after the Flood:   “Two sons were born to Eber; the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother's name was Joktan.” (Ge 10:25; 32; 1 Ch 1:19)   There is also this verse that synchronizes the symbolic 70 nations of the earth and their divisions to the number of Israelites who went down to Egypt:   “Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven. (Dt 10:22) “When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when He separated the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel.” (Dt 32:8)   This may not be a contradiction, but a hint to the restoration work in progress, a plan where the twelve tribes of Israel would become the judges over the nations from the gates of Jerusalem, i.e., the gates to the Garden of Eden, and the assigned princes over the nations would be shaken out of the way, that role concluded.   Whatever the details of the plan, it is evident that these angelic majesties were anticipated and assigned, but the original plan was for the righteous among humankind to judge those angels in administering the Kingdom on earth and possibly in the heavenlies:   “Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?” (1 Co 6:2-3)   These things are what makes our Beloved greater than the other gods of the nations. In addition, Messiah Yeshua can give his most beautiful Bride authority to rule the nations as at the beginning when Adam and Even ruled.   The gods of the nations, whether unruly demonic or the ruly assigned angelic majesties, cannot and will not give this kind of authority, for their authority is either usurped or only a temporary assignment.   “He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father; and I will give him the morning star.” (Re 2:26-28)   The morning star? The first resurrection! We can share Yeshua’s table at the wedding supper of the Lamb. (Re 3:20) Please SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to get new teachings.

“I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord… then you shall live… But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear… you shall surely perish… Therefore choose life, that you may live” (Dt 30:15-19). Obey the Lord and live; disobey and perish. Those were Moses's final words of welcome and warning to the Israelites to conclude the book of Deuteronomy (which we just finished together last month!). In this sermon, King David takes up this same theme in Psalm 37, reminding us that “evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land” (v9). Join us for this sermon for encouragement in your daily walk with the Lord!

Crossing the Red Sea.  Watching Jericho's walls fall.  And a Canaanite prostitute who demonstrates her fledgling trust in God.  All are wonderful examples of what's possible when we simply choose to have faith in our God and His promises.

Thank You Lord For Your Blessing, May We Live Like Jesus Numbers 6:22-27 22The Lord said to Moses, 23“Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: 24“ ‘ “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” ' 27“So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

WHAT WE COVERNumbers 3 reveals that access to the Presence of Yahuah is governed by His appointment, not man's desire.We examine:Why Yahuah chose the tribe of Levi instead of the firstborn of IsraelThe difference between the Levites and the Aaronic priesthoodWhy each Levitical family received a unique stewardshipWhy the Levites were counted from one month oldWhy every Levitical family camped in an appointed position around the TabernacleHow appointed authority governed every level of serviceWhy 273 firstborn Israelites had to be redeemed with silverWhat it means to belong to Yahuah before being appointed to serveWHY THIS MESSAGE MATTERSNumbers 2 established where every tribe belonged.Numbers 3 establishes who Yahuah appointed to serve nearest His Presence.No man chose his own ministry. No family selected its own stewardship. Every responsibility, every position, and every act of service was established by Yahuah Himself.The question is not whether we desire to draw near to Yahuah.The question is whether we will remain within the appointment He has established.SCRIPTURE REFERENCESNumbers 3:1-51Exodus 13:1-2Exodus 32:25-29Genesis 49:5-7ABOUT AHAVA ~ LOVE ASSEMBLYWe teach the pure Word of Yahuah.No religion. No traditions. No compromise.SUPPORT THE WORKGive via Zelle:ahavaloveministry.comFINAL HEART CHECKHas Yahuah appointed the place where I serve?Or am I pursuing a place He has not given?Yahuah appoints those who draw near to Him.The question is whether I will remain within His appointment."And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine." — Numbers 3:12#Numbers3 #BookOfNumbers #TorahStudy #AhavaLoveAssembly #ShabbatTeaching

What do you do when life doesn't turn out the way you expected? The Israelites had just witnessed God's miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea, yet only days later they found themselves facing thirst, hunger, and uncertainty in the wilderness. We'll discover that God faithfully provides for His people—not always by removing every difficulty, but by teaching them to trust, obey, and depend on Him one day at a time.Exodus 15-17Erick Jennings, Cornerstone Elder

Join us this week as Mike discusses the parable of the workers in the vineyard from Matthew 20, revealing that grace is not fair—it is receiving what we do not deserve. Through the master's repeated returns to the marketplace, we see a generous heart motivated not by the need for more laborers but by compassion for the desperate and hopeless. The early workers grumble when the latecomers receive the same denarius, trapped by comparison and seeking justification by their own efforts, much like the Israelites with the manna. Yet the true reward is not the wage but the Master himself, who invites us into his vineyard as a privilege of joyful purpose. Jesus opens the way back to this garden by bearing our exile on the cross, justifying us by faith. Will you trade the anxious marketplace for life with the Master?Watch on Youtube, Our Website - or listen on your favorite podcast app.

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

Most of us prefer the path to be direct and short. When life requires a longer route — application after application with no offer, a caregiving season that stretches on without relief, a waiting period that feels uncertain and never-ending — it is easy to become disillusioned not only with the situation but with God Himself. Why this way? Why so long? Why not the obvious route that was right there? The Israelites asked the same questions. After the miraculous liberation from Egypt, God led them away from the shortest path and around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. It made no sense — until it did. The longer route was not a delay. It was divine protection. If they had gone the direct way and encountered the Philistines in battle, they would have lost heart and run back to Egypt. And when Pharaoh's army bore down on them at the edge of the sea, what looked like the worst possible outcome became the stage for one of the greatest displays of God's power in all of Scripture. Psalm 27:14 calls us into the posture the Israelites ultimately had to choose: wait for the Lord, be strong, take heart, and wait. The three invitations this episode offers — pray to trust the detour, pray to see God at work, and pray until you praise — trace the same journey the Israelites traveled from fear to song. God is fighting for you. Stand firm long enough to see it. Today's Bible Verse "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."— Psalm 27:14, NIV Ponder Today The longer route is not a mistake — it may be divine protection. God led the Israelites away from the shortest path because He knew what lay on the other side of it. When His timing makes no sense, He may be shielding you from something you cannot yet see. What looks like the worst possible timing is often the setup for God's greatest display of faithfulness. The Israelites were trapped between Pharaoh's army and the Red Sea — and that was exactly where God chose to part the waters. Your impossible situation is not beyond His reach. Standing firm in fear is an opportunity to see God at work. Moses told the terrified Israelites to stand still and watch. That instruction still holds. When circumstances feel overwhelming, resist the urge to retreat to what feels familiar. Stay long enough to witness what God will do. A Prayer for You Today Lord God, when the road ahead feels uncertain, long, and tiring, I am tempted to lose heart. Help me to trust Your direction for my life and Your timing for the situation I face. Remind me that even when Your ways seem longer or less direct than I would like, You are still leading me with wisdom, protection, and care. Give me the courage to stand firm when fear rises and circumstances feel overwhelming. Open my eyes to see You at work in ways I might otherwise miss. Teach me to wait for You and to be strong even when I feel like quitting. I commit to waiting until my heart is once again filled with praise for Your majesty, grace, and faithfulness. Amen. Don't Miss an Episode If today's prayer helped you trust the detour you are currently walking, we'd love to stay connected. Subscribe to the LifeAudio newsletter at LifeAudio.com for daily prayers, devotionals, and more content to strengthen your heart while you wait on God's perfect timing. If you like this podcast, be sure to check out our sister podcast, Your Nightly Prayer - an evening Christian prayer podcast to help you end your day in conversation with God. https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this sermon, Pastor Jordan Caro preaches from Isaiah 55:6-11. God extends an invitation to the Israelites living in disobedience to return to Him, showing them that He is a God who abundantly pardons. That same invitation is extended to us today: no matter how far we've wandered or how often we've fallen short, God calls us to come back because His compassion and forgiveness are abundant. Check out this sermon to learn more!

The Great Rosary Campaign is an ongoing prayer and penance campaign for the conversion and strengthening of both Catholic and non-Catholic leaders.For this week's Great Rosary Campaign, let us pray for comedian Bill Maher a fallen-away Catholic and avowed atheist.The SUGGESTED PENANCE this week is a Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament, the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist.In these dark times, we must fight evil with the most powerful weapons we have. The Rosary is foremost among them. Join the Great Rosary Campaign today at: www.GreatRosaryCampaign.com.Countless Saints and Popes have told us that the Rosary is incredibly powerful for three things in particular:Keeping the FaithMoral renovationConversions of non-CatholicsThe Great Rosary Campaign is also based on several biblical themes and principles.First, PRAY FOR OUR BRETHREN. “Pray for one another…” (Jas. 5:16). “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6:10).Second, PRAY FOR OUR ENEMIES. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:43-44).Third, PRAY FOR ALL MEN, PARTICULARLY LEADERS AND THOSE IN AUTHORITY. “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, or kings and all who are in high positions…” (1 Tim. 2:1-2).Fourth, GOING INTO BATTLE WITH THE ARK. When the ancient Israelites came to Jericho, God didn't tell them to besiege the city. Instead, He told them to march around it with the Ark of the Covenant seven times, and on the seventh the walls would fall. We will now "march" in prayer for seven days with the New Ark of the Covenant, Our Lady, through the Rosary. We pray in hope that on the seventh day, a day especially devoted to Our Lady (Saturday), extraordinary graces of conversion will be given to those we are praying for.Fifth, EVANGELISM AND APOLOGETICS = LOVE + ARGUMENTS + PRAYER + PENANCE. Ultimately it is God who reveals Himself to a soul, and empowers them to say "yes" to Him by His grace. He chooses to use us, but He does not have to. We must remember that as we evangelize and defend the Faith, our arguments will be fruitless unless informed by love (charity), and reinforced by prayer and penance.Sixth, RETURNING GOOD FOR EVIL. “Do not return evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but on the contrary bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing" (1 Pet. 3:9).Sign up to take part in the Great Rosary Campaign today: www.GreatRosaryCampaign.com

Send us Fan MailRomans 9:1–13 (RSV). Paul's Sorrow for Israel and God's Election Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison open Season 18, Episode 20 of “Pondering the Bible,” noting Rocky's recovery from recent throat surgery, then begin Romans 9:1–13 (RSV). They discuss Paul's “great sorrow” over Israelites who faithfully follow Jewish law and worship yet do not believe in Jesus, emphasizing salvation by faith rather than DNA. Rocky explains Paul's use of “conscience” as a morally driven, Spirit-validated witness and highlights Paul's willingness to be “anathema” for his people, comparing it to Moses' plea in Exodus 32. They note Paul's listing of Israel's privileges, his strong statement that Jesus is both Jewish and God, and his argument that God's promises are for the Church (believers), not ethnic lineage, contrasting this with dispensationalism. They close by examining Isaac, Jacob, and Esau as examples of God's elective purpose and acknowledging the Calvinism debate. 00:00 Welcome and Check In 00:43 Reading Romans 9 02:46 Paul's Anguish for Israel 04:09 Conscience and the Spirit 07:56 Willing to Be Accursed 11:31 Israel's Privileges and Christ 15:15 Promises Beyond DNA 17:59 Dispensationalism Detour 22:48 Isaac Jacob and God's Choice 24:31 Election and Calvinism 26:22 Wrap Up and Dad JokeNEW!: Rate us at Podchaser  Find us at www.pondergmc.org. Feedback is welcome: PonderMethodist@gmail.com Music performed by the Ponder GMC worship team.Cover Art: Joe WagnerRecorded, edited and mixed by Snikrock 

in the book of Daniel we read how the King og Babylon tried to indoctrinate Daniel and all of the Israelite into their pagan ways.  Daniel held fast to his belief though and in the end was rewarded for his stand.. this is still true today.            "Be in the world, not of the world."Frank Spalding and the preaching team at Lincoln Hills Christian Church welcomes all those seeking to know more about the Real Jesus and how to be an active disciple.

