The mountainous southern part of the region of Palestine
POPULARITY
Categories
As Christians, we have been given a mission. Jesus gave us guiding instructions on how we are to live and what we are to do. But I wonder if we have come to believe the mission to make disciples is for others, and not for us.Main Points:1. Today it seems as if maybe we have forgotten our mission. Those who follow Christ, those who have been saved and forgiven have received a mission from their savior. We are told to “go and make disciples.” Have we forgotten this is our calling? Have we forgotten this is our individual responsibility?2. Obedience to Christ's command to make disciples is fulfilled not through church programs, but as individuals invest their lives into others. It's people who reach people for Christ. We then spend time with them to help them grow and become disciples, who would then make other disciples.3. Jesus said we are to “make disciples.” This means we must take the initiative to do something. We must speak up. We must invest our lives in building relationships with those who don't know Jesus. We must give our time to share Christ and to help them grow into disciples.Today's Scripture Verses:Matthew 28:19-20 - “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”Acts 1:8 - "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group
You Shall Receive the Holy Ghost • Friday Service To give: www.ToddCoconato.com/give Website: www.PastorTodd.org Acts 1:8 (NKJV) “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Luke 24:49 (NKJV) “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” Acts 2:1-4 (NKJV) “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place… And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:4 (NKJV) “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Joel 2:28-29 (NKJV) “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh…” Acts 2:38-39 (NKJV) “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 10:44-46 (NKJV) “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.” Acts 19:1-6 (NKJV) “He said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?'” John 14:16-17 (NKJV) “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.” 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (NKJV)
President Trump has announced another potential deal with Iran, and many people are already reacting with fear, anger, or excitement.My message is simple: Don't panic.Some people misunderstand me. They assume that when I say not to panic, I mean the deal will never happen. That is not what I am saying. I have no idea whether it will happen or not. What I do know is that no agreement will change the fundamental nature of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The regime's jihadi ambitions, its hatred of Israel or the USA, and its desire to spread its jihad throughout the world are not going away because of signatures on a piece of paper.The real lesson is that we must stop placing our faith in human leaders.Whether Trump succeeds or fails, whether a deal is signed or not, the Jewish nation must place its faith in God alone. At the same time, we must continue doing what is necessary to ensure that the evil Islamic Republic of Iran can never again threaten Israel, the free world, or even its own suffering citizens.Jihadi Islam remains the greatest threat to civilization. No agreement signed in Washington changes that reality.More important than any announcement coming out of Washington was the recent declaration by Israel's Defense Minister. He made it clear that Israel will not withdraw from its security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, that the IDF will continue defending Israel from forward positions, and that Gaza's jihadi infrastructure must be dismantled. He also spoke about advancing migration from Gaza and rebuilding Jewish communities in northern Gaza.That is the news people should be paying attention to.It signals that Israel is continuing to move forward with the lessons of October 7th. It signals that Israel understands that security is achieved through strength, presence, and control—not wishful thinking.The next step must be even clearer: applying Israeli sovereignty to every area liberated from our jihadi enemies. Whether in Gaza, Judea and Samaria, southern Lebanon, or southern Syria, lasting victory comes when Israel takes responsibility for securing and developing the land rather than leaving vacuums that our enemies inevitably fill.The lesson of October 7th is simple. If we are not there, they will be.After the Iranian and Qatari-backed invasion of southern Israel, no Israeli leader should ever again allow jihadi organizations—whether Sunni or Shiite—to build military threats on our borders.Stay strong.Keep your eyes on what Israel is actually doing on the ground.Have faith in the God of Israel.Support leadership that learns the real lessons of October 7th and acts accordingly.The Lion of Zion is awake.Am Yisrael Chai.Join Our Whatsapp Channel: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GkavRznXy731nxxRyptCMvFollow us on Twitter: https://x.com/AviAbelowJoin our Telegram Channel: https://t.me/aviabelowpulseFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pulse_of_israel/?hl=enPulse of Israel on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IsraelVideoNetworkVisit Our Website - https://pulseofisrael.com/Donate to Pulse of Israel: https://pulseofisrael.com/boost-this-video/
868 He Had To Pass Through Samaria, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 4:1-4 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ. Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Scripture for Meditation John 4 KJV 4 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, 2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) 3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. 4 And he must needs go through Samaria. NASB 4 So then, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that He was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing; rather, His disciples were), 3 He left Judea and went away again to Galilee. 4 And He had to pass through Samaria Reflection on Scripture: I find the framing of this chapter interesting. Because the Pharisees knew Jesus had gained many disciples it seems he was forced to leave and additionally forced to travel through Samaria, which we will explore in coming weeks. This is an interesting way to phrase it and it can give an interesting idea for what was an imperative for Jesus. In the strictest sense Jesus did not have to do anything. Jehovah did not have to create the universe or anything else after that. These things are consistent with God's character and therefore God chooses them. The only way that God would not choose those things is if he did not have his current character. With that said none of that makes it a foregone conclusion for what God has to do. Perhaps this is very obvious but it is worth pondering on for a moment. God is certainly able to determine His guiding ethics and it is far above human understanding to tell God what he has to do. It is something of a ridiculous notion that the Pharisees could force Jesus to do anything. Even when he was on the cusp of being sent to death, Jesus told Peter he could have called down legions of angels to do His bidding and chose not to. There is literally nothing that the Pharisees could have done, that you could do, that I could do, that would force God to do something that He didn't already determine that He should do. With that said, once God determines to do something, he lays out a plan on what is needed for that to happen, and then he does it. Before the foundation of the earth God determined that Jesus would come to save us all. So when this moment arrived Jesus planned to go to Samaria and talk to the woman at the well. To make that happen he traveled through Samaria consistent with His intent and as such he HAD to go through Samaria. Just as God has executed His actions through all history he continues to do the same for you in yoru life right now. He has given you the exact life you need, to be challenged sufficiently Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind? FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod
X: @RepFine @americasrt1776 @ileaderssummit @NatashaSrdoc @JoelAnandUSA @supertalk @JTitMVirginia Join America's Roundtable radio co-hosts Natasha Srdoc and Joel Anand Samy with U.S. Congressman Randy Fine, member of the House Foreign Relations Committee and the Education and Workforce Committee. He is one of the most effective communicators in Congress in advancing our shared values and principles. A third-generation Floridian, Randy built a career as a successful entrepreneur, founding and running businesses in retail, technology, and hospitality. He has been an active Boy Scout volunteer, serving as both Cubmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster. The son of two public school teachers, Randy graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College with a degree in government and later earned his MBA from Harvard Business School, where he graduated with high distinction as one of the youngest Baker Scholars in decades. Congressman Fine also serves as a member of the Freedom Caucus, Republican Study Committee and the Judea and Samaria Caucus. The conversation will explore practical and principled approaches to reducing the cost of housing and healthcare, as well as the critical importance of election integrity, with a strong majority of Americans supporting voter identification requirements, according to Pew Research. Recent studies cited by the White House suggest a correlation between the deportation of individuals residing in the United States illegally and declining housing costs in several major metropolitan areas. The Trump administration noted that "14 of the top 20 U.S. metro areas with the largest undocumented migrant populations experienced year-over-year declines in home listing prices." The discussion also highlights historical immigration enforcement trends. According to published reports, the administration of President Barack Obama formally removed approximately 3 million noncitizens from the United States during his time in office. The program will also examine growing concerns over Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons and discuss strategies to prevent the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism from threatening global security and holding the free world hostage. americasrt.com https://ileaderssummit.org/ | https://jerusalemleaderssummit.com/ America's Roundtable on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/americas-roundtable/id1518878472 X: @RepFine @ileaderssummit @americasrt1776 @NatashaSrdoc @JoelAnandUSA @supertalk @JTitMVirginia America's Roundtable is co-hosted by Natasha Srdoc and Joel Anand Samy, co-founders of International Leaders Summit and the Jerusalem Leaders Summit. America's Roundtable radio program focuses on America's economy, healthcare reform, rule of law, security and trade, and its strategic partnership with rule of law nations around the world. The radio program features high-ranking US administration officials, cabinet members, members of Congress, state government officials, distinguished diplomats, business and media leaders and influential thinkers from around the world. Tune into America's Roundtable Radio program from Washington, DC via live streaming on Saturday mornings via 68 radio stations at 7:30 A.M. (ET) on Lanser Broadcasting Corporation covering the Michigan and the Midwest market, and at 7:30 A.M. (CT) on SuperTalk Mississippi — SuperTalk.FM reaching listeners in every county within the State of Mississippi, and neighboring states in the South including Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee. Tune into WTON in Central Virginia on Sunday mornings at 9:30 A.M. (ET). Listen to America's Roundtable on digital platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, Google and other key online platforms. Listen live, Saturdays at 7:30 A.M. (CT) on SuperTalk | https://www.supertalk.fm
