Podcasts about jehovah jireh

Today we are reminded that God sees you and provides for you. He is El Roi, the God who sees, and Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. These names of God are beautifully illustrated in the tale of two step-brothers. Both sons of Abraham, but dramatically different stories. Whether you feel forgotten like Hagar or tested like Abraham, God knows your story. He sees your pain, your questions, your hopes, and He will meet you right there. He sees you, and He will see to your provisions.

* Prayer* Genesis 22:1-14* Jehovah- Jireh

The sovereign God has all power and supreme authority over every situation in our lives, from sickness to mental health to governmental affairs.• God is looking for people who seek His heart, not just His hand• Each generation has unique challenges but also the choice to trust God• Jacob represents a generation that wrestled with God but wouldn't let go without a blessing• We must choose to trust God as Jehovah Jireh, the provider who goes ahead of us• Nothing is too hard for El Shaddai, the God who makes the impossible possible• Clean hands and pure hearts give us access to God's presence• Breaking generational curses requires bringing hidden struggles into God's light• Men must lead through authentic worship that transcends cultural stereotypes• Women need to rediscover their God-given identities beyond their roles• The struggle is over when we rest in God's faithfulness and sovereigntyLift up your heads and open the gates of your hearts so the King of Glory—the Lord strong and mighty—can come in. My soul says yes to Him. Welcome To Chosen City Church! We are excited to you have worship with us today and we pray that this sermon blesses you!Partner With Chosen City Church:https://www.chosencitychurch.com/part...Support Chosen City Church:https://www.chosencitychurch.com/givePodcasts and More:https://linktr.ee/chosencitychurchConnect With Chosen City ChurchWebsite: https://chosencitychurch.com.comInstagram: @ChosenCityChurchYouTube: Chosen City ChurchFacebook: Chosen City ChurchIntro and outro created by Joe Anderson Jr. of Truflava Productions

What if grace wasn't just a rescue plan - but your everyday reality?In this powerful conversation with some of our team, we dive into the heart of Romans 5 and the truth that we now stand in grace. Not occasionally. Not when we feel worthy. But always.From stories of what God is doing globally, to fresh vision for families, discipleship, and a future college right here on the North Coast—this message carries prophetic insight and practical encouragement for building strong lives, strong homes, and strong generations.You'll hear about:- The power of grace as our new norm- Why words create worlds—and how to speak life over your family- The role of the Church in shaping the next generation- Vision for a future college that equips leaders for business, ministry, and mission- What it means to find your Jehovah Jireh place—where God's presence and provision meetIf you've been wondering where you fit, what the future holds, or how to raise your family in faith - this one is for you.Get the Conversation notes: https://linccollective.co/2025/05/11/the-grace-in-which-we-stand-sunday-stories/00:00 – Romans 501:27 – God's Heart for Family & the Orange Conference02:35 – Equipping Parents for Spiritual Formation04:32 – Vision for a College on the North Coast08:40 – Nothing Is Random with God10:29 – Words Create Worlds17:07 – The Power of Obedience & Faithfulness18:18 – Vision for South Africa: From Resilient to Pioneering21:15 – Jehovah Jireh: Not Just a Name, But a PlaceConnect with us:Website: http://lincchurch.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/lincchurchFacebook: https://facebook.com/lincchurchTwitter: https://twitter.com/lincchurchPodcast: https://apple.co/2Jx8wG0#LINCchurch #LINC To support this ministry financially and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: https://lincchurch.com/give

WORD EXPLOSION| 2025 Edition | SESSION-4|ENLIGHTENED LIVING|CHIMDI & FUNKE OHAHUNA Join hosts Chimdi and Funke Ohahuna in this compelling episode of the GRACELIFECOMI podcast, as they embark on an intense and expository study of the Book of John. In this episode titled “Illumination of the Living: Understanding John 1:9,” they delve deep into the transformative power of Jesus Christ, exploring how His enlightenment leads humanity from the realm of the dead to the vibrant, living spiritual existence He offers. Throughout this enlightening discussion, Chimdi and Funke examine John 1:9, emphasizing the significance of Christ as the light that illuminates our understanding of God the Father. They reinforce the profound truth that living a life reflective of Christ is not a privilege reserved for a select few but is freely available to all who genuinely believe in Him. Drawing from powerful Scripture passages, such as Hebrews 11:6 and Genesis 1:1, they discuss the necessity of both knowing and understanding God and articulate how true revelation paves the way to a genuine relationship with the Creator. Listeners will uncover the concept that knowing God is both remarkably accessible and yet requires an earnest desire to deepen that knowledge. Through the lens of transformative biblical examples, including Abraham's declaration of Jehovah Jireh and Gideon's altar to Jehovah Shalom, Chimdi and Funke reveal how God has consistently sought to engage with mankind, offering profound insights throughout history that beckon us to a closer relationship with Him. With insights from various translations of Scripture, this episode also highlights the importance of progressive revelation (2 Corinthians 3:18) and how our quest for deeper knowledge of God enriches our faith. Expect to explore the awe-inspiring glory that God manifests through Christ, as articulated in John 14:6 and other key texts. Whether you're seeking to deepen your understanding of the spiritual realm or looking for ways to cultivate a living relationship with God, this episode promises to equip you with the tools needed to embrace the life Christ offers. Tune in for an enlightening conversation that not only informs but inspires you to live the enlightened life in Christ. Don't miss this enlightening exploration—listen now and join the journey of discovering the Living light! Grace to you! Jesus is Lord.

Today, we are thrilled to air our first story from our newest community group in Charleston, South Carolina. We know it will leave you longing to seek God's heart and trust His perfect timing!   Reagan Barfield shares her story of walking through several difficult seasons of her life, including an accident that left her with a traumatic brain injury, the loss of her best friend to cancer, her struggles with infertility, and the devastating experience of two miscarriages. But… through it all, Reagan explains she would never trade the moments of suffering as they led her to experience the loving hands of a God Who provides and transforms her heart.   IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: - Oftentimes, it is in moments of crisis where God leads you to daily prayer. - True peace is not found in answered prayer but in God walking with you in your sufferings. - Through prayer, God's desire is to give you more of His heart.   Links: Listen to a similar story:  Ep. 316- Amber Robinson: “Clinging to What is True: A Story of Waiting on God”   Become a Patreon Insider to access bonus content~ including a bonus story from Misty Hedspeth from our Raleigh community!   Give to StoryTellers Live in honor of Reagan and our past storytellers   We want to hear from you, and today is the last day to participate!  Please complete our Listener Survey.    Register for our Finding God in the Details: A Guide to Discerning His Voice and Discovering Your Story workshop being offered in-person on June 18th, 6:00-8:30 PM CST Future dates- Online on July 8th; 9:30-11:30 AM CST and August 20th; 9:15-11:15 AM CST Need an idea for a summer Bible study?  Shop for our When God Shows Up Bible Study series!   Sign up to receive StoryTellers Live's weekly newsletter for updates and details on our live gatherings!  

In this powerful exploration of faith and sacrifice, Pastor Snook preaches on the timeless story of Abraham and Isaac from Genesis 22. This sermon challenges us to examine our own willingness to trust God completely, even when His commands seem incomprehensible. Jehovah-Jireh - the Lord who provides - emerges as a central theme, reminding us that God's provision often follows our obedience. As we reflect on Abraham's journey up Mount Moriah, we're invited to consider what 'Isaacs' we might be clinging to in our own lives. Are we truly willing to lay everything on the altar for God? Pastor Snook encourages us to step out in faith, trusting that when we obey God's voice, He will provide in ways we can't imagine. The parallel drawn between Abraham's near-sacrifice of Isaac and God's sacrifice of Jesus on the same mountain centuries later offers a profound insight into God's love and the ultimate provision He made for our salvation.

Pastor Paul Reid is with us to examine God's name Jehovah Jireh by looking at the story of Abraham and Isaac on Mount Moriah.