Introduction: The Warning Signs of Fake Repentance (Numbers 14:39-45) Regret Without CHANGE . (Num 14:39-40) 2 Corinthians 7:10 - For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. Resistance to CONSEQUENCES . (Num 14:41) Reliance on SELF . (Num 14:42-45) John 5:6 - When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! For Our Example: Ancient Warnings for the Church Today - Do Not Be Fake Repenters Taylor Brown Download Audio Transcript 00:48Please turn your Bibles to Numbers chapter 14 verses 39 through 45. Numbers chapter 14 verses 39 through 45. It can be hard to spot something that is fake if you don't sit up and pay attention to the warning signs. Raise your hand if you've ever been tricked into believing that an AI generated image or video was actually real. It's okay, you're among friends. We've all been bamboozled.01:17and no, I have too. We've all been tricked. So many people are fooled by AI on social media. So many friends and family members have sent me a new trailer for a new movie that is completely fake. I have to awkwardly break them. The bad news. A reel will pop up on social media or Facebook and it looks legit, but if you sit up and pay attention to the warning signs, you'll see that something, is off.01:48There are lighting inconsistencies.01:51A person's hand has seven or six fingers instead of five.01:55A car crashing doesn't obey the law of physics.02:00Or maybe someone's mouth moving doesn't line up with what they're saying.02:05I don't want to lecture you about the dangers of AI because you are very well aware.02:10Slander, misinformation, cyber attack, even framing people for crimes that they didn't actually commit. With each passing year, AI is getting more and more advanced, and it's getting more and more difficult to tell the difference between what is genuine and what is fake, what is real and what is not, what is true and what is phony. AI is a really serious issue in 2026, isn't it?02:41But do you know what's an infinitely more serious issue that has spanned the entirety of human existence? Sin and a person's response to it. The Bible commands you. The Bible commands me. The Bible commands everyone to repent. Repentance is a total change of mind and direction. You are called to turn away from your sin and to turn towards Jesus Christ.03:10You are commanded to repent, not just on the day of your conversion, but every single day after that as well. But here's the problem. How can you tell if a person's repentance is genuine or not? How can you tell if your repentance is the real deal or not? Similar to AI, you need to sit up and pay attention to the warning signs.03:39You'd be on the lookout for the warning signs of phoniness. We have taken a brief pause on our series in the book of 1 Corinthians to focus on the books of Exodus and Numbers. We're in the third week of our latest series for our example, Ancient Warnings for the Church Today. We have been studying some serious cases of sin and disobedience. The Israelites have provided negative examples for us to avoid, and the Lord has provided warnings for us to heed. Warnings such as, do not be idolaters. Do not be doubters.04:17This morning, the Lord has another warning for you and me.04:22That warning is, do not be fake repenters.04:27Do not be fake repenters.04:31And the stakes of this warning are extremely high.04:34The ramifications are a matter of life or death.04:38Heaven or Hell. So I beg you to not lean back and daydream during this sermon. Instead, sit up and pay attention. Be on the lookout for the warning signs of fake repentance in your life. Because the Lord may convict you today that you've never truly repented. Or the Lord may convict you that you haven't truly repented.05:08in a very long time.05:11So let's go to the Lord and ask for His help.05:14Please pray for me that I will faithfully proclaim God's Word.05:18And I will pray for you that you will faithfully receive God's Word.05:24Father, we come before You today to acknowledge our many sins.05:30We come before You to acknowledge the reality that we so often do not deal with our sins in the ways that You want us to.05:37We so often don't deal with our sin. Or we deal with our sin in the way that we want to. Lord, today, may we truly deal with our sin in the way you called us to in your word. And that way is genuine repentance. By the end of this service, Lord, may we all be able to say before you with integrity that we are genuine repenters. May your Holy Spirit move in a great and mighty way. May he seek and save the lost. May he He give faith where there is none. We ask all this in Jesus' name. Amen. The warning signs of fake repentance. The warning signs of fake repentance. Number one in your outline, regret without change. Regret without change. Last week we studied the story of Israel's doubt and their refusal to enter into the promised land.06:37to scope it out, to see where the enemies were and where their cities were as well.06:42And they're commanded to be of good courage, but many of them choose to be cowards.06:48Ten of them came back with a very bad report.06:53And this bad report led the Israelites to doubt the Lord, to grumble against Him, and to refuse to enter the Promised Land.07:04There are immediate consequences for this disobedience. Immediately, the ten unfaithful spies are killed by a plague. And the Lord shares the long-term consequences of their disobedience. The older generations will not enter the promised land. The only two people who will are Joshua and Caleb. Because they were the two faithful spies who gave a good report and were faithful to the Lord.07:34Everybody else, 20 or older, will never enter the Promised Land. The younger generations will see the Promised Land, but they have to wait for 40 years. They have to wander in circles for 40 years. Now it's time for Moses to break that bad news to the Israelites. God has shared that with him. Now he has to share it with them. How do you think that's going to go? Is it going to go well?08:04Are they going to respond positively or negatively? Are they going to respond with genuine repentance or fake repentance? Let's see their response in verse 39. When Moses told these words to all the people of Israel, the people mourned greatly. This seems positive, right? This seems like a good development. The people seem crushed. They aren't grumbling.08:35anymore. They aren't shaking their fists at the heavens. They aren't kicking the sheep in anger. They are crying. That's good, right? But are these tears genuine? Is this genuine repentance? That is the question. And we find the answer to that question in verse 40. And they rose early in the morning and went up to the heights of the hill country saying, here we are. We will go up to the place the Lord has promised for we have sinned.09:07The Israelites still are not getting it. They still are not listening. They are not doing what God tells them to do. At first, God says, go into the promised land. And they say, you know what? We're not going. Now he says, do not go into the promised land. And what do they say? Oh yeah? Well, we're going. It's the same disobedience dressed up in different clothing.09:33They still are not repentant. They still are not changed. They may have some regrets. But they are not truly sorry for their sin. And we see this kind of fake repentance all throughout the Bible. Esau regretted that he sold his birthright to his brother Jacob for a stupid bowl of stew. He even put on the waterworks show.10:031217, Esau never truly repented of his ungodly behavior. He never truly changed. King Saul disobeyed the Lord and his throne was stripped from him. Sure, on the outside, Saul looked upset. He looked sad, but on the inside, he was still stubbornly disobeying the Lord. He was not changed. He was not truly repentant. What about Judas?10:33Judas betrayed our Lord for 30 pieces of silver. He immediately regretted the worst betrayal in human history, but he didn't turn to the Lord for forgiveness as Peter did when he denied Jesus three times. The Bible is very clear that Judas was not saved. He was not repentant. He was not changed. The mourning of Esau, Saul, and Judas, meant nothing. And it led to nothing good. The Israelites' repentance in this passage, their regret, means nothing. And it leads to nothing good. Listen to what Paul has to say about this in 2 Corinthians 7.10. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret. Whereas worldly grief produces death.11:33So many people live with regret every single day, don't they? So many people feel bad about their bad decisions. They try to numb their pain. They try to ignore it. They try to push it down. Are any of those plans a good idea? Are any of those plans biblical repentance? Not at all.12:05While true sorrow, true brokenness over your sin produces a repentance that leads to internal transformation and eternal life. If you are truly, genuinely repentant and saved, then you will not regret that you repented. You will not regret that you put your old life of sin in the rearview mirror. If you are truly repentant and saved, then you will not remain the same You will not remain unchanged. The genuineness of your repentance is proven by how you think, how you speak, how you act, and how you react. For those of you who don't know me very well, I have two children, Sam and Emmy. Sam is almost seven years old and Emmy is four and a half. I have to say that half because that means a lot to her. She would get mad if I didn't say it. She's four and a half. For the most part, our kids, get along. But there are some moments when they brawl. They're mean to each other. Hands are used for shoving. On occasion, Emmy's fingernails are used for scratching. And when I separate them, I'll say, what happened? Sam was rude to me. Emmy scratched me. And I'll say to Sam, Sam, was that okay? He goes, no, I'm sorry. I'll say to Sam, It's great that you say that you're sorry. But how can you show us that you're sorry? He'll say, but not being rude to Emmy. Right. Exactly right. You show me that you're sorry for being rude to Emmy by not being rude to her in the future. But I'll take Emmy aside. Emmy, was that right to do that to Sam? No. I'm sorry. Emmy, how can you show me that you're sorry for scratching your brother? And she'll say, by not scratching Sammy. That's exactly right.14:03You show that you're sorry for scratching your brother by not scratching him in the future. It's that simple. These examples may seem ridiculous to you, but this principle applies to your life as well. Yes, you should say that you're sorry, but that's not the end goal. That's just the beginning. That's just the first step. You must show that you're sorry.14:33How can you show that you're sorry for being harsh with your wife? Stop being harsh with her. Stop saying rude and unkind things to her. Stop belittling her to her face. Start building her up with your words. Start showing her that you love her. Don't just say that you're sorry. Show her that you're sorry. How can you show that you're sorry for belittling your husband?15:03Stop belittling him. Stop making fun of him behind his back. Stop making fun of him to his face. Stop putting him down in private or in public. Instead, start building him up in private and in public. When he's faithful at home, when he's faithful at work, encourage him. Don't just say that you're sorry. Show him that you're sorry. How can you show your kids that you're sorry for losing your temper yet again and blowing up at them. Stop losing your temper and blowing up at them. Stop acting like a child. Act like an adult. Start walking away and gathering your composure before you deal with their behavioral problems. Don't just say that you're sorry to your kids. Show them that you're sorry. How do you show a friend that you are sorry for lying to him?16:04Stop lying. Stop stretching the truth. Stop exaggerating. Stop saying what they want to hear. Start telling the truth no matter what. Don't just say that you're sorry. Show him or her that you're sorry. How can you show that you're sorry for an impure and out of control thought life? Stop allowing your mind to wander in every direction. Start cleaning up your thought life.16:35Stop consuming mass quantities of garbage on TV and social media. Start consuming mass quantities of God's Word. Biblical podcasts, good Christian books. Don't just say that you're sorry. Show that you're sorry. This is so simple in theory, isn't it? Is this easy in execution? No. Repentance.17:03is hard. Changing is hard. It's inconvenient. It's humbling. It's an up and down roller coaster. It's a two steps forward, one step back process. And sometimes even a two steps forward, two steps back journey. You will fail. You will fall along the way. But brothers and sisters, genuine repentance is worth it because it leads to life both now and forever.17:32Changing leads to blessing in the present and in eternity. Do not be a fake repenter by just saying that you're sorry. Prove that you are a genuine repenter by showing that you are truly sorry for your sin. The warning signs of fake repentance. Number two, resistance to consequences. Resistance to consequences.18:06Moses is not pleased with the Israelites' attempt to take the promised land that was taken away from them. Check out what he says to them in verse 41. He asks a question. But Moses said, why are you now transgressing the command of the Lord when that will not succeed? Moses is frustrated. He asks this question in frustration. Why in the world would you Would you try to take the promised land if you know that you're not allowed to and that you will not succeed? Moses just told them the consequences for their actions. They cannot enter the promised land for 40 years and most of them will die. But do they accept these consequences? No, instead they push against the consequences. They resist with everything in them.19:02They are resisting the consequences of their actions. Since childhood, you have learned about the relationship between cause and effect. Action and consequence. Finish this sentence with me. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. All right, action. I throw this ball up in the air. What is the consequence?19:32I come back down due to gravity, right? Action. I go out onto the stone patio and join your kids in their favorite activity, throwing rocks. Action. I lob this rock into the parking lot. It heads directly for your passenger side window. What's the consequence? It shatters the window and makes a huge mess that I am personally responsible for. Action. Consequence.20:03But here's the question.20:05Am I going to accept the consequence for my action?20:09Or will I resist it?20:12Will I be a fake repenter or a genuine repenter?20:16Here's what fake repentance looks like.20:20I mean, yeah, I probably shouldn't have thrown that rock, but your window should have been able to take that hit.20:26Obviously, your window is flimsy and faulty.20:29You should have parked far away like I do.20:31You know the kids play with rocks. Anyway, it was an accident. I didn't mean to. I'm not going to pay for that. Fake repentance. Resisting the consequences. Whereas genuine repentance looks like accepting that consequence. It was stupid and wrong for me to throw that rock. I am so sorry. I will cover the damages. We can go through my insurance or I can just give you cash or a check right now.21:01Genuine repenters do not resist the consequences of their actions. Genuine repenters accept the consequences of their actions. Let me give you some examples of what this actually looks like. You betray a fellow church member by gossiping about her behind her back. And she finds out what you said and she confronts you about it. Fake repentance looks like this.21:30What I said wasn't that bad. It wasn't that big of a deal. I was just concerned about you. I was sharing that concern with somebody else. Don't be upset with me. The woman, in turn, is upset with you. And you act very inconvenienced that she's upset with you. You cut this woman out of your life. You exit your small group. You tell everyone this woman is bitter, angry, and toxic. Fake repentance.22:00What does genuine repentance look like? I should not have said that about you. I am so sorry. There is no excuse. You have every right to be upset with me. Genuine repentance. You let that member of your family down yet again. You keep telling this guy that you'll be there for him, and you keep letting him down. And in turn, he no longer thinks you are dependable.22:31by saying, well, sorry, my whole life doesn't revolve around your schedule. Come on, man. You know I have so much going on in my life. Or you can be a genuine repenter and say, I let you down again. No excuse. I shouldn't have done it. I know my word doesn't mean very much to you, but I hope that it will again someday. I understand if I won't be the first person that you call when you need something.22:58You get together with your friends and you drink way more than you should. At family get-togethers, you say dumb things and you do dumb things because of your drinking. You can be a fake repenter and resist the consequence by pointing the finger at others. Oh, come on, just relax. Life's so stressful, I just need to cut loose sometimes. You all need to just calm down. It's not a big deal.23:28people don't invite you to family activities anymore.23:32Because they don't like to see you when you're drinking.23:36Whereas genuine repentance looks like this.23:38I do have a problem.23:40I have wrecked so many relationships.23:42I have ruined so many moments.23:44I have destroyed trust.23:45I'll do whatever it takes to rebuild that trust with you.23:52Genuine repenters do not put a timeline on the healing of other people.23:58Genuine repenters give those they have wronged the space they need for the relationship to be restored. Genuine repenters do not demand forgiveness. They ask for forgiveness. I may not have addressed your particular situation with all these examples, but I hope and pray the Holy Spirit has laid His hand of conviction upon you because I guarantee you, there is a situation in your life when you are not repenting. I had to deal with situations in my life this week when I was not truly repenting. I pray that God has revealed how you may be harming yourself. How you may be hurting others. How you may be hindering a close relationship with the Lord by refusing to submit to the consequences you brought upon yourself. By trying to escape.24:58the effects that you have caused.25:02Do not be a fake repenter by resisting the consequences of your sin.25:08Prove that you are a genuine repenter by accepting the consequence of your sin.25:17The warning signs of fake repentance.25:19Third and final warning sign.25:21Reliance on self.25:23Reliance on self.25:29In verses 42 through 43, Moses gives the reason why the Israelites will fail if they try to take the promised land. He says, do not go up, for the Lord is not among you, lest you be struck down before your enemies. For there the Amalekites and the Canaanites are facing you, and you shall fall by the sword. Because you have turned back from following the Lord, the Lord, will not be with you.25:59Why will the Israelites fail?26:02Why will they not succeed?26:03They try to take the promised land?26:05Because God will not be with them.26:08Because God will not fight for them.26:12They will lose because God will not give them victory.26:17Israel's effort minus God's help equals defeat.26:22They cannot fight this battle on their own.26:25And the same is true for you and me. Your effort minus God's help equals defeat. You are not strong enough to fight your battles on your own. Do you believe that? Do you live like you believe that? The Israelites don't seem to believe it. They certainly don't live like they believe it. This message should stop the Israelites' dead in their tracks, but it doesn't. Once again, they ignore his command and do whatever they want to do. In verse 44. But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, although not the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord nor Moses departed out of the camp. The Israelites do not seem to care that they are going into battle without two essential ingredients. The Ark of the Covenant and Moses himself. The very presence of God, rests upon the ark, on the mercy seat, in between the two golden cherubim. Moses is God's chosen leader. God is the boss, and Moses is the manager. God expresses his commands and his plans for Israel through Moses. So let's cover Israel's battle plan one more time. The people of God are going to wage war without God's blessing, without God's presence and without God's chosen leader. This is a purely human effort and endeavor. The Israelites are relying on their own strength instead of God's strength. Let's see how that plays out for them in verse 45. Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and defeated them and pursued them even to Hormah.28:26It shouldn't shock us that Israel lost because Moses told them that they would. They pushed their chips all in on themselves and the gamble did not pay off. They pay a massive price. So for the third week in a row, our story ends on a down note. And you may be thinking, oh man, this series is just so heavy. I need like a nice and fluffy conclusion. Come on, I really need, If you feel that way, think about how I feel. I've been studying this for three weeks. I understand that desire. I understand that feeling. But I encourage you to instead answer this question. What should I learn from this sad ending? What should I learn from this sad ending? When you rely on yourself, you will disappoint yourself.29:25When you rely on yourself, you will disappoint yourself. Self-reliance leads to self-destruction. Fake repenters try to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps, while genuine repenters ask God to pull them out of the pit that they have dug for themselves. Fake repenters fight their battles in their own strength, while genuine repenters fight battles in the Lord's strength.30:01We know what it looks like for the Israelites to rely on themselves. We see it right here. What does it look like for you to rely on yourself? How are you trusting in yourself rather than the Lord right now? Maybe you never pray.30:24You rarely ask other people to pray for you. Prayer says a lot about you because prayer is the major metric of faith. Bible reading, Bible meditation, and memorization are negotiable tasks instead of non-negotiable things that are blocked off in your schedule. Church attendance, participation, and fellowship are add-ons and not essentials to your life. Maybe you will not commit to this church or any other church.30:53You've been a free agent for a long time and responsible to no one. Maybe it's not hard to convince you to skip on Sunday morning. You're too tired. You need to rest. You had a busy weekend. You have plans later today. You're just not feeling it today. You show up to church occasionally, and when you do show up, you make no effort to build up other relationships with other believers. You make no effort to make genuine connections.31:26Maybe you always come up with reasons why you can't join a small group. Or you've been a part of a small group in the past, but you've just been shut off. And you didn't really share anything. As a result, you have no accountability in your life. You are not known by anyone in this church, and you do not know anyone else in this church. An unknown Christian, is a dangerous Christian. An unknown Christian is an accident waiting to happen. You need God's strength. And one of the greatest ways to receive God's strength is to ask his people for help. When I came on staff four years ago, Pastor Jeff taught me to ask people in counseling the same question that Jesus asked the paralyzed man in John 5, 6.32:22And the question is this. Do you want to be healed? Do you want to be made well? Does that seem like a strange question to you? It seemed like a strange question to me for a little while. But time and experience have proven to Pastor Jeff and myself that it's really not a strange question because most people do not want to be healed. Most people do not want to be made well.32:51Most people really do not want help. They are fine with staying right where they are, even though right where they are is a terrible place to be. Fake repenters do not share their struggles with others. Instead, they keep their sin a secret. Is that what you're doing today? How's that working out for you? I'm guessing not very well.33:21People know what they are going through because they want to save face. They want to look spiritual. They don't want other people to know what's going on. They want to solve their problems on their own. Genuine repenters do not keep their sin a secret. Genuine repenters share their struggles with others because they want to find God's solution. Do you want to be healed? Do you want to be made Well, are you willing to admit that you need help? Do not be a fake repenter by relying on your own strength because you have none. Prove that you are a genuine repenter by going to the Lord for His strength because He has it in abundance and He wants to share it with you right now. In Numbers 14, verses 39-45, the Israelites refused to change.34:22They refuse to obey. They refuse to accept the consequences of their sin. And they end up experiencing even more consequences. They refuse to rely on God. They refuse to genuinely repent. That's them. What about you? As you've evaluated your heart over the course of this message, has your repentance proven to be fake?34:51or genuine, real or phony. Maybe you've come to grips with the fact that you've never repented even once in your life. If that's you, it's not too late. You can repent today. You can repent right now. Stop trying to hide your sin because God already knows your sin and He is willing to forgive it. Stop trying to save face and look good to other people around you while you are withering away and dying on the inside.35:26What is the point of saving face if your soul is not saved?35:30It's pointless.35:34Turn from your sin and turn to Jesus Christ for forgiveness, for new life.35:38I promise you, if you turn to Christ in faith, He will never turn you away.35:45Tell the Lord that you're sorry for your sin.35:48and show that you're sorry by humbly reaching out and accepting the free gift of salvation that he offers in his son. Maybe you are a genuine believer who genuinely repented in the past. But your repentance has been anything but genuine lately. You've been going through the motions you've been putting on the show, you've been playing the part, you've been pretending. You've been giving into temptation and holding.36:18on to sin.36:20What should you do?36:24As one pastor said many years ago, you need to repent of your repentance.36:31You need to repent genuinely of your fake repentance.36:36Tell the Lord that you're sorry and show Him that you're sorry by taking the steps of change today.36:45Please bow your heads and close your eyes.36:49Whether you need to repent for the very first time or for the millionth time, spend the next several minutes in prayer. Push aside every other concern in your life because nothing else matters more than dealing with your sin. If you need someone to pray with you, we have someone in the prayer corner. We also have someone back in guest reception. We have one of our elders, Brian Behe. For you men and for you ladies, Marina Kraus will be.37:17back there as well.37:20They're there to judge you and make you feel bad.37:23They're there to help you and point you to the grace of Jesus Christ.37:28I beg you, don't worry about saving face.37:32Don't worry about what other people might think.37:34Because you know what? Their eyes are closed.37:36And they're going to be focused on their own issues.37:40So do business with the Lord by praying in your seat.37:43Or going to pray with one of the people in the back.37:48Father, all of us in this room need to repent. All of us in this room need to change from the heart level. We have sinful thoughts, sinful motivations. We also say sinful words and do sinful things. But Lord, we thank You for Your mercy and Your grace, which is more than enough to cover all of our sins and cover all the sins of anyone who trusts in your Son and what he accomplished through his perfect life and his death upon the cross. Lord, I pray that there are men and women in this room who have not bowed the knee to your Son and repented. Lord, give them restlessness until they find rest in you today. And for the rest of us, Lord, may we take the path to change.38:46in our lives. May we be honest about who we have wronged and how we have wronged them. Father, may we not just feel bad right now. But may that godly grief produce genuine repentance that truly lasts. We ask all this in Jesus' name. Amen. Small Group DiscussionRead Numbers 14:39-45What was your big take-away from this passage / message?What are the warning signs of fake repentance? Are any of these warning signs present in your life?How is the Lord calling you to change right now?Why are we so slow to ask other believers for help? BreakoutPray for one another.

