The mountainous southern part of the region of Palestine
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The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/
The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/
The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/
Before theology… before tradition… before church doctrine — who was Jesus in his actual historical world?In this episode, we strip everything down to the environmental, tribal, political, and social realities of 1st-century Judea under Rome. From John the Baptist to Roman crucifixion practices, we examine what history tells us about how and why Jesus was executed — including the brutal reality of public crucifixion as a method of humiliation and state power.And the bigger question: Why did His movement grow after Rome tried to erase Him?This isn't Sunday school. This is historical context.
The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/
St. Timothy Lutheran Church » St. Timothy Lutheran Church Podcast
What We Have Even Now Sexagesima Sunday 10 For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return there without saturating the earth and making it germinate and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, 11 so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do." 12 You will indeed go out with joy and be peacefully guided; the mountains and the hills will break into singing before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thornbush, a cypress will come up, and instead of the brier, a myrtle will come up; this will stand as a monument for the LORD, an everlasting sign that will not be destroyed. Isaiah 55:10–13 [CSB] I will read the last part first…the result, the consequence…of the first part: 12 You will indeed go out with joy and be peacefully guided; the mountains and the hills will break into singing before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thornbush, a cypress will come up, and instead of the brier, a myrtle will come up; this will stand as a monument for the LORD, an everlasting sign that will not be destroyed. Isaiah 55:10–13 [CSB] This is even now… No, it is…as we DO have a little of it… We do…and it is too bad when we don't think so…when we deny it…when we listen to any voice that says it isn't so…when things blind us so that we cannot see it. Nonetheless is it true. Now and forever. Some now and all forever. It began in a manger… and was established in this odd and never thought of place… But then this lonely shoot began to bud, then flower as if on just a bit of bare rock… and it was… it was called Calvary… …then it began to multiply…first right there in Jerusalem, then Judea and Samaria…and then into the uttermost parts of the earth… This is also the beginning…the start, where it begins for us… …from blood and in water…and then in our pilgrimage…here… …through the valley of the shadow of death…until our Lord and Savior makes death dead--the last enemy to be removed forever. Removed even from our lifeless bodies, where the seed is left to wait. Death is defeated, but …not completely taken away…yet. Now is the time of Grace. This is the time of the Church militant…that is, the time we still have to fight sin, death and the devil…our flesh, the world, and the kingdom of darkness…. But as they flee before the Lord who leads the way through… We are not fighting for victory. That has already been won by Jesus. We are clearing the ground…and the air…on our way home. For now we see from afar. We hear the distant song… Faith in Him whom we follow knows this to be true. His Words enable to see in this dim place…to hear amongst the cruel noises…the hopeless cries… And then…all of a sudden…along the way we see a crack in the clouds…and there are those mountains that will soon sing and shake to participate in bringing in the new order of a new creation. Or it may be a special day…when all is quiet…and suddenly the sweet air brings the accompaniment to that high and exulted singing…the trees remind of us of what is to come. That singing is not as it will be…this clapping is not but a slight rustle… But it is all in hope…a hope because we have been given this hope…as creation knows who has come and gives it to mankind… So creation waits… Even if here and there…and only in practice a little…and to remind us of these, His Words…giving us a glimpse…even if ever so slight… You see, I am showing you the results first, because we need to see what reality looks like--what it should have been…what it should be like…what it is to sound like…and what it will be like again. It is so now…by Word of Law--God's law, but it has to be yet enacted fully. It has been declared to be so, but many yet have to believe the Words. They need to hear, know and believe before they can have the result for themselves. And so, as we pray in the prayer that our Lord has taught us: THY KINGDOM COME… Yes…God's Kingdom comes of its own self, but… We pray in this petition that the Kingdom come among us also. And it has come…and it has come here. You are here because of this onward march…this invasion of and in your life by God Himself….as He widens…and lengthens…the restoration of all things… One person at a time. Family by Family. Until there is nowhere left that is enemy territory…until there is no one left to be captured and turned back from the enemy to our Lord. This Old Testament prophet's text is about the coming of this Kingdom of God in, by and through Christ… And it has come…and is still here…at work…moving…into the kingdom of the devil…an invasion force…light into the dark…color into grayness… green into the dry brown…gladness and singing into the groans of pain and suffering…fruitfulness to the barren…life into death… I show you this first because we have to be reminded of what it actually could be like, lest we believe that what we have seen--the darkness…bitterness…horror…pain…the loss…betrayal…and death…lest we accept this as the only reality… lest we surrender again to our enemy. I tell you this because we need to be given hope…expectation…longing…in that which we do actually have now… From what we have already been given…and have heard…and yet…forget…doubt…and let go of… No! The Kingdom of God is among us. Here and now. IN this very place…in your very lives. Today. Why can I say this? Because He--our Lord says so. And what He says…well…listen to what He says about what HE SAYS: 10 For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return there without saturating the earth and making it germinate and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, 11 so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do." What God says, happens. What He declares is SO. What He promises is given. This is death to life, because of Grace from His Mercy that Forgives all sin---that sin that caused death and the wilting of creation. This has been defeated and with the resurrection of Jesus is being pushed right out into the outer darkness forever. Never to return. Heaven on a new earth eternal. And eternally to be lived by us and all creation, now renewed. This is the result and the reason--the purpose God sent out His STRONG WORD. It will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. Because the Strong Word is Jesus. And He has done it. His is the Name, that was made for the Lord… And that everlasting sign is the sign of Jonah and the sign of the cross--our sign now too--our eternal mark---His Mark on us…the mark of the Crucified One who is alive…making us alive…making us alive with Him forever. Amen.