Day 39 – PBS13: Financial Provision & Business FavorGOD is JEHOVAH JIREH—our Provider. In this episode, we bring business dreams, financial challenges, and job transitions before HIM. May doors open and provision overflow.

In this passion week episode, we look at the Gospel as displayed in this Old Testament Story.Listen to episode 22 of season one for a passion week breakdownGet our passion week guide at this link

Keri Eichberger Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

A sermon by Pastor SN Motha based on the book of Genesis 22 verses 12 - 14

The Lord Will ProvideGenesis 22

Principle: God's provision follows our ObedienceScripture: Genesis 22:14 (NIV) - So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”Message: The same God who provided for Abraham is still providing for us. Support the show

In this powerful message, we're invited to explore the profound concept of God as Jehovah Jireh - our ultimate provider. The story of Abraham and Isaac serves as a cornerstone, revealing God's first compound name and its deep connection to the gospel.Notes for this sermon: https://bit.ly/4hKdg6XWebsite | https://lifechurchww.comFacebook | https://facebook.com/lifechurchwwInstagram | https://instagram.com/lifechurchwwVida Music | https://vidamsc.com

In Genesis, God asked Abraham to go to Mount Moriah to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Abraham obeyed God and took Isaac up the mountain. On the way, Isaac kept asking his father what they would be sacrificing. When it became clear what was happening, Isaac obeyed his fathereven though he was probably very frightened. Are you like Isaac, willing to be a sacrifice for God? In this message, Jill helps us understand God as our Jehovah-Jireh, our provider, so we can learn to be committed to God's plan. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1141/29

Jehovah Jireh is God our Provider, and He is the God who is full of mercy: our Redeemer! Don't miss this special episode about the glory of knowing Jehovah Jireh.

Greetings. Welcome to Water Walking Inspiration for the Work Week by Lisa Lynn Brown. Week 29 Day 2."...Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?...Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return...the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.""Jesus said...I am the resurrection and the life..." Excerpt from Job chapters 1 and 2, and John 11:25.Merciful Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we thank you for encouraging our heart, mind, soul, and strength with your everlasting Hope, Faith, and Love.Abba Father, You tell us come to you to receive rest from weariness, joy for mourning, comfort for brokenheartedness; we come to you with all...receiving all that YOU have for us. Jesus Christ, our Lord and Risen Saviour,  we thank you for the eternal provision that you have made available to us.God Almighty, we thank you for making crooked things straight and for leading us by a way that we have not known...lighting the darkness before us.Jehovah Jireh, our provider, please help us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry; help us to be still...waiting patiently and expectantly.We repent of our sin.We forgive and receive forgiveness. We receive all of the special miracles, heart's desires, answered prayers, and blessings that you have for us.Jesus is the Lord: Amen."...behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered,  nor come into mind....the voice of weeping shall be no more heard...not the voice of crying......mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.They shall not labour in vain......for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them.And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear....They shall not hurt nor destroy...saith the Lord."- Excerpt Isaiah 65." men have not heard...neither hath the eye seen...what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him." Isaiah 64:4

Kindly Subscribe to the channel to support the podcast by clicking the link: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/blessing-masawi/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠JEHOVAH JIREH (THE GOD THAT SUPPLIES) PHIL. 4:19 WITH APOSTLE JOSHUA SELMAN |16||03|2025

Hey friend! It is Linda driving this one today!  And most of us know Jehovah Jireh as "The Lord Who Provides"—but what if we've been missing something even deeper? In this episode, I sit down with Shelly Griffin, a Biblical scholar and dear friend whose understanding of God's names will challenge everything you thought you knew about faith, surrender, and divine provision.   We dive deep into: The hidden meaning of "Jehovah Jireh" that changes how we see God's provision. Why God doesn't just see—He sees TO IT. The gut-wrenching story of Abraham and Isaac and why it makes no sense… until it does. How God's timing is never random—He provides in the exact moment we need Him. The personal struggles, modern-day tests of faith, and why surrender is the key to experiencing God's presence.   If you've ever wondered: "Why would God ask me to give something up—especially something He gave me? Why does obedience feel so costly sometimes?" "How can I know if God will REALLY provide?" This episode will give you answers—and maybe even wreck you (in the best way).   Resources Mentioned: Genesis 22 – The story of Abraham & Isaac Hebrews 11 – The faith chapter CeCe Winans – “Refiner” ( Highly recommend): https://open.spotify.com/track/4pduLDsqSxHd2eOMt8VHt3 Study on the Names of God     BONUS: Ever dreamt of hanging out with us for 6 weeks in your small group or church? Head to https://seedtime.com/true for details or shoot us a DM on Instagram (http://instagram.com/seedtime).   Watch this episode on our SeedTime Money Podcast YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/JBw37vd8AOE)!   If you haven't checked out our best-selling book Simple Money, Rich Life (https://seedtime.com/smrl/), we think you'll love it. It was named the 2022 Book of the Year by ICFH and has over 800 5-star reviews on Amazon, and is best described as “a money book for people who don't read money books.”  You can take it for a test drive for FREE at https://SeedTime.com/sample where you can download chapter 1 of the audiobook, grab the 1st 2 chapters of the ebook version, and even get the 5-week book study companion guide.

If you want to learn more about Bethel Cleveland and how to get involved, please visit our website at bethelcleveland.com.

In this message Pastor Aaron discusses learning to trust God and him being our provider.

OPEN HEAVENSMATALA LE LAGI MO LE ASO SA 16 FEPUARI  2025(tusia e Pastor EA Adeboye) Manatu Autu: Ieova Irae (Jehovah Jireh) Tauloto -Tusi Paia–Filipi 4:19  ”A o lo‘u Atua e fa‘a‘atoa e ia ‘iā te ‘outou mea uma e matitiva ai ‘outou, e tusa ma le faula‘i o lona vi‘iga, ‘iā Keriso Iesu.”Faitauga – Tusi Paia – Kenese 22:1-14O le suafa Ieova Irae na fai e Aperaamo ina ua uma ona fa'aalia e le Atua lona faamaoni i luga o le mauga o Moria. Na alu Aperaamo I le mauga e ave Isaako e osi ai le taulaga, peita'i ua uma ona saunia e le Atua le mamoe mo le taulaga e sui iā Isaako. Na faaigoa e Aperaamo le nofoaga o Ieova Irae aua ua ia faapea mai, “E aumaia e le Atua le tali o manaoga a o le'i tupu.” I le tusi faitau lea, e matua'i lē malamalama Aperaamo pe na faafefea ona o'o mai le mamoe. E faapea fo'i ia i tatou, e lē manaomia fua ona e iloa pe faafefea ona faataunuu e le Atua tali o ou manaoga. Pau lau pitolaau e tatau ona fai, o lou faamoemoe i le Atua ma talitonu na te foai mai le tali.E mafaia e le Atua ona auina atu le fesoasoani mo oe mai so'osemea, e o'o i nofoaga e te le'i iloa muamua. Ina ua avea a'u ma ta'ita'i aoao, sa o'u asiasi i lo'u nuu, ma sa fai mai se tagata fai pisinisi ia te a'u, “o oe o le ta'ita'i aoao ae leai se fale iinei i lou nu'u e nonofo ai au mālō pe a asiasi mai, o le a o'u avatua piliki e fau ai le fale, se'i maua sau tupe totogi mai.” Sa o'u faapea ifo i lo'u loto, “Oka, o se vavega mai le Atua.” Ona ou fausia ai lea o se fale laititi e lē telē. Peita'i o le aso na ato ai le fale, na lafo mai ai e le tagata fai pisinisi se poloaiga ia te a'u e totogi atu i le aso lava lea le tau o piliki. E leai sa'u tupe na i ai i lea taimi, o lea na o'u tagi ai i le Atua. “Tamā ou te le'i sauni e fau se fale, o le tamaloa lenei na aumaia le manatu ia te a'u, a'o lenei ua o'o mai ai puapuaga. Faamolemole fesoasoani mai ia te a'u.” Sa o'u tatalo i le po atoa ma i'u ai ina o'u moe. Ina ua malama le taeao, sa sau se tagata ia te a'u ma fai mai, na fai atu le Atua ia te ia, ia malaga mamao mai i le itu I Matū agai mai i le aai o le Togiola e momoli mai se teutusi ia te a'u. Ina ua vaai mai le tamaita'i iā te a'u, sa faapea mai, “o loo o'u sailia le ta'ita'i o le ekalesia lenei.” Sa ou tali, “o le Atua.” Ona fai mai lea, “ou te iloa o le Atua peita'i o loo o'u suea lona sui.” “Ia o a'u lenei,” o la'u tali atu lea. Ona faapea mai loa lea o le ave feau. “Na fai mai le Atua ia te a'u ananafi o'u te sau e avatu le teutusi lea ia te oe.” O le taimi muamua ma le mulimuli lea na ou vaai ai i lenei tamaita'i. Sa o'u tatalaina le teutusi, ma o le aofaiga tonu o le tupe o la'u aitalafu I le fai pisinisi sa i totonu o le teutusi. O lo tatou Atua, o Ieova Irae moni ma faamaoni- o lē foai sili. Atonu e te lē o iloa poo fea, a o afea, pe faafefea ona faataunuuina e le Atua ou manaoga, peita'i ia e nofo ma lou mautinoa o lou Atua na te foai ma aumaia i taimi ma aso uma e lē aunoa.TataloTamā faamolemole auina mai lau fesoasoani mo a'u I le asō, I le suafa o Iesu, Amene.