Telling the Story: Part 2 Acts 7:1-16 by William Klock When I was an American school kid in the 70s and 80s I learned that the defining events in the history of the United States were was the founding of Jamestown in 1607; the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth in 1620; and, of course, the Revolutionary War that began in 1775 and the signing of the Declaration of Independence—well—almost exactly 250 years ago.  There were plenty of other events that shaped the story, but those were the events that set the United States on its trajectory: a heritage from Britain with a good dose of religious freedom and Protestant work ethic coming together in a grand expression of the rights of man shaped by the Enlightenment.  Were there flaws?  Yep.  Slavery was a big one.  But the way I learned the story, the British mainland colonies of North America were on the fringe of the slave trade.  We received a tiny fraction of it.  The real slavery problem was in the Caribbean and Latin America.  Plus, we dealt with it.  The whole Civil War thing—a tragedy.  But it was a story to be proud of. But in 2019, the New York Times began a new publishing project.  They called it The 1619 Project.  It was subtitled, “A New Origin Story”.  Why 1619?  That was the year the first African slaves were brought to Virginia.  Before the Pilgrims.  Before the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.  It was a deliberate attempt to reframe the story of the United States.  Instead of a story rooted in a proud English heritage and religious liberty and Enlightenment ideals of freedom and liberty, the 1619 Project told the story of the United States as one rooted in racism and slavery and oppression.  Instead of a story that makes you stand proud, it's a story meant to instil shame and guilt. The 1619 Project didn't come out of nowhere.  It made public a story that many people had already been telling, especially to younger generations. And, as you would expect, this resulted in a great cultural clash.  Both sides shouting at the other, basically saying, “How dare you tell our story wrong!”  It wasn't so much a matter of the events themselves.  Both versions of the story involved the same events, the same people, and all of that.  But it highlights how much how you frame a story, how much you stress certain events and people and ideas over others, that you can end up with stories that are essentially the same, while dramatically different.  One instils national pride; the other instils national shame.  That doesn't mean there's no right or wrong.  Framing the American story as if slavery and racism are its fundamental core is dishonest.  But at the same time, telling a story that glosses over those evils for the sake of instilling pride, well, that's a problem too. And as much as this Postmodern metanarrative dilemma was nowhere on the radar of First Century Jews, I think it's a good way to understand what was going with Jews in those days and it's a good illustration of what Stephen is doing in his speech before the Sanhedrin in Ats 7.  [It's page 1087 in the Pew Bibles.]  There were different “parties” competing for influence and control in First Century Judaea and as much as they all told the same story of Israel, reaching back to Abraham and Moses and David, to the law and the Prophets, all rooted in the same exodus and exile and the same promises, how they told the story produced very different results, different feelings about Israel's present situation, different ideas about the future and how to get there—just as how I learned American history makes you smile when you see the Stars and Stripes, but others, having learned The 1619 Project story, feel shame. For Pharisees, unfaithfulness to the law resulted in exile—one that was still effectively ongoing—and only national faithfulness to the law would get them out of it.  For the Sadducees, that was all in the past.  God had restored them from their exile, and the temple and its priests were the proof.  All was well.  For the Zealots, the story said that armed revolution was the only way out of their oppression.  For the Essenes, the group responsible for the Dead Sea Scrolls, the story said that the everyone and everything had been defiled by unfaithfulness, even the temple itself.  God would wage holy war on the unfaithful, so they—the only truly righteous ones—retreated to the desert to wait and to keep pure.  And there was the historian Josephus.  A generation later, he told the story—after the disaster had happened—to say that the Jewish revolutionaries had brought God's wrath on themselves and that God had raised up the Romans to act as his instrument of judgement.  Same story, but the different ways they told it, the different parts they emphasised, the way they interpreted certain events like the Babylonian Exile, landed them in very different places.  Like I said last week, the story got them to the airport, but they were all waiting at different gates—and none of them the right gate for the God's real homecoming.  That said, all of them held the same markers of Jewish identity dear: the torah, the temple, the promised land, their circumcision.  They disagreed on a lot, but attack any of those things and they'd all join in stoning you after charging you with blasphemy. So what Stephen is doing before the Sanhedrin, backing up all the way to Abraham and telling the story yet again, was in good keeping with what was going on in First Century Judaea.  So—in case you missed last week or have forgotten—in the first sixteen verses, Stephen began telling the story of Jesus and the Spirit by going back to Abraham.  This was the moment when the God of glory—Stephen wants to stress that he's here to glorify the God of Israel, not blaspheme him or his holy things—Abraham was the moment when God stepped into the darkness and misery of his broken, fallen, corrupted creation and called to Abraham.  In Abraham, God was launching his project to restore rebellious humanity to himself and to set to rights the creation that we broke.  Now, there was more to it than this—it's online if you missed or forgot it—but Stephen's main point is that the gospel is not a departure from the story of Israel.  It's not something new that has no roots in what happened before.  He's saying to the Jewish elders: When the God of glory, the God of Israel called Abraham out of Ur and settled him in the promised land and established his covenant with him to make him a nation, that was the beginning of the story that brings us to Jesus, to the cross and the empty tomb, to the ascension and to Pentecost.  The story of Abraham is the story of the gospel and vice versa. Remember, they accused him of blaspheming torah and temple and Stephen's saying, “No way!  Torah and temple are good.  They're glorious.  They're how God prepared us and brought us to Jesus.”  Like I said last week, when you leave your car and board the ferry, you are in no way saying your car was bad.  It got you to the ferry.  But you can't drive on water.  Now it's time do something new—to do the very thing your car brought you to do. And then from Abraham to Joseph.  Stephen tells Isreal's story in such a way to highlight that when the God of Israel acts to bless and to save his people, it's often in unexpected ways.  Abraham was promised the land of Canaan, but never had any more of it than a little burial plot.  And Jacob and his sons were forced to flee the land of Canaan in order to survive a famine.  And Jacob's sons were wicked men who sold their brother, Joseph into slavery after nearly choosing to murder him.  And Joseph went from slavery to prison.  How was God going to work anything good from any of that?  But he did.  The sovereign God was at work all along.  Slavery and prison led Joseph to the premiership of Egypt just in time deliver his family when they arrived.  None of them had ever expected any of that.  But God delivered them.  And Stephen's telling of the Joseph story also highlights that gracious forgiveness has always been at the heart of the story of God and his people.  There was Joseph, hated, abused, sold into slavery by his brothers, but instead of taking revenge, he welcomes them and throw a party. This is what Jesus had been doing as the lost sheep of Israel, the tax collectors and sinners, came to him in repentance and faith. And this is the sort of rejoicing that would take place in heaven were the Sanhedrin to see how the story leads to Jesus and repent.  God was waiting for them with open arms and a promise of blessing, and they should know that, because that's how God's great story has always worked.  It's the key in which this great symphony is written. So now, Moses.  As important as Abraham and Joseph were, Moses stands like a colossus over the story of Israel.  Moses was the deliverer who led Israel out of Egypt and parted the sea.  It was Moses who went up Mt. Sinai and saw God for himself.  It was Moses who came down and delivered the torah to Israel.  It was under Moses that God made a nation out of Abraham's family.  And this is where they've accused Stephen of blasphemy.  They've accused him of speaking against the torah and temple and Moses.  So look at Acts 7, beginning at verse 17.  Stephen highlights three things about Moses.  The first thing he stresses is how Moses was raised up by God to be the right man at the right place at the right time—even though no one would have guessed at the beginning that Moses was God's man for the hour. Stephen says: “God had sworn an oath to Abraham.  [Remember the promise to make him a great nation and to give his descendants the land of Canaan?] When the time drew near for this promise to be fulfilled, the people had increased and multiplied in Egypt, until another king arose over Egypt, one who had not known Joseph.  He got the better of our people, and ill-treated our fathers, forcing them to abandon their newborn children so that they would die.  It was at that time that Moses was born, and he was pleasing to God. He was nursed for three months in his father's house.  But, when they abandoned him, Pharaoh's daughter claimed him and brought him up as her own son.  So Moses was educated in the full teaching of Egyptian wisdom, and he was powerful in what he said and did.” Already, in the life of Joseph, Stephen has stressed that God works human evil for good.  Nothing escapes his sovereign hand.  And just so with Moses.  First, this new Pharoah decides to make slaves of the Hebrews.  Not good.  And then, when their numbers increase so prolifically that Pharaoh fears being able to control them, he hatches a plan to murder all the baby boys.  And so Moses ends up in a basket in the river, where Pharaoh's daughter finds him and decides to raise him as her own.  God turns Pharaoh's hate, prejudice, and injustice against him, sovereignly placing one of those Hebrew boys right in Pharaoh's own home, raised at Pharaoh's expense, and tutored by Pharaoh's own tutors in the famed wisdom of the Egyptians.  God ensure the story is full of irony.  Pharaoh unwittingly nurtures and educates the very man who will be his downfall.  And Moses, himself, receives the training needed one day to oversee, to govern the people of Israel.  Again, at the time, none of this made any sense.  No one could see any significance to the story as it was unfolding.  But God has a plan and one of the things the Jewish people learned from Moses' story—and so many others—is to trust God.  In the famous words of William Cowper, God moves in a mysterious way.  It's another motif in the divine symphony—one that comes back over and over and that God's people out to recognise when they hear the music. Second, Stephen stresses the rejection of Moses by his own people.  Look at verse 23: “When he had grown to forty years old, it came into his heart to see how his brothers, the sons of Israel, were doing.  He saw someone being wronged, and came to the man's defence; he took revenge on behalf of the man who was being oppressed, by striking down the Egyptian.  He thought his kinsfolk would grasp the fact that God was sending him to their rescue, but they didn't. “The next day he showed up as two Hebrews were fighting, and he tried to bring them back together again. ‘Now then, you two,' he said, ‘you are brothers! Why are you wronging each other?'  But the man who was wronging the other wasn't having it.  ‘Who made you a ruler or judge over us?' he retorted, pushing him away.  ‘Do you want to kill me in the same way you killed the Egyptian yesterday?'  At that word, Moses ran away, and lived as a guest in the land of Midian, where he had two sons.” Yet another motif in the symphony, another recurring theme in the story.  Jesus wasn't the first of God's deliverers to be rejected by his own people.  The story highlights that this is sometimes how God works.  Now, there's no one-to-one equivalence between Moses and Jesus.  Moses was rejected because he wasn't ready yet.  He had a desire to see his people freed, but he hadn't yet been called by God to that mission, nor had he received instruction on how to do it God's way.  This way of telling the story, this way of looking back to the Old Testament is something we see all through the New Testament.  I think of the way Matthew regularly explains how something in the Jesus story “fulfils” this or that thing from the Old Testament.  And often we're left wondering how the connection works.  Thanks largely to the Church Fathers, we've been taught to see these connections as literal prophecies or as “types”, as spiritual shadows that prefigure Jesus and various events in his life.  That's kind of close, but it's not quite what Stephen (or Matthew) do.  When Matthew, for example says that in the birth of Jesus Isaiah's words about the virgin conceiving and bearing a child are fulfilled, we wonder how that works.  Isaiah was talking about a young woman in his own day bearing a child…and she wasn't a virgin.  What Matthew was doing was pointing back to an event in Israel's past, in Israel's story, where the birth of a child to a young woman—maybe a princess, maybe the Prophet's wife…it's not clear—but where the birth of this child signalled that God was about to act to deliver his people.  Matthew latched onto that.  This is how God works, but this time—in the birth of Jesus—it's not just a young woman, it's an actual virgin, and this time God's not just delivering his people from a foreign king; this time it's deliverance from sin and death.  Matthew recognised the motif in the music.  It was there in Isaiah's day, a lone violin telling a story that most people missed, but in the birth of Jesus that motif returned, and this time the whole symphony was playing it. Stephen's drawing on the story of Moses the same way.  Moses was rejected by his own people.  A repeating theme in the story that the Sanhedrin—people who know this story, know this symphony so well already—a theme they ought now to see plain as day in what happened to Jesus.  It should be obvious.  They were the ones playing the instruments this time, after all. And then, third, Stephen stresses how through Moses, the God of glory, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God Israel had known for two thousand years, had revealed himself in a new way that no one had expected.  Look at verse 30: “After another forty years, an angel appeared to him in the desert at Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush.  When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the vision.  But, as he came closer to see, there came the voice of the Lord: ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob.'  Moses was very frightened, and didn't dare to look.  But the Lord said to him, ‘Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.  I have looked long and hard at the trouble my people are having in Egypt. I have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them.  So, come on now: I'm going to send you to Egypt.'” Stephen wants to be clear—and we see this all through early Christian preaching—the God revealed in Jesus the Messiah is not new.  He is the same God who has been directing this story, this symphony from the beginning.  This is the God of their fathers, the God who has been rescuing his people according to his promises for two thousand years.  The God they know.  The God whose character and ways they ought to have recognised in Jesus. Yes, Stephen's saying, Jesus was not what we expected.  In Jesus—and now in the Spirit—God is doing something amazing, something astounding, something new.  And that's why you rejected him.  But knowing the story, knowing the music, we should have expected God would do precisely this: something new, something wild, something we didn't expect.  Because the story is already full of episodes where God does just that.  No one, least of all Moses, exiled to the wilderness, tending his father-in-law's sheep—expected the burning bush.  And yet in that moment, heaven and earth came back together, God spoke, a man was called, and the world was never the same again. And Stephen's point is this: You can't predict the unexpected thing that God will do; but you can be sure—because the story is full of such moments—that God does act unexpectedly to do the things he's promised and that we expect, the very things in which we hope. Holy ground, for example, was something Stephen and his fellow Jews understood.  The temple was holy ground.  It was where heaven and earth met.  But it wasn't the end-all-be-all of holy grounds.  It began at Mt. Sinai—not in Isreal, but in the wilderness—where God met Moses in the burning bush, where the plan to rescue Isreal from her bondage began.  When the Israelites built the tabernacle and the cloud of God's glory descended to fill it, God upstaged what he'd done at the burning bush.  And then again, with the temple.  As if it were the strings playing the motif at the burning bush, and in Exodus 40 as God's glory fills the holy of holies, the woodwinds join them.  And the music was good and it was beautiful, but the Sanhedrin should now be hearing that same motif as, in Jesus and the Spirit the whole symphony comes together to play.  Stephen isn't disparaging Moses.  He's not blaspheming the law or the temple.  He's saying, “Can't you hear it?  Their beautiful theme is now being woven into something far grander and played by the whole symphony.  The motifs have been there all along, the story has always been told this way.  Don't plug your ears to this new thing.  Listen.  And hear how it's taken up all the old themes into something that is nothing short of glorifying to the conductor, to the God of glory. That's as far as we have time to go this morning.  Like I said, Acts 7 is long and there's a lot to unpack.  But I think the great take-away for us from this part—in addition to learning to hear the great story of God and his people—I think the most important thing here is to know that God really does do new and unexpected things.  As we get to know the story, we ought to expect for God to do the unexpected, for God to do new things that upstage what he's done in the past.  And yet, the story also emphatically tells us that as much as God does new things and upstages the things he's done before, those new things are always in keeping with what he's done before.  The past always points to the future and the future never undermines the past.  As the writer of Hebrews tells us, “God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.”  We live in an age where too many people are ready to do something new themselves—something that breaks from what or how God has already revealed himself, something that breaks from or that disparages or that blasphemes God's past actions or his past instructions—they take this new human thing and declared that God is doing a new thing.  Andy Stanley saying we need to unhitch from the Old Testament so that God can do something new.  No!  Churches embracing sexual immorality and post-modern notions of identity and sexuality and family and marriage and then saying, “See, God is doing a new thing!”  A thousand times, no!  Brothers and Sisters, the theme of the story, the key of the symphony doesn't change.  God does new things, but those new things follow from what God's already done.  On the other hand—and I think it's mostly in response to all the proclamation of “new things” that aren't godly at all—on the other hand, we can become too fearful, too conservative and we can end up where the Pharisees and Sadducees and the Essenes were: locked down, afraid of the new, and turning away from burning bushes, and unwilling to go where God is actually leading. This why we need to steep ourselves in the story.  This why we need to immerse ourselves in the great symphony and to let the music wash over and through us.  Brothers and Sisters, we need to know the themes and the motifs, to learn the key in which God is playing, to be intimately familiar with how they interact, weaving around and through each other, so that as the story continues to unfold, as the symphony bursts into new movements, we can hear God bringing those old familiar themes to new heights, while also being able to recognise when a different story is being told, or a different symphony is being played.  I've said over and over, Brothers and Sisters: God's word is life.  Know, meditate on it, let it mould you, and then let it pour forth from you to give life to others. Let's pray: Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things:  Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