What is life really like in Judea and Samaria?Writer and activist Malkah Fleisher offers an unfiltered perspective on living, raising a family, and advocating for Jewish life in one of the most misunderstood regions in the world. She breaks down the myths, explains the security reality, and reflects on how October 7 reshaped Israeli society and global advocacy.A bold conversation about truth, identity, and moral clarity.PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://yishaifleisher.com/podcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/YishaiFleisherTVSUPPORT & CONNECT:Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/yishaiFight4Israel: https://fight4israel.givecloud.coTwitter: https://twitter.com/YishaiFleisherLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yishaifleisherFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/YishaiFleisher Support the show
On today's program: Casey Harper, Managing Editor for Broadcast at The Washington Stand and Host of the "Outstanding" podcast, reports on the meeting between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump's comments on Judea
The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/
Recorded 2/11/26Today's Topics: 1) Jeffrey Epstein's Ties To India: In recently released emails, Epstein worked with billionaire Anil Ambani, President of Reliance Group (India) to help arrange President Modi's visit with Trump at the White House in 2017. What does this suggest about Epstein's role in high level international statecraft? 2) Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Coming to DC to Meet Trump? Bibi will be coming to the White House to meet Trump this Wednesday Feb 11th, as the US is again engaged in bi-lateral talks with Iran. It is Bibi's seventh White House meeting since Trump took office last year, breaking all records for 'Foreign Head of State Visits to White House'. What is the objective of this trip?3) When West Bank Isn't the West Bank Anymore?: Last month Trump said Israel will never be allowed to annex the West Bank. But what if it is simply renamed "Judea and Samaria"? That is the Biblical name of the area, so logically it belongs to Israel, right? A new change in land ownership rules applies to "Judea and Samaria". Support the show
MK Ohad Tal joins Eve Harow to discuss the latest developments and challenges keeping him busy at the Knesset. The biggest success is changing the status of major land issues in Judea and Samaria and strengthening the Israeli presence in our Biblical heartland. Then there's the conscription of the ultra Orthodox and a major dairy reform with the constant background of security concerns. Listen in to Israel on the move. Despite all predictions we are rocking it.
On today's program: Casey Harper, Managing Editor for Broadcast at The Washington Stand and Host of the "Outstanding" podcast, reports on the meeting between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump's comments on Judea
The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/
APN, the Arab Group for the Protection of Nature, has been planting millions of trees in the memory of terrorists across Judea and Samaria, the Jordan Valley and Jerusalem. According to Im Tirtzu, a grassroots Zionist NGO, they have planted over 3.5 million trees, many on Israeli-controlled land near Jewish settlements, with the aim of “suffocating” them in a land grab. Matan Asher, the spokesman of Im Tirtzu told reporter Arieh O’Sullivan that Israeli authorities should uproot the groves planted on Israeli-land.(photo: APN) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/
Acts 26 So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense: 2 “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently. 4 “My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. 5 They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, 7 to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! 8 Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead? 9 “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities. 12 “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' 15 And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' 19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 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. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” 24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. 26 For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 28 And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” 29 And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.” 30 Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. 31 And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
The cabinet on Sunday endorsed a series of far-reaching measures aimed at deepening Israel’s de facto annexation of parts of the West Bank. KAN's Mark Weiss spoke with Yigal Dilmoni, co-founder of American Friends of Judea and Samaria and former CEO of the YESHA Council (Photo: Dor Pazuelo/Flash90) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/
This week at Citizen Church, Pastor Dustin reminded us that the heart of God has always been global. From the beginning, God's plan has been to bless all nations, and Jesus calls His Church to take the gospel beyond ourselves and into every city, every nation, and every heart. Scripture makes it clear: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19). Global missions matter because God's purpose has always extended to the whole world. Genesis 12:3 declares that all peoples on earth will be blessed through God's promise, and Revelation 7:9 gives us a picture of the future—a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language standing before the throne of God. Jesus also commanded both local and global witness, saying in Acts 1:8 that we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. At Citizen Church, we believe we are called to live out this mission with a global mentality: to refresh the hurting, renew the broken, and redeem the lost. Jesus taught that the gospel is not only spoken but demonstrated through compassion and action (Matthew 25:35–36). We are reminded in 1 John 3:17–18 not to love with words alone, but with actions and in truth. And ultimately, Christ came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). As Romans 10:14–15 asks, how will people hear unless someone is sent? We may plant and water, but God brings the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6). Thank you for being part of a Christ-centered, Spirit-led, kingdom-building movement committed to the renewal of cities and nations through the love of Jesus. Help for Today. Hope for Eternity.
Where are the police in the kingdom of God?; Church took the place of the Pharisees; Sadducees; Zealots; Uncovering fraud and corruption; ICE as police; Confronting the perpetrators; John the Baptist; Christ's solution for Judea; Making the word of God to none effect; Reasonable ministry; Who are the policemen?; Citizen's arrest; Legitimate powers of governments; 10th amendment; People's police power?; Understanding common sense of police powers; Ex: government of Sumer; Principles of law; Consent; Taxation without representation?; Chain of consent; English common law?; Police powers connected to the courts; Welfare of the people = supreme law; Use of your property not to injure others; Kingdom police is everybody; Sheriff (Shire reeve); Tithingmen; Aoldermen; Police - health, safety and general welfare; Responsibility of the people; Citizenship of the United States; "We the People"; Q from Katwellair - Biblical Constitution? Limitations on the king/government; Rebels; Kingly powers; Facts vs feelings; Sitting in darkness - eyes have been darkened; Appetite for benefits; Bringing light into society; Power of the Holy Spirit; Individuals; Avoiding blaming others; Organization of police activities; Lacking of faith; Worshipping imaginary Christs; People becoming early Christians; Evidence of non-Christianity; Build the altars first; Gathering to serve like Christ; Codified laws; Tens; "Stoning"; Allowing light into your life; Freewill offerings (charity) alone; Welfare from modern churches?; Desire to save others; Understanding what Moses and Christ were doing; Strength of ancient Israel; Riot in Christ's time; Tens, Hundreds and Thousands; Temple police; Cities of refuge; Christs commands; Freeing others; Q from Mark: Police powers in The Church; Abandoned freedoms and rights; Non-standing of those sitting in darkness; Sacrifice like Christ did; Don't waste time: Make room for Holy Spirit within you.