Deep in the heart of Israel, God desires to be known by His chosen people.  Revealing Himself to Moses as Yahweh, the Great I Am, a name too holy to utter, the Israelites call Him Jehovah.  Throughout the Old Testament, Jehovah responds to the faith of His people and shows Himself strong on their behalf.  In remembrance of Jehovah's power and love, the people give Him additional names describing His ability and willingness to help in their lives.  Each name describes the nature of the One True God!  Each is Jehovah!  Together, they are the J-Team! In the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon, there lived a widow woman and her son who were so poor that they were about to starve to death.  One day, Jehovah Jireh, the Lord our Provider, gave the widow a promise and when she believed it and followed Jireh's instructions, her life and the life of her son were saved.   You can read more about this story in 1 Kings 17:8-24. #kids, #biblestoriesforkids, #storiesforkids,#bedtimestoriesforkids, #storiesforchristiankids, #biblelessonsforkids, #bestronginthelord, #jehovahjireh, #thelordgodalmightyourprovider, #thelordwillprovide,  #fishbytesforkids, #fishbytes4kids, #fishbites4kids, #ronandcarriewebb, #roncarriewebb IMAGE BY FREEPIK

Don't miss this special episode about two Names of God, the glory of knowing Jehovah Jireh, our Provider and our right standing with God knowing Jehovah Tsidkenu. Join Marilyn, Sarah and Isabell for this teaching.

In this powerful message from "The Great I AM" series, Pastor Tim Dunn explores the name Jehovah Jireh, meaning "The Lord Will Provide." Through the story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22, Pastor Dunn unpacks how God's provision is not just about material needs but about His faithfulness, presence, and ultimate sacrifice for us. This sermon challenges us to trust in God's provision, even in times of uncertainty, and to recognize His hand at work in our lives. If you're seeking encouragement and a deeper understanding of God's character, this message will strengthen your faith and remind you that He is always enough.

Deep in the heart of Israel, God desires to be known by His chosen people. Revealing Himself to Moses as Yahweh, the Great I Am, a name too holy to utter, the Israelites call Him Jehovah. Throughout the Old Testament, Jehovah responds to the faith of His people and shows Himself strong on their behalf. In remembrance of Jehovah's power and love, the people give Him additional names describing His ability and willingness to help in their lives. Each name describes the nature of the One True God! Each is Jehovah! Together, they are the J-Team! In the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon, there lived a widow woman and her son who were so poor that they were about to starve to death. One day, Jehovah Jireh, the Lord our Provider, gave the widow a promise and when she believed it and followed Jireh's instructions, her life and the life of her son were saved. You can read more about this story in 1 Kings 17:8-24. #kids, #biblestoriesforkids, #storiesforkids,#bedtimestoriesforkids, #storiesforchristiankids, #biblelessonsforkids, #bestronginthelord, #jehovahjireh, #thelordgodalmightyourprovider, #thelordwillprovide, #fishbytesforkids, #fishbytes4kids, #fishbites4kids, #ronandcarriewebb, #roncarriewebb

1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only s on Isaac , whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah , and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 1 After these things…

Yetunde Shoruna brings a message entitled 'Jehovah Jireh' from the sermon series the 'The Names Of God' You can follow the message along in the YouVersion bible app at https://bible.com/events/49375827 and add your own notes! Also you can watch the entire service on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOe7xUWJPXA

This week's Real Talk question asks: how important are names? YaYa and TRUTH switch gears for a bit of celebrity chit-chat, diving into the drama surrounding country artist Collin Obina Chibueze, better known by his stage name, “Shaboozey.” The Nigerian-American performer's stage name is essentially a mispronunciation of his family's native Igbo surname, which means “God is ruler, God is king.” After his name was used as a running gag at the 2024 Country Music Awards, the interwebz was in an uproar! With many different opinions about the implications of  pronouncing and mispronouncing of ethnic names—-  the real talk question of this week asks.. just  how important are names? Religious texts across beliefs have a thing with names, with The Bible mentioning over a dozen names of God, lists names in genealogies, and has characters that  meaningfully change names in both the old and New Testament— they gotta count for something.  Then for the Moon reading,  YaYa is starting a series preparing for the winter solstice ways we can fortify our body, minds and sprit for the darker days ahead.

Getting To Know God | Week 2 | Ken Miller--Jehovah-Jireh is one of the names of God found in the Bible, specifically in the Old Testament. It is derived from the Hebrew words "YHWH" (the personal name for God, often translated as "LORD") and "Yireh" (meaning "will see" or "will provide"). Therefore, Jehovah-Jireh can be understood as "The LORD will provide" or "The LORD will see to it."--Notes

At times, we are all faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges. God is speaking His will into our lives but our circumstances are indicating something else. In this message, we explore how God provides a way in our darkness!