Today, we are taking a “bird’s-eye view” of chapters 13-19 of Joshua. Despite God's continual faithfulness, the Israelites struggled with disobedience and complacency, much like we do today. These chapters offer critical lessons about trusting in God’s promises and not resting on past victories.

Pastor Danny Long speaks on Exodus 13:17-14:14 and the journey of the Israelites as they leave Egypt, focusing on how God reveals Himself in three distinct ways: through his guidance, his faithfulness, and His presence. 

Asst. Pastor Melvin Gaines Paul makes the case to the Romans that he truly loves the Israelites and desires for them to experience the salvation of Jesus. If only they would just believe in Him. Paul declares that their desire to live according to the law is insufficient, and now that Jesus has come, their attention should go directly to Him. He is the fulfillment of the law. Salvation in Jesus means believing in Him in your heart and confessing with your mouth that He is Lord.

Over the past three millenia calamities have happened to the Hebrew people on the ninth day of the month of Av. Remembrance of those events have shaped the Israelite character and community. So too with everyone; community history and personal experience shape our character and perspective. The past cannot be changed, but the future is not yet written. If circumstances have brought you to an unsatisfactory place, with a decision and the help of God that can be changed.

Yanni definitely explains why The Odyssey is so great… or at least tries to get there. He also argues that the people who hate capitalism today would have been protesting for it under feudalism. Along the way, he reacts to clips of AOC talking about democracy, breaks down Sneako's ever-changing pro wrestling personas, and discusses the conspiracy theories surrounding Charlie Kirk's assassination that have been promoted by Candace Owens. By the end, Yanni concludes that we've become disconnected from ancient traditions and moral frameworks and have been living without a rubber or a daddy, just the way the devil likes it. Support our sponsors: Crypto was invented so you have control of your money. Download now at http://wallet.rumble.com/yannis and use the code YANNIS10 to claim $10 in US Stablecoin (USA₮)! This is a paid advertisement for Rumble Wallet. Rumble is compensating me for this ad. Void where prohibited. No purchase necessary. Offer available to US residents only. Offer not available in New York State. Must be 18+. Offer is available for a limited time and for the first 500 wallets activated and funded. Details and full official rules available at http://rumble.com/promoofficialrules. Get 10% off your first order by using code YANNIS at checkout, only at https://ZippixToothpicks.com. Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/yannis! #squarepod To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, Hair Loss, and more, visit https://hims.com/yannis That's H-I-M-S dot com slash yannis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are the consequences of abusing your Christian liberty? Join Pastor Steve as he looks at the example of what happened to the Israelites after they were liberated from Egypt.

“Let not one of them escape.” — 1 Kings 18:40 When the prophet Elijah had received the answer to his prayer, and the fire from heaven had consumed the sacrifice in the presence of all the people, he called upon the assembled Israelites to take the priests of Baal, and sternly cried, “Let not one […]

In this episode, we discuss the Divine Purposes behind the 10 Biblical Plagues preceding the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. GET IN THE ARENA!! Get your copy of SMITH'S Heart Of Man Repair Manual: https://www.amazon.com/Smiths-Heart-Man-Repair-Manual-ebook/dp/B0949HKJ2Y/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=smith%27s+heart+of+man+repair+manual&qid=1662493566&sprefix=Smith%27s+heart+of+man+repair+man%2Caps%2C108&sr=8-1 Email us at: FlawedInkCLE@Gmail.com

The Israelites truly illustrate how a simple misunderstanding can unravel everything you've built. The Bible says that the Messiah will build the fourth temple in Israel. But because they don't see Jesus as the Messiah, they're on the lookout for someone who will step up and declare themselves as the Messiah, ready to assist in constructing the temple. Do you realise who might capitalise on this mindset of the Israelites? Absolutely, it's going to be Satan! In today's message, Pastor Mark dives into the intriguing topic of how the Antichrist will present himself as the messiah, leading the people of Israel and the world astray. 

The devotional centers on the faith of Rahab, a woman of questionable reputation in Jericho, who is spared during the city's destruction because she believed the reports of God's power, heard through traveling traders, and acted on that faith by protecting the Israelite spies. Her story illustrates that faith is not merely intellectual assent but a lived commitment that risks everything, and it underscores God's sovereign grace that extends even to the marginalized. The preacher emphasizes that faith is nurtured through hearing God's Word—historically through human messengers, now through the written Scripture—and calls believers to trust God's promises despite doubt and cultural resistance. Drawing from the father's plea, 'Lord, I believe, but help my unbelief,' the message challenges listeners to acknowledge their spiritual struggles while persisting in faith, recognizing that God honors even imperfect belief when it leads to action. Ultimately, the sermon affirms that God's deliverance is available to all who trust in His Word, regardless of past or present circumstances.

Daily Dose of Hope July 17, 2026   Scripture:  2 Kings 13   Prayer: Lord, We thank you that you are a God of miracles. For the people reading this devotional today, I'm sure that many of them need a miracle of some kind. Give them the courage to ask and the faith to believe that you can do anything. You are all-powerful and totally good. We need you, Lord, and we need your healing power in our lives. May it be so. In Your Name, Amen   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We have been working our way through both 1 & 2 Kings this summer and today's reading was 2 Kings 13, smack dab in the middle of the book.  In this chapter, we are back to the Northern Kingdom.  There is a lot of king drama here.  Over and over again, the kings do evil in the eyes of the Lord.  Truly, it's amazing God didn't just strike them down right there.  But he continued to show grace in so many ways.  The kings and people would worship others gods and do deplorable things in the eyes of the Lord.  But God had compassion on them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  It was because of the faithfulness of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that God did not destroy all the people.  Because he certainly could have.    So, I started thinking about this.  Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were far from perfect people.  They were broken, just like us, but they also did their best to stay true to the Lord.  They stayed faithful.  Maybe this sounds strange, but this gave me a lot of encouragement.  We are all sinful, we all mess up, but our desire to remain faithful to God does not go unnoticed.  What difference will our faithfulness have on future generations?  How will God have compassion on future generations because we tried, in our own flawed way, to stay true to Him?  How will our spiritual legacy make a difference?  It's worth spending some time thinking about.    This chapter also discusses the death of Elisha.  This is so fascinating – yes, he has physically died but not even death stops his ministry. His prophecy about Syria obviously plays out but he is still actually doing miracles. When a group of Israelites were burying a corpse, they are interrupted by a group of Moabite raiders. Hastily, they throw the corpse into Elisha's grave, presumably on top of his bones. The dead man is revived. Elisha has continued to give life to Israel, even after death.   More king drama on Monday.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Welcome to Day 2906 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. Day 2906 – Theology Thursday – Prayer as Communion, Petition, and Covenant: From Ancient Near East to Modern Faith Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2906 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps!   I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2906 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. Our current series of Theology Thursday lessons is written by theologian and teacher John Daniels. I have found that his lessons are short, easy to understand, doctrinally sound, and applicable to all who desire to learn more of God's Word. John's lessons can be found on his website   theologyinfive.com.   Today's lesson is titled PRAYER AS COMMUNION, PETITION, AND COVENANT: FROM THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST TO MODERN FAITH. In the religious systems of the ancient Near East, prayer was a vital function, though its framework was drastically different from what later developed in Israelite and Christian thought. Prayer was primarily a method of maintaining the cosmic order through appeasement and transaction. Gods in Mesopotamia, Canaan, and Egypt were seen as powerful but unpredictable, often requiring elaborate rituals, sacrifices, and formulas to grant favor or avert wrath. These cultures did not operate under a theology of relational covenant but rather through a pattern of reciprocity: offerings and words were meant to provoke a specific divine response. Babylonian prayer texts like the “Shurpu” and “Maqlu” series reflect a deep concern with curses, omens, and unseen transgressions. The supplicant might not even know which god was offended or what sin was committed. In such cases, prayers became generalized pleas for forgiveness from all deities. Egyptian prayers often took the form of hymns to the gods, extolling their attributes and requesting protection or intervention, especially concerning the afterlife. Canaanite prayer and sacrifice, while less preserved in textual form, mirrored these transactional patterns. Ultimately, prayer in the ANE was primarily about control, using proper language and rites to maintain divine favor and personal or national survival. The first segment is: The Distinctive Voice of Ancient Israel: Relational and Covenant-Based. The emergence of Israel as a people devoted to Yahweh introduced a significant break from the ANE paradigm. While early Israelite religion still bore some cultural similarities to its surroundings, the theology of Yahweh as a covenantal, relational deity revolutionized the nature of prayer. No longer was prayer simply a means of magical manipulation or guesswork. It became a medium through which a person engaged with a God who had revealed His name, His character, and His promises. The earliest biblical prayers, such as those found in Genesis, reflect this relational nature. Abraham argues with God over the fate of Sodom, appealing not to ritual but to God's justice. Moses intercedes for Israel after the golden calf incident, reminding Yahweh of His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These prayers do not treat Yahweh as distant or unknowable but rather as a God who can be reasoned with, challenged, and persuaded because of His own covenant loyalty. The Book of Psalms shows the breadth of human emotion brought before God: joy, fear, doubt, anger, and praise. Lament becomes a central form of worship, as seen in the cries of David or the national laments after Jerusalem's destruction. These are not sterile performances but passionate expressions of faith. Prayer becomes an act of courage, a wrestling with God, a protest against silence, and a clinging to hope when the world falls apart. The second segment is: From Temple to Synagogue: Formalization in Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism. As the Hebrew Bible gave way to the practices of Second Temple Judaism, especially after the exile, prayer began to evolve in response to historical necessity. With the destruction of the First Temple and the loss of the sacrificial system, the Jewish people turned increasingly to prayer and study as their central forms of worship. What was once spontaneous became structured. What was once private became communal. During this period, daily prayer rhythms began to emerge. Fixed times of prayer, morning, afternoon, and evening, mirrored the times of temple sacrifice and were eventually institutionalized. The Amidah, or “Standing Prayer,” developed into a core liturgical centerpiece. It offered a framework of blessings praising God, requesting needs, and praying for national restoration. The Shema, a declaration of God's unity and Israel's devotion, became part of daily prayer and identity. After the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, Rabbinic Judaism restructured prayer life around the synagogue. Prayer was no longer centered on the priesthood and sacrificial rites but on the Torah, communal liturgy, and ethical action. This shift preserved Jewish identity during centuries of diaspora. Though formalized, prayer retained its relational element. It became the heartbeat of Jewish life, binding communities together and anchoring them to God's enduring promises. The Third Segment is: Prayer Reimagined in Early Christianity: Access through Christ. The earliest Christians, being Jews themselves, inherited this rich tradition of covenantal and liturgical prayer. Yet their belief in Jesus as the risen Messiah transformed their approach to prayer in significant ways. Central to this transformation was the idea of direct access to God through Christ. Jesus's own prayers, such as the Lord's Prayer, serve as both instruction and theological statement. The address “Our Father” reflects unprecedented intimacy. It reaffirms the covenantal relationship while highlighting the nearness and care of God. The prayer also orients the believer toward God's will, God's kingdom, and daily dependence, not merely petition. The Apostle Paul builds on this foundation by portraying prayer as a Spirit-driven communion. Believers are said to cry out “Abba, Father” by the Spirit. Paul claims that even when words fail, the Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for speech. This understanding of prayer shifts it away from set ritual toward a continual, personal interaction with the divine. In Christian theology, Jesus becomes the eternal High Priest, interceding on behalf of believers. This transforms the act of prayer from an attempt to reach an uncertain deity into an assurance of access to a loving Father through a faithful Son. Whether corporate or private, spontaneous or formal, prayer is understood as the believer's participation in the divine relationship secured by Christ. The Fourth Segment is: Boundaries and Prohibitions: When Prayer Becomes Misuse. While prayer is central to both testaments, not all prayer is accepted. The Bible gives several warnings about misguided or forbidden types of prayer. Chief among these is prayer to other gods. The First Commandment is clear: Israel was not to call on or serve any deity but Yahweh. This was not a cultural preference but a matter of covenant loyalty. Invoking Baal, Molech, or Asherah was not neutral. It was spiritual adultery. Another prohibited form was manipulative or theatrical prayer, often seen in paganism. The prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel danced and cut themselves, trying to compel their god to act. Elijah mocks this as futile. Jesus echoes this in the New Testament when He warns against “vain repetitions” and showy public displays. The goal of biblical prayer is not to impress people or mechanically control God. It is relational. Also forbidden were necromancy and communication with the dead, practices common in surrounding cultures. Deuteronomy 18 lists these among the detestable practices of the nations that Israel was not to imitate. Prayer was not to be blended with conjuring or attempts to access hidden knowledge through forbidden means. Later rabbinic tradition added safeguards to ensure prayer was done with the right heart. One was not to pray while intoxicated, or in moments of ritual impurity, or without focus. Christian writers like James and Peter also warn against praying from selfish motives or while harboring unresolved sin. The Fifth segment is: Rhythm and Repetition: Between Discipline and Pagan Imitation Repetitious or rhythmic prayer is sometimes misunderstood. Scripture does not forbid repetition outright, but it sharply distinguishes between reverent repetition and pagan-style incantations. Psalm 136 repeats the phrase “His steadfast love endures forever” 26 times as an act of worship, not manipulation. Many psalms and prayers use repetition as a poetic or liturgical feature, meant to reinforce covenant truths and lead the heart toward trust. The Shema and priestly blessing were repeated regularly in Jewish worship. Jesus's warning in Matthew 6 verse seven, “Do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do,” targets the kind of mechanical babbling seen in magical or pagan rituals. It does not prohibit...

Send us Fan MailHave you ever found yourself waiting for the perfect moment to finally move forward? Maybe you've been waiting until you feel more confident, have more money, know exactly what to do, or can see the entire path ahead. The truth is, most of us spend far too much time waiting for certainty when God is simply asking us to take the next step. The clarity you're looking for often doesn't come before movement—it comes because of it.In this episode of You Are More, Amy challenges the idea that confidence comes first. After more than three decades in business and a lifetime of walking by faith, she's discovered that confidence isn't something you wait to feel before acting. It's something that's built through consistent action. Every time you choose courage over comfort, every time you honor a commitment to yourself, and every time you take one small step forward, your confidence begins to grow.Amy also explores one of the greatest obstacles to purpose: comfort. While comfort feels safe, it can quietly become a cage that keeps us from the very opportunities God has placed in front of us. Looking back at the Israelites, she reminds us how easy it is to romanticize what is familiar rather than stepping into the unknown where growth happens. Real transformation rarely occurs inside our comfort zones. It happens when we trust God enough to move before we have every answer.Throughout the episode, Amy shares practical encouragement for anyone feeling stuck. She explains that our future is not built by one dramatic leap but by hundreds of faithful "yeses." A phone call. An application. A workout. An invitation. A difficult conversation. These small acts of obedience compound over time and eventually create an entirely different life. The goal isn't perfection—it's consistency.If you've been waiting for the right time, this episode is your reminder that there may never be a perfect moment. God often reveals the path one step at a time. Your responsibility isn't to see the whole staircase—it's simply to take the next step. Because movement creates clarity, clarity creates opportunity, and opportunity opens doors you could never have imagined. Today is the perfect day to stop waiting and start moving.In This EpisodeWhy movement creates clarityThe myth of waiting for perfect timingHow confidence is built through consistent actionWhy comfort can quietly become a cageThe danger of staying where life feels familiarHow one decision at a time shapes your futureWhy consistency beats motivationThe power of honoring commitments to yourselfHow to stop waiting and start walking by faithThree practical action steps to move into your next seasonConnect With Us:Website: https://www.youaremore.comJoin The 6AM Club Bible Study! Bible Study: https://www.youaremore.com/bible-study Free Download: 5 Steps to Win Through Adversity https://youaremorepodcast.com/store Social Media: Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/youaremorepodcast and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/amywienands/ Email: amy@amywienands.comEpisode Minute By Minute:00:00 – Welcome & Why So Many People Stay Stuck01:06 – Why Waiting Often Keeps You From God's Best01:58 – Movement Creates Clarity02:45 – Action Builds Confidence03:34 – Comfort Can Become a Cage05:10 – One Decision Can Change Your Future06:29 – God Reveals the Path One Step at a Time07:34 – Stop Waiting for Perfect Timing08:00 – Process Over Results09:32 – Three Seconds of Radical Courage10:12 – Make the Ask, Take the Risk11:11 – Movement Opens Doors12:00 – You're on This Earth for MoreBe intentional, stay focused, and remember you are more! 