This teaching invites us into a radical reimagining of what it means to live the abundant life Jesus promises. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 9:8, we discover that God's abundance isn't merely about receiving blessings—it's about becoming conduits of grace. The passage reveals a stunning truth: God makes all grace abound to us so that we might have sufficiency in all things at all times, enabling us to abound in every good work. This isn't the secular 'abundance mindset' of positive thinking; it's rooted in the character of a God who created everything, owns everything, and can multiply anything. The teaching explores Paul's appeal to the Corinthians regarding famine relief for believers in Judea, contrasting their hesitation with the Macedonians who gave generously despite extreme poverty. We're challenged to move beyond living in abundance to living from abundance—where our generosity becomes the proof of our trust in God's provision. The multiplication effect is breathtaking: when we give, we don't just meet material needs; we transform hearts, generate worship, inspire prayer, advance the gospel, and weave the fabric of shalom that endures forever. Whether it's two plantains in a refugee church or a wedding day sacrificed to help a struggling friend, every act of generosity participates in God's eternal work of bringing the broken world back together.
This Sunday, we continued our Church on Fire series by hearing Jesus redefine what real power looks like: not control, not comfort, not having all the answers—but receiving the Holy Spirit and becoming His witnesses. In Acts 1:6–12, the disciples ask about restoring their own kingdom, but Jesus redirects them toward a greater calling: a Spirit-empowered life that bears witness to His Kingdom in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. We were reminded that God doesn't always give us explanations—He gives us assignments. The power of the Holy Spirit isn't for self-preservation, but for transformation, sending us into everyday spaces to tell the truth about what we've seen and experienced in Jesus. As a church, we're being invited to stop waiting until we have it all together and step into our identity now as Spirit-filled witnesses—people who go with Jesus so others might be found.
Click here to WATCH LIVE STREAM Worship Service on our Youtube Channel. That You May Believe, Part 2 John 1:19-34 John 20:30-31 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:6-8 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. John 1:19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” John 1:20-21 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” Malachi 4:5-6a “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children…” Luke 1:14-17 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” Deuteronomy 18:15 “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—” Deuteronomy 18:18 “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.” John 1:22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John 1:23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said.” Isaiah 40:3-5 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” John 1:24-25 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John 1:26-28 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. Matthew 3:1-2 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:5-6 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Jesus is the Lamb of God. John 1:29-31 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” Isaiah 53:4-7 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. Isaiah 53:11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Jesus is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. John 1:32-33 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' Matthew 3:16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Romans 6:3-4 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Jesus is the chosen One of God. John 1:34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” Isaiah 42:1a Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; Matthew 3:17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” 1 John 2:23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 1 John 5:12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. Respond | Connect | Next Steps The post John: That You May Believe appeared first on Charleston Baptist Church.
The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/
The Spiritual Check Engine Light: Supernatural Warnings Before 70 ADRecognizing Divine Omen, Mercy, and the Pattern of JudgmentShow NotesHistory records the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD as a brutal military conquest, but the spiritual reality behind the scenes was far more profound. In this episode of Coffee with Conrad, we explore the supernatural phenomena that served as a "final booming alarm clock" for a generation that had rejected the living Word standing right in front of them.Conrad digs into the accounts of historians Flavius Josephus and Tacitus—two men from opposite worlds who corroborated the same impossible events. From swords of light in the heavens to biological impossibilities in the temple courts, we examine the major signs sent by God to warn His people before the Roman legions ever marched on Judea.Key Topics Discussed:The Sword in the Sky: A stationary, sword-shaped omen that hung over Jerusalem for an entire year, signaling that the sword of the Lord was drawn.Armies in the Clouds: A mass sighting of celestial chariots and troops maneuvering through the sky, pre-enacting the coming siege.The Departing Glory: Why the massive Corinthian bronze temple doors swung open at midnight "of their own accord" , and the chilling voice heard at Pentecost saying, "Let us remove hence".+2The Impossible Lamb: The shocking biological sign of a heifer giving birth to a lamb in the temple court, symbolizing that the final sacrifice had already been made.The 40-Year Probation: The significance of the miracles associated with the Day of Atonement stopping for 40 years—the exact span from the crucifixion in 30 AD to the destruction in 70 AD.Biblical Foundations:Amos 3:7: "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets".Matthew 24:2: Jesus' prophecy that not one stone of the temple would be left upon another.John 1:29: Identifying the true Lamb of God.Proverbs 29:1: "He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy".Closing Thought: The tragedy of 70 AD wasn't a lack of signs, but a lack of submission to the Spirit. Are we "bulldozing ahead" with our own theology today, or are we sitting still long enough to hear what the Spirit is saying to our generation?.Hashtags: #BibleProphecy #70AD #Supernatural #ChurchHistory #Josephus #SignsAndWonders #BiblicalJesus #SpiritualWarfare #EndTimes #KJV #ConradRocks
Monte Judah interviews Bill and Tania Koenig on Iran's instability, Israel's future in Judea and Samaria, and the prophetic implications shaping the Middle East.00:00 – Opening & Introductions02:05 – Bill & Tania Koenig: Background and Calling05:40 – Tania's Diplomatic and Ministry Journey09:10 – Understanding the 10,000‑Foot Geopolitical View12:00 – Iran's Internal Crisis and Regime Instability15:45 – Could the Islamic Regime Collapse?19:20 – U.S.–Israel Strategic Cooperation on Iran22:10 – The Spiritual Stronghold Over Persia25:30 – Trump's Advisors: Witkoff, Kushner, and Middle East Blind Spots29:00 – Qatar's Financial Influence on U.S. Policy32:40 – Why Western Diplomacy Misreads the Middle East35:55 – Jacob & Esau, Isaac & Ishmael: Ancient Roots of Modern Conflict39:10 – Judea & Samaria: Israel's Covenant Heartland42:25 – Netanyahu, Settlers, and the Future of Sovereignty45:30 – Why the Two‑State Solution Cannot Work48:40 – Saudi Arabia, the Crown Prince, and the Abraham Accords52:10 – Prophetic Shifts Triggered by Military Victory55:00 – The Role of Prayer in Shaping Leadership57:20 – A Call to the Body of Messiah59:40 – Closing Thoughts & Final Exhortation1:01:10 – Farewell and Shabbat BlessingLion and Lamb Ministries continues to bring solid biblical teaching, prophetic insight, and Messianic perspective to believers around the world. If you're blessed by these broadcasts and want to help us reach even more people with the message of the Kingdom, please consider supporting the ministry at www.LLGive.com. Your partnership makes this work possible.