Are You Willing to Speak Up and Share, Publicly, Your Relationship with Jesus? MESSAGE SUMMARY: Are You Willing to Speak Up and Share Publicly Your Relationship with Jesus? (Resurrection Anglican Church; Woodstock, GA) To what extent are you willing to share with others your relationship with Jesus? What price are you willing to pay, personally, so that others may know the good news of Jesus – the Gospel? What are you willing to go through to advance the Kingdom of God? In Ephesians 3:1-2, the Apostle Paul summarizes the price that he joyfully accepts to carry the news of the Gospel to the Nations: “For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentile -- assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you.". In Acts 26:19, Paul gives his public testimony, in his hearing before King Agrippa; and told the King and everyone in attendance that he, Paul, felt privileged to testify, to the Nations, about his conversion and his relationship with Jesus: “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.". Paul was in prison facing a trial by the despotic Emperor of Rome, Nero. However, you may never have to go to prison or face death to communicate the Gospel; but you will face both physical and emotional discomfort as you become a visible follower of Jesus. While articulating the Gospel to others is important, the most effective way to communicate the Gospel is not by what you say but how you live – walk the talk and let others see Jesus in you. The world, the country, your friends, and your family have so many issues and hurts for which Jesus and His Gospel are the answer; but we keep this good news a secret by our unwillingness to live a visible life walking the talk of the Gospel and sharing the Gospel. Do you have the faith and courage and are you willing to share the Gospel? If you do, then pray for God's guidance to you for His will and role for you. TODAY'S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FORGIVEN. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Ephesians 3:1-21; Acts 9:15; Acts 26:12-23; Psalms 124:1-8. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “God Sees Jesus Followers as “In Christ”: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus””: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
In Romans 15:30-33, we encounter a powerful appeal that challenges our understanding of prayer and vulnerability within the body of Christ. The Greek word 'parakaleo' - meaning to urge, appeal, or earnestly request - frames this passage with urgency and importance. What's striking is that the Apostle Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament and planted churches throughout the known world, doesn't end this section with requests for money, recognition, or applause. Instead, he asks for something far more valuable: prayer. This reveals a profound truth about spiritual leadership and community - even the most mature believers need the prayer support of others. Paul's request isn't self-centered but gospel-centered; he asks for protection as he returns to Jerusalem (ironically, to the very place where he once persecuted Christians) so he can continue his ministry. This passage invites us to examine our own approach to prayer and community. Are we willing to be vulnerable enough to ask others to pray for us? Do we follow through when someone shares their burdens with us, or do we offer empty promises of 'I'll pray for you' without actually doing it? The call here is to become a people who genuinely bear one another's burdens, who stir up one another to love and good works, and who don't neglect meeting together for mutual encouragement. Prayer isn't meant to be a hyper-spiritual, eloquent performance - it's simply conversation with our Father, who wants to hear from us about everything, including the needs of those around us.**Sermon Notes – Romans 15:30–33 – “An Appeal to Pray”****Text:** Romans 15:30–33 > “I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf…”---### 1. The Weight of “I Appeal to You” (Parakaleō) - Paul isn't making a casual suggestion; he's urgently calling for attention and response. - *Parakaleō* = to urge, exhort, strongly request, comfort, encourage. - Other places Paul “appeals”: - Romans 12:1–2 – present your bodies as living sacrifices. - Romans 16:17 – watch out for those who cause divisions. - 1 Cor 4:16; 16:15; Eph 4:1; 1 Thess 4:1 – walk worthy, imitate Christ, submit to godly leaders. - Idea: “Look at me. Listen. This really matters.”---### 2. The Specific Appeal: Pray With Me (v. 30–31) - “Strive together with me in your prayers” – prayer is hard work, shared labor. - Paul, the great apostle, openly asks for help. No spiritual lone rangers. - His requests: - Protection from unbelievers in Judea. - That his service to Jerusalem would be acceptable. - That he might come to Rome with joy and be refreshed. - His prayer is gospel-centered, not comfort-centered: protection **for mission**, not just ease.---### 3. Why This Matters for the Church **a. Appeal for Prayer** - Normal Christian life: asking for prayer, not pretending “I'm fine.” - Requires humility, vulnerability, transparency.**b. Encourage Those Who Ask** - Don't just say, “I'll pray for you” and walk away. - Listen, ask wise questions (as appropriate), pray *on the spot* when possible. - Keep checking in: bear one another's burdens (Gal 6:2).**c. Follow Through in Prayer** - Prayer is simple conversation with the Father, not performance. - Use reminders, texts, calls; let people know you're praying (Phil 1:3–5). **d. Pray for Leaders** - Spiritual leaders (pastors, elders, parents, civil leaders) carry heavy responsibility. - Like Paul, they need protection, wisdom, clarity, and perseverance.---## Practical Applications1. **Ask for Prayer This Week** - Tell at least one trusted believer one real struggle and ask them to pray specifically.2. **Pray Immediately** - When someone shares a need, stop and pray with them right then if at all possible.3. **Create a Prayer List** - Include: family, church leaders, one hurting friend, one non-Christian, one global need.4. **Gospel-Shape Your Prayers** - Add: “How does the gospel advance in this situation?” and pray toward that.5. **Commit to Pray for Leaders** - Choose one leader (church, home, or civic) and pray for them daily for the next week.---## Discussion Questions1. What does Paul's repeated “I appeal to you” reveal about how seriously he takes prayer? 2. Why is it hard for you personally to admit “I'm not okay” and ask for prayer? 3. When have you actually felt “striving together” with someone in prayer? What was that like? 4. How can we as a group move beyond “I'll pray for you” to real follow-through? 5. In what ways are your prayers currently more self-centered than gospel-centered? 6. What specific things should we be praying for our church's leaders right now?
Monte Judah examines President Trump's proposed agreement with Iran, Israel's growing isolation, Temple Mount developments, and escalating tensions throughout the Middle East from a biblical prophetic perspective.00:00 Introduction & Headlines00:40 Trump's Iran MOU Announcement02:45 Terms of the Proposed Agreement04:10 Strait of Hormuz Escalation05:40 Military Responses from the U.S. & Israel07:00 Iran's Position on the Agreement08:15 Analysis of the MOU10:50 Biblical Perspective from Jeremiah 1712:10 Haredi Protests in Israel13:00 Hezbollah & Northern Border Conflict14:00 Judea and Samaria Developments15:00 Temple Mount Tensions16:00 Ministry Updates & ClosingStay connected with Lion and Lamb Ministries and deepen your understanding of God's prophetic plan.Watch exclusive teachings, weekly updates, Bible studies, and original programming at:https://lionandlamb.tvExplore Monte Judah's books and teaching resources:https://www.messianicmarketplace.org/collections/monte-judahVisit the Messianic Marketplace:https://www.messianicmarketplace.org/Learn more about Lion and Lamb Ministries:https://www.lionandlambministries.org/Discover The Greater Exodus teaching series:https://thegreaterexodus.com/Subscribe to Yavoh Magazine:https://www.yavohmagazine.com/If these teachings bless you, please consider supporting the ministry and helping us continue proclaiming the Gospel, teaching Torah, and sharing prophetic truth around the world:www.LLGive.comThank you for standing with Lion and Lamb Ministries.
Friday, 12 June 2026 And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. Matthew 20:24 “And having heard, the ten, they outraged about the two brothers.” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus informed the sons of Zebedee that they would indeed drink His cup and be baptized with His baptism. However, He informed them that to sit at His right and left was not His to give, but for those prepared by His Father. With those words complete, it next says, “And having heard, the ten.” This means the other ten apostles who had been called aside in verse 17, and who would have included Matthew, the one writing about what occurred. Of them, it says, “they outraged about the two brothers.” A new word is seen, aganakteó, to be greatly indignant. It is only seen seven times, all in the synoptic gospels. One can see them missing the point of Jesus' words and being upset that James and John asked for this honorable seating at their expense. Apparently, they all had the same aspiration and didn't like that these two stepped forward, bringing their mother to sweeten the deal. Each of them was thinking about an earthly royal court with earthly rewards and honors. They hungrily desired to obtain special rank and privilege in such a setting. Whether they still had this ambition at the time of the ascension, they certainly still had the notion of an earthly kingdom on their mind at that time – “Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, ‘Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?' 7 And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.'” Acts 1:6-8 It is clear that throughout all of Jesus' ministry, they continued to misunderstand what God was doing in redemptive history. That continued in Acts as they struggled with the issue of Gentiles, law observance, etc. Jesus had purposefully withheld much so that they could learn to simply trust His unfolding plan. The directive hand of God would effectively bring about what He purposed as they, along with us, have watched it unfold. Life application: Nothing has changed in the hearts of many believers as they strive to find power and position within churches. People stand ready to curry the pastor's favor, willing to cut others apart with their tongues in an attempt to be heightened in the eyes of those in charge. An example from right at the beginning concerning such personal dysfunction is found in 3 John – “I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.” 3 John 1:9, 10 It's hard to understand how a person who was nothing but a johnny come lately would not receive a person who had been with Jesus throughout His ministry. But his name is recorded in Scripture, letting us know that such people exist. It is a sure indication that more like him are to be expected in the years to come. Churches are filled with them. Imagine the backstabbing and corruption in larger denominations like Roman Catholicism. Power struggles that should not exist fill them because the focus is on self, not the furtherance of Christ's gospel and instruction in His word. Let us consider these things and do our utmost to be people willing to serve, considering that Jesus set the example from the beginning. It is what Paul implores us to reflect on in Philippians 2:1-11. Take time to read that today. Lord God, may we carefully consider our situation in the world, knowing that we are just temporary vessels to be used for a short span of time to further the knowledge of You in a world that desperately needs to hear it. May our hearts be humble, and may our feet be ready to share the good news every chance we get. Amen.
The Pharisees are one of the most familiar names in the ancient world, but are they also one of the most misunderstood?Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Helen Bond to step back into first-century Judea, where the Pharisees were debating law, purity and resurrection under foreign rule. They look at how much power the Pharisees really had, their debates with Jesus in the Gospels, and how focussed they were on the idea of a 'messiah'.We're going on *TOUR* to Australia and New Zealand! - grab your tickets here.MOREJohn the BaptistListen on AppleListen on SpotifyPontius PilateListen on AppleListen on SpotifyPresented by Tristan Hughes. Edited and produced by Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music courtesy of Epidemic SoundsThe Ancients is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week, PLUS early access ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Faith requires courage. Faith is not something that we hold in our hearts and minds. True faith is something that is lived out. Faith calls us to action and this requires courage.Main Points:1. God's desire is for you and me to demonstrate courageous faith? Anyone can have a timid or fearful faith. Anyone can have faith in isolation. But will we live our faith out loud and in public? Will we be courageous? 2. Our current culture has convinced many Christians to keep their faith in Christ personal and quiet. We've been told it is rude, unkind, and obnoxious to tell others what about your Christian faith. We must recognize this is a tactic of Satan to silence the witness of Christians about the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Remember, God has given us good news to share.3. Pray and ask God where you can demonstrate courageous faith in your life today.Today's Scripture Verses:Acts 1:8 - “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”Psalm 27:14 - “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”Joshua 1:9 - “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”Luke 9:26 - “If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group
In this urgent and honest update from Israel, another Jew was murdered in cold blood. A 35-year-old man was killed and others wounded in a shooting attack near Kochav Yair and Tzur Yitzhak in central Israel. The terrorist, Omar Yassin, was not from Gaza or Judea & Samaria — he was an Arab Muslim *Israeli citizen* from Tayibe.This attack proves once again that the enemy does not distinguish between Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, or settlements. They want all of Israel — “from the river to the sea.” The dangerous illusion that giving away land will bring peace has been shattered yet again.Even more alarming is the growing *fifth column* inside Israel. Thousands of Arab Israeli citizens openly support Hamas and Islamic terror. Universities have become hubs of incitement, and we continue to see Arab Israelis joining terror attacks against the Jewish state that gives them equal rights, affirmative action, and full benefits.This is not an isolated incident. It is part of a clear pattern. Political correctness is killing Jews. We can no longer afford denial or fantasies of coexistence with those who want us dead.This threat is not unique to Israel. Just as Britain, France, Germany, and other Western countries are waking up to jihadi infiltration from within, Israel must face this reality with courage and clarity.In this video I break down the hard truths Israelis must confront: the external jihadi enemy and the internal one, the failure of political correctness, and why only strong Jewish identity and sovereignty can protect our people.We are strong. We are awake. We will defend every inch of our homeland and speak the plain truth without shame.If you care about Israel and the future of the Jewish people, watch until the end and share this video.Arab Israeli terror attack, fifth column Israel, Israeli Arab terrorist, Kochav Yair shooting, jihadi inside Israel, from the river to the sea, Israel security threat, political correctness kills, Jewish sovereigntyAm Yisrael Chai!Join Our Whatsapp Channel: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GkavRznXy731nxxRyptCMvFollow us on Twitter: https://x.com/AviAbelowJoin our Telegram Channel: https://t.me/aviabelowpulseFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pulse_of_israel/?hl=enPulse of Israel on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IsraelVideoNetworkVisit Our Website - https://pulseofisrael.com/Donate to Pulse of Israel: https://pulseofisrael.com/boost-this-video/
ACTS 2:1:17 - FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT - BRIAN SUMNER - 2026"When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.The Crowd's Response5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”13 Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”Peter's Sermon14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,Your young men shall see visions,Your old men shall dream dreams.”To support this channel and partner with Brian in Ministryhttps://www.briansumner.net/support/For more on Brianhttp://www.briansumner.nethttps://www.instagram.com/BRIANSUMNER/https://www.facebook.com/BRIANSUMNEROFFICIALTo listen to Brians Podcast, click below.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Purchase Brians Marriage book at https://www.amazon.com/Never-Fails-Da...Brian is a full time "Urban Missionary" both locally and internationally with a focus on MISSIONS - MARRIAGES - MINISTRY. Since coming to faith in 2004 doors continued opening locally and internationally to do more and more ministry with a focus on Evangelism, Outreach Missions, Marriage, Counsel, Schools, Festivals, Conferences and the like. Everything about this ministry is made possible because of people personally partnering through the non profit. God Bless and thank you. †Support the showSUPPORT THE SHOW
Send us a message!We follow the early church through persecution, surprising growth, and Spirit-powered ministry as the gospel pushes beyond Jerusalem. We also wrestle with motives, repentance, and reconciliation when God turns enemies into family and calls us to make peace. • persecution scatters believers and spreads the good news into Judea and Samaria • Philip's preaching in Samaria and the city's joy through deliverance and healing • Simon's attempt to purchase spiritual power and Peter's sharp call to repent • Philip guided to the Ethiopian eunuch, Scripture explained from Isaiah to Jesus • baptism and rejoicing as the gospel reaches beyond borders • Saul's road to Damascus encounter with Jesus and the cost of following him • Ananias obeying through fear and Saul filled with the Holy Spirit • Saul preaching boldly, facing plots, and Barnabas vouching for him • Peter healing Aeneas and raising Tabitha as many turn to the Lord Be a Barnabas today. Who needs you to show up for them? At outloudbible.com, you can find free resources to help you study the Bible. And while you're there, send us a message to say hi, or start a conversation about having us at your church or event. If Outloud Bible has been a valuable part of your understanding of the Bible, please consider supporting the ministry by visiting outloudbible.com.Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.
NOTAS DE ELENAMaterial complementario de la escuela Sabática para adultosNarrado por: Patty CuyanDesde: California, USAUna cortesía de DR'Ministries y Canaan Seventh-Day Adventist ChurchJUEVES, 11 DE JUNIOVER A JESÚSCuando Jesús se sentó para descansar junto al pozo de Jacob, venía de Judea, donde su ministerio había producido poco fruto... Se sentía débil y cansado, pero no descuidó la oportunidad de hablar a una mujer sola, aunque era una extraña, enemiga de Israel y vivía en pecado. Mientras la mujer hablaba con Jesús, le impresionaron sus palabras... Comprendió la sed de su alma, que las aguas del pozo de Sicar no podrían nunca satisfacer. Nada de todo lo que había conocido antes, le había hecho sentir así su gran necesidad. Jesús la había con-vencido de que leía los secretos de su vida; sin embargo, se daba cuenta de que era un amigo que la compadecía y la amaba. Aunque la misma pureza de su presencia condenaba el pecado de ella, no había pronunciado acusación alguna, sino que le había hablado de su gracia, que podía renovar el alma... Dejando su cántaro, volvió a la ciudad para llevar el mensaje a otros... Con corazón rebosante de alegría, se apresuró a impartir a otros la preciosa luz que había recibido. "Venid, ved un hombre que me ha dicho todo lo que he hecho: ¿si quizá es este el Cristo?" —dijo a los hombres de la ciudad. Sus palabras conmovieron los corazones. Había en su rostro una nueva expresión, un cambio en todo su aspecto. Se interesaron por ver a Jesús... Tan pronto como halló al Salvador, la mujer samaritana trajo otros a él. Demostró ser una misionera más eficaz que los propios discípulos. Ellos... tenían sus pensamientos fijos en una gran obra futura, y no vieron que en derredor de sí había una mies que segar. Pero por medio de la mujer a quien ellos despreciaron, toda una ciudad llegó a oír del Salvador... Esta mujer representa la obra de una fe práctica en Cristo. Cada verdadero discípulo nace en el reino de Dios como misionero. El que bebe del agua viva, llega a ser una fuente de vida. El que recibe llega a ser un dador (Conflicto y valor, 15 de octubre, p. 294). VIERNES, 12 DE JUNIO: PARA ESTUDIAR Y MEDITAREl Cristo triunfante, "Ninguna tentación pudo inducir al salvador a pecar", 3 de julio, p. 193.En los lugares celestiales, "La fe que aprovecha", 11 de abril, p. 110.
What happens when one of the most respected voices in Orthodox Judaism looks at the state of the world and says the Jewish-Christian alliance is not optional — it is the only path forward for the free world?Rabbi Shlomo Riskin doesn't hedge. He names the threat — jihadism, extremist Islam, state-sponsored terrorism — and he names the answer: a return to the ancient alliance between Jews and Christians, grounded in the Hebrew prophets and demanded by the moment we are living in.He speaks about Jewish rights to Judea and Samaria without apology. He draws on Isaiah, Micah, and Zechariah to show that this alliance was foretold. And he calls both communities — Jewish and Christian — to stand together as a moral and spiritual force at the most critical hour in generations.This is a conversation that belongs in every home, every church, and every synagogue. Follow the show, share this episode, and support PJTN at pjtn.org.This conversation was recorded in 2006 — the warning has only grown more urgent since.0:00 The Math of Survival: 13 Million Jews and 2 Billion Christians0:38 Welcome to Proclaiming Justice0:45 The Miracle of Jewish-Christian Rapprochement2:23 The Jihadist Threat: Heirs of Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia3:16 A Common Mission: Compassionate Righteousness and Moral Justice4:26 What We Share Is Greater Than What Divides Us6:08 What Isaiah, Micah, and Zechariah Say About This Moment7:54 Israel's Return to History9:12 Jewish Rights to Judea and Samaria: 4,000 Years11:36 Judaism Is Not a Race: The Book of Ruth13:13 Anti-Zionism Is the New Antisemitism14:39 Why Antisemites Target Israel15:40 A People of Redemption, Not Just Survival19:00 How You Can Get InvolvedDon't forget to subscribe, rate, and share to help us equip more Christians to stand with Israel and fight antisemitism.✨ Stay connected with PJTN! ✨
A Light So LovelyActs 10Teacher: Pastor Matt PiersonDate: June 7, 2026Throughout the book of Acts, we witness the wildfire-like growth of the Church; beginning in Jerusalem and spreading first through Judea, and reaching even into Samaria, a people long at odds with Israel. The Gospel is proclaimed, and the Samaritans believe and receive the Holy Spirit. In Acts chapter 10, Luke will recount an even more remarkable moment. The Holy Spirit brings together Cornelius, a Roman centurion who is a God-fearer, and Simon Peter, who is still a rule-follower despite his faith in Christ. God is going to use this meeting to fling wide open the door of the Gospel to the Gentiles, revealing that His invitation extends to all nations, tribes, and tongues.Join Pastor Matt as we study this encounter and its world-changing impact. The Gospel is for all people, the Holy Spirit is on the move, and every believer is invited to take part in what God is doing.Support the showTo find more resources like these, follow us:Website: https://thevillagechapel.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQVTzDbaiXVUAm_mUBDCTJAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tvcnashville/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tvcnashvilleX: https://twitter.com/tvcnashvilleTo support the ongoing mission of The Village Chapel go to https://thevillagechapel.com/give/. If you are a regular giver, thank you for your continued faithfulness and generosity!
Reserve your spot for the premiere of War of Redemption: https://thelandofisrael.com/war-of-redemption/ This week on the Land of Israel Guys podcast, Ari and Jeremy along with The Israel Guys, take a deeper look at why Judea and Samaria remain at the center of Israel's modern story, much as they were in the days of King David. As farms continue to spread across the biblical heartland at a historic pace, they discuss how agriculture has become one of the most important frontiers in securing and developing the land of Israel. Against the backdrop of a rapidly growing Jerusalem, the conversation explores some of the most significant issues facing the nation today: the imprisonment of an IDF soldier, the expansion of Israel's farm movement, cultural and spiritual challenges within Israeli society, and the prophetic vision of redemption that continues to inspire millions around the world. The episode also features the announcement of a new documentary, War of Redemption, which tells the story of the men and women living on the front lines of Israel's biblical heartland. As Israel's defense industry reaches record-breaking levels, Ari and Jeremy reflect on the prophetic promise of a future in which swords are turned into plowshares and the Torah goes forth from Zion. Subscribe for weekly conversations from Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, featuring current events, biblical insights, and on-the-ground perspectives from the Land of Israel.
In this inspiring interview, Avi Abelow spoke with the Director of Development of the Efrat Foundation, to discuss the exciting future of the pioneering community of Efrat, the thriving capital of the Judean Hills.Efrat is growing rapidly to accommodate second and third generation families who want to stay in their beloved hometown. We explore major expansion plans, new neighborhoods, and infrastructure projects designed to keep families rooted in the biblical heartland of Judea.One of the most exciting initiatives is the restoration and development of the historic Solomon's Pools, ancient Hasmonean and Roman reservoirs just outside Efrat. This ambitious project aims to revive this archaeological treasure and transform the area into a beautiful historical and recreational site for the entire region.We also discuss the new Lone Soldiers Center in memory of Roey Weiser, a fallen hero from my synagogue in Efrat. This vital project will provide housing, support, and a warm home for lone soldiers who defend Israel without family nearby.This interview offers a hopeful vision of Efrat's future, a strong, growing, and proud Jewish community in Judea and Samaria that is building for the long term.If you believe in strengthening Jewish life in the biblical heartland, supporting second and third generation families, reviving Solomon's Pools, and honoring lone soldiers, this video will inspire you.Support Efrat's Development Projects TodayYour donation helps expand communities, restore historic sites, and support lone soldiers in the Judean Hills.Donate Now: https://www.jgive.com/new/en/ils/dona...Thank you for standing with Efrat, the exciting future of Judea and Samaria, and the fulfillment of our Biblical prophecies.Efrat development, Solomon's Pools, Judean Hills, second-generation families, lone soldiers center, Roey Weiser, Jewish settlement, biblical heartland, Judea and Samaria.Join Our Whatsapp Channel: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GkavRznXy731nxxRyptCMvFollow us on Twitter: https://x.com/AviAbelowJoin our Telegram Channel: https://t.me/aviabelowpulseFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pulse_of_israel/?hl=enPulse of Israel on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IsraelVideoNetworkVisit Our Website - https://pulseofisrael.com/Donate to Pulse of Israel: https://pulseofisrael.com/boost-this-video/
This sermon answers care not with a program but with a theological claim. Bearing one another's burdens isn't optional charity. It is, Paul says, "fulfilling the law of Christ" because Christ bore the burden no one else could. Galatians 6:1-5Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.Luke 5:17-26On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, ‘Rise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
Deen Salami | Guest Pastor Standing Firm: A Look at Stephen Check out the weekly sermon here or on our SRBC podcast on Apple Podcast and Spotify. While you're at it, check us out on Facebook and Instagram too. Like what you hear? We'd love to know.At South Run, we read every message personally. Whether you have a question, want to share how God is moving in your life, or are thinking about visiting in person, this is the place to start. If you click the link below, Pastor Eric will personally reach out to you. Listening online? Let us know. Sermon Transcript Standing Firm: What Stephen's Martyrdom in Acts 6–7 Teaches Us About Faith Under Fire — Sermon TranscriptSouth Run Baptist Church | Springfield, VA Guest Preacher: Deen SalamiActs 6:8–7:60June 7, 2026This is a full sermon transcript from South Run Baptist Church in Springfield, Virginia. In this message, guest preacher Deen Salami preaches on the martyrdom of Stephen from Acts 6–7. This sermon addresses how Stephen — an ordinary believer full of faith and the Holy Spirit — stood firm against hate and persecution before the Sanhedrin, what his conduct, his defense, and his death reveal about the cost of following Jesus, and why the church's first martyr was not a tragic accident but a catalyst for the spread of the gospel. Opening: A Passage That Can Almost Preach ItselfI am a little excited today about the message. We've got a lot of ground to cover. There's a large section of scripture that I want us to go through. I'm going to act as your guide. It's not very often that there are passages of scripture that actually can preach themselves. This passage just might be one of them. So what I'd like to do is just to act as your guide. I'll read through big chunks of scripture and I'll just make a couple of observations for us to consider as we do. To do that, though, I'll only need about another hour. Are you guys good with that? I know better than to get in the way of lunch, so I'll make sure that I'll get through this thing in a reasonable amount of time, and I promise we'll survive the experience, all right? All right, why don't you join me in prayer? Gracious God and Father, behold this time. It is you who have called all these people here. None are here by accident. You have assigned me to this task for this day and this hour, and I just pray, Lord God, that you would act and move. Empower now your servant to be able to bring forth this majesty for your people's benefit and for the glory of your great name. May everything that be said and done would be pleasing to you. We pray all of this in Jesus' name. Amen. Context: Who Was Stephen, and Why Does He Matter?Now, we've already had the first section of our passage read to us. We're going to look at the first martyr of the early church. If you guys know, that is a follower by the name of Stephen. Before he was crucified, Jesus warned the disciples that the world would hate them because of him, and as a result, they would suffer persecution. So how do we stand firm against the hate and persecution? Well, Stephen is going to help us answer that question because he experienced exactly what Jesus said he would. How he handles the hate is a great example for us to follow. Now, again, we've already read that first section in Acts 6:1–8, but as we go into the commentary of it, I want you to consider three simple things: the charges brought before Stephen, his conduct throughout this whole trial, and what it costs him at the end. Three things — charges, his conduct, and the cost. The gospel was being preached early on. It's the early part of the church's existence. The gospel was being preached, and after an early reception by the masses, opposition began to rise, specifically from the religious leaders. Stephen was a Hellenistic Jew, which means that his native tongue was not Aramaic, but it was Greek. He was also a Diaspora Jew, meaning that he was not born and raised inside Israel proper. He was born and raised outside of Israel. He came to Jerusalem, heard the gospel, and became a believer. He was not one of the original 12. He had no special place of prominence. In fact, when we first learn of Stephen a few verses earlier, he was in charge of food distribution for the church. In other words, Stephen was a simple, normal person, just like any one of us. His only desire was to serve and to be used by God. Now look at how he was described in this section. It says that he was full of God's grace and power, and he performed great signs and wonders. Up until this point, that description was only made of the apostles. But he ran into his fellow Diaspora Jews, and they could not withstand him in debate, because the Spirit of God had given him great wisdom. Since they were unable to defeat Stephen in debate, they slandered him, brought him up on trumped-up charges, and dragged him before the Sanhedrin. And this, by the way, is the third time that a follower of Jesus was dragged before the Sanhedrin. The first time it was Peter and John for healing a lame man. But because the crowds were praising God, they let them go. The second time was with all 12 apostles. They were beaten and sternly warned no longer to preach the gospel. This time, the Diaspora Jews were mobilized as a mob against Stephen, and if you were hearing properly and paying attention, you noticed that Stephen is alone. Incidentally, this is the same council that sentenced Jesus to death. The Charges Against Stephen: Disrespecting Moses and the TempleSo let's hear the charges brought against Stephen. It was the disrespect of the law — which is referred to as Moses — and the disrespect of God, the temple, because they believed that God's presence was in the temple. But Stephen is going to take these two charges and turn them on his accusers. But for now, I want to draw your attention to how Luke describes Stephen as he stands before the Sanhedrin. He says that he has the face of an angel. Now, I doubt very much that the Sanhedrin thought Stephen was hot, right? But what is it that made his appearance unmistakable? The question I want us to consider is, how is it possible that a normal person like Stephen — who was not part of the inner circle of Jesus — is able to do the things that Stephen had done and was described the way Luke describes him? Acts 6:5 — Full of Faith and the Holy Spirit: What That Actually MeansAnd I believe that the answer is found in verse 5 of chapter 6. This is the very first description we have of Stephen: he's a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. But the question is, what does that mean exactly? Let me start with full of faith. Because there are three aspects of faith that we see in Stephen. First, there's an intellectual determination. What do I mean by that? It simply means that he's asking himself, is the gospel true, and do I believe it? Am I a sinner, like the gospel says, and do I need a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ? Stephen's answer is yes. The second is, do I trust Jesus? Will I submit my life to him and proclaim him as my Lord? Again, Stephen answers, yes. But finally, will I commit everything to him, even if it means my death? And as we will see, Stephen will answer that question yes as well. But let me ask us all a question here. How are we doing in these three aspects? For most Christians, they're okay intellectually up here. Do I need a Savior? Yes. But it's the other two that they stumble at. Is he actually Lord? Am I running my own life? Do I just need Jesus as an advisor — I'll call on him when I need to? Or is he actually Lord? Do we actually commit our lives to him, willing to die? Because Stephen was all in with Jesus, it gave the Holy Spirit free reign to use Stephen any way he wanted. Not like a puppet, but as an active and willing partner in the work of advancing the kingdom. It's like the Fellowship of the Ring. Do you guys remember the Fellowship of the Ring? Remember when Frodo said he was going to go and take the ring to Mordor? Aragorn said to him, if by my life or death I can protect you, I will. Why? Because the fate of Middle Earth hung in the balance, right? But for us today, it's the souls — the eternal souls of people — that hang in the balance. And the only hope for them is Jesus Christ. Amen? If by our life or death, if we have the opportunity to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ, will we? Are we all in like Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit? What the Sanhedrin saw in Stephen was the very presence of the divine emanating from him. But let's move on and see what happens next. Acts 7:1–16: Stephen's Defense Begins — Summarizing Genesis 12 Through Exodus 1 from Memory I'm going to read from chapter 7, verse 1. "Then the high priest asked Stephen, are these charges true? To this he replied, brothers and fathers, listen to me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia before he lived in Haran. Leave your country and your people, God said, and go to the land I will show you. So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living. He gave him no inheritance here, not even enough ground to set his foot on. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no children. God spoke to him in this way, for 400 years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, God said, and afterward they will come out of that country and worship me in this place. Then he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him eight days after his birth. Later, Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs. Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace. Then a famine struck all of Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our ancestors could not find food. When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our forefathers on their first visit. On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was. And Pharaoh learned about Joseph's family. After this, Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family, 75 in all. Then Jacob went down to Egypt where he and our ancestors died. Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a certain sum of money. And as the time drew near for God to fulfill his promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt had greatly increased. Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. He dealt treacherously with our people and oppressed our ancestors by forcing them to throw out their newborn babies so that they would die." Now, for those of you who may have picked up on it, Stephen just summarized Genesis 12 all the way through Exodus 1. Genesis 12 is where we have God's promise to bless the world through Abram. Stephen starts there and ends in Exodus chapter 1. That is approximately 39 chapters that he summarized from memory under pressure. Now, if you were on the Sanhedrin, what would you be thinking right now about the charge of disrespecting the law? At least at this point, it looks like that charge is on kind of shaky ground. In fact, some of the Sanhedrin might be looking at Stephen and secretly giving him a thumbs up. Way to go, bro. Good job, all right? Why Stephen Uses Geography and the Stories of Joseph and Moses StrategicallyWhat I don't want you to miss, though, is how Stephen is telling this story. I want you to notice the way Stephen is making use of geography — Mesopotamia, Haran, Israel, Egypt. He is summarizing what God did in those places, but why is he doing this? Also, I want you to keep in mind what he says about Joseph and his brothers. I'm going to develop that here in a minute. Just be patient, okay? Now, before we move on, I want to highlight how Stephen addresses his adversaries. To the mob, he refers to them as brothers. To the Sanhedrin, he refers to them as fathers. This mob who dragged him forcefully before the Sanhedrin, and this council that not only sentenced Jesus to death but beat the 12 apostles — the question on the table is, why is Stephen so cordial? A few observations. First, he does not seem to be taking their behavior toward him personally. The moment is not lost on Stephen. He's acutely aware of the danger he is in, but he remembers his mission, which was the same as Jesus. He does not want to condemn them. He wants them to know the truth. So he speaks to them in a way fitting that purpose. He does not retaliate against them for mistreating him. Second, Stephen understands that their behavior is symptomatic of a bigger issue. He knows what the Apostle Paul will later go on to understand and share with Timothy. As we read in 2 Timothy 2:25–26, Paul says this: "Opponents must be gently instructed in the hope that God will grant them repentance, leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil who has taken them captive to do his will." Stephen understands that these people have been taken captive by the devil so that they would do his will. But Stephen hopes that they will come to their senses. So he begins by instructing them gently. And in his approach, Stephen is reflecting the very heart of God. Back in Ezekiel 33:11, we hear God say this: "As surely as I live, declares the sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways. Why will you die, people of Israel?" Stephen does not clap back at them. Third, he is gentle because he is focused. He knows it's not about him. This encounter is much bigger than Stephen, and he is keenly aware of it, and we can tell by the way he conducts himself. It's a powerful lesson for us today, isn't it? If we're going to stand firm against hate and persecution, we will resist the urge to take people's behavior toward us personally. We remember that their behavior is symptomatic of a bigger issue. They are captives of the devil, and what we want to stay focused on is our mission to be active agents in freeing them through spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. Now one last point before we move on. We are 19 verses into Stephen's speech and in all his words, Stephen is not trying to defend himself. He has not yet answered the question that was put before him: are these charges true? He hasn't quite answered that question, at least not directly. Acts 7:20–43: Moses, the Burning Bush, and the Pattern of Rejected MessengersBut let's get back to the rest of Stephen's speech, because I think we'll find some more for us to consider. "Now at that time, Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child. For three months, he was cared for by his family. When he was placed outside, Pharaoh's daughter took him and brought him up as her own son. Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action. When Moses was 40 years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites. He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian. Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not. The next day, Moses came upon two Israelites who were fighting. He tried to reconcile them by saying, men, you are brothers. Why do you want to hurt each other? But the man who was mistreating the other pushed Moses aside and said, who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday? When Moses heard this, he fled to Midian, where he settled as a foreigner and had two sons. After 40 years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As he went over to get a closer look, he heard the Lord say, I am the Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look. Then the Lord said to him, take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt. This is the same Moses they had rejected with the words, who made you ruler and judge. He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God himself, through the angel who appeared to him in the bush. He led them out of Egypt and performed wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for 40 years in the wilderness." Once again, Stephen has done an excellent job in summarizing that next section. He pretty accurately brings the story to the lawgiver himself, the man Moses. But let me begin to tie some pieces of this puzzle together for us. Stephen brings up Joseph and Moses very strategically. Joseph, with his dreams, and Moses, even at his birth, were both marked by God for God's use and for the good of his people. But in both cases, they were originally rejected. In other words, our ancestors, says Stephen, missed God's messengers the first time. Even though the signs were there, they rejected their God-appointed leaders the first time. And Stephen is about to be very clear about the implications of this for them. He mentions God being with Moses in Midian and in Egypt. All the geographical references that Stephen has made is the point he's taking aim at — the misunderstanding of the temple. They refer to the temple as this holy place. But yet Stephen reminds the Sanhedrin that when Moses was in Midian on Mount Sinai, Moses was commanded to remove his sandals because where he was standing was holy ground. So which is it? Is it the holy ground that Moses was standing on in Mount Sinai in Midian? Or is it this holy place, the temple in Jerusalem? Wherever the presence of God touches down becomes holy. What Stephen is saying is that God is not bound by any single location. This is what the Sanhedrin failed to see in their attempt to defend the temple. And it is a pattern that Stephen is pointing out for them. In addition, Jesus sternly rebuked the religious leaders when he turned over the tables of the money changers and called the temple a den of thieves, because they were keeping people from God. God had left the building, and they were completely oblivious. Let me highlight the wisdom Stephen is using here. First, he knows the word and how to apply it to the situation he is presently in. Second, he understands the charges brought against him and how to use those same charges to highlight the error of his accusers. And finally, he does not lose focus of his mission. And the question on the table for us is, if we were under this pressure, could we do the same? Acts 7:44–53: Stephen Flips the Script — You Are the Ones Who Violated the LawNow Stephen is about to end his time with the Sanhedrin, and it's going to be a colossal end. Let's finish reading. "This is the Moses who told the Israelites, God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your own people. He was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai and with our ancestors, and he received living words to pass on to us. But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him, and their hearts turned back to Egypt. They told Aaron, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him. That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and reveled in it in what their own hands had made. But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon, and stars. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets: did you bring me sacrifices and offerings 40 years in the wilderness, people of Israel? You have taken up the tabernacle of Molech and the star of your God Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore, I will send you into exile beyond Babylon. Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant law with them in the wilderness. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen. After receiving the tabernacle, our ancestors under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them. It remained in the land until the time of David, who enjoyed God's favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who built a house for him. However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says, heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build me, says the Lord? Or where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things? You stiff-necked people, your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You were just like your ancestors. You always resist the Holy Spirit. Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him. You who have received the law that was given through angels, but have not yet obeyed it." Stephen ends his speech with a powerful rebuke of the Sanhedrin and this mob. The history of the Jewish people had been one of rebellion, culminating in the murder of Jesus, their long-awaited Messiah. Just as they did with Joseph and Moses, they missed Jesus the first time. I want you to underline verse 53. Stephen courageously tells the truth and provides a proper diagnosis of their problem. In so doing, he flips the script. So you accuse me of violating the law and desecrating the temple? I'm not guilty of either one of these, but you are. The evidence he provides is rightly in the law of Moses, and he records the embarrassing incident with the golden calf. This was abject idolatry, which got them exiled, and it's clear that their stubborn rebellion continued to blind them. Making the Means the End: The Sanhedrin's Fatal Error with the Law and the TempleThe inherent problem the Sanhedrin and the mob suffered from was that they made the means the end and did away with the end itself. What do I mean by that? Well, in Galatians 3:24–25, Paul says this: "So the law was our guardian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian." The law was the means by which we would be ready for Christ, who was literally the end of the law — he was what the law was preparing us for. But they made the means, the law, the end, and did away with the end itself, Jesus. Jesus says the same thing about the temple. In Mark 11:17, Jesus says this: "My house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves." The temple was the means by which all the nations would come to know who God is and pray to him. They turned the temple into a money-making machine, and they did away with God altogether. It's the same pattern. Acts 7:54–60: The Stoning of Stephen — Dying Like His LordLike all who stubbornly live in rebellion and refuse to hear the truth, they go after Stephen. "When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Look, he said, I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of the young man named Saul. And while they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Then he fell on his knees and cried out, Lord, do not hold this sin against them. When he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul approved of their killing." Stephen took a bold stand and it cost him his life. But here's the beauty of this passage. Stephen died in the same way his Lord did. He dies praying for the forgiveness of the people stoning him, just like Jesus. And because Stephen was so faithful to his call, the heavens opened so that Stephen sees the Lord Jesus rise from his throne to welcome his faithful servant home. How to Stand Firm Against Hate and Persecution: Look Up, Not AroundHow do we stand firm in the face of hate and persecution? First and foremost, we look up, not around. We look to Jesus. We need to be focused on Jesus because he is all he's asking us to be, and he has done all he's asking us to do. That includes suffering for his sake. Second, we need to remember one important thing. We're not simply spectators or victims. We are active agents of change. In other words, we do not lose sight of the mission, because this is why we are here. You know, I know some people — I've spoken to some people about this passage — and they seem to think that it's unfair for Stephen to have died. After all, why couldn't God have saved him? He saved the apostles. He saved John and Peter. Why couldn't he have saved Stephen? But if we read Acts 1:8, where Jesus told the disciples that they would be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and in the uttermost parts of the world, we begin to realize one important thing. Up until this point, guess where the church was localized? Jerusalem. Guess where they had their small groups? Jerusalem. Guess where they had their worship time? Jerusalem. But where were they supposed to go? But after Stephen was killed, we read this: "On that day, a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria." Stephen's death was the catalyst for the advancement of the gospel outside of Jerusalem. Remember, our faith is not a faith that we simply talk about. Our faith is a full contact sport. If by my life or death I can advance the gospel, I will. Stephen did it by his death. Closing: Active Agents of God's Redemptive WorkLet me read you one quote as I close. It says, "Suffering becomes the ongoing evidence that creation awaits restoration. And believers, bearing God's image and indwelt by the Spirit, participate in that redemptive work. Rather than passive victims of evil, they become agents through whom God's original creative intention progressively reasserts itself against the disorder introduced by sin." Will you be a part of that? Because this is our purpose. And once we understand our purpose and totally embrace it, then we look at the world very differently. We can stop asking why the world is the way it is. Because that's really the wrong question. The right question is, what are we going to do about it? Because we are supposed to be the active and willing participants in God's redemptive work. Is this work dangerous? Yeah. Stephen found that out very clearly. Remember, Jesus died for us first. So it is not like God is asking us to throw away our lives cavalierly. Far from it. Stephen understood the stakes and was keenly aware of the moment. But he determined that his life was worthy of sacrificing for the gospel. He stood firm. Can we? Let me pray. Our gracious God and Father, we thank you for this time that we can be in your word. We are reminded, Lord, that it's you who preserved your word, lo, these 2,000 years for us, this generation of believers, to learn and glean from. I pray, Father, for whatever lessons that may have been brought out here, that those seeds would be scattered in the hearts of your people and that they would grow into folks that would stand firm for the advancement of the gospel. Our only desire, Lord God, is like Stephen. We ask humbly that you would use us as we serve, and that you would be glorified. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. South Run Baptist Church | 8712 Selger Drive, Springfield, VA 22153 | Sunday Worship at 11am Serving Springfield, Burke, West Springfield, Lorton, Alexandria, Fort Belvoir, and Franconia, Virginia. Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Preacher: Annie Diamond Jeremiah 29:7 "Seek the peace and prosperity (welfare, shalom, well-being) of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers (shaloms), you too will prosper (shalom)." Acts 1:7-8 "He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Luke 10:30-37 "...In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
Send us Fan MailAs Jesus ascended, He promised His followers that they would receive power to be witnesses unto Him in Jerusalem, Judea, even Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Jesus was establishing an unchanging principle: Disciples make disciples. And the Spirit gives us the power to make disciples. Pick up your Bible or device, and turn to Acts 1 to hear the story.This episode is based on the God's Word for Life, Summer 2026, Adult Lesson Guide entitled, "Jesus' Great Commission" (June 7, 2026).Find an Apostolic church that preaches this glorious gospel and our response at UPCI.orgThis episode is produced by the Pentecostal Resources Group and is hosted by LJ Harry. To order resources of the God's Word for Life curriculum, visitPentecostalPublishing.com and PentecostalResourcesGroup.com.Share your God's Word for Life stories with me at pphcurriculum@upci.org.
Reading 1Acts 2:1-11When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled,they were all in one place together.And suddenly there came from the skya noise like a strong driving wind,and it filled the entire house in which they were.Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,which parted and came to rest on each one of them.And they were all filled with the Holy Spiritand began to speak in different tongues,as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heavenstaying in Jerusalem.At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd,but they were confusedbecause each one heard them speaking in his own language.They were astounded, and in amazement they asked,"Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?Then how does each of us hear them in his native language?We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites,inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene,as well as travelers from Rome,both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs,yet we hear them speaking in our own tonguesof the mighty acts of God."Reading 21 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13Brothers and sisters:No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;there are different forms of service but the same Lord;there are different workings but the same Godwho produces all of them in everyone.To each individual the manifestation of the Spiritis given for some benefit.As a body is one though it has many parts,and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,so also Christ.For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.GospelJohn 20:19-23On the evening of that first day of the week,when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,for fear of the Jews,Jesus came and stood in their midstand said to them, "Peace be with you."When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you.As the Father has sent me, so I send you."And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,"Receive the Holy Spirit.Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,and whose sins you retain are retained."
In today's show, we take a deeper look into how the area of Judea and Samaria has continued to be the central point of Israel's struggle for redemption, just like in the days of King David, when he wandered the hills of Judea with his mighty men. We discuss the central importance of farms, specifically in Israel's ability to maintain the land that God promised, looking at massive farming booms across the region in the past few years, with an increase of over 100% in less than three years. Ari and Jeremy also announce the release of a new documentary titled 'War of Redemption.' All of this takes place against the backdrop of the heart of the nation, which of course is the city of Jerusalem. We look at the way the city is growing and expanding, currently larger than at any point in history, discussing the situation with Pride events hosted across the state and what the proper response of Christians around the world should be to the phenomenon of unbiblical things taking place in the nation. With Israel's defense exports reaching an all-time high last year, we look forward to the day when weapons will be turned into farming tools, and the main export from the Jewish state will be the Torah of G-d from Zion, just as the prophet foretold. Prophets Daily - https://thelandofisrael.com/prophets-of-israel/ Reserve your spot for the premier https://thelandofisrael.com/war-of-redemption Source links: Trump defining a ceasefire https://x.com/Osint613/status/2062268282040635616?s=20 Trailer to 'War of Redemption' documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VB5KAtonPs New housing units in Judea and Samaria https://www.jns.org/news/israel-news/israel-approves-2-000-housing-units-in-judea-samaria New farms in Judea and Samaria https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-894710 Israel's Defense Exports reach all time high https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-arms-sales-break-record-for-5th-year-in-row-reaching-19-2-billion-in-2025/
ACTS 1:1-11 - YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER - BRIAN SUMNER - 2026The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.The Holy Spirit Promised4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”Jesus Ascends to Heaven9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”To support this channel and partner with Brian in Ministryhttps://www.briansumner.net/support/For more on Brianhttp://www.briansumner.nethttps://www.instagram.com/BRIANSUMNER/https://www.facebook.com/BRIANSUMNEROFFICIALTo listen to Brians Podcast, click below.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Purchase Brians Marriage book at https://www.amazon.com/Never-Fails-Da...Brian is a full time "Urban Missionary" both locally and internationally with a focus on MISSIONS - MARRIAGES - MINISTRY. Since coming to faith in 2004 doors continued opening locally and internationally to do more and more ministry with a focus on Evangelism, Outreach Missions, Marriage, Counsel, Schools, Festivals, Conferences and the like. Everything about this ministry is made possible because of people personally partnering through the non profit. God Bless and thank you. †Support the showSUPPORT THE SHOW
Fatah, the leading party within the Palestinian Authority, has just made a major shift in the way the government will operate, and it's not good for Israel. They have just brought into the party nearly 400 convicted terrorists, mostly those who have killed Israelis, and these terrorists will play a major part in shaping the future of the party. And that future may be much closer, and much more dangerous than many realize. This move may have major implications for the future of Judea and Samara, what many people call the west bank, and more broadly, the entire State of Israel. Ben Hilton breaks it down for you here on today's show. Join us for our Heartland Connection trip in July! https://israelguys.link/israel-trip-86ext4erd Sign up for The Israel Guys Show Notes: https://theisraelguys.com/subscribe/ Follow The Israel Guys on X: https://x.com/theisraelguys Source Links: Reports and on Marwan Barghouti https://www.timesofisrael.com/over-200-cultural-figures-call-for-release-of-palestinian-terror-convict-marwan-barghouti/ https://www.youtube.com/shorts/iDdzi_DhX54 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH6w5x0QvbY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gml9EKBLRpA Interview with Marwan Barghouti in an Israeli Prison (2006) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPiVcaRGgSQ Report on terror convicts promoted within Fatah https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-shift-fatah-opens-leadership-vote-to-terror-convicts-freed-in-hostage-deals/ #Israelnews #JudeaandSamaria #Westbank #Trump #Annexation #Fatah #Abbas #Palestinianelections
Join the Land of Israel Fellowship and study Tanach with us live from the hills of Judea: https://thelandofisrael.com/membership-tiers In 1 Samuel 10, Saul is secretly anointed as Israel's first king. Ari Abramowitz and Jeremy Gimpel explore Saul's transformation, his unexpected rise to leadership, and the inner struggles that foreshadow his downfall. Why was Saul chosen? What does it mean to be "transformed into another man"? And why does he hide when the moment comes to accept his destiny? This chapter reveals the tension between divine calling and human hesitation—a struggle familiar to all of us.
Visit the New Covenant Farm Initiative forums: https://richtidwell.com/community/NCFI exists to recover the Book of Acts communal pattern for our generation: a working agricultural community of baptized believers who hold all things in common, raise their children together, bear one another's burdens, and hold fast to their faith in Jesus Christ!"44 All the believers were together and had everything in common... 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts" - Acts 2:44-46WHAT YOU'LL FIND INSIDEOur online community is built on the Fluent Community platform and is home to two foundational courses as well as an open discussion forum: NCFI Statement of Faith — Begin here. This course walks you through the doctrinal foundations of our community: the convictions we hold, the Scriptures we stand on, and the faith that binds us together. The Book of Acts Model — This is the practical companion to the Statement of Faith. It explores how we live out our beliefs together — the biblical basis for covenant community life, how our community will be structured legally and financially, our daily rhythms, and the path to membership. General Discussion Forum — A place to ask questions, share reflections, and get to know others who are on the same journey.Taken together, these two courses will give you a clear and honest picture of what NCFI is, why we believe it is a faithful response to the command to "come out of her, my people" (Rev 18:4), and whether this might be the Christian community God is calling you toward.PREPARATION FOR THE MARK OF THE BEAST"And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:" - Rev 13:15-16The Church is commanded to move out into the country, and establish Book of Acts communities, prior to the Antichrist "Mark of the Beast" system being implemented. 15 minute cities are coming in these Last Days, are you ready?* "The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent's reach." - Revelation 12:14* "He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time." -Daniel 7:25* "When you see the abomination of desolation...standing in the Holy Place, then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains." - Matthew 24:15-16* "...those who are in the midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city" -Luke 21:21Thank you so much for listening to this sermon and for your prayerful consideration joining the NCFI community! May the Lord Jesus bless you richly in your walk with Him!
Remember how yesterday we talked about Jesus and Peter needing to pay their taxes, and Jesus tells Peter to do what he's always done – go fishing. But this would be a completely different fishing experience because this time, Peter was fishing with Jesus – and Jesus is the difference maker. God had perfectly aligned just the right fish with a valuable coin in its mouth to bite Peter's hook. That coin was the extraordinary way Jesus would provide that day. Right place at the right time. Not an accident – absolutely miraculously divine. Well let me tell you what happened yesterday at retreat. We had taken a train from Venice to Lake Garda. Not the original train we had planned – a different train, so our arrival had been a little delayed. Once at the lake, we hopped on our private chartered boat for the most gorgeous adventure. About 1 hour into our adventure on the water, our captain drove the boat under the drawbridge of a castle where we docked for lunch. At the precise moment all 11 of us are stepping off our boat, a frantic mother comes running up screaming, “Have you seen my son?” She can barely put together a cohesive sentence. “My son, my son, he's missing. 5 years old. My son.” All the BIG Life girls spring into action. We scatter in all directions, yelling, “5 year old boy. White shirt. Missing.” Most everyone we encounter responds with, “Haven't seen him” then continues on with their day. But not my girls – we're searching for this missing boy. It's one thing to be missing your child in a crowd. It's another thing to be missing your child in a crowd on the edge of deep water. We all felt the desperation. Eventually, far from where we had started, someone heard us and shouted back, “He's here!” We found him. And he was in the complete opposite direction of where the mother had run. There was no way the boy would have heard his mom. There was no way she was going to find him with such a distance between them. BUT GOD. God perfectly placed a boat full of 11 BIG Life Girls from all the way around the world at precisely the right moment to step onto that dock, hear her desperate cry and spread out on a mission to find her boy. Watching that reunion left every one of us in tears. Right place, right time. We got to be part of Jesus' extraordinary plans. We were the fish with the coin. Ordinary girls with a changed travel plan, stepping on shore later than scheduled, equipped with precisely what was needed. That, my friends, is how God works! Now, let's go even further. Here in Venice we seem to be having encounters with hurting souls in need of the Jesus we carry. I bet it's not just Venice – I bet it's in your town too. Hurting souls – they're absolutely everywhere. In need of what we have. But have you ever just gotten in your own way? Have you ever talked yourself right out of doing precisely what the Holy Spirit has prompted you to do? Have you ever felt way too ordinary to be used for God's extraordinary purposes? How can you possibly be their answer? Well, you're not their answer. You simply CARRY THEIR ANSWER! Remember that. You're a contagious carrier of Jesus. Allow contact so it spreads! That's it. Why make it more complicated than that? Here's the barrier with the hurting souls we've been coming into contact with here in Venice … we don't speak their language and they don't speak ours. Well that's simply NOT a problem for our EXTRAORDINARY GOD! Let me tell you a little story from your Bible. Imagine you're in the middle of this story. Okay, picture this … you’re one of Jesus’ closest friends. You’ve given up your job and your home, you’ve left everything and everyone you’ve ever known, to go with Jesus on his mission. You've been personally walking with Jesus. You've been part of some absolutely crazy miracles. You've seen his power. You know it's real. And you thought you would be doing this with Jesus for the rest of your life. But just 3 years into you and your tribe of 12 doing all these miraculous things, Jesus gets killed. Your leader is crucified. And now what? It’s easy for us to rush to the rest of the story, but remember this – Jesus’ friends didn’t know the rest of the story as they were sitting in it. They never saw this hardship coming. They never, in a million years, thought Jesus could be killed. Now what were they going to do? They had given up everything to go with him. They are afraid. Afraid they too would be killed. Afraid everything they had believed in and worked for was ruined. They were confused. Then, Jesus shows up in the room where they are hiding. Now remember, Jesus has died. They saw him hanging on the cross. They knew his body was put in the tomb. They also knew the doors to the room where they were hiding were locked. And boom, here’s Jesus, standing right there among them. And this is what Jesus says to them, Mark 16:15, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” Then Jesus is taken into heaven. Jesus tells them to go. But HOW? Jesus, how are we supposed to go into ALL the world and preach to EVERYONE? We don’t have an airplane. The internet sucks here. We are poor fishermen, how are we supposed to go do all of this? We have no education. We have no resources. We have no connections. Jesus, I heard what you said, but we're just so ordinary. For 10 days they waited. For 10 days they must have wondered how Jesus expected them to tell everyone about God. For 10 days they must have felt so unequipped and unqualified for the calling. But on the 10th day, they were all together for the day of Pentecost. This was the day all of Israel gathered in Jerusalem to offer to God their first harvest of wheat for the season. There were people from Judea, people from Asia, people from Egypt and Rome, people from every nation all gathered to make their offering. Also there were Jesus’ 12 friends, his disciples. Suddenly God’s power came and rested on each of them and Acts 2:4 says, “Everyone present was filled with the Hoy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.” These ordinary men spoke Aramaic, but now filled with the Holy Spirit, they were speaking every language of the entire crowd. All of these people from every nation, all with their own languages, miraculously heard the magnificent acts of God being declared in THEIR OWN language. This is how God would use these 12 common friends of Jesus to fulfill his purposes. This is how they would go into ALL the world and preach the Good News to EVERYONE as Jesus had told them. God would do it through them in ways they could have never imagined. He would speak through them. His power would flow from them. He would give them the words which they couldn’t even possibly know. Literally a different language – hundreds of languages, spoken perfectly through common men who were unsure how God could use them. Now, back to you, Miss Ordinary. Why not you? Whatever it is that has been blocking you from being the hands and feet of Jesus wherever you are – you just need to know the Holy Spirit can perfectly equip you with absolutely anything and everything needed to spread what you're carrying. You're a contagious carrier of Jesus. Make contact! How exactly? Well I don’t know. When exactly? Well I don’t know that either. But here’s what I do know … you will have to show up unsure, uncertain, feeling totally unequipped, and be available for God’s Spirit to equip you. The disciples spent 10 days wondering how they were ever going to do what Jesus had asked them to do. It seemed an impossible task for them to tell the world about the good news of Jesus. And in that 10 days, they must have been drawing maps and making plans. They must have been overwhelmed with such a huge task and unanswered questions. Just like you … you’re in your 10 day waiting period that may have stretched out to cover a few years. You’re waiting and wondering. Questioning. Planning and preparing, but all of it seems inadequate. But my sister, the answers you’re seeking can’t be found in your elaborate 10 year plans. These answers are only found in the power of the Holy Spirit. God will equip you! He will enable you to do what you’ve never done before. He will bring everything together just as it needs to be, and you just need to show up and be available for it. At the end of Acts chapter 2, we see what God was doing by enabling Jesus' 12 friends to speak all these different languages – THREE THOUSNAD WERE BAPTIZED THAT DAY!!!!!!!!!!! What the Bible doesn’t tell us is the conversation Jesus’ friends must have had AFTER Pentecost. Imagine their after work dinner that night. Matthew says, “Dude, I was speaking to an Egyptian in his language, saying things I don’t even know how to say.” Then John says, “Dude, me too! Did you hear me talking in Latin?” And of course, here comes my favorite, wild and impulsive Peter and he says, “Guys, I don’t even know what language I was speaking, but that was awesome!!!” Then there’s a pause and they all realize … ohhhhh, so THIS is how we’re going to go into all the world and preach the Good News to all people.” God has given us the power to do it and it’s already started. Now, let's just keep going! You are the contagious carrier of what every person in this world needs. You're surrounded by hurting souls who are desperate for the Jesus you carry within you. MAKE CONTACT! Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com
The Israeli Knesset is currently advancing a bill that looks to the world a lot like annexation of the West Bank, but what in reality, is simply a desperate attempt to save thousands of historical and archaeological heritage sites in Judea and Samaria, or what could also be known as - the Bible Belt of the Middle East. For years, the Palestinian Authority has been covertly working to destroy heritage sites in this region, and since the world's attention has been centered around the implementation of the two-state solution, and Israel has been largely occupied with defending themselves and stopping terrorism, these all too important sites have been largely overlooked and forgotten. As an American Christian Zionist living in the heart of Judea and Samaria, I have not only had an up close view of this secret war, but our team has even been involved in helping to preserve some of these locations. We even went so far as to fly our drone to one of the most significant sites in Samaria every single day, just to make sure it was not being bulldozed by the Palestinian Authority. More on that later on. Luke Hilton breaks it down for you. Sign up for The Israel Guys Show Notes: https://theisraelguys.com/subscribe/ Follow The Israel Guys on X: https://x.com/theisraelguys Join our Telegram channel: https://t.me/theisraelguys Source Links: https://www.jpost.com/magazine/knowing-your-abc-448963 https://www.gov.il/en/departments/units/archeology_unit https://israel365news.com/418395/annexation-or-salvation-the-bill-that-would-put-israel-in-charge-of-its-own-biblical-heritage/ https://davidmweinberg.com/2024/07/12/protecting-the-eternal/ #Israelnews #JudeaandSamaria #Westbank #Trump #archeology #Annexation
Dr. John Sorensen is President & CEO of Evangelism Explosion International, a ministry that trains people how to share their faith in Christ and bring people from unbelief to belief. He's the daily speaker on Share Life Today. He is the author of the books Well Done, Your Story Counts, The Christ of Christmas, and travels around the world for Evangelism Explosion. You've likely read the passage of Scripture commanding believers to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. There's also Christ's instruction on being witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the earth. Finally, there's the Bible's encouragement of not being ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, that it is the power of God unto salvation, and that we are ambassadors for Christ. In spite of all this, some people believe this is only for pastors and missionaries or those in vocational Christian service. The result is that the "Great Commission" has become the "Great Omission." Others may feel convicted to share more, but don't know how to start a conversation, or are concerned they may get something wrong or may not be able to provide an answer for a question that's asked. Some may feel embarrassed, believing that you should never discuss religion or politics because these topics are a private matter and should be kept to ourselves. If you've struggled in areas like these, keep in mind, there are no exceptions. In other words, it doesn't matter if you're a child or adult. As born-again believers, all of us have the same instructions from Christ to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. You have a story to tell others. Enjoy this Crosstalk!
Reading Acts 9:32-43 as Peter goes throughout Judea performing miracles and sharing the gospel, including healing a man named Aeneas and a woman named Tabitha. Visit wwutt.com for all our videos!
To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ⇒ Join the MMM Prayer Team: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/PrayerTeam ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Matthew 3:1–3 - In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, [2] “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” [3] For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’” [quoting Isaiah 40:3] (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Underwrite one daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: Subscribe to the SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish Subscribe to the CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com
To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ⇒ BECOME A MONTHLY PARTNER: (not tax-deductible) You can find out how to become a monthly partner including how to receive your "thank you" gift - our bonus podcast called "Digging Deeper." God t: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Matthew 2:1–2 - Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, [2] saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (ESV) Matthew 2:6 - (QUOTING MICAH 5:2) - “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Underwrite one daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: Subscribe to the SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish Subscribe to the CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com