We have finally made it to the last book of the Torah. Deuteronomy is Moses's magnum opus, his farewell speeches to the people he has led out of Egypt and into the wilderness. They are finally at the cusp of entering the promised land, and what Moses and everyone with him understand is that he will not be accompanying them for this final portion. While the Israelites camp on the plains of Moab, and prepare to cross the Jordan River, Moses has some parting words for them. He uses his final days with them to reflect on their journey, reiterate all they have learned together, and reinforce the covenant God made with the nation. Given the strength of Moses's message, it seems the 120-year-old prophet had lost his original fear of speaking to the people. He is now a strong, wise, and experienced orator. And yet, sadness tinges the whole book. Moses, the people, and even the modern reader know that he is about to die. 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.

Thursday – Exodus 16:3-83 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. 5 On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?”

Welcome to Day 2905 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2905 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 143:1-12 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2905 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2905 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: Out of the Dust, Into the Light – The Cry for Divine Direction and Vindication On our last expedition, on Day Two Thousand Nine Hundred Three, we crawled deep into the dark, damp, suffocating isolation of the cave with David in Psalm One Hundred Forty-Two. We listened as he poured out his raw legal complaint before the Lord, feeling entirely abandoned by humanity, with hidden snares waiting for him in the shadows. Today, as we advance our base camp along this ancient trail, we step directly into Psalm One Hundred Forty-Three, verses one through twelve. This is the final of the seven traditional penitential psalms, and it serves as a profound, sequential continuation of David's journey through intense distress. If Psalm One Hundred Forty-Two was the sharp, acute panic of being trapped in a cave, Psalm One Hundred Forty-Three represents the heavy, cumulative exhaustion of a long-drawn-out warfare. David is not just running from a temporary threat anymore; his soul is utterly spent, his energy is depleted, and the darkness is threatening to swallow him whole. Yet, as we will see, instead of throwing in the towel, David uses his remaining strength to lift his hands into the cosmic throne room, appealing to the character of the Sovereign King of heaven. The first segment is: Entering the Supreme Court: Appealing to Covenant Faithfulness Let us open our ears and hearts to the opening lines of this intense prayer, grouping together the logical thoughts found in verse one and verse two. Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my plea! Answer me because you are faithful and righteous. Don't put your servant on trial, for no one is innocent before you. David begins this trek with an urgent, deeply humble legal appeal, crying out, “Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my plea! Answer me because you are faithful and righteous. Don't put your servant on trial, for no one is innocent before you.” To fully appreciate what is happening here, we must view this through the ancient Israelite divine-council worldview. When David enters into prayer, he knows he is stepping directly into the celestial courtroom where Yahweh sits enthroned as the Supreme Judge, surrounded by His assembly of holy ones. Notice that David does not swagger into this heavenly court demanding rights based on his own moral perfection. In fact, he does the exact opposite. He submits a preemptive plea, begging, “Don't put your servant on trial.” Why? Because David possesses the profound cosmic wisdom to realize that in the brilliant, unblemished light of the Creator's holiness, no human being—not even a chosen, anointed king—stands completely innocent on their own merit. Instead of pleading his own righteousness, David brilliantly shifts the entire legal basis of his case to the character of God Himself. He demands an answer based entirely on two things: God's faithfulness and God's righteousness. In the ancient near eastern covenant framework, a king was legally and morally obligated to defend and protect his loyal subjects. David is essentially saying, “Lord, I am your covenant servant. I am imperfect, yes, but I am yours. Therefore, I appeal to your own cosmic reputation, and your sworn oaths of loyalty, to step down“from the judge's bench and act as my divine defense attorney." The second segment is: The Crushing Darkness: Paralyzed in the Shadow of Death The narrative takes a very heavy, somber turn as David describes the terrifying operations of his adversary, combining the logical thoughts found in verse three and verse four. My enemy has chased me. He has knocked me to the ground and forces me to live in darkness like those who died long ago. I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear. David exposes his current reality, recounting, “My enemy has chased me. He has knocked me to the ground and forces me to live in darkness like those who died long ago. I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear.” The language David utilizes here is intentionally cosmic, and deeply evocative of the underworld. When he says his enemy has knocked him to the ground, forcing him to live in deep darkness like those who died long ago, he is drawing a direct parallel between his current psychological state and Sheol—the dark, silent realm of the dead. In the ancient world, Sheol was seen as a place of absolute containment, ruled over by spiritual forces of chaos and decay. David feels as though his human persecutors, backed by the sinister principalities of darkness, have successfully driven him out of the vibrant land of the living and buried him alive in a spiritual tomb. Because of this prolonged, crushing environment, David experiences a profound internal collapse. He confesses, “I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear.” In the original language, this means his spirit is completely overwhelmed, and his heart within him is numbed, desolated, and frozen. This is an incredibly important stop on our wisdom trek today. It reminds us that even the greatest spiritual giants can reach a point of complete emotional paralysis. The wilderness can get so dark, and the chase can last so long, that our internal resources completely run dry, leaving us numb to the world around us. The third segment is: The Pivot of Remembrance: Thirsting for Cosmic Intervention Right at the absolute nadir of his depression, when his heart is completely frozen, David makes a conscious, deliberate pivot in his mind, linking his thoughts together in verse five and verse six. I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done. I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. Faced with a paralyzing present, David forces his mind to look backward, declaring, “I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done. I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain.” When you are paralyzed with fear, and can no longer see a way forward, the wisest thing you can do is look backward at history. David engages three distinct mental faculties here: he remembers, he ponders, and he meditates. He actively recalls the “days of old”—the cosmic history of Israel, the miraculous deliverance from Egypt, the splitting of the Red Sea, and the dramatic overthrow of the rebellious Canaanite kings. By contemplating these great historical works, David reminds his trembling heart that the God he serves is the undisputed Master of storm, sea, and human empires. This mental shift completely re-energizes his physical body. He moves from a posture of frozen paralysis to a posture of active, urgent worship, lifting his empty hands into the air. He describes his soul's condition using a striking agricultural metaphor: “I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain.” In the ancient Near East, a drought was not just an inconvenience; it was a terrifying threat of death and famine, often associated with the cosmic withdrawal of divine favor. David recognizes that he cannot fix his own drought. He stands before the Lord like cracked, dry, sun-baked desert soil, completely dependent on the sovereign windows of heaven opening up to pour out life-giving rain upon his parched soul. The fourth segment is: The Urgent S.O.S.: Pleading for the Morning Light The urgency of David's prayer reaches an absolute fever pitch as he strings together a rapid series of imperative petitions, grouping together the thoughts in verse Safen, verse eight, and verse nine. Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don't turn away from me, or I will die and go down to the grave. Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me. David sends out an urgent spiritual distress signal, crying, “Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don't turn away from me, or I will die and go down to the grave. Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide...

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. • Intro/Review• Awareness is only the beginning • What does wisdom do?• Worldly, or fleshly behavior? • James 4:1-2 Why do you fight with each other?• James 4:3 Why don't I receive when I ask?• James 4:4 Friendship with the world—Do you have friends?• James 4:5 It's a problem with alignment• James 4:8 Draw near to Elohim…• James 4:9-10 Cry It Out and Move On• Colossians 1:21 Why were you estranged?• Colossians 1:1-8 To those that should know…• Colossians 1:9-10 The knowledge of Elohim's desire • Colossians 1:11-12 Fit for the Kingdom?• Colossians 1:13 Messiah Yeshua switched on the lightListen 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: 

In this episode of Selective Ignorance, Mandii B is joined by super producer A-King and Jason “Jah” Lee, for a timely conversation covering hip-hop culture, media legacy, politics, sports, race, and misinformation. The episode opens with Mandii's monologue and a preview of the week's biggest conversations [00:57 ], before A-King introduces Dreamville's new 144-page print magazine, The Falloff [ 02:28 ]. The crew celebrates the publication's commitment to long-form hip-hop journalism and reflects on its featured tribute to Combat Jack, using the moment to discuss the enduring impact of The Combat Jack Show on podcasting, rap journalism, and today's media landscape [ 04:02 ][ 08:33 ]. After Jason joins the conversation, the crew jokes about missing Jay-Z's historic Yankee Stadium performances and the cultural significance surrounding the concerts [13:07 ], before Mandii recaps her experience working Essence Festival and exploring New Orleans, sharing observations about the city's culture, music, and community [ 14:26 ]. That experience leads into an unexpected encounter with Hebrew Israelite street preachers on Canal Street, prompting an honest discussion about ideology, misogyny, and religious extremism [ 19:50 ][ 28:11 ]. The conversation then returns to Jay-Z, as the crew revisits his Yankee Stadium concerts [ 29:33 ], including a humorous detour before breaking down his viral freestyle and the political references woven throughout the performance [ 34:13 ][ 38:00 ]. The hosts unpack Jay-Z's comments surrounding Target boycotts, Colin Kaepernick, and corporate activism [ 40:20 ], while clarifying misconceptions about Kaepernick's NFL settlement and the persistent myths surrounding non-disclosure agreements [ 48:09 ][ 52:12 ]. They also examine the importance of offering thoughtful criticism without falling into fan culture or blind loyalty [ 55:18 ], before debating whether modern boycotts remain effective tools for creating lasting change [ 57:19 ]. The latter half of the episode turns toward justice and public accountability with updates in the Nolan Wells case, including discussions surrounding independent investigations and Colin Kaepernick's support for funding a private autopsy [ 58:43 ]. The hosts examine the ongoing concerns many Black families have about safety in predominantly white spaces, institutional accountability, and recurring patterns that continue to shape public trust [ 01:03:28 ][01:08:59 ], while reflecting on allyship, proximity, and the responsibilities of those who claim to stand in solidarity [01:15:26 ]. Closing out the episode, the crew reacts to the political controversy surrounding Caitlin Clark and the WNBA, discussing a letter from Republican lawmakers alleging racial bias against the league's biggest star [ 01:18:26 ]. The hosts unpack the intersections of race, misogyny, media narratives, and "white knighting" in women's sports [01:22:00 ][ 01:33:49 ], before addressing Kodak Black's comments suggesting a "KKK" alliance involving Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar [ 01:37:46 ]. The conversation concludes by firmly debunking the false online claim that the Ku Klux Klan was originally founded by Black people, emphasizing the importance of historical accuracy, responsible media consumption, and challenging misinformation before it spreads [ 01:41:21 ]. The episode wraps with final reflections and the crew's signature sign-off [ 01:53:31 ], delivering another thought-provoking blend of cultural commentary, historical context, and informed debate. No Holes Barred: A Dual Manifesto Of Sexual Exploration And Power” w/ Tempest X! Sale Link Follow the host on Social MediaMandii B Instagram/X @fullcourtpumps Follow the crew on Social Media @itsaking @jaysonrodriguez @mrhiphopobama Follow the show on Social MediaInstagram @selectiveignorancepodTiktok @selective.ignoranceX/Twitter @selectiveig_podSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We delve into the initial conquest of Canaan led by Joshua and the Israelites. We explore the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River, the swift fall of Jericho, and the strategic victories at Ai and in southern Canaan. With Yahweh's divine intervention, including hailstones and an extended day, the Israelites vanquish their enemies, establishing control over the southern territories. The army then shifts to the northern campaign, where Israel faces a massive alliance of Canaanite forces. Despite the overwhelming odds, Joshua leads the Israelites to victory, fulfilling God's commands and demonstrating unwavering faith by destroying captured tools of war. By the end of the campaign, Israel largely controls the Promised Land, marking the beginning of the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham and providing a period of rest from war. 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...

What happened to the Israelites in the Bible? Come Bible Study WITH ME through Deuteronomy 1 and ask all the questions!

God gave Adam and Eve one rule in the Garden of Eden, and they still broke it. It is one of the earliest and most honest portraits of the human heart — born with a tendency to rebel, resistant to authority, and quick to view any restriction as an unwelcome constraint on personal freedom. And yet a world without rules, as this episode thoughtfully demonstrates, is not a world of freedom at all. It is a world on its way to self-destruction. The rules God gives us are not arbitrary restrictions. They are the guidelines of a Designer who knows exactly how we were made and what conditions allow us to flourish. Just as a vehicle's owner's manual is written for the benefit of the driver, Scripture's commands are written for our protection and our good. The Law given to the Israelites after four hundred years of slavery was not bondage — it was the very thing that made genuine freedom possible, teaching a people who had never governed themselves how to live and how to relate to God. Deuteronomy 5:33 frames obedience not as a burden but as a pathway: walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper. Obedience rooted in love is not a heavy yoke. It is a natural and grateful response to a God who has already shown us favor and who always has our best interests at heart. Today's Bible Verse "Walk in obedience to all that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess."— Deuteronomy 5:33, NIV Ponder Today God's rules are for our protection, not our restriction. Just as traffic laws prevent deaths and medical standards protect patients, God's commands create boundaries that keep us from the chaos and destruction we would bring on ourselves without them. To obey is better than sacrifice. First Samuel 15:22 makes clear that God is less interested in religious performance than in a heart that genuinely submits to His authority. Obedience is the truest form of worship. Obedience should never be a transaction. We do not obey so that God will show us favor. We obey because He already has. Gratitude, not bargaining, is the proper foundation for a life of faithful obedience. Love is the most powerful motivator for obedience. We naturally obey those we love, trust, and respect. The more we contemplate what God has done for us, the more our love and trust grow, and the more naturally obedience follows. A Prayer for You Today Lord, we give thanks for Your wisdom in establishing rules and boundaries for us to follow, for our own good and for the good of others. We are grateful that when we obey, You bless us exponentially as we dive deeper into our relationship with You each day. Help us to see Your commands not as a heavy yoke but as an expression of Your love and protection. May our obedience flow not from obligation but from a heart that is genuinely grateful for all You have already done. In Your mighty name, Amen. Don't Miss an Episode If today's prayer stirred a fresh desire to walk more closely in step with God's commands, we'd love to stay connected. Subscribe to the LifeAudio newsletter at LifeAudio.com for daily prayers, devotionals, and more content to deepen your love for God and your commitment to following Him every day. If you like this podcast, be sure to check out our sister podcast, Your Nightly Prayer - an evening Christian prayer podcast to help you end your day in conversation with God. https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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Welcome to Day 2903 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2903 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 142:1-7 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2903 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2903 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: Echoes From the Cave – Finding Our Sovereign Refuge in Utter Isolation On our last trek together, as we navigated through the profound protective boundaries of Psalm One Hundred Forty-One, we listened as David begged the Lord to set a vigilant watchman over his mouth and to guard the door of his lips. He was deeply concerned about his internal response to external pressures, praying that he would not be lured into testing the wicked delicacies of spiritual compromise. Today, we step directly onto a contiguous trail as we enter Psalm One Hundred Forty-Two, verses one through seven. This psalm serves as an incredibly raw, beautiful companion piece to our previous studies. As we look closely at the landscape of this new passage, we notice that David has been plunged into an even more acute, claustrophobic crisis. The historical background of this psalm describes it as a maskil—a psalm of deep instruction—written when David was hiding deep inside a cave. Whether it was the damp, pitch-black cavern of Adullam or the desolate crags of En-gedi, David was physically trapped, hunted like an animal by the relentless armies of King Saul. The internal walls of his soul were closing in, matching the cold, rocky boundaries of his physical hiding place. Yet, even in this profound state of darkness, abandonment, and severe isolation, David does not despair. Instead, he transforms his damp subterranean prison into a magnificent anteroom of the heavenly palace, casting his eyes upward toward the sovereign council of the Most High God. The first segment is: Pouring Out the Cosmic Complaint: The Heavenly Deposition Let us open our ears to the raw, uncut emotion of this prayer, as recorded in the New Living Translation, grouping together the urgent thoughts found in verse one and verse two. I cry out to the Lord; I plead for the Lord's mercy. I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles. In this opening movement, David wastes absolutely no time masking his desperation under a veneer of false stoicism. He cries out, “I cry out to the Lord; I plead for the Lord's mercy. I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles.” The vocabulary here is highly intense, painting a picture of an overflowing vessel that can no longer contain the pressure of its contents. To fully appreciate the structural depth of these verses, we must view them through the fascinating lens of the Ancient Israelite divine-council worldview. In the ancient Near East, when an individual suffered severe injustice, they did not merely vent their frustrations into the void. They brought a formal, legal petition before the king or the supreme assembly. The Hebrew word for “complaint” used here is siyach, which carries a strong legal connotation. It refers to filing an official lawsuit or a formal legal deposition. David is bypassing all localized, corrupt earthly courts—which have completely failed him and are actively hunting him down—and is taking his legal case directly to the ultimate Supreme Court of the universe. By pouring out his troubles directly before Yahweh, David is demonstrating an advanced level of spiritual intimacy. He knows that the Creator of the universe, sitting enthroned among His holy heavenly council, is not indifferent to human suffering. David does not sanitize his prayers; he brings his raw, unfiltered agony into the courtroom of the Sovereign King, completely confident that his voice is being heard by the highest authority in existence. The second segment is: Overwhelmed and Utterly Alone: Traps in the Dark The narrative of David's subterranean struggle deepens as he links his overwhelming internal state with the reality of his external traps, combining the logical thoughts found in verse three and verse four. When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn. Wherever I go, my enemies have hidden a trap for me. I look for someone to come and help me, but no one seems to know me! No one cares what happens to me. David completely uncovers his soul, admitting, “When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn. Wherever I go, my enemies have hidden a trap for me. I look for someone to come and help me, but no one seems to know me! No one cares what happens to me.” This section beautifully illustrates the ultimate dark night of the soul. In the original language, the phrase “when I am overwhelmed” literally means that his spirit is fainting, wrapped in a suffocating shroud of profound weakness and anxiety. But notice the immediate, brilliant flash of cosmic confidence that pierces through the darkness: “You alone know the way I should turn.” This thought beautifully ties right back to the grand, transcendent themes of Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Nine, where we discovered that God completely maps out our paths and knows our sitting down and our rising up. Even when David cannot see two feet ahead of him in the pitch-black cave, the omniscient King of heaven already sees the entire exit path fully illuminated. David then reports the terrifying reality of his surroundings, explaining that everywhere he goes, his enemies have hidden a trap for him. This directly echoes the toxic, predatory environments we encountered in Psalm One Hundred Forty and One Hundred Forty-One. His human adversaries, acting under the corrupting influence of dark, rebellious spiritual principalities, have laid hidden nets to trip his steps. To make matters worse, David looks around for human support and finds absolutely nothing, crying out that no one knows him and no one cares what happens to him. He feels utterly abandoned, forgotten by his friends, Isolated from his community, and discarded by society. Every earthly refuge has completely vanished, leaving him entirely exposed in the dark. The third segment is: The Ultimate Inheritance: Aligning with the True Portion Finding himself completely stripped of human protection and earthly security, David makes a monumental, paradigm-shifting pivot in his spirit, anchoring his thoughts securely in the sovereign character of God as recorded in verse five and verse six. Then I pray to you, O Lord. I say, “You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life.” Hear my cry, for I am very low. Rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. When every earthly door is violently slammed shut, the vertical door to heaven remains wide open. David cries out, “Then I pray to you, O Lord. I say, ‘You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life.' Hear my cry, for I am very low. Rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me.” Think deeply about the sheer theological weight of that statement. In the ancient Israelite worldview, the various nations of the world were assigned to lesser spiritual beings, but Israel was Yahweh's unique possession, and Yahweh was the unique “portion” or inheritance of His people. When David declares, “You are all I really want in life,” which can be translated as you are my portion in the land of the living, he is making a profound cosmic allegiance. He is stating that even if King Saul strips away his earthly inheritance, his royal status, his home, his reputation, and his family, he still possesses the ultimate, indestructible treasure because he has Yahweh. He then presents his urgent petition to the heavenly throne, pleading for rescue because he has been brought very low and his persecutors are far too strong for him. He openly confesses his human limitations. He recognizes that Saul's royal army, and the dark spiritual forces fueling their irrational hatred, are far too powerful for his small band of men to defeat on their own. He does not rely on human military tactics or political manipulation; he throws himself entirely upon the supernatural, intervening strength of the Sovereign King of the cosmos. The fourth segment is: From the Dungeon to the Congregation: The Final Verdict Let us now examine the final, climactic verse of this beautiful prayer, where David looks completely past his current imprisonment and envisions a glorious day of public vindication in verse seven. Bring me out of prison so I can thank you. The righteous will crowd around me because you are good to me. David closes his cosmic legal brief with a powerful plea for...

Pieter kisses a framed picture of his elderly parents every night. It’s been many years since he was last with them. As a young adult, when he became a follower of Jesus, his family and community pressured him to give up his newfound belief. When he didn’t, his parents disowned him. “In the Bible, God promised He’d help His children in difficult times, and I believed Him,” Pieter said. “Choosing to follow Him brought suffering, but He has helped me endure.” Pieter has the assurance from God that He keeps His word, so Pieter is able to trustingly act on God’s promises. We read in Genesis that Joseph, at the end of his life, was also confident in the promises of God. He told his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” (Genesis 50:24). Joseph was sure that God would keep His promise to take His people to Canaan. So he instructed the Israelites, “You must carry my bones up from [Egypt]” (v. 25). Four hundred years later, during the exodus from Egypt, “Moses took the bones of Joseph with him” (Exodus 13:19). Eventually, “Joseph’s bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem [in Canaan]” (Joshua 24:32). Let’s follow Joseph’s example of faith (Hebrews 11:22), showing our faith in God’s promises by acting on them.