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:Gensis 20-22;Luke 8 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible. I'm Hunter, your host for today's journey through scripture. In this episode titled "January 8th, 2025," we're diving into powerful stories of faith and obedience from Genesis chapters 20 to 22 and Luke chapter 8. We'll explore the dramatic account of Abraham nearly sacrificing his son Isaac, only to be stopped by an angel and discovering God's provision through a ram. We'll also travel with Jesus as He teaches through parables, performs miracles like calming storms, casting out demons, and healing the sick. We'll reflect on the deep faith of Abraham and how it shapes our understanding of God's character as a provider, emphasizing the profound lesson that God brings life rather than demanding sacrifice. Along the way, we'll also engage in heartfelt prayer and discuss how these ancient stories apply to our lives today. Join us as we read, reflect, and are transformed by God's word. Stay tuned, and let's embark on this spiritual journey together. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Unthinkable. Something unthinkable is being asked of Abraham. He's being asked to offer his one and only son that he loves as a sacrifice on this mountain. It's some kind of test of obedience, and it's unthinkable. But then again, maybe it wasn't altogether unthinkable. Maybe it was entirely conceivable. This culture and many cultures throughout that time and through all time actually have had the practice of offering the blood of a human to pacify or appease or to court the favor of an angry or capricious god. Abraham knows this. He knows that this is what the gods of the culture in his world so often require. But Abraham also knows this, that God, the God he serves, the God who called him to follow, the God who promised him a son, The god who made good on that promise even at the age of a 100 years old. The god who takes him by the hand and says, let's go outside and look at the stars. The blessing that's in store for you is beyond the number of stars in the sky. The god who meets him at his lowest, at his darkest, in that deepest point of of barrenness. This god, he had learned to walk with and trust, and was not like any other god in the world. Abraham knew that this is not a bloodthirsty god. This is a god of life. This god is not distant. No. He comes to Abraham. And this god is not capricious. And he's not angry and ready to pounce. This is what other people believe about God, but not Abraham. He believed that God is good. The God who's named on this mountain, Jehovah Jireh, he is the one who meets us in our need, in our shame, in our barren places. He's not like other gods. He does not require that you provide for or spill out or atone for or pacify with your own blood or the blood of those that you love. No. God has another way. And this god doesn't kill his son. He's not like the other gods. The son instead offers himself. And he's killed by humanity, not his father. And through this offering of his life, he overtakes the evil one. He wins the victory for you and me, and for the sins of the whole world. He defeats the powers of sin and darkness once and for all. Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, god was able to bring him back to life again, because this god is good. And Abraham believed it. Abraham was asked to do the unthinkable because he knew something that we all should know. The character of God. That God is good. That we can trust him with our lives, that he comes to us in our darkest and most bare places, and he raises us up there into new life. Right there, he meets us. He has achieved this for us on Mount Moriah on the cross. There, he laid down his life for us, and there, he wins for us victory. The victory that our souls were made for. And the prayer of my heart today is that my eyes will be opened up to see what Abraham sees. The character of our God. I will learn to walk with him the way Abraham has, by walking with the son, who has revealed to me the face of his father. That I will know the embrace of the father and the son and the holy spirit. This life that my soul longs for has been provided for me on the mountain of the lord. Jehovah Jireh. The prayer of my own heart is that I will know this well. That I'll know the freedom of it, the life of it, the joy of it. And that's a prayer that I have for my family too, for my wife and my daughters and my son. And that's a prayer that I have for you. May it be so. Let's continue now in a time of prayer TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

Presented by Lauren Stibgen As a working woman, you could have several different reasons you go to work. God created us for work. Sometimes this “work” can be paid. Sometimes this “work” can be volunteer based. Either way, we are Christian working women. Our roles span from grocery clerks to CEOs, ministry workers to sole proprietors running our own business. Whatever “work” we find ourselves doing, we need to look for our strength in God—Jehovah Jireh, God our provider. Maybe like me, you are the sole financial provider for your family. Or you work alongside your spouse to provide for your family's needs. Perhaps your work is as an unpaid volunteer. There isn't one right or wrong reason to go to work whether the work is paid or unpaid, but the implications of financial security for ourselves and our loved ones can create stress and a reliance on self that isn't what God wants for us at all. In revealing himself to us as Jehovah Jireh, we can better understand his will for our work. Maybe your work just seems impossible. It is something you must do, but it isn't something you really love to do. Perhaps you aren't making enough to make ends meet, which makes the going even more difficult. Maybe you have been an unpaid volunteer, but with tight finances, you need to go back to work. All of this can be a drain on our strength and can lead us into deep self-reliance. God often will call us to do hard things. In Genesis 22:13-14 God calls Abraham to hard work. God calls Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac. In obedience and great faith, Abraham sets out in obedience to God. And, just in the final moments, God provides a ram to take the place of Isaac. In the right moment God supplies Abraham with just what he needs. If your work seems impossible, the stress of financial needs seems insurmountable, or the job hunt seems never ending, know the Lord will provide for you. His will for our work is to seek him first in all things, because God is our ultimate provider. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). Are you leaning into God as Jehovah Jireh? What do you need to lay before him today?

The Names of God: · Adonai – The LORD, the majestic One who has set His glory above the heavens. (Psalm 8) · El Elyon – The God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; (Gen 14) · El Moshaah – The God Who Saves · El Nehkumah – The God of All Comfort · El Shaddai – The All Sufficient One · Elohim – All Powerful One, Creator, whom we read about in Genesis 1.· El Roi – The God Who Sees Me · Yahweh, I AM · Jehovah-Jireh, The Lord Will Provide· Jehovah Magen – The Lord my Shield who appears in Psalm 33: “Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name." · Jehovah Nissi – The Lord is My Banner · Jehovah Ori – The Lord is My Light, Psalm 27  “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? · Jehovah Rohi – The Lord is My Shepherd; Psalm 23 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff,they comfort me. The One whose goodness and mercy chases after us every single day of our lives. · Jehovah Sabaoth – The Lord of Hosts from Psalm 24 Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty,the Lord, mighty in battle! · Jehovah-Rapha – The Lord Who Heals · Jehovah-Shalom – The Lord is Peace · Jehovah-Tsuri – The Lord My Rock · Logos – The Word · Rabbi – Teacher · Messiah – The Christ, our Messiah, so identified and called by Andrew, Simon Peter's brother in John 1 · Parakletos – Helper, the One who will be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. John 14 · Shalom – Prince of Peace, prophesied about by the prophet Isaiah: and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.· Immanuel - God With Us Prayer and Reflection Questions: 1. Can you think of a time you felt particularly close to God? For me, I often experience Him in nature. There's a mountain in North Carolina my family has spent a significant amount of time on. From it, you can look down on clouds and the Blue Ridge mountains and it never fails to bring me into a deeper awareness of God's presence with me.2. It can look a lot of ways, but as you think of your “God moment,” would you pray a prayer of appreciation (out-loud) of who the Lord is for you and your appreciation of His character. Perhaps one of the names of God has held special significance for you this season – thank Him for that.3. Now, knowing that He is Immanuel, notice where He is with you at this moment. The Holy Spirit reveals Jesus to us, and so ask the Spirit for an awareness of God's presence with you.4. Ask Jesus directly what He wants you to know, or what His good plans for healing are for you today.For more information about this Advent season, visit our Christmas at Fellowship page. There you can find more resources, as well as information about pursuing Christ and celebrating him this season with our church. 

Why is God called Jehovah Jireh? : Genesis 22:14 : Pastor Raef Chenery : 12-15-24 by Park Community Church

A Word of Encouragement with Vicky Mutchler is heard at 11:30 AM Central Time on Faith Music Radio.  Join the Facebook group On a Positive Note to get more words of encouragement from Mrs. Vicky - https://www.facebook.com/groups/171863542874382/

My car started this morning. You say, "Big deal." Well, it is - it starts every morning no matter how cold it is or how wet it is. That's especially good when you realize the old girl's got, you know, something like 150,000 miles on her. I don't have nearly that many miles on me, and I'm having increasing trouble starting in the morning myself. Actually, all our cars have been like that since we began in the ministry many years ago, and they just keep working. And I don't credit the automobile company with it; I credit the manufacturer - no, THE manufacturer. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Sandal Security." Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Deuteronomy 29:5. God is speaking through Moses and reflecting on the 40 years that He kept the Israelites in the wilderness. Seemingly there's going to be no place where they're going to be able to get what they need. There aren't too many resources out there in the wilderness. But He says, "During the forty years that I led you through the desert, your clothes did not wear out nor did the sandals on your feet..." "...and your car kept starting." (No, no... I added that part. That's the Hutchcraft translation.) Jewish sandals! The sandals didn't wear out on your feet. This is another insight into your Heavenly Father who is called Jehovah Jireh, the Lord who provides. See, God has so many creative ways to meet the needs of His kids. He seldom does it the same way twice. Sometimes it's manna from Heaven. The supply comes in a form you've never even known before. Sometimes it's water from a rock. "Where are we going to get water, Moses?" Wait! Water doesn't come from rocks. Oh, really? Sometimes God supplies for you through a totally unexpected source. Sometimes He sends the ravens, like He did for Elijah, as He sent them every morning and evening with his food. Surprising deliverers of His supply will be the ones who sometimes bring it to you. They just weren't even on your radar. Who would have guessed it would have come from them? And you know what? God usually does it on a daily bread basis; just what you need for that day. Sometimes He does loaves and fish; he makes a little go farther than you ever dreamed it could. But He always keeps His promise in Psalm 23, "The Lord is my Shepherd" - say it with me - "I shall not want." Sometimes there's a different kind of supply miracle. He simply makes things last, like those Jewish sandals. Our repairman said that about our washing machine. He said, "This thing should not be alive." But it was still going - there's those Jewish sandals, sandal security. Now, God could have had it rain sandals if He wanted it to, but instead He just preserved one pair, and they're walking every day for 40 years in those sandals in the wilderness. See, we get in a rut of looking for manna all the time, and God may want to do it through some miracle like that. We miss those miracles of things that just last because they're not as dramatic. Well, take care of what God gives you, and pray for His preserving miracles as well as His delivering miracles. Let God do it in any creative way He wants, and live knowing that you always, always will have what you need. His Word in Philippians 4:19 is, "My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Look around you. I'll bet somewhere God is meeting your need through a miracle of manna right now; just a miraculous, out-of-nowhere provision. But I'll bet somewhere you've got the modern equivalent of those Jewish sandals. Either way, every need is supplied. You're living hand-to-mouth; His hand to your mouth. Wow! Talk about security!

Deception is simply taking a piece of the truth, and twisting it. That's what makes it so convincing. It sounds right... sort of. Almost. I believe I first read in one of C.S. Lewis's books, probably in several of them, that evil defines itself by the absence of God, just as darkness defines itself as the absence of light. Satan cannot create anything; all he can do is pervert something that God made, and intended for good.   The introduction of Jonathan Cahn's most recent book, "The Dragon Prophecy," puts this extremely well, so I'm going to just quote him. He writes, "If God is good, then how could there be evil? And if God is evil, then how could God be good? But if God did not create evil, then how could evil exist? Or how could God be God?... If evil was created, it would not be a problem, nor would it be evil. Evil is a problem for the very reason that it was not created. It should not exist, because it was not created, and yet it does. The existence of evil defies the created order. It is not of the creation and thus exists in opposition to the created order. Evil exists in defiance of existence... evil is not simply a force, like that of an earthquake, a hurricane, or a fire. All these bring calamity and destruction. But none would constitute true evil. Serial killers are. Why? The hurricane is an impersonal force. It acts without consciousness, will, choice, volition, or intent. But the serial killer commits his acts with conscious intent, will, an volition--and so is evil. And so evil is not an impersonal force--but a personal one, requiring consciousness, volition, will, and intent. Thus in our search for an answer to evil, we are led to personhood... Evil is an inversion--an inversion of truth, of reality, of existence. Evil is, by nature, inverted and, by nature, inverts. It twists, bends, and turns existence in upon itself. It exists as anti-existence. Its being is anti-being, and its nature, anti-nature. It is a negation and therefore seeks to negate, a nullification that exists to nullify. It has no true, ultimate, or absolute existence and therefore acts to bring that which exists into non-existence... Possessing no absolute or true existence of its own, evil is, as well, by nature, parasitic... Evil must use the good. And so though good can exist without evil, evil cannot exist without good. Truth can exist without falsehood, but falsehood cannot exist without truth. Laws can exist without crimes, marriage without adultery, and life without murder. But crimes cannot exist without laws, adultery without marriage, nor murder exist without life. Destruction requires structure, immorality requires morality, and sin requires the holy. The good is primary. Evil is the parasitic inversion of the good. And so the existence of evil inadvertently testifies not against the existence of the good--but for it. It bears witness, unwillingly, to the existence of the good--the existence of God" (9-10). So if evil itself is an inversion of something created to be good, then nearly everything God created for our pleasure and enjoyment can also become evil... but because it contains the seeds of something that was originally good, Satan can also use that kernel of goodness, or truth, to convince us that the twisted version is actually good and true, too... and if we don't know the truth well enough to tell the difference, we'll fall for it.  The Syncretism Trend According to Dr George Barna's research with the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, the dominant worldview of Americans (92%) now is syncretism (https://www.arizonachristian.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/CRC-Release-AWVI-2-April-23-2024.pdf): that is, an amalgamation of disparate and contradictory beliefs, pulled from multiple religious or philosophical ideologies, according to an individual's personal inclinations and emotions. Syncretism is therefore not a single worldview, but a mishmash of beliefs--hence the common phrase, "your truth" and "my truth." The implication is that these can be mutually exclusive, without any logical contradiction. This strategy of Satan's is nothing new. He is a liar and the father of lies by nature (John 8:44). He sticks with this approach because it works.  Syncretism in the Old Testament Syncretism has  been around since the days of the Old Testament, and was the main reason why the Israelites couldn't seem to stay on the "blessing" side of God's covenant (Deuteronomy 28). Literally the first of the Ten Commandments was "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Ex 20:3)--and al, the Hebrew word translated "before", also means "by" or "beside." So God wasn't saying they simply had to worship Him the most, but it was okay if they occasionally sacrificed to Baal or Molech or Asherah--so long as He was the most important. No; they were to have no other gods besides Him. Period. The entire Old Testament history is a cycle of the Israelites' disobedience of this one commandment. The first example after the Ten Commandments were given is the golden calf that Aaron made with the spoils from Egypt while Moses was up on the mountain receiving God's law (Ex 32). These Israelites had spent their entire lives in Egypt, where a pantheon of gods were worshipped (many of whom God specifically humiliated by the plagues chosen to eventually force Pharaoh to let them go). When they made the golden calf, the Israelites declared that this was God--the One who had delivered them from Egypt (Ex 32:4). So they weren't exactly abandoning Yahweh for some other god; rather, they were mixing Him with the gods they had grown up with. Then, the Israelites tended to mix worship of Yahweh with worship of the gods of neighboring nations, even before they ever got to the Promised Land. Israel's enemies feared God, and one of them (King Balak of Moab) sent for Balaam, a local seer, to curse Israel (Numbers 22-24). God wouldn't allow Balaam to curse Israel, but Balaam wanted Balak's money... so instead, he told Balak how to get the Israelites to curse themselves, by placing themselves on the "cursing" side of God's covenant (Deuteronomy 28). Numbers 25 shows the result: the Moabite harlots used sex to entice the men of Israel into idolatry. The issue in this case wasn't so much the sex, as it was that sex was used in worship of false gods.  The cycle repeats throughout the Old Testament: Israel falls into idolatry, they fall under the 'cursing' side of God's covenant as a result (bringing themselves out from under His protection, and subject to Satan's machinations), they get oppressed by their enemies, they cry out to God, and God delivers them. They renew their vows to and worship of the One True God in varying degrees, but then they forget again, fall into idolatry, and the cycle repeats. God had laid out very clearly that they would be blessed if they followed His laws, and cursed if they didn't (Deut 28), and the very first commandment was no gods before Him. It was the first for a reason: God knows that we were made to worship something, and we treasure what we worship. "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matt 6:21), and our hearts guide the course of our lives (Prov 4:23).  Eventually Israel split into two kingdoms (Northern and Southern, or Israel and Judah) over this very issue. Most of the subsequent kings of both nations perpetuated idolatry, though a few tried to purge the nation of idolatry to varying degrees, and enjoyed the 'blessing' side of the covenant for a time as a result (Deut 28). But God sent prophet after prophet to the Northern and Southern nations (writers of most of the major and minor prophetic books of the Old Testament), warning them of impending destruction if they did not repent of their idolatry. They ignored the warning, and eventually both nations were taken into captivity because of their idolatry: Israel to Assyria and Judah to Babylon. (Though of course, God was not done with Israel, and His promises to them still stand--Ezekiel 37 prophesied their restoration to their own land as a resurrection of dry bones, which miraculously took place on May 14, 1948. And the nation of Israel takes center stage throughout most of the book of Revelation, from chapter 5 on.)  Syncretism in the New Testament  Syncretism was around during the time of the early church, too, particularly in Paul's ministry. God sent him as the apostle to the Gentiles, who practiced varying forms of pagan beliefs already. They attempted to mix Jesus with these beliefs, until Paul's preaching convicted them to follow Jesus only, burning their books of magic arts and getting rid of their idols of Greek and Roman gods (Acts 19:11-20--which turned into a big riot in the city, v 21-41). Paul described the end times as being a time of "unrighteous deception among those who perish" (2 Thess 2:10), so we can expect that as we approach that day, this will only increase. Jesus told us that in the last days, "if possible, even the elect" would be deceived (Matt 24:24). The Greek work for deception in these verses is planao, and it means "to lead away from the truth, to lead into error." This inherently means that there is such a thing as truth. If you believe something contradictory to that truth, that is deception. We're living in an age that largely borrows from postmodernism as part of the syncretic worldview. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, "Postmodernists deny that there are aspects of reality that are objective; that there are statements about reality that are objectively true or false; that it is possible to have knowledge of such statements (objective knowledge); that it is possible for human beings to know some things with certainty; and that there are objective, or absolute, moral values." Holders of this worldview are therefore confused about even observable or mathematical truths, let alone those that are not observable (such as whether or not there is a God, and if there is, how many, and which one, how do we get to Him, etc). So before we even approach the topic of how to avoid being deceived, we have to establish that there is such a thing as objective truth. If there isn't, then there is no such thing as deception, either, since deception derives its definition from truth (just as darkness derives its definition from light, by the absence of it). What Is Truth (i.e. Is There Such A Thing As Objective Reality?) The best argument I've heard on the topic of whether or not there is an objective reality comes from Dr Jason Lisle's "The Ultimate Proof of Creation" (which is a book, but here is his lecture on the argument https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ_UxcV-xcM). While there is an abundance of apologetic evidence for the scientific and historical accuracy of scripture (here's the first in an apologetics series I did on the subject, https://www.drlaurendeville.com/anthropic-fine-tuning/), Lisle points out that none of these arguments can be definitive, because someone who holds a different worldview can simply invoke a "rescuing device" to explain away any evidence that seems to contradict his own position. We all do this, and it's not necessarily a bad thing--for example, if someone points out an apparent contradiction in scripture, my first reaction isn't, "Oh, I guess the Bible is wrong!" Rather, I assume there's additional information I don't happen to know about yet, which resolves the apparent contradiction, and then I go look for it. Even if I can't find it at the time, I am still certain it exists, and someone will find it eventually. That's a rescuing device, to preserve an otherwise deeply held worldview without logical contradiction. The real key to establishing which worldview is correct lies in that last statement: "without logical contradiction." There are laws that govern the way the world and the universe works--laws that we all have to believe in and abide by in order to know anything at all. C.S. Lewis expounded on this concept in "Mere Christianity" (https://www.authorcagray.com/posts/mere-christianity/) with respect to morality, in particular--the idea that we all know that there are universal laws of decency and conduct, and we further know that we don't live up to them. But, that being the case, who made those laws? Where did they come from? He argues that their very existence necessitates a lawgiver. Lisle takes this argument further--the existence of non-moral rules that govern how the material world works, such as the laws of logic, and principles of math and science, are the presuppositions upon which all knowledge is based. Everyone has to abide by these, no matter what their worldview is, or it would be impossible to know anything at all. But who made those rules? Where did they come from? Why does math work? Why do we all assume the laws of logic in order to have a coherent conversation? This, too, necessitates a creator. Many who abide by laws of math, science, and logic (and morality, for that matter) don't happen to have a theistic worldview, but that in and of itself is a logical inconsistency; they can't account for those rules in their worldviews at all. They have to borrow from the theistic worldview in order to make any of their other arguments.  This is the very place where postmodernism diverges, though. If there is no objective reality, then knowledge of any kind doesn't exist. Most of those who hold this worldview at least believe in morality of some kind. Lewis's argument might be most relevant here--you'll never get someone persuaded by postmodernism and religious syncretism to argue that murder, or genocide, or racism are fine, for example. They know these are wrong because they "feel" them to be wrong--and they're not just wrong for them, they're wrong for everyone. Now we have at least one absolute... which necessitates a lawgiver not only for morality, but also for at least one logical law: that of non-contradiction. This already establishes the existence of an objective reality. If there is an objective reality, then necessarily, some statements about it must be true while others must be false. The world is round and not flat, for example. If a world exists at all, both things cannot be true about it at the same time and in the same way, simultaneously--that would be a logical contradiction. Which Objective Reality Is It? (Can Anybody Know?) If some objective reality does in fact exist, how do we know which one it is? How do we know that our senses are reliable, first of all, and that we're not living in a simulation a la "The Matrix," for instance--one in which the laws of morality, logic, math, and science are simply foundational to the code? This argument goes back to Descartes, who concluded that at the very least, he must exist after some fashion, because his consciousness told him he must. C.S. Lewis in "Mere Christianity" used a similar line of reasoning, arguing that if there were a deeper reality, one that created this reality, we couldn't possibly find out anything about it through our five senses. Of course we couldn't; those senses are of the physical world, and can thus only give us information about the physical world. Our consciousness, however, has no identifiable physical reality. (To this day, science cannot explain what consciousness actually is - https://www.drlaurendeville.com/electromagnetism-vital-force/.) So Lewis argues that, if there were anything knowable about the world beyond our own, the only place where we might possibly expect to find clues about it would be in our own consciousness. And there, in fact, we do find such clues: specifically, we all have a sense of right and wrong. While we might quibble about the details therein--someone might say that under such and such a condition, killing someone is not murder, for example--no one will seriously argue that murder is morally fine. One might have different rules surrounding the morals of sex, but nobody is going to say you can just have any person you like anytime you like. This establishes several things, according to his argument: the existence of a moral law outside of our reality, of how we ought to behave (even though we know we don't, or at least not always, and certainly not perfectly), which necessitates the implied existence of a law-giver. The very fact that we do not keep the law (even though we know we should) is the whole point of the law of the Old Testament, too (Romans 7)--but even those who didn't know the Old Testament were aware of the moral law to this extent, so that no one is without excuse (Romans 1:18-2:16). Once we know that there is a moral law, and that we're incapable of keeping it on our own, that narrows down the possible religions considerably. We must choose one that hinges on the concept of grace, not works. There is literally only one of those. (More on that in this podcast: https://www.drlaurendeville.com/relational-apologetics/). That's why we call Christianity the gospel, which means good news: the good news is that, while you can't make yourself righteous no matter how hard you try, you don't have to make yourself righteous because Jesus did it for you. All you have to do is accept what He did on your behalf. Once you've gotten to this place, now all the scientific apologetics (start here: https://www.drlaurendeville.com/anthropic-fine-tuning/) can fall into their proper place: as corroborating evidence for the Bible. But the Bible has to be philosophically established as authoritative first. Once we've established that the Bible is truth (John 17:17, Psa 25:5, Psa 91:4, Psa 96:13, 100:5, 117:2, 119:142, 151, 160; 138:2, Prov 3:3, Col 1:5), we've got to learn what it says--well enough that Satan can't take it out of context and feed it back to us, or add a tiny bit to it to change the meaning. That's exactly how he works, though. He even tried that with Jesus (Luke 4:1-13). Fortunately Jesus was the Word made flesh (John 1:14), so He didn't fall for it... but the less we actually know the scripture, the more vulnerable we'll be to this strategy. Knowing the Truth Well Jesus warned us that as the last days approach, Satan will double down on this strategy: that false prophets will rise up and deceive many (Matt 24:11), claiming to be Jesus returned (Mark 13:6), some with signs and wonders. At the same time, Revelation suggests that in the last days, the church will become apathetic, so prosperous materially that we will be unaware of our spiritual emptiness (Rev 3:14-22). (This sounds a lot like the seeds choked by thorns in Jesus' parable of the sower: the seed is choked by "the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, and he becomes unfruitful", Matt 13:22). Peter tells us that "scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.'" (2 Peter 3:3-4). Paul tells us that the last days will be accompanied by a great "falling away" (2 Thess 2:3). Deception comes in many forms, but one thing they all have in common is that they act almost like a vaccine against the truth. There's just enough truth to them, mixed with a lot of untruth, that it's hard to tease apart the good from the bad. In that way, they can deceive "even the elect, if possible" (Matt 24:24, Mark 13:22). We protect against this, in a nutshell, by knowing the truth really, really well. This is the way bankers are trained to recognize counterfeit money: they don't study every possible counterfeit (there will always be a new one). Rather, they learn what the real thing looks like so well that they'll know when something seems off, even if they can't articulate what it is. In the same way, we're to renew our minds with the Word (Romans 12:2); that's how we will recognize truth from lies. Otherwise, it's all too easy for Satan to take a sliver of truth, mix it with a lie, and so deceive us. An Old Testament example of this is found in 2 Kings 18. The back story: in Numbers 21:6-9, the people had sinned, had come out from under the protection of God's covenant, and were dying from bites from poisonous snakes. God commanded Moses to make a bronze serpent on a pole, and told the people that if they would only look at the serpent, they would be healed. We know with hindsight that this was a type and shadow of Jesus, who was made sin for us, and became our substitutionary sacrifice ("by His stripes, we are healed," Isaiah 53:5). But the Jews didn't realize that; all they knew was that God ordained healing through looking at the pole, so the pole became a symbol of deliverance. But over the centuries, they made looking at the pole into a formula: the shadow without the substance of Jesus behind it. It became an idol, which they called Nehushtan. Back to 2 Kings 18, centuries later: verse 4 tells us that King Hezekiah had torn down the high places and broke Nehushtan in pieces. Later in the chapter, Judah is threatened with destruction by a messenger from the King of Assyria, Rabshakeh. This would have been especially terrifying, since Israel (by this point they has become two nations, Israel and Judah) had already been carried into captivity by Assyria, in punishment for the fact that the people kept falling into idolatry and had forsaken God. So when Rabshakeh threatened the people with destruction, he said, "You broke down God's symbols of worship! Why would He come through for you?" (2 Kings 18:22). The people of Judah had to know God and His word well enough to know that what Hezekiah did was actually right in God's eyes (2 Kings 18:5-7). God had originally ordained the serpent on the pole, yes, but the people had made it into an idol, which broke the first of the Ten Commandments. Hezekiah's actions had placed the Jews on the right side of God's covenant (Deut 28), so they, unlike their sister nation of Israel, could trust that God would come through for them. But if the people had not understood all the back story, they might easily have believed Rabshakeh's taunts. They could have lost faith that God would come through for them, convinced that they would go the way of Israel before them, and turned against Hezekiah, thinking he'd brought them out from under God's protection. This is how the enemy works. The serpent is subtle and cunning (Gen 3:1, 2 Cor 11:3-4). Satan tried to deceive Jesus not even by misquoting scripture, just by quoting it out of context (Matt 4:6). This happens to us today all the time. One common example is the teaching that God causes or (directly) allows sickness in order to discipline us, or to teach us something, or for the "greater good". This sounds so spiritual, and a host of out of context scriptures even seem to back it up--yet Deut 28 makes it clear that sickness is always considered a curse. Jesus became a curse for us and redeemed us from the curse (Gal 3:13-14), and even before that, He healed all who came to Him (Matt 15:30, Matt 4:23-24, Matt 8:16, Matt 9:35, Matt 10:1, Matt 12:15, Matt 15:30, Luke 4:40, Luke 10:9). Jesus He was a perfect representation of the Father (John 5:19, 5:30, 8:28, 12:49). So this cannot be right. He may take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it for good (Gen 50:20), but that doesn't mean He caused the evil in the first place. Not even close. (For more on this, see https://www.drlaurendeville.com/why-bad-things-happen-from-a-biblical-perspective/). Truth is the foundation of the spiritual armor (Eph 6:14)--it must go on first, before anything else. The Bible can testify to us that not only is the Word truth, but God is the God of truth (Isa 65:16), that Jesus is the truth (John 14:6). Only knowing the truth will make us free (John 8:32). If we focus on knowing the truth, we will recognize deception. It's important to also rely upon the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth (John 14:17, 15:26, 16:13, 1 John 5:6), to guide us, rather than on our own understanding (Prov 3:5-6), or the wisdom of the world (1 Cor 1:20-2:7), or any other spirit besides the Holy Spirit. The world is confused about what truth is (John 18:37-38) because they don't hear His voice--but we do. This shouldn't be a problem for us.  Cross-Reference What You Hear Along those lines, just because we hear a doctrine preached from the pulpit doesn't mean it's so. It's our responsibility to be like the Bereans in Acts 17--when Paul and Silas preached the word to them there, Luke writes of them, "These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed" (Acts 17:11). They didn't just take Paul and Silas's word for it; they went straight to the source text to confirm it. Paul later wrote to the Galatians, "even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed" (Gal 1:8-9). He repeats himself, because this is so important. Forget him--even if an angel preaches it, let him be accursed! We are not to blindly follow any person simply because of his or her authority. (We're to respect authority of all kinds, Romans 13:1-7--that's a different issue. But when what someone in authority says comes in conflict with God's word, we obviously go with God's word, Acts 4:19). There are plenty of warnings about false teachers in scripture (though one important note here--there's a difference between a false teacher, and a good person doing his or her best who is simply flawed. None of us is going to get everything right. This is the reason why James says that not many should become teachers, as they will "receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things," James 3:1-2.)  A false teacher, though, is one who will distort the truth (Acts 20:29-30, 2 Peter 3:16), by mixing it with myths/fables (Titus 1:14) or "merely human commands" (Matthew 16:1-12) or the traditions of men (such as forbidding to marry, abstaining from certain foods, 1 Tim 4:3), according to the principles of the world (Col 2:4-8). They will pretend to be godly or moral, though (2 Cor 11:13-15, 2 Tim 6:5)--so we must use discernment. There are a few criteria we're given to distinguish a false teacher from just a flawed human being, in process like the rest of us: Anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ is a false teacher (1 John 2:22-23, 4:2-3) Some may lie intentionally for their own gain (Deut 18:20, Ezekiel 13:9, Jer 14:14, Jer 23:16, Titus 1:10-11) or in hypocrisy (1 Tim 4:2-5), using "godliness" as a means of their own selfish gain. Others may be so blind that they truly believe they are doing God a favor in persecuting His true followers (John 16:2). Romans 16:18: Paul said in this verse that these individuals use good words and fair speeches and deceive the hearts of the simple. This means that they flatter people (2 Timothy 4:3) and appeal to the same selfish desires that they themselves have, to draw people after themselves (Acts 20:30). We can't judge another person's motives (Matthew 7:1-3), but we can, and should, judge the fruit of their lives and ministries (Matthew 7:15-20, 1 John 3:7-9). There are many who claim to be believers but aren't (Matthew 7:21-23) and they'll be among us until the end of the age, when God will finally separate them out (Matthew 13:24-30). Truth, "Signs," and Our Emotions We are the gatekeepers of our hearts (Prov 4:23), and have to guard its boundaries, careful of what we allow in. I always thought the parable of wheat and tares (Matthew 13:24-30) only referred to evil people sown amongst the good people of the church. But what if it also means good and bad ideas from good and bad spirits within a given individual-- in other words, we can bear good fruit and bad fruit from different 'trees' even within our own hearts? This might be why Jesus could tell Peter "get behind me Satan" (Matt 16:23) and James and John, "you don't know what spirit you are of" (Luke 9:55), but the men themselves were still His. This also probably goes along with the Parable of the Sower (Matt 13:3-15)... the 'tares' we allow into our own hearts are part of what can choke the word and render it unfruitful. Truth of course must correspond to an accurate description of reality (Gen 42:16)--which should negate any postmodernist philosophy, or syncretism, blending contradictory descriptions of reality. Once we know the truth, we are to continue in what we were taught (Col 2:6-7, 1 John 2:24), not mix a little Christianity with a little of some other contrary message. Paul rails against this practice in many of his letters. In 2 Cor 11:3-4, Paul is angry that the Corinthians' minds may be corrupted so that they receive the one preaching a different Jesus or gospel from the one he preached. In Galatians 1:6-9, as mentioned earlier, the Galatians are falling prey to a perverted gospel, and Paul curses those who preach such a gospel. In Eph 4:14, he writes that only "children" in Christ are tossed about by every wind and wave of doctrine, taken in by trickery and craftiness and deceit. We're supposed to guard against not just what we hear from other humans, but to test what the spirits say too--hence Paul's angel comment (Gal 1:8-9). John also tells us, "do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God" (1 John 4:1). In a lot of denominational churches that don't believe in the supernatural gifts of the spirit (1 Cor 12), this may not come up much. But in those that do, or for individuals who might ascribe to varieties of syncretism (believing in "signs from the universe" if they seem especially coincidental, perhaps), this will become important. Just because a prophet seems to be speaking from a supernatural source doesn't mean what they're saying is from God. It might be, but we have to test it. Just because an idea out of left field pops into our minds doesn't mean it was the Holy Spirit who put it there. Just because a black crow perches on a tree doesn't mean it's an omen foreshadowing our future. Just because we see the same state license plate on every car doesn't mean God is telling us to move there, etc. Solomon writes, “A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps” (Prov 14:15). Elsewhere "simple" is used as a synonym for "fool" (Prov 7:7, 8:5, 9:13). We have to remember that the physical world is a battleground. Until the earth lease is up, Satan is still technically the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4). So God can send us signs in the physical realm, yes--but so can Satan. God can whisper thoughts to our minds--but so can Satan (in fact, this is his primary tactic, 2 Cor 10:3-6). Peter writes that the scriptures are a "more sure word of prophecy" even than hearing an audible voice from heaven (2 Peter 1:19-21), probably for this exact reason: anything using the physical realm has the potential to be counterfeited. That doesn't mean God can't use physical means to communicate with us, but it's clear that the primary means He uses for His own are the scriptures, and the Holy Spirit (John 14:17, 26), who also often speaks to us by bringing the scriptures we know to our remembrance. He also will speak through the prophets (1 Cor 12:1-11), dreams and visions (Acts 2:17-18), but we have to check all of this against the Word. Scripture will divide between soul and spirit (what originates with us vs Him, Hebrews 4:12), as well as what might originate with a malevolent spirit sent to lead us astray. David tells us it's the scriptures that make the simple wise: "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple" (Psalm 19:7). What if an idea comes to us as an idea, a dream, a vision, a prophecy, or a "synchronicity" moment that seems supernatural, and it's something that isn't addressed in scripture at all, though? How do we know if it's from God, from us, or from the enemy then? The first thing to check there is whether or not the message is consistent with God's character. Jesus said we can ask anything in His name and He will give it to us (John 14:14). What's in God's name (https://www.drlaurendeville.com/names-of-lord-psalm-9-9-10-meditation/)? He is Jehovah Nissi (the Lord my Banner), Jehovah-Raah (the Lord my Shepherd), Jehovah Rapha (the Lord that Heals), Jehovah Shammah (the Lord is There), Jehovah Tsidkenu (the Lord our Righteousness), Jehovah Mekoddishkem (the Lord who Sanctifies You), Jehovah Jireh (the Lord who Provides), Jehovah Shalom (the Lord is Peace), Jehovah Sabaoth (the Lord of Hosts).  The next thing to check is the fruit that message produces (Gal 5:19-23, Romans 8:6-8). God won't lead us into anything producing negative fruit--if the fruit is bad, it's from the flesh or the enemy, and not the Spirit. If it passes those tests, though, then as we continue to pray about the message (dream, vision, prophecy, idea, etc) then it's also biblical for us to ask for additional confirmations of the message--Paul says in 2 Cor 13:1 that every word should be established by two or three witnesses. If the message is from God, He'll make sure you know it. His Spirit guides us into all truth (John 16:13). And as you continue to seek Him and pray about it, peace (a fruit of the Spirit) should grow, confirming that the message comes from God (Col 3:15). Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today's Passage: Genesis 22:9-14When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” Today's Prayer: Father God, Jehovah Jireh – we recognize the ways seen and unseen that you have provided for us and our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout all of time. You are always on time. And even though it doesn't feel like that sometimes, we believe it ultimately to be true.  Remind us again, in this advent season of waiting and longing for you, that your heart is one of outpouring and generosity. Abounding in love and blessings to those of us that call on you. Jesus, we praise you, for being the provision we needed. At just the right time, while we were powerless in our sin, you became our sacrifice and made a way for us to come home to God. How can we ever stop thanking you? We celebrate your coming and your victory this Advent season. And we eagerly await to be reunited with you. Holy Spirit, through your power, would you remind us when we forget that Jehovah Jireh is our God. Call to mind the ways and times he has proven himself true to his character. And help our hearts to grow in wisdom and trust as we wait and hope for Christ's return. Amen.For more information about this Advent season, visit our Christmas at Fellowship page. There you can find more resources, as well as information about pursuing Christ and celebrating him this season with our church. 

Pastor Tony's message emphasizes the unwavering faithfulness of God and His provision in every circumstance, as seen in Abraham's obedience in Genesis 22. Through the testing of Abraham, God revealed Himself as Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord who provides, demonstrating that trust in God's promises brings blessing and multiplication. Pastor Tony highlights how God's names—Jehovah-Jireh (The Lord Will Provide), Jehovah-Tsuri (The Lord Is My Rock, Psalm 18:2), and Jehovah-Nissi (The Lord My Banner, Exodus 17:15)—reflect His nature as a provider, protector, and source of victory. Believers are called to stand firm in faith, recognizing that God's provision, strength, and deliverance are unchanging, and through obedience and trust, His blessings will impact future generations.

Pastor Tony's message emphasizes the unwavering faithfulness of God and His provision in every circumstance, as seen in Abraham's obedience in Genesis 22. Through the testing of Abraham, God revealed Himself as Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord who provides, demonstrating that trust in God's promises brings blessing and multiplication. Pastor Tony highlights how God's names—Jehovah-Jireh (The Lord Will Provide), Jehovah-Tsuri (The Lord Is My Rock, Psalm 18:2), and Jehovah-Nissi (The Lord My Banner, Exodus 17:15)—reflect His nature as a provider, protector, and source of victory. Believers are called to stand firm in faith, recognizing that God's provision, strength, and deliverance are unchanging, and through obedience and trust, His blessings will impact future generations.

Join us for an inspiring message exploring the story of Abraham's faith journey in Genesis. Learn how God's promises, tests, and provision shape our faith and trust in Him. Dive into the miracle offering, understanding Jehovah Jireh as our provider, and discovering how faith grows through challenges and obedience.0:00 - Welcome and Introduction0:36 - Remembering the Tests of Life1:11 - Journey into Genesis: Abraham's Story Begins2:15 - God's Promise and Abraham's Response4:36 - Trusting God vs. Following Human Reasoning6:32 - Reflection: Tests of Faith in Our Journey with Jesus9:09 - The Doubts and Faith of Abraham and Sarah12:28 - The Consequences of Our Own Plans14:17 - God's Covenant and Reminder of His Promise17:12 - Sarah and Abraham's Laughter at God's Plan21:09 - The Test of Isaac: God's Unbearable Request27:06 - Faith in Action: Abraham's Obedience29:33 - God's Provision: Jehovah Jireh36:11 - Jesus Foreshadowed in the Story of Isaac38:00 - Miracle Offering: Trusting God in Generosity41:24 - Prayer and Closing Remarks