The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/
Join us in Israel! https://israelguys.link/zion-ops-86ew5b3kf Go deeper with the Truth About Palestine book: https://israelguys.link/book-86ewc1xn0 Join The Land of Israel Fellowship: https://thelandofisrael.com/membership-tiers/ Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has once again announced elections—this time for the Palestinian National Council—declaring 2026 "the year of Palestinian democracy," despite his being in the 21st year of a four-year term. While Abbas says the vote will include Arabs from Gaza, Judea and Samaria, and those living abroad, skepticism remains high. Past election promises have never materialized, and recent polls show Hamas support surging in Judea and Samaria while Fatah continues to lose ground. Meanwhile, the U.S. approved more than $16 billion in arms sales to Israel and Saudi Arabia. At the same time, antisemitism explodes closer to home—from a disturbing incident aboard an American Airlines flight to the exponential rise of antisemitic hate in the first month of Mamdani's term as mayor in New York City. We cover all this, and so much more, on today's episode of The Israel Guys. Follow us on Telegram: https://t.me/theisraelguys Follow Us On X: https://x.com/theisraelguys Follow Us On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theisraelguys Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theisraelguys Heartland Tumbler: https://theisraelguys.store/products/heartland-tumbler "Israel" Leather Patch Hat: https://theisraelguys.store/products/israel-1948-cap Source Links: https://jewishbreakingnews.com/abbas-promises-elections-again-as-skepticism-runs-high/ https://apnews.com/article/israel-arms-sale-trump-iran-tensions-e73d1fe40974abca838a1a08590934d3 https://jewishbreakingnews.com/american-airlines-under-fire-after-flight-attendant-wears-keffiyeh-on-duty-passengers-say-they-felt-targeted-and-unsafe/ https://israel365news.com/415843/antisemitic-hate-crimes-more-than-double-as-mamdani-takes-office-in-new-york/ https://www.jns.org/major-jewish-orgs-mum-as-left-wing-ones-laud-phylisa-wisdom-named-head-of-nyc-jew-hatred-office/
The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/
Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the transition in Jesus' ministry as He sets His face toward Jerusalem, marking a new phase leading to His crucifixion and resurrection. He discusses Jesus' journey from Galilee to Judea, including interactions with His disciples, the rejection by Samaritans, and teachings during the Feast of Tabernacles. Fr. Matthias examines key Gospel passages highlighting the cost of discipleship, the urgency of following Christ, and the spiritual blindness of some who doubt Jesus' identity as the Messiah. The talk addresses Jesus' confrontation with Jewish leaders over the law and His assertion of divine authority, along with the division among the people regarding His true mission. This Bible study focuses on understanding the harmony of the Gospels, emphasizing the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the spiritual implications of Jesus' teachings before His final journey to Jerusalem. Subscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhouston Follow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhouston Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhouston Visit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org
The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/
The Antiquities of the Jews, Vol 3(Part 2)Support Us: https://libri-vox.org/donateTranslated by William Whiston (1667 - 1752)Antiquities of the Jews was a work published by the important Jewish historian Flavius Josephus about the year 93 or 94. Antiquities of the Jews is a history of the Jewish people, written in Greek for Josephus' gentile patrons. Beginning with the creation of Adam and Eve, it follows the events of the historical books of the Hebrew Bible, but sometimes omits or adds information. (Summary by Wikipedia)Volume 3 contains Books 11-15; it begins with the return of the Babylonian exiles under Cyrus, king of Persia and ends with King Herod rebuilding the temple (c. 559 BC - 20 BC).Genre(s): History, AntiquityLanguage: EnglishKeyword(s): history (899), Israel (32), Jews (14), Hebrews (13), Josephus (7), Judea (5)Group: The Antiquities of the JewsSupport Us: https://libri-vox.org/donate
The Antiquities of the Jews, Vol 3(Part 1)Support Us: https://libri-vox.org/donateTranslated by William Whiston (1667 - 1752)Antiquities of the Jews was a work published by the important Jewish historian Flavius Josephus about the year 93 or 94. Antiquities of the Jews is a history of the Jewish people, written in Greek for Josephus' gentile patrons. Beginning with the creation of Adam and Eve, it follows the events of the historical books of the Hebrew Bible, but sometimes omits or adds information. (Summary by Wikipedia)Volume 3 contains Books 11-15; it begins with the return of the Babylonian exiles under Cyrus, king of Persia and ends with King Herod rebuilding the temple (c. 559 BC - 20 BC).Genre(s): History, AntiquityLanguage: EnglishKeyword(s): history (899), Israel (32), Jews (14), Hebrews (13), Josephus (7), Judea (5)Group: The Antiquities of the JewsSupport Us: https://libri-vox.org/donate
Permit me to share a story from my own experience that helps explain why it took me so long to preach a sermon series on the book of Revelation. When I was twenty-eight, I had been ordained as a minister of the gospel only a short time earlier and was serving as an interim pastor at Calvary Baptist Church, a congregation of roughly three hundred people. The church was struggling. Years of poor leadership decisions and the dismissal of one of its senior pastors had left it in a fragile state. I was young, inexperienced, and keenly aware that I had far more to learn than to offer. When Calvary eventually called its next senior pastorwhom I will refer to as Bobhe inherited both me and another assistant pastor. Less than a year into his tenure, Bob called me into his office to discuss my future. He asked what I hoped for in ministry, and I told him I planned to finish seminary and learn as much as I could from him, given his decades of pastoral experience. Then, without warning, he asked me what I believed about the rapture. Caught off guard, I answered honestly: I believed Christ would return for His people, but I was not yet certain whether that would be before, during, or after the tribulation. Bob paused, looked at me, and said simply, Well, thats a problem. It was a problem because Calvarys doctrinal statement treated a pre-tribulation rapture not as a point of discussion, but as a nonnegotiable. One passage often cited in support of that view is 1 Thessalonians 5:9For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet the wrath Paul describes there is not the suffering believers endure in this world, but the final judgment reserved for the condemned. That conversation marked me deeply. It revealed how quickly the book of Revelationand the questions surrounding itcan become a test of loyalty rather than a call to faithfulness. And it helps explain why I approached Revelation for so many years with caution, hesitation, and no small measure of pastoral concern. Suffering (Tribulation) is a Part of the Christian Life (v. 9) What troubled me about Pastor Bob and the doctrinal statement Calvary Baptist Church has since removed is that this view is difficult to reconcile with Jesus own teaching on what Christians should expect as His followers. Jesus said plainly, You will be hated by all for my names sake (Matt. 10:22). And again, In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world (John 16:33). The apostles echoed the same expectation. Paul warned new believers, Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God just after he was stoned and left for dead outside of the city of Lystra (Acts 14:22). Peter likewise urged Christians not to be shocked by suffering, but to see it as participation in Christs own path: Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you rejoice insofar as you share Christs sufferings (1 Pet. 4:1213). The word tribulation simply means affliction. In Revelation, tribulation is never portrayed as some vague or theoretical idea, but as a real and immediate experience for faithful believers.1It is the context of Johns exile, the churches suffering, and the cry of the martyrs. Tribulation is the setting in which the church endures, bears witness, and waits for Christs victory. Let me press this one step further. In Matthew 24, Jesus warned His disciples, And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains (vv. 68). Then He said, They will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my names sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come (vv. 914). Jesus then went on to prophesy about events we know with certainty occurred in AD 70: So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be (vv. 1521). History records that everything Jesus warned would happen did, in fact, occur. Roman soldiers under Titus breached Jerusalem, entered the temple, slaughtered priests while sacrifices were being offered, piled bodies in the sanctuary, erected pagan images, and offered sacrifices to Roman gods, including sacrifices to the emperor himself. The temple was dismantled stone by stone, fulfilling Jesus words: Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down (Matt. 24:2). John lived through those events. More than twenty years later, he wrote to seven churches not as a distant observer but as a participant: I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. The question to consider until we reach Revelation 6 is: What tribulation is John participating in? The persecution of Christians didnt end in AD 70. What began as local opposition has become global. Some regions where the gospel once flourishedsuch as North Korea and Nigeriaare now among the most dangerous for Christians. A challenging reality of the Christian life is that faithfulness to Jesus often leads to suffering. John introduces himself not as an exception, but as a fellow participant in this tribulation. Whatever view of the tribulation you currently hold, know that John and the first-century church were convinced they were living in itnot as a fixed or future timetable, but as a present season of suffering that began with Christs ascension and will end only with His return. Jesus Will Not Abandon the Christian in Life (vv. 9-16) When John received his visions, it was on the Lords Day. Before anything was revealed about Gods plan for the world, it was a day set apart for worship. Many believe this is the earliest technical use of the Lords Day to refer to Sundaythe day of Christs resurrection and the dawn of the new creation. What is most significant is that John hears from the Lord while worshiping the Lord. While in a state of worship, John hears a loud voice behind him like a trumpet. This recalls Sinai, where we are told, there were thunders and lightnings and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled (Exod. 19:16). The trumpet-like voice commands John: Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches (v. 11). When John turns, he does not see a trumpet, but seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man (v. 12). Do not miss the significance: the lampstands represent the churches (v. 20), and Jesus stands in their midst. The Greek word mesos means among and in the middle. In other words, in the midst of tribulation and suffering, Jesus has not abandoned His people. This is the fulfillment of His promise: Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matt. 28:20). The long golden sash Jesus wears is that of a priest (cf. Exod. 28:4; 29:5). His golden sash is not a fashion statement but a firm reminder that He is our great High Priest, who intercedes on our behalf as the One who advocates for all those He has redeemed through the shedding of His blood once and for all. As Hebrews 7 tells us, He holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them (vv. 2425). The hairs on Jesus head are white like the whitest wool, as Daniel describes the Ancient of Days: His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire (Dan. 7:9). Here Jesus is identified with eternal wisdom and divine purityequal with the Father, yet uniquely the Son. He is the Everlasting One, and His wisdom is infinite. Jesus eyes are like a flame of fire. This does not mean He has literal beams shooting from His eyes any more than the sharp two-edged sword from His mouth is a literal sword (v. 16). His eyes blaze like fire, revealing that nothing escapes His sightno motive hidden, no deed overlooked, and no wound His people suffer that will go unnoticed. His knowledge knows no bounds. Our Saviors feet are like burnished bronze. There is no tiptoeing with Him. Our great High Priest and awesome King embodies unshakable strength as the One who will judge the nations with perfect justice and holy resolve. He is omnipotentsolid, sure, and infinitely strong. The voice of our Savior matches His divine wisdom, all-encompassing knowledge, and unequalled strength as Yahweh. When He speaks, He does so with pervasive power: For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authoritiesall things were created through him and for him (Col. 1:16). His wordevery wordcarries divine weight. Why does this matter in light of what John and the churches suffered? Why does this matter for your brothers and sisters in North Korea or Nigeria? Why does this matter for us today? It matters because in the right hand of the Divine Sonwho is infinitely wise, who sees His bride perfectly and completely, and who stands with omnipotent strengththe seven angels of the seven churches are held. Whether these refer to messengers who shepherd the churches or to angels with a particular charge, the point is unmistakable: His servants belong to Him. They are His, and they serve under His protection. We are told that Jesus not only holds the seven stars and stands among His churches, but that from His mouth comes a sharp, two-edged sword (see Heb. 4:12). There are no dull edges on this sword, because it is the Word of Godliving and powerful, with the authority to judge, cut, cure, wound, and heal. And if that were not enough, His face shines like the sun in full strength. What John sees is Jesus in His gloryholy, majestic, and awesome, worthy of all our worship. This Jesus is not the one often presented as safe, domesticated, or passive. This is the glorified Lord, whose word creates, sustains, and brings all things to account. Richard Phillips wrote of these verses: This vision does not show us what Jesus looks like but rather what Jesus is like,symbolically depicting his person and work. Biblically trained Christians organize the work of Christ in his three offices of Prophet, Priest, and King.2 With Jesus, there is No Need to Fear in Life or in Death (vv. 17-20) It is no wonder, then, that when John sees this Jesus, he falls at His feet as though dead (v. 17). The beloved disciple, who once leaned against Jesus chest during His earthly ministry, is now an old manweathered, worn, and wiser. Confronted with the risen and exalted Christ, John collapses in reverent awe. Yet it is this Jesus, standing in the midst of His church, who places the same right hand that holds His servants upon John. Johns response is both right and appropriate. It echoes Isaiahs encounter with the Holy One, in which he saw the Lord seated on the throne and heard the seraphim cry, Holy, holy, holy (Isa. 6:3). Isaiah responded in terror, Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts! (Isa. 6:5). Johns response also mirrors Habakkuks reaction before a holy God: I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble (Hab. 3:16). Throughout Scripture, when sinful people encounter Gods holiness, fear is the natural response. But notice Jesus response to Johns terror: Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades (vv. 1718). Fear not. Why? Because unlike Caesar, the Roman Empire, or any power that seeks to silence Christs church, Johnand all who belong to the true churchbelong to Jesus. He is the One who died to save John from his sins, the One who rose again to secure his salvation and resurrection, and the One who now holds the keys of Death and Hades. This is why Jesus can promise all who belong to Him: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand I and the Father are one (John 10:2730). With Jesus, there is no need to fearnot in life, and not in death. Conclusion Let me leave you with three points of application in light of all that we have seen in these verses: First: Dont be surprised by sufferingfaithful Christians have always faced tribulation. If tribulation is the normal setting of the Christian life, then suffering is not a sign that something has gone wrong; it is often a sign that something has gone right. John does not present himself as an exception but as a partner in tribulation, reminding us that faithfulness to Jesus does not remove us from affliction but places us squarely within it. So when hardship comespressure tocompromise, opposition at work, isolation for following Christ, or quiet endurance no one else seeswe are not abandoned; we are walking the same path marked out by the apostles, the early church, and believers around the world today. Second: Find your security in Christ, not in your circumstances. Revelation does not calm our fears by minimizing danger but by revealing Christ. John is not comforted by explanations or timelines but by the presence and power of Jesusthe eternal Son, our great High Priest, the all-seeing Judge, the omnipotent King, and the living Lord who has conquered death itself. Fear loosens its grip not when life becomes safe but when Jesus becomes central, because the size of our fear is always tied to how clearly we see Christ. Third: Do not fear deaththe One who died and rose again holds the keys of life and death. Because this Jesus holds the keys of Death and Hades, nothingnot persecution, loss, or even deathhas the final word over those who belong to Him. The same hand that holds the stars touches His servants, and the same voice that thunders like many waters speaks reassurance to fearful saints. So we need not fear what tomorrow brings or what awaits us at the end. With Jesus, there is no need to fearnot in life, nor in death. 1 Revelation consistently presents tribulation not as a distant, isolated future event, but as the lived experience of faithful believersexpressed through imprisonment, martyrdom, deception, and violent oppositionbeginning in the first century and continuing until the final vindication of Gods people (Rev. 1:9; 2:910; 6:911; 12:17; 13:7; 17:6; 20:4). 2 Richard D. Phillips, Revelation, ed. Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Daniel M. Doriani, Reformed Expository Commentary (Phillipsburg, NJ: PR Publishing, 2017), 64.
The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/
The Antiquities of the Jews, Vol 2 (Part2)Support Us: https://libri-vox.org/donateFlavius Josephus (37 - c. 100)Translated by William Whiston (1667 - 1752)Antiquities of the Jews was a work published by the important Jewish historian Flavius Josephus about the year 93 or 94. Antiquities of the Jews is a history of the Jewish people, written in Greek for Josephus' gentile patrons. Beginning with the creation of Adam and Eve, it follows the events of the historical books of the Hebrew Bible, but sometimes omits or adds information. (Summary by Wikipedia)Volume 2 contains Books 6-10; it begins right after the death of Eli the priest and the capture of the Ark and ends with the prophecies of Daniel in Persia.Genre(s): History, AntiquityLanguage: EnglishKeyword(s): history (899), Israel (32), Jews (14), Hebrews (13), Josephus (7), Judea (5)Group: The Antiquities of the JewsSupport Us: https://libri-vox.org/donate
The Antiquities of the Jews, Vol 2 (Part 1)Support Us: https://libri-vox.org/donateFlavius Josephus (37 - c. 100)Translated by William Whiston (1667 - 1752)Antiquities of the Jews was a work published by the important Jewish historian Flavius Josephus about the year 93 or 94. Antiquities of the Jews is a history of the Jewish people, written in Greek for Josephus' gentile patrons. Beginning with the creation of Adam and Eve, it follows the events of the historical books of the Hebrew Bible, but sometimes omits or adds information. (Summary by Wikipedia)Volume 2 contains Books 6-10; it begins right after the death of Eli the priest and the capture of the Ark and ends with the prophecies of Daniel in Persia.Genre(s): History, AntiquityLanguage: EnglishKeyword(s): history (899), Israel (32), Jews (14), Hebrews (13), Josephus (7), Judea (5)Group: The Antiquities of the JewsSupport Us: https://libri-vox.org/donate
The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/
Support Us: https://libri-vox.org/donateThe Antiquities of the Jews, Vol 1 (Part 2)Flavius Josephus (37 - c. 100)Translated by William Whiston (1667 - 1752)Antiquities of the Jews was a work published by the important Jewish historian Flavius Josephus about the year 93 or 94. It is a history of the Jewish people, written in Greek for Josephus' gentile patrons. Beginning with the creation of Adam and Eve, it follows the events of the historical books of the Hebrew Bible, but sometimes omits or adds information. (Summary by Wikipedia)Volume 1 contains Books 1-5 and ends with the dedication of Samuel and death of Eli the priest.Genre(s): History, AntiquityLanguage: EnglishKeyword(s): history (899), Israel (32), Jews (14), Hebrews (13), Josephus (7), Judea (5)Support Us: https://libri-vox.org/donate
Support Us: https://libri-vox.org/donateThe Antiquities of the Jews, Vol 1 (Part 1)Flavius Josephus (37 - c. 100)Translated by William Whiston (1667 - 1752)Antiquities of the Jews was a work published by the important Jewish historian Flavius Josephus about the year 93 or 94. It is a history of the Jewish people, written in Greek for Josephus' gentile patrons. Beginning with the creation of Adam and Eve, it follows the events of the historical books of the Hebrew Bible, but sometimes omits or adds information. (Summary by Wikipedia)Volume 1 contains Books 1-5 and ends with the dedication of Samuel and death of Eli the priest.Genre(s): History, AntiquityLanguage: EnglishKeyword(s): history (899), Israel (32), Jews (14), Hebrews (13), Josephus (7), Judea (5)Support Us: https://libri-vox.org/donate
Monday, February 2nd: Matthew 4:23-25 (Jesus Ushers in the Kingdom Through Words But Also Through Works)Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogue, preaching the good news of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed Him.
Jesus: The True King Before the Sea of Need The Homily focuses on the Gospel of Mark . . . . . . and the Old Testament account of David and Saul to contrast two radically different models of kingship and authority. In the Gospel, Jesus draws overwhelming crowds from every direction . . . Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, and beyond. The weight of human need is so great that his disciples must prepare a boat to keep him from being crushed. Jesus heals, teaches, and confronts unclean spirits, yet refuses acclaim or self-promotion. His kingship is defined not by ego or force, but by mercy, humility, and service to the wounded. This is set against the tragic example of King Saul, whose victory over Goliath becomes the seed of his downfall. Saul's fragile ego turns David . . . God's chosen servant . . . into a perceived enemy. Saul embodies the ruler who serves God on his own terms, seeking praise, control, and personal glory. David, though deeply flawed, remains oriented toward God's will, capable of repentance and humility. The Homily culminates in Christ as the true Son of David and Mary as Queen through obedience. God's kingdom is revealed not as conquest by power, but as a conquest of love—founded on surrender to God's will rather than domination. True authority flows from hearts mastered by God, not from self-assertion or acclaim. Listen to Jesus: The True King Before the Sea of Need ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Art Work Christ Healing the Paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda: Spanish Painter: Bartolomé Esteban Murillo: 1667 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gospel Reading: Mark 3: 7-12 First Reading: 1 Samuel 18: 6-9; 19:1-7 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why was this image selected: Murillo's Christ stands amid a mass of broken, desperate humanity . . . bodies pressed close, faces marked by suffering. The painting mirrors Mark's emphasis on overwhelming crowds and Christ's quiet authority. Jesus is central not as a ruler demanding praise, but as a healer absorbing the crushing weight of human need.
The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/
+ Evangelio de nuestro Señor Jesucristo según san Mateo 4, 25 -- 5, 12 Seguían a Jesús grandes multitudes que llegaban de Galilea, de la Decápolis, de Jerusalén, de Judea y de la Transjordania. Al ver a la multitud, Jesús subió a la montaña, se sentó, y sus discípulos se acercaron a Él. Entonces tomó la palabra y comenzó a enseñarles, diciendo:«Felices los que tienen alma de pobres, porque a ellos les pertenece el Reino de los Cielos.Felices los afligidos, porque serán consolados.Felices los pacientes, porque recibirán la tierra en herencia.Felices los que tienen hambre y sed de justicia, porque serán saciados.Felices los misericordiosos, porque obtendrán misericordia.Felices los que tienen el corazón puro, porque verán a Dios.Felices los que trabajan por la paz, porque serán llamados hijos de Dios.Felices los que son perseguidos por practicar la justicia, porque a ellos les pertenece el Reino de los Cielos.Felices ustedes, cuando sean insultados y perseguidos, y cuando se los calumnie en toda forma a causa de mí. Alégrense y regocíjense entonces, porque ustedes tendrán una gran recompensa en el cielo; de la misma manera persiguieron a los profetas que los precedieron».Palabra del Señor.
Audio Transcript Yeah, Full house this morning. There we go. So, yeah, it’s good to meet in God’s house and to sing praises to the Lord. So today we are going to continue our sermon series in the book of Luke. And so if you have a Bible, you can go ahead and open up there. And if you don’t have a Bible, there should be some blue Bibles in the chairs that you can go ahead and grab. And so we are in Luke chapter six. And we’re going to be reading verses 12 through 19. And so this passage is focusing on the calling of the 12 disciples and the events that follow right after their calling. And so I’m going to read this passage and then I’ll pray and we’ll get started. So here’s what the word of the Lord has for us this morning. Luke 6:12. In these days he went out to the mountain to pray. And all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them 12 whom he named Apostles Simon, whom he named Peter and Andrew his brother, and James and John and Philip and Bartholomew and. And Matthew and Thomas and James the son of Alphaeus and Simon, who was called the Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. And he came down with them and stood on a level place with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all. So that’s God’s word for us. Please pray with me. God, thank you that you speak to us through, through your holy word that you have preserved so that we might hear from you. Now I pray God that you would indeed speak, and God you would help me to speak your word and that you would give us hearts and ears to receive what you are saying this morning. It’s in Jesus name we ask these things. Amen. All right. So up until this point in Luke’s eyewitness account of Jesus life, Jesus has done a lot in the region of Galilee and in Judea. And in the very beginning of Jesus ministry, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, followed by a supernatural phenomenon with the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus like a dove and the voice of the Father declaring, this is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Jesus was then led into the wilderness for 40 days, where he was tested and tempted by Satan and where he overcame the devil through God’s word. Jesus taught in the synagogues throughout the surrounding area of Galilee, teaching that the scriptures were now being fulfilled in him. Jesus declared that he is the Son of man, who has authority to forgive sins. The Bridegroom of God, the Lord of the Sabbath. Jesus had casted out demons, proving his authority over spiritual realms of darkness. Jesus had healed many people of a variety of sicknesses and malformities, including fever, disease, leprosy, paralytics, withered hand and and much, much more. Jesus had called forth specific individuals to begin following him that nobody would expect, including outcasts and fishermen and a tax collector. And with all of these things Jesus had done and continued to do, he was doing the will of his Father. But now a shift in Jesus ministry strategy was about to happen. So no longer was Jesus going to continue his mission in solidarity. And although Jesus certainly could have done this, that’s not what God planned to happen. Instead, Jesus would now choose 12among those who had been following him since the baptism of John, and they would become his personal disciples. And so understand, like this is no small thing for the ministry of the Son of God this moment here in our passage, as we know that these 12 disciples would go on after Jesus to establish God’s church for the edification of the saints and for the proclamation of the Gospel to the ends of the earth. So the establishment of God’s kingdom for generations would come, beginning with these 12 disciples. Through these 12, by the power of God, lives would change and the world would change. So how does Jesus make this very big decision? Looking at verse 12 in our text, it says in these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. So before choosing the 12 disciples, we learn that Jesus removes himself from all distractions by going to a mountain in Galilee and he goes there alone to pray to God the Father. And Jesus did this actually early, early on in his ministry that Luke mentions. And he’s doing this at the days when the Pharisees hate for Jesus was only increasing more and more as we learned about from last week’s sermon. And as Luke had mentioned, Jesus had done this in the past. What is unique here in this passage is that this is the only time Luke records Jesus takes all night to pray in isolation. Like the only other time Jesus comes close to doing this is in the Garden of Gethsemane before his crucifixion. And so there’s two Reasons why I think God’s Word gives us this information and why Jesus prays all night. The first reason is to show us the humanity of Christ. Jesus is fully God and fully man. And therefore during his time on earth, there are times when Jesus knowledge or power were willingly limited in order for him to be fully human. And so to put it another way, Jesus subjected himself to the Father’s will by choosing not to exercise the full limit of his divinity during his life and ministry on earth. So Jesus never stopped being God, but also he was man. And Jesus dependency upon prayer with his heavenly Father shows us the humility of Christ as he had to depend on his Father at times to reveal to him what the Father’s will was. And since this is such a large decision happening here, Jesus spent the entire night in prayer seeking the Father’s will. The second reason I think Jesus did this is to teach us about the vital importance of prayer. So when faced with a large decision that Jesus knew was part of God’s will for his life, he didn’t say like, I’ll pray about it and then like walk away and like forget to pray about it or just kind of briefly mention it to God in prayer and then just kind of go further about his day. Like actually Jesus, like knowing that he was going to choose the 12among this crowd of disciples, like took, made the disciplinary action to step away from the busyness of ministry to be alone with God and to pray not for five minutes, not for 15 minutes, and not for an hour, but all night long until the text tells us like the sun rose the next day. Like, let that sink in. This is vitally important what Jesus is doing and taking this time to pray. And if the Son of God felt that prayer was this vitally important for his ministry, then how much more vitally important is prayer for God’s people and determining God’s will for our lives? Jesus is the perfect example of what it means to be a Christian and what it means to walk by faith in the living God who hears and answers prayer. And so we as God’s people, we must do the same and carve out devoted time to pray to God individually as a family and corporately if we want to carry out God’s will for our lives. And so if your prayer life is lacking, then let the example of Jesus encourage you to make time for prayer this week. Make some like, attainable goals on how you can devote more time to prayer this week so that God’s will may be done in your life. For God delights in hearing and answering the prayers of his saints. And if the perfect Son of God depended on His Father to lead and direct him while on this earth through the power of prayer, how much more do we need to depend on our heavenly Father through prayer? That being said, moving to verse 13, it says, and when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them 12 whom he named apostles. So the sun rises after Jesus long night of prayer, and Jesus knows who he is going to choose as his 12 student. 12 students. The meeting that Jesus had with his heavenly Father in prayer made it clear who would be chosen and what he would teach them that morning. It’s important to note that the only reason the disciples are made like one of the 12 is, is because Jesus graciously chose them to become his apostles. Like, this isn’t something that they signed up for, but rather something Jesus called them forth to do and chose them to do. And with that line, like John the Baptist understood this as well. John the Baptist said this about his own ministry. A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given to him from heaven. It is by the grace of God and his choosing that these men are made into 12 disciples for the purposes that God set long ago. And the word apostle that is here in our text that Luke points out, it literally means to send. And so this is signifying the mission that was given to these men, to these disciples from Jesus. So in both the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Mark, Jesus choosing of the 12 apostles involves giving them authority to be sent out to preach, to cast out demons, and to heal every disease and affliction, which is exactly what Jesus is about to do in the next few verses. And so the 12 apostles were God’s chosen disciples in whom he gave authority to carry out his great mission. Jesus was instituting a new office of apostleship for the early church, