Podcasts about Jordan River

Pastor Andrev Baltazar from Church Unstoppable in Santa Rosa, California brings an incredible word about how God brings us out of our past bondage and into the breakthroughs of the promises He has for us! God does not just deliver us from our past, He also delivers us into our purpose. The crossing of the Red Sea was a rescue mission, but the crossing of the Jordan River was about release into a promise. God's promise to us is that He will always be with us. What brings you into the promise is forgiveness! How do we cross the Jordan? We have to extract a vision from our seasons of trial. We have to invest into what God is bringing us into. We can't be satisfied during our periods of layover. God wants to move us from survival to significance, rescued to release and Baggage To Breakthrough!

Pastor Andrev Baltazar from Church Unstoppable in Santa Rosa, California brings an incredible word about how God brings us out of our past bondage and into the breakthroughs of the promises He has for us! God does not just deliver us from our past, He also delivers us into our purpose. The crossing of the Red Sea was a rescue mission, but the crossing of the Jordan River was about release into a promise. God's promise to us is that He will always be with us. What brings you into the promise is forgiveness! How do we cross the Jordan? We have to extract a vision from our seasons of trial. We have to invest into what God is bringing us into. We can't be satisfied during our periods of layover. God wants to move us from survival to significance, rescued to release and Baggage To Breakthrough!

What defines Jewish belonging—land, Torah, or loyalty? In this episode, Parshat Matot-Masei sparks a rich conversation between Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash about the tribes of Reuven, Gad, and Menashe who ask to settle east of the Jordan River. They explore Moshe's sharp challenge to their request, the shifting language from “ahuzah” (holding) to “nachalah” (inheritance), and what it means to belong to the Jewish people. The discussion expands to contemporary dilemmas of collective responsibility—from Israel-Diaspora relations to the burden of reserve duty in today's IDF.

Bold faith and unwavering obedience reveal God's power in extraordinary ways. From parting the Jordan River to raising the dead, Elisha's story challenges us to trust God fully and step courageously into His calling. The journey of the old Testament prophet Elisha speaks directly to challenges and opportunities we often face today.

We delve into a critical moment in Israel's history as described in Joshua 22. After seven years of conquest, Israel finally experiences rest, but a new conflict arises when the eastern tribes build an altar near the Jordan River. Misunderstandings escalate to the brink of civil war as the western tribes prepare for battle, believing the altar breaches God's commands. A delegation led by Phinehas confronts the eastern tribes, only to learn that the altar is meant as a witness to future generations, not for sacrifices. Through dialogue and reason, the conflict is resolved, and unity is restored.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: @biblelitTwitter: @bible_litFacebook: @biblelitEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.org Want to learn the Bible languages (Greek & Hebrew)? Check out ou...

The Gospel of John Week 3 Scripture: John 1:19-51, Malachi 4:5-6, Psalm 105, Daniel 7:13-14. Today we take a look at John the Baptist, his questioning by religious authorities, the Baptism of Jesus, and meet some of His first followers. As Pastor begins today's class we learn about who John the Baptist was and Pastor shares personal photos he has taken in the location where John lived and preached. John the Baptist is the one who God foretold through Malachi the prophet: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” Malachi 4:5-6  John even dressed like Elijah: leather belt, animal skin clothing, ate locust and wild honey, lived in the wilderness.  John the Baptist was totally devoted to preparing the way for the Messiah. John 1:23 tells us, “John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.'” He knew Messiah was coming! Pastor lays out a map of the area around the Jordan River, Dead Sea and Bethany where John lived and preached and offered baptism - a cleansing done in anticipation of meeting God - a ritual washing in Judaism that signified a cleaning off of ones sins - repentance. John 1:29-31, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!  This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'  I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” John the Baptist preaches that the Messiah is coming. And He calls Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. John the Baptist understands who Jesus is and in verses 32-34 - we read his testimony: “Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.  And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is God's Chosen One.”” As we explore Jesus' baptism - the question is why was Jesus baptized?  Let's start with why were people receiving John's baptisms - because they realized they were sinners and needed to repent and the baptism represented the washing off of sin. But Jesus is sinless - why doe He get baptized - because it symbolized His willingness to take on all the sins that had been washed into the river. He goes into the water implying He is willing to take all of our sins onto Himself. And that's where the road to the cross begins. In John the Baptist's testimony says that the Spirit come down and remained on Jesus and He is the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Jesus is the One who will bring the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  Pastor shares an overview of the difference between the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament and the Holy Spirit in the New Testament and shows us that we are in the Age of the Spirit. Pastor also shares encouragement for the American church to find its way back to acknowledging the Spirit of God that has been poured out. As our story continues we see Jesus begin to gather the group that would become His disciples. We meet Andrew, Peter and Nathaniel. Pastor gives some interesting insights to these men. Pastor summarizes this first chapter of the Gospel of John:  Jesus is the Word made flesh, who dwelt among us, who is the very glory of the Heavenly Father and who is God come to earth. Join us next week for chapter 2 as we continue to learn about Jesus' identity, about Judaism, about who Jesus the Messiah is, what He is doing and what that all means. We will look at His first miracle - one that many think is trivial - but as we will learn - it is NOT!   Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01     ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels.      ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before. Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

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: @biblelitTwitter: @bible_litFacebook: @biblelitEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.org Want to learn the Bible languages (Greek & Hebrew)? Check out ou...

Parashat Pinhas tells the story of Benot Selofhad – the five daughters of a man named Selofhad, who died in the wilderness leaving behind only these five daughters, without any sons. As Beneh Yisrael were preparing to enter the Land of Israel, these women approached Moshe and asked that they inherit the portion in the land that had been earmarked for Selofhad. Moshe consulted with Hashem, who informed him that indeed, when there are no sons, a person's daughters inherit his estate. The Torah introduces this story by identifying Selofhad as "Selofhad, the son of Hefer, the son of Gilad, the son of Machir, the son of Menashe, from among the families of Menashe, the son of Yosef" (27:1). Rashi raises the question of why the Torah found it necessary to mention Yosef in this context. We are, quite obviously, already well-aware of the fact that Menashe was one of the two sons of Yosef. Why are we reminded about Yosef in the introduction to the story of Benot Selofhad? Rashi answers that the Torah wanted to draw an association between these five women and their righteous ancestor, Yosef, whose legacy their carried through their love for the Land of Israel. Yosef made his brothers promise before his passing that they would bring his remains to Eretz Yisrael for burial, out of his deep love for Eretz Yisrael. And his descendants – Benot Selofhad – similarly displayed their commitment to Eretz Yisrael by approaching Moshe and imploring him to give them their father's portion of the land. Later commentators questioned how Rashi saw in Benot Selofhad's request an expression of love for the Land of Israel. Seemingly, they just wanted property; they give no indication that they longed specifically for a portion of Eretz Yisrael. Imagine a youngster is participating in a program and the people running the program are serving pizza and nothing else. If the youngster comes forward and asks for a slice of pizza, does this necessarily show his love for pizza? Of course not. He's hungry and wants food, and pizza is the food that's being served. By the same token, it seems, Benot Selofhad simply wanted property. How did Rashi know that Selofhad's daughters felt special love for Eretz Yisrael? One answer given is that Rashi inferred this from the timing of the request. Selofhad died many years earlier, yet his daughters came forward to claim their inheritance rights only now, as the nation prepared to cross into the Land of Israel. They did not ask for any of Selofhad's possessions throughout all the years after his passing. He undoubtedly had valuable assets, but this did not concern them. The fact that they approached Moshe only now, on the cusp of Beneh Yisrael's arrival in the land, shows that they felt a special connection to Eretz Yisrael, following the legacy of their illustrious ancestor, Yosef. The Netziv (Rav Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin of Volozhin, 1816-1893) offers a different explanation. As mentioned earlier, Selofhad was a grandson of Gilad, the son of Machir. Later (Bamidbar 32:40), we read that the family of Machir was given a portion in Eber Ha'Yarden – the territory east of the Jordan River – as their permanent area of residence. Selofhad, as a member of this family, should thus have had rights to a piece of land in this region, and not in Eretz Yisrael. His daughters, however, asked that they be given a share not in Eber Ha'Yarden, but in the Land of Israel. They would not have been satisfied with territory in the region settled by the Machir family. Due to their great love for the Land of Israel, they insisted on receiving land in Eretz Yisrael instead of the region settled by their father's family – and Rashi thus understood that they, as loyal heirs of Yosef, shared his special love and commitment to the sacred land that Hashem has given us.

God instructs us to remember His faithfulness as a foundation for future faith. In Joshua 4, the Israelites built a memorial with stones from the Jordan River after crossing on dry ground, creating a conversation piece for future generations. God's power was released only after the priests took steps of faith into rushing waters. River of Life Church has its own legacy stones—from its miraculous beginnings in East Missoula to recent provision for a new property. When facing impossible situations, remember that God's power activates with your step of faith, and He sees value in places and people others overlook.

Bold faith and unwavering obedience reveal God's power in extraordinary ways. From parting the Jordan River to raising the dead, Elisha's story challenges us to trust God fully and step courageously into His calling. The journey of the old Testament prophet Elisha speaks directly to challenges and opportunities we often face today.

The sermon centers on the importance of remembrance, drawing from the Old Testament account of Joshua and the crossing of the Jordan River, to illustrate God's faithfulness and provision for his people. It emphasizes that human memory is fallible, necessitating tangible reminders like the stones erected by the Israelites, symbolizing God's promises and the pivotal role of Joshua, a type of Christ, in securing salvation. The message encourages consistent engagement with the means of grace, particularly the Lord's Day and the sacraments, as vital practices for cultivating a lasting awareness of God's redemptive work and ensuring that future generations understand and celebrate His enduring grace and kingdom.

Bold faith and unwavering obedience reveal God's power in extraordinary ways. From parting the Jordan River to raising the dead, Elisha's story challenges us to trust God fully and step courageously into His calling. The journey of the old Testament prophet Elisha speaks directly to challenges and opportunities we often face today.

Jesus' Identity The king is here! But who did people say Jesus is? Let us look at what some eyewitnesses said about this Jesus in his first public event! Luke 3v15-18 Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah. John answered their questions by saying, "I baptize you with[water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am-so much greater that I'm not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire." John used many such warnings as he announced the Good News to the people. Matthew 3v13-16 Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. "I am the one who needs to be baptized by you," he said, "so why are you coming to me?" But Jesus said, "It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires." So John agreed to baptize him. After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy." Witness 1 - John the Baptist We start with Jesus' baptism, as it is the commencement of Jesus' public ministry. Jesus is now about 30 years old. Our first witness is John the Baptist himself! When John came (Luke3v1-2) When John the Baptist appeared on the scene, no prophetic voice had been heard within Israel for almost 400 years. His coming was part of God's perfect timing, for everything that relates to God's Son is always on time (Gal.4v4; Jn.2v4, 13v1) How John came (Luke3v3) Dressed and acting like the Old Testament prophet Elijah, John came to the area near the River Jordan, preaching and baptizing. He announced the arrival of the kingdom of heaven (Mt.3v3) and urged the people to repent from sin and their old lives. John's baptism looked forward to the coming of the Messiah! Little did he know what was soon going to happen! Why John came - (Luke 3v4-20) - John the Baptist was a voice crying in the wilderness. The nation of Israel was living in a state of unbelief and twisted spiritual reality. For 400 years God had been silent! Where was the voice of God, people would have been asking. The people of Israel desperately needed to hear a voice from God, and John was that faithful voice in God's own timing! It was John's work to prepare the nation for the Messiah and then present the Messiah to them. The messiah, saviour or king, as we glimpsed in the covenants. John was unambiguous in his belief about Jesus. He clearly states that Jesus was "the Lord" (Luke 3v4) and the Son of God (Jn.1v34). Certainly untenable for a Jewish male to equate anybody with the living God of Israel. Witness 2 & 3 - The Father and the Spirit Then surprise, surprise! Not least to John the Baptist! Jesus comes to him and presents himself for baptism! John at first refuses to do it (Mt.3v13-15). John knew that Jesus of Nazareth was the perfect Son of God who had no need to repent of sin. Through his baptism, Jesus identified with all sinners that he came to save even though he was without sin or wrongdoing. This is the start of Jesus' public ministry. But why did Jesus get baptized? In replying to John's initial refusal to baptize him, Jesus said "...it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness" (Mt.3v15). This looks ahead, as we shall see, to his suffering on the cross, because it is only through the baptism of suffering that Jesus endured on the cross, that God is able to fulfil all righteousness. The "us" referred to means Father, Son and Spirit. When Jesus came up from the water, the Father spoke from heaven and identified Him as the beloved Son of God, and the Spirit visibly came upon Jesus in the form of a dove. They testified as to who Jesus was and is! Witness 4 & 5. The Genealogies! In the genealogies of Jesus we see another extraordinary thing about this Jesus! You can read them at Matthew 1v1-17 and Luke 3v23-3 Jesus as the Son of Man - The genealogies reminds us that the Son of God was also the Son of Man, born into the world, identifying with the needs and problems of mankind. Through the genealogy, we see down through the generations Jesus' link to Adam and ultimately God. The phrase "the son of" generally means any remotely connected descendant or ancestor. It is a reminder that Jesus, being Joseph's legal son was part of a human family, tribe, race and nation. Jesus' line goes back through the Old Testament from Joseph to King David to Judah, Jacob, Isaac and Abraham, to Methuselah to Noah and Adam. The genealogy, with its link to David, shows Jesus' right to ascend to David's throne (Luke 1v32-33). The genealogy shows Jesus' total human-ness, and because he is linked to Adam, identifies with all humanity and not just Israel. But there is one difference between Jesus and all other humans. In that Luke doesn't stop the genealogy at Adam, as he would have for all other humans, Luke ultimately leads and links Jesus to being God's Son. Jesus as the Son of God - Adam had come into the world bearing the true image of a son of God, but, when Adam disobeyed God, that image was marred and scarred due to sin entering the world. All that is, except Jesus. The voice from God the Father ratified Jesus as the Son of God. Not a son of God as some may claim, but the one and only Son of God. This genealogy points to the unbroken relationship between Jesus and God. Jesus is as Adam was before Adam's disobedience. This is Jesus, both fully human and fully God. We will find out why later on in the series! Jesus, the one all of the Old Testament covenants pointed ahead to coming! John the Baptist identified who Jesus was. God the Father and God the Holy Spirit testified about who Jesus was. His genealogies and ancestry testify as to who he was. Who do you say Jesus was and is? Tomorrow we look at his purpose and mission! Thank you! Right mouse click or tap here to download as a MP3 audio file

The Gospel of John Week 2 Scripture: John 1:1-18, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Psalm 33;6, Psalm 107:20, Isaiah 55:11, Exodus 40:34, Exodus 33:18. An Overview of the Gospel of John     ⁃    Prologue 1:1-18     ⁃    Jesus' ministry 1:19 - 11:57     ⁃    Passion of Christ and resurrection 12:1 - 21:25 Important terms in the Gospel of John (# = number of times it is used in the Gospel of John:     ⁃    Life: 36     ⁃    Light: 23     ⁃    Witness: 47     ⁃    Believe: 98     ⁃    World: 78     ⁃    Truth: 56     ⁃    Glory: 42     ⁃    Father: 136 Several of these key words above appear in the prologue. Prologue (1:1-18) The prologue begins John 1:1 “In the beginning” which is just how Genesis 1:1 starts “In the beginning.” In Genesis those words introduce creation.  In John those words introduce the new creation - God is doing a new things. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Everything that the Father said through the prophets from the beginning, and what was spoken since the beginning is coming to its fullness and fulfillment in Jesus the Messiah. John 1:1 - “In the beginning was the word.” The following verses help us understand more about The Word. We read in Psalm 33:6 that “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.” God's WORD is living and active! Psalm 107:20 tells us that the Word rescues from the grave, just as Jesus rescues us from the grave. - “He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.” And then in Isaiah 55:11 we read “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” God's word accomplishes His plans and purposes. Just as Jesus accomplishes the fulfillment of God's promises and plans and purposes.   Everything was created by the Word of Jesus Christ. The Word holds everything together. And Jesus - The Word - was there at the beginning! John 1:1-3 tells us that the Living God loved us so much that he was willing in a way beyond our ability to understand, willing to become one of us, a real human being but also truly and fully God. He gave Himself up for us all and that's the way this gospel begins and that's powerful! John 1:4-5 reminds us of Genesis 1 where we read that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…. And He said let there be light. And in John we read, “In Him was life and that life was the Light of the World!” Those who receive Jesus as Messiah become the children of God - adopted by the Creator of the Universe! Right from the opening of this powerful and amazing book we see who Jesus is - He is the Living God. - He is the Messiah - He is The Word - He is the fulfillment of every promise of God. John 1:6-14  - Pastor talks about John the Baptist who bares witness to Jesus the Messiah as the Light and shares pictures of the Jordan River at the town of Bethany - the traditional site of Jesus' baptism. The Gospel of John is uniquely crafted by the Spirit of God to bear witness to Jesus and to lead people to faith.  It's an easy read but filled with depth! John shares that Jesus wasn't who was expected and that the people didn't recognize Him as the Messiah. Jesus came in flesh to dwell (tabernacle) among us as God did with Moses - Exodus 40:34. Side note Jesus is referred to as Emmanuel in the Old Testament and that means God with us! And He is! John 1:15-18 Law came through Moses - Grace and truth come through Jesus Christ and Jesus is the fulfillment of everything God promised in the Torah. Jesus is not simply a great teacher or merely a worker of miracles, He is the One who is the Only begotten God. In the prologue we see who Jesus is and starting next week we will see what this means and how this works!  Join us! Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01     ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels.      ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before. Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

A Reason For Hope with Pastor Scott Richards! Sharing the Word one question of the heart at a time. Tags: Visions, Swoon Theory, and The Jordan River

We explore the pivotal moment when the Israelites, led by Joshua, cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Through divine intervention, God halts the river's flow, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry ground, mirroring the miraculous Red Sea crossing. This event not only demonstrates God's continuous support but also instills fear in the surrounding nations. We delve into the significance of the twelve-stone memorial set up to commemorate this miracle, and the acts of obedience that followed, including circumcision and the celebration of Passover. These acts marked a new beginning for the Israelites and reinforced their identity as God's chosen people.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: @biblelitTwitter: @bible_litFacebook: @biblelitEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.org Want to learn the Bible languages (Greek & Hebrew)? Check out ou...

This week's interview features the return of Jordan River, host of the legendary podcast Growcast! Jordan has been on the show many times before, and we consider him a good friend of High on Home Grown. In this episode, we catch up on what he's been working on recently, from exciting new projects with Growcast to some of the standout strains featured in one of their recent Grower Cups! We also dive into some unexpected topics like chiropractic care, and our shared love for plant-based medicines like cannabis, coffee, and psilocybin.

Bold faith and unwavering obedience reveal God's power in extraordinary ways. From parting the Jordan River to raising the dead, Elisha's story challenges us to trust God fully and step courageously into His calling. The journey of the old Testament prophet Elisha speaks directly to challenges and opportunities we often face today.

Bold faith and unwavering obedience reveal God's power in extraordinary ways. From parting the Jordan River to raising the dead, Elisha's story challenges us to trust God fully and step courageously into His calling. The journey of the old Testament prophet Elisha speaks directly to challenges and opportunities we often face today.

By Ray Roberts - The humble Jordan River had significant miracles occur there throughout the scriptures. Let us look together to see some of the ways God magnified the Jordan River.

In this Bible Story, God heals a foreign warrior plagued with leprosy, and who turns down by the King of Israel. Elisha sees this as a perfect opportunity to show all the nations that the Lord is a Lord of healing and power. Naaman is refreshed in the cool water of the Jordan River. As he bathes himself in the river, his sick and dying flesh is replaced with new life. This story is inspired by 2 Kings 5:1-14. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 2 Kings 5:14 from the King James Version.Episode 133: Naaman, now joyfully and powerfully aware of God, rushed to Elisha to proclaim his allegiance to the God of Israel and to give gifts to Elisha. But Elisha would take no gifts for this was a generous act of God. So Naaman departed with dirt from Israel so that he may worship The God of Israel, in his home country. But even in such a moment of joy, evil was at work. Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, gave in to his greed and pursued Naaman for gifts of his own. Little did he know that God saw this and made it known to his master. Gehazi and his descendants would be forced to carry the consequences of his actions forever.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world’s greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before Humility: Wash in the dirty, stinky Jordan River? Me, a famous general?! Never! Humility: Okay. Wow! I'm healed!

Your Daily Prayer

Fire and altars. Feeding pigs. Growing decent vegetables: Just what might those things have in common? Pastor Chris made some connections to the fiery story of Elijah and Elisha that included an intriguing passage from C.S. Lewis' That Hideous Strength. Along the way we talked about what it means to build an altar and, also, the sometimes hard truth that the building of altars we do for God may not result in anything obvious to us. The image associated with this sermon/podcast is titled "Fire from Heaven" and is anonymous.

Bold faith and unwavering obedience reveal God's power in extraordinary ways. From parting the Jordan River to raising the dead, Elisha's story challenges us to trust God fully and step courageously into His calling. The journey of the old Testament prophet Elisha speaks directly to challenges and opportunities we often face today.

Bold faith and unwavering obedience reveal God's power in extraordinary ways. From parting the Jordan River to raising the dead, Elisha's story challenges us to trust God fully and step courageously into His calling. The journey of the old Testament prophet Elisha speaks directly to challenges and opportunities we often face today.

Pastor Jon Verwey Called to Jesus, Sent for the Kingdom It started with twelve—it continues with us 06/29/25 7 Jesus went out to the lake with his disciples, and a large crowd followed him. They came from all over Galilee, Judea, 8 Jerusalem, Idumea, from east of the Jordan River, and even from as far […]

“Israel Crosses the Jordan River”​ Joshua 3:1-4:24 ​ Thank you for listening! Please enjoy our weekly sermon from Pastor Mike Rodrigues of Aliante Community Baptist Church. We invite you, your family and friends to join us as we study God's word. We pray that you will be blessed by today's lessons from God's Word and we invite you to contact us with any questions you may have - especially questions regarding your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. We want to help you with your walk of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and with your understanding of His Holy Word, the Bible. May God richly bless you!​ Donations We are accepting offerings via our church website. Donate Here Your financial support of our ministry is greatly appreciated.   Contact Information info@aliantecommunitybaptistchurch.com Website www.aliantecommunitybaptistchurch.com

We explore the final days of Moses as the Israelites prepare to enter the Promised Land. Despite his enduring physical strength, Moses faces the reality that he cannot cross the Jordan River due to his past disobedience. Joshua is appointed as his successor to lead the people into Canaan. We delve into the challenges Moses faces, including requests from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh to settle outside Canaan, and God's command to drive out the inhabitants of the land. 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: @biblelitTwitter: @bible_litFacebook: @biblelitEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.org Want to learn the Bible languages (Greek & Hebrew)? Check out ou...

My microwave has this very useful ability to bring food back to life; like, oh, store bought baked goods for example. Have you ever noticed? It's just better if you pop them in the microwave. You know, nuking it? If you get some of that store bought coffee cake or donuts or muffins, you know, they may not be fresh from the bakery. But we found that they are so much better if you heat them up. What happens is the heat makes them softer. The other day I had a cookie that was getting a little on the old side, and I put it in the microwave and it was like it came right out of the oven - soft and warm. Sometimes the box will even tell you that you ought to "nuke it." And sometimes it will say, "Better when heated" or something like that. Actually, that would be true of about half of the human race. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Heat That Heals a Heart." Now, our word for today from the Word of God comes from 2 Kings 5:1. We're reading about a man named Naaman who it says is "commander of the army of the king of Aram. He's a great man in the sight of his master, highly regarded, he was a valiant soldier." Now, that's at the beginning of the story. At the end of the story in verse 17, he is saying to God's man, Elisha the prophet, "Your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the Lord." Wow! Something happened in between these two verses, something that made this man of war into a man of God. Now, what is it that makes a warrior into a worshipper? Well, I didn't read it after it said "He was a valiant soldier." Let's go on. "...but he had leprosy." So he goes, and Elisha tells him he has to wash in the dirty waters of the Jordan River seven times in order to get well. It says Naaman went away angry. He said, "I won't go into the dirty river. We've got great rivers back in our country I could get into." And his servants say, "Hey, if he asked you to do some great act, you would do it wouldn't you? Why don't you go wash and be cleansed." Then we read in verse 14, "So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times." He's finally humble. "And his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy." Now, Naaman did not yield to God until there was something bigger than he could possibly handle. When I say that, we've probably just described about half the human race; my half of the human race, the male half of the human race. When God turned up the heat on Naaman, He softened his heart so He could save him. You know, a man says, "Hey, I can handle it." That's our motto, "I can handle it!" And we give God money, we give Him time, we give Him belief, but we want the control. God hears us say, "I can handle it" and He says, "Oh no, you can't." And so He sends to us men something that all our ability, and our power, and our connections cannot handle: a child goes astray, something happens to our health, our job, our marriage, an injury. The breaking of the man is the making of the man. It's not because God doesn't love you, it's because He does. One man told me recently, "God could never get control of my life until my son attempted suicide." Another man recently said, "I almost died in an accident, and finally I surrendered to Christ." See, God does this over and over again with us men, this humbling thing so we will finally let go to the Lord. And guess what? Then we're finally complete; we're finally whole like Naaman was only after he was broken. See, God turns up the heat on us men because we get pretty hard like those old pastries, and He uses this heat to soften us up so we can finally become all we were created to be. Maybe He's been turning up the heat so you will finally turn your heart to Jesus. Would you do that today and let Him make you a man you could never be without Him. We're always better after we've been through God's heat, because remember, the breaking of a man by the Lord is the making of the man.

Daily Dose of Hope June 24, 2025   Scripture - Matthew 16:13-28   Prayer:  Holy God, Thank you for this day and thank you for the ways you provide and care for us.  We rejoice in your powerful and mighty name.  As we read through the Scripture today and reflect on what it means for us, help us hear a new word from you.  Help us set aside the distractions of the day and really listen for your voice.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are covering the second portion of Matthew 16.   Jesus has taken his disciples on a retreat of sorts, and they have traveled away from Judea, further north into Gentile territory.  Maybe it's to get away from the crowds, maybe it's so they can speak more freely.  Caesarea Philippi is pretty far north in Israel.  It was a quiet place at the headwaters of the Jordan River but also a place filled with idol worship and signs of Roman occupation everywhere.  And it's here that Jesus decides he is going to settle his identity with these men.  So he asks each of them, “Who do people say I am?”    Over the two years that the disciples had been with Jesus, people had all kinds of thoughts about who Jesus was.  Some thought he was the precursor to the Messiah, others (like King Herod) thought he was John the Baptist reincarnated, others thought he might be one of the prophets returned.  But Jesus presses them, “who do you say I am?”  Now, it doesn't matter what the others say – who is it you say I am?  That's really the question for all of us, isn't it.  It doesn't matter who others say Jesus is.  If I were to do a man on the street interview right now, I'm sure I'd get all kinds of answers to who is Jesus?  A teacher, a healer, a crazy person, Son of God, the Savior.  But it doesn't matter what others say, what matters is what you believe and what YOU say about Jesus.  And that's what Jesus is asking his disciples.  What do you say about me?  What are you willing to confess about me?  This was really a rubber meets the road question for them, as it is for us.  What are you willing to confess about me, to others, publicly?   Jesus asked all of them but it was Peter who spoke up.  And he says, “You are the Messiah, Son of the Living God.”  The word Messiah means anointed one or God's anointed.  And the term “Messiah” was the Hebrew word for God's anointed, the term “Christ” was the Greek word for it.  Messiah and Christ mean the same thing, different languages.  I know this might come as a surprise to some of us but Christ is not Jesus' last name.  It is a title.  And Peter is giving Jesus this title, you are the Messiah, the anointed one.   What's the big deal with being anointed?  In ancient Israel, when someone was given a position of authority, oil was poured on his head to signify his being set apart for God's service. I Samuel 10:1 is an example, Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul's head and kissed him, saying, "Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over his inheritance?  Kings, priests, and prophets were anointed in this way. Anointing was a symbolic act to indicate God's choosing.  Although the literal meaning of anointed refers to the application of oil, it can also refer to being chosen or set apart by God, even if oil is not literally used.  So, Peter is saying you are the anointed one, chosen, set apart by God, the Messiah.   But there is more to this.  Throughout the OT, there are many, many verses that point to the Messiah delivering the Hebrew people from captivity, from pagan kings.  The Jews expected the Messiah to deliver them from Roman occupation via military might.  That was the expectation.  The Christ, the Messiah is the one who God sent to deliver his people, to make things right for them – the one they had been waiting for hundreds of years.  So when Peter says this, you are the Messiah, he probably doesn't quite understand how Jesus is going to deliver them.  No one really got it that the Messiah would be the one to deliver people, not from the Roman occupiers, but from their own sin.    Peter says that Jesus is Messiah but then he says that Jesus is the Son of the living God.  Just to clarify something, in the OT, there are a number of men, particularly prophets, who are called a son of God.  That was not an uncommon title for a Godly man.  But that is not what Peter is saying, Peter says that Jesus is THE son of the living God.    Let's clarify something here because I think we can get confused - Jesus is not God's Son in the sense of a human father and a son. God did not get married and have a son. God did not mate with Mary and, together with her, produce a son. Jesus is God's Son in the sense that He is GOD in human form – John 1:1, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  Keep in mind, the term “Word” is referring to Jesus.  Jesus was there in the beginning.  Jesus was there with God in the beginning.  Jesus was there with God and Jesus is God.  Brain cramping yet?  Let's read v. 14, The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  So, the “Word”, Jesus, became human and lived among us.  Of course, that is the Christmas story, Jesus became a human being, was born to a woman named Mary, who became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.  When the angel comes to Mary in Luke and explains the situation, he tells her that this holy one you will give birth to will be called the Son of God.   This clearly separates Jesus from the prophets. He is not a son of God but the Son of the living God.  Jesus walks with a very distinct, specific authority.  I mean, look at his miracles.  He heals people with a word or touch.  He rebukes a storm and it listens to him.  He could read people's minds.  He raises Lazurus from the dead.  He doesn't argue with demons.  Think about it – when Jesus encounters a demon, they tremble.  Colossians 1, The son is the image of the invisible God…  He walks in a distinct, divine authority.  Because he is the Son of the living God – the second person of the Godhead.    So, Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, and he is Lord.  I didn't count this myself, but I read that Jesus is referred to as Lord almost 300 times in the New Testament.  Lord was the most common title for Jesus in the early church.  Why is that significant?  When the Hebrew Bible, what we call the OT, was translated from Hebrew to Greek, the term Yahweh (which was the Hebrew word for God) was translated to Lord in the NT.  That means, to say that Jesus is Lord is to say that Jesus is God.  It is saying that Jesus is divine – he is God – and Caesar is NOT, a claim that was quite dangerous at the time.    To say that Jesus is Lord means that Jesus has claim over all things; he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  He is LORD over all things – over the cosmos, over the whole earth, over all nations and their leaders, he is Lord over Vladimir Putin, he is Lord over Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, he is Lord over all the celebrities in Hollywood, he is Lord over Florida and Brandon, he is Lord over each of us.    Now, here is where I'm going to get kind of personal.  At least I'm giving a warning.  What I've found working in ministry is that people like the idea of Jesus as Savior.  Yes, I've said yes to Jesus as my Savior so I'm going to heaven.  That feels good and it should.  But man, do people struggle with this concept that Jesus is Lord.  Because saying Jesus is Lord is one step further.  It's saying that he is Lord over everything and he is Lord over my family and me.  That means, I defer to him in every area of my life.  I trust him with everything.  That means, before I make a decision, I ask Jesus for his will.  It means I have given my job over to him, my children and grandchildren over to him; it means I have given the words I speak, my actions, my thoughts over to Jesus.  My finances belong to him.  That means that tithing isn't an issue because, well, it all belongs to Jesus anyway.  I have no claim on my life.  I belong to Jesus.    I struggled with this for years.  In a culture that tells us that its all about us, how hard WE work, the fruits of our labor, its OUR money, OUR children, OUR lives.  Maybe it sounds weird, but turning over my money to Lord Jesus wasn't that difficult.  I made a decision.  We are supposed to tithe so we are going to do it and I had been around people who tithed for a long time.  What was hard for me was giving my marriage to Jesus, giving my kids to Jesus.  I might have had a bit of a control issue.  And if you have a control issue – teenagers will humble you.  And it was in the midst of some real struggles that I just turned it all over to him.  They are your kids first, Lord.  They were never mine to begin with.  If I make it sounds easy, it isn't but it's life changing.  It's a shift in perspective that really brings a tremendous amount of peace.  Alright, that was pretty important, but so is the next portion of text.  Jesus is beginning to reveal to the disciples that he will die; he will be leaving them.  They aren't quite getting it.  And when they do get a hint of where he is going, Peter isn't happy.  And the Scripture says that Peter took Jesus aside and rebuked him.  Here is where we miss something significant in English.  In the Greek, this word rebuke is much stronger.  Peter is really laying into Jesus here, saying “This is not the way it's going to be.  You are supposed to be the messiah who saves us from the Romans. This is not what we signed up for.”  And Jesus' response to him is interesting.  Jesus rebukes Peter right back, same word in the Greek, and says, “Get behind me, Satan!”  He tells him that he is setting his mind on human things, not on the things of God.  This is one of those moments in Scripture that highlights the vast distance between us and God. Though Jesus is God with us (he was God in human form), we cannot tame him or make him over into our image. We would like a savior who is a winner, and one who makes us winners, but Jesus insists on identifying with the lowliest of losers. He will allow himself to be judged and condemned as a blasphemer by Jewish religious leaders. He will allow himself to be mocked, tortured, and executed as a criminal by the Romans. And that's not all. Jesus actually expects his disciples to follow him on this path of suffering and death.  After telling them that they don't understand the mind of God, he says this very hard thing, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.  We tend to think of taking up our cross as dealing with really annoying circumstances.  In Jesus' day, no one thought of beating one's cross as a persistent annoyance or burden. So bearing our cross does not mean we need to have patience with difficult neighbors or coworkers.  Furthermore, Jesus is not talking about the suffering that is part of living in a broken world, things like serious illnesses, broken relationships, and even natural disasters. That isn't what he is talking about.  Nor is he telling us to seek out suffering or martyrdom. We don't have to become monks and live in the desert.  Jesus did not go seeking suffering, although he ended up having to endure it for his mission.  To a person in the first century, the cross meant one thing and one thing only: death by crucifixion. And the Romans made the people who were about to be killed carry their own cross to the execution location.  It was humiliating and horribly painful and the condemned person had no choice but to submit. Bearing one's cross was and is a show of complete and utter submission. A call to bear one's cross as part of following Jesus, then, is a call to be as submitted to Christ as the condemned criminal was to his death.  When Jesus says this, he's claiming authority. Following Christ means disowning the self and giving allegiance to him instead. And it means giving him allegiance down to the very depths of our being.   Are you willing to surrender all to follow Jesus?  What needs to change in your life and thinking to be more consistent with the ways of Jesus Christ? Blessings, Pastor Vicki      

Send us a textToday we look at Proverbs 10:22 and the profound truth about the nature of God's provision that many believers overlook.When Israel crossed the Jordan River, God didn't just part the waters—He completely dried the ground beneath their feet. This wasn't merely practical; it revealed God's character. He doesn't give partial blessings or halfway solutions. From creation to salvation, from feeding thousands to healing the sick, God's work is always complete.Yet many of us approach prayer with a scarcity mindset, afraid to ask boldly or expecting God's gifts to come with hidden troubles attached. We've forgotten who we're praying to—the eternal, limitless God who exists outside creation's framework while intimately working within it. The God who made you in His image, who calls you beloved, who gave His only Son for your salvation.The way we pray reveals what we believe about God. Do we trust Him as the giver of good gifts? Do we believe His blessings truly come without sorrow? When Jesus healed, He didn't leave people needing further treatment. When He fed crowds, everyone ate until satisfied with baskets left over. When He saved us, He didn't just rescue us from hell but gave us abundant life and seated us with Him in heavenly places.God delights in your bold requests that bring glory to His name. Whatever situation you're facing, He wants to walk through it with you, providing in ways that exceed your imagination and create opportunities for testimony. Your prayers don't need to be timid—approach Him confidently as a child who knows their Father gives perfectly good gifts.Contact us at redeemingthelost@icloud.com or visit gbtministries.com to share how this message has impacted you.Support the showNEW BOOK! I'm pleased to say that we have completed a new book that has been years in the making. The Ten Shirot: Songs of Redemption looks at ten songs that were sung through pivotal times in Scripture. It's an examination of the redemption of Jesus, of worship, and of Scripture in a way that we believe you probably haven't seen before. Check it out at https://a.co/d/0a4KIooL .The Redeeming Love Bible Broadcast is a ministry of Grace Baptist Tabernacle. We're located at 121 Arborside Lane in King, NC and we can be reached at welcome@gracebaptisttabernacle.org. Please continue to share these episodes, and please consider coming to visit our church. We are excited and expectant for you to come!

What does it take to receive God's grace when pride stands in the way? The story of Naaman shows how healing depends not on wealth or status, but on simple obedience and humility. Listen now and be inspired to embrace the humble path of Jesus that leads to genuine transformation.

 Joshua 4 – God establishes a reminder of his power at the Jordan River. The Children of Israel were to use that memorial as a reminder and a teaching opportunity. God desires for us to remember and rehearse His work in our lives. We must never forget and focus on what He has done and is doing in our lives. 

Who are Judges in the Bible? Come Bible Study WITH ME through Judges 1 and ask all the questions!

Joshua 24:15, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!" Come Bible Study WITH ME through Joshua 24 and ask all the questions!

Elijah crosses the Jordan River on dry ground and then Elijah is caught up to heaven in a chariot of fire. Both are clearly miraculous events. Elijah was not alone. Elisha was at his side. Elisha wanted to learn from the life of Elijah and Elisha wanted to carry on the ministry of Elijah . This episode highlights the critical features of discipleship. It also challenges us concerning our goals and passions. What is your dream? What are you asking for?

Come Bible Study WITH ME through Joshua 23 and ask all the questions!

In this powerful message titled “Ark Bearers,” Rev. Murray Ray shares from Joshua 3:15–17, calling fathers to step into their God-given role as the priests of their homes. Just as the priests carried the ark into the Jordan River, fathers are called to carry the presence of God with purpose, even when the waters seem overwhelming. This message is a compelling reminder that when men lead with spiritual conviction, God makes a way for their families to follow.

Turning on one another ALREADY? Come Bible Study WITH ME through Joshua 22 and ask all the questions!

The LORD cares not only for Israel; He cares for all the nations. That's why He places His Word in the mouth of a little Israelite slave girl to her master Naaman that healing is available for his leprosy if he goes to the prophet of the true God. The king of Israel knows his own limitations, but Elisha knows the power of God's Word. Elisha therefore sends Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan River with the LORD's promise that Naaman will be healed. Naaman's servants cut through their master's anger to point him to the greatness of God's Word, and by that great Word of God, Naaman receives full cleansing and health. Naaman's faith in the LORD contrasts with Gehazi's greed, and the leprosy of Naaman comes upon the unfaithful servant of Elisha. Rev. Brady Finnern, president of the Minnesota North District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Kings 5:1-27. "A Kingdom Divided” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through 1-2 Kings. The division in the kingdom of Israel in this part of history was greater than a matter of north and south. The biggest division was between the people and their God. Yet even as the people rebelled against the LORD as their King, still He remained faithful to call them back to Himself through His prophets, working through history to send the good and gracious King, Jesus Christ.

In this heartfelt episode, Josh and Kaitlyn unpack the powerful imagery found in Joshua 4—when God commands the Israelites to pick up stones from the middle of the Jordan River as a lasting memorial. Together, they dive deep into what it means for us today: sometimes we're asked to pick up small stones—simple, faithful steps—and sometimes we're called to lift something heavy, something that stretches our faith.   You'll hear honest reflections about how God's tangible presence often meets us on the other side of obedience, and how the act of remembering His faithfulness isn't just about looking back—it's preparation for trusting Him again in the future.   This episode is a rally cry to look back at all God has done this past school year, to dream with faith about what's to come, and to carry those stories forward—not just for ourselves, but for the next generation.   So as summer begins, take time to reflect, remember, and recommit to being a leader who carries the stones—and tells the stories—of God's faithfulness.

In this episode, Matt chats with Dr. John ("Jack") Beck. Jack has spent much of his career helping people to see the importance of biblical geography and how becoming familiar with it can help readers better understand the depths of meaning of the biblical text. What is significant, for example, about the physical location of Jesus' baptism at the Jordan River? Where did Jesus give his famous "Sermon on the Mount" and why might that place be important? And what's up with all the mountains in the Bible -- especially, Mount Hermon? Listen to find out!For more information about Dr. Beck and his books, visit: www.johnabeckauthor.com+++Support the The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Read Matt's blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠matthewhalsted.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!

As Elijah journeys to the place where he will be taken into heaven, he invites Elisha to count the cost of following him as prophet in Israel. Elisha faithfully follows Elijah and asks that he would receive a double portion of the spirit upon Elijah. When Elisha sees Elijah taken up into heaven, he rightly recognizes God's activity and confesses that the prophetic word is the true power in Israel. The LORD answers Elisha's prayer and makes this plain to Elisha as he is able to part the Jordan River just as Elijah did before him. Right away, the LORD shows His people that Elisha is the prophet in whose mouth is the Word of God, which comes to pass and must not be mocked.  Rev. Carl Roth, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Kings 2:1-25.  To learn more about Grace Lutheran, visit www.graceelgin.org. "A Kingdom Divided” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through 1-2 Kings. The division in the kingdom of Israel in this part of history was greater than a matter of north and south. The biggest division was between the people and their God. Yet even as the people rebelled against the LORD as their King, still He remained faithful to call them back to Himself through His prophets, working through history to send the good and gracious King, Jesus Christ. Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

Join us for this week's sermon!Whether you're seeking hope, direction, or a deeper connection with God, this message is for you. Each week, we open God's Word together to find truth, encouragement, and strength for the journey.

Sunday, 8 June 2025   “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:32   “All, therefore, whoever he will assent in Me before men, I will assent – I also – in him before My Father, the ‘in the heavens.'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus reassured His apostles that they were of more value than many sparrows. He next turns to words which have to be considered in their intended context.   Jesus is still speaking to His apostles (disciples as recorded in Luke 10). He is doing so while they go out into the cities of Israel to proclaim the good news of the kingdom. He has not yet been crucified for the sins of the world. Thus, His words speak solely of the relationship between Israel and Jesus.   Understanding this, He begins the first of two verses which must be considered with those points in mind, saying, “All, therefore, whoever he will assent in Me before men.”   The first thing to understand is that not every “every” means “every” and not every “all” means “all.”   Mark 1:5 says, “Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.” However, Luke 7:30 says, “But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.”   This is not a contradiction. Rather, the word “all” as used by Mark, as is often the case, is given as a general statement concerning who went to be baptized.   Jesus is making a broad statement concerning those who are going forth and those who will hear and attend to their message. Those who hear the message and assent in Him, acknowledging the word, will be in one category. That category is defined by His next words, “I will assent – I also – in him before My Father, the ‘in the heavens.'”   Jesus emphatically declares that He will then confess such a person before His Father. The proposition depends on the free will assertion of the individual hearing the good news. In response to that free will assertion, Jesus Himself will likewise assent concerning that person.   The expression en emoi, in Me, demonstrates a uniting of the confession with the individual. Despite this, these words are spoken prior to the giving of the Spirit, which first occurs in Acts 2 and which is spoken of in the epistles as a guarantee of eternal salvation, such as in Ephesians 1:13, 14.   Therefore, that process of salvation cannot be what Jesus is referring to here. Rather, He is speaking of a general confession of Him and not necessarily the uniting of an individual with the Spirit. That will become clear through analyzing the next verse.   Life application: The words of this verse and the next are constantly quoted by Christians concerning other Christians who then make claims of salvation or condemnation based on what Jesus is saying here. As an example –   “It means to acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ, and our dependence on him for salvation, and our attachment to him, in every proper manner. This profession may be made in uniting with a church, at the communion, in conversation, and in conduct. The Scriptures mean, by a profession of religion, an exhibition of it in every circumstance of the life and before all people. It is not merely in one act that we must do it, but in every act. We must be ashamed neither of the person, the character, the doctrines, nor the requirements of Christ. If we are; if we deny him in these things before people; if we are unwilling to express our attachment to him in every way possible, then it is right that he should ‘disown all connection with us,' or deny us before God, and he will do it.” Albert Barnes   That is not the gospel. In fact, what Barnes says is in complete contrast to the gospel, which says one is saved by grace through faith and that when one believes, he is sealed with the Holy Spirit for the day of redemption.   If what Barnes (et al) says is true, then it means that salvation is not of Christ but of our own efforts. Mixing the words of Jesus in the dispensation of the law with the words of Paul in the dispensation of grace will inevitably lead to confusion of thought and a contradiction in one's theology.   Lord God, help us to walk with You all our days, living in a manner that is pleasing to You and in the joy of the salvation which You have given to us. When we fail in this, we know that You will still be with us, but it is we who will suffer the lack of fellowship as we do things our own way. May it not be so! Help us to hold fast to You always. Amen.

Wednesday evening message from Pastor Jonathan Barber. June 4, 2025The Jordan River Rules: The same God who led you out will lead you on by Robert J. MorganForty years after the Red Sea experience, God divided the swollen waters of the Jordan River and led His people into the Promised Land He had prepared for them.God intends for you to go forward. Everything so far in your life—including your Red Sea moments of crisis—is simply God's preparation for stronger days ahead. Perhaps you've survived your own Red Sea experiences because of God's help. Now it's time to move onward toward all the promises He has given you—the Promised Land of a rewarding future.https://www.robertjmorgan.com/jordanriverrules/

In week 5 of the Talking Jesus series, Pastor Torry Sheppard brings a timely and tender word for those who've been faithfully sharing their faith—but are still waiting to see results. This message encourages believers to persevere when the work of evangelism feels slow, discouraging, or seemingly unfruitful—especially when it involves someone they love. Pastor Torry opens by acknowledging a common, heartfelt question: What do I do when I've done everything I know to do? Whether it's a child, a spouse, or a close friend, long-game evangelism often means walking with people for years without visible progress. And that can be exhausting. This message is a reminder that although the journey is slow, it's sacred—and that God is still working. A Hiking Story with a Spiritual Twist To illustrate this, Pastor Torry tells a humorous and revealing story from a college trip to Utah, where he and a group of friends mistakenly knocked over the very rock stacks—called cairns—meant to guide their hike through the desert. After getting lost, they realized they had been dismantling the very markers that were supposed to help them get to their destination and return home. The story sets up the central theme: in the long, dry stretches of spiritual influence, we need markers of faith to keep us grounded and encouraged. Without them, it's easy to lose our way. Evangelism is rarely instant. It's a journey—and one that often requires more endurance than enthusiasm. Part 1: Stacking Stones – Keeping Your Faith Alive Drawing from Joshua 4, Pastor Torry reflects on Israel's entrance into the Promised Land. After God parted the Jordan River, Joshua instructed the people to gather twelve stones as a memorial. These stones weren't just for celebration—they were for remembrance. They told future generations: God was here. He moved. He delivered. What's striking is that Joshua also set up a private altar in the riverbed—stones no one else would see once the water returned. Pastor Torry suggests these hidden stones were personal—a reminder for Joshua himself. Because even the strongest leaders are prone to forget God's faithfulness. Like Joshua, we need to “stack stones” along our spiritual journey—moments of answered prayer, miracles, or breakthroughs that we can return to when doubt creeps in. Sometimes the best way to encourage our soul is to remember what God has already done. Part 2: Spiritual Influence Over the Long Haul With our personal faith fortified, Pastor Torry shifts focus to how we can maintain spiritual influence when nothing seems to be changing. He outlines three key commitments that keep us in the game: 1. Prayer Prayer isn't passive—it's powerful. It's not just something we do while we wait; it's part of the work itself. Citing James 5, Pastor Torry reminds us that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. He introduces five scriptural ways to pray for those far from God: Ask the Father to draw them (John 6:44) Bind the spirit that blinds them (2 Corinthians 4:4) Pray they experience a relationship, not just religion (Romans 8:15) Ask God to send people into their lives (Matthew 9:38) Pray for wisdom and revelation (Ephesians 1:17) These intercessory prayers become spiritual warfare—asking God to soften hearts, remove barriers, and awaken a personal hunger for Him. 2. Patience Evangelism rarely moves at the pace we want. Pastor Torry challenges our “right now” expectations by reminding us that while God can move instantly, He often works over time. Just because something isn't visible doesn't mean it isn't happening. Our patience mirrors God's own—He was patient with us, and He calls us to be patient with others. Patience doesn't mean approval. It simply means we haven't given up hope. It gives us the grace to stay present even when change is slow. 3. Persistence Patience keeps us grounded. Persistence keeps us moving. Pastor Torry urges us not to pull back when results seem scarce. Citing 1 Corinthians 15:58, he reminds us that our labor in the Lord is not in vain. The breakthrough might not be immediate—but that doesn't mean it isn't coming. To illustrate, Pastor Torry shares a deeply personal story about his mother. After enduring three painful disappointments—including his grandfather walking away from the faith—she received a prophetic word that God would restore all three. Two came quickly. But for thirteen years, she prayed for her father. And then, one Sunday, the phone rang. He had gone to church and made things right. No fanfare—just a simple sentence. But behind it were thirteen years of persistence. Conclusion: Keep Playing the Long Game Faithful evangelism isn't always flashy. Sometimes it's quiet, repetitive, and unseen. But it matters. If you're carrying the burden of someone who seems far from God, don't lose heart. Stack your stones. Pray with power. Be patient. Stay persistent. Because your story may not be finished. And your faith might be the very thing God uses to bring someone else home.

Hey sweet sister, this episode is full of hope. If you're in a season of waiting—whether that's waiting to conceive, healing from a loss, or just needing God to show up—this is for you. We're diving deep into Joshua 3 and 4, where God parted the Jordan River again—but this time, it was Joshua leading, not Moses. There's so much here for us when it comes to trusting the Lord even when it feels like nothing is happening, or worse, everything is going wrong. I share three practical steps straight from this passage to help you grow your faith right now—yes, today—while you're in the middle of your own waiting season. You'll want to grab a journal or your notes app because we go step-by-step on how to actually walk this out in your quiet time. ✨ Oh—and one last thing: I'm taking applications for interns right now! If this mission is lighting a fire in you and you want to serve alongside me while earning Fertility Framework, go apply at bekahyawn.com/intern. Applications close tomorrow! In Him,  Bekah Resources & Links: ✨ I've put together a free faith-filled booklet to help guide you through this journey. It's called Faith-Driven Fertility, and it's full of practical steps and encouragement for trusting God while supporting your body for conception.

Gaza will never become an independent nation, Israel Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter says.   “There's not going to be an independent sovereign state other than Israel west of the Jordan River,” Leiter told The Daily Signal.   “There could be all sorts of autonomous arrangements,” he said, “but there's not going to be an independent sovereign Palestinian state west of the Jordan River. It's just not going to be.”   The nation of Israel extends from the Joran River west to the Mediterranean Sea to form the narrow country that is roughly the size of New Jersey. Since Hamas launched its attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, pro-Palestine protesters in America and round the world have chanted, “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” referring to Palestine fully occupying the land between the Joran River and the Mediteranea Sea, in turn eliminating the nation of Israel.   Following Oct. 7, there is a “complete absence of bandwidth” in Israel for the creation of a Palestinian state next to Israel. There is, however, a great deal of interest in Israel to expand partnerships with nations in the Middle East through the Abraham Accords, according to Leiter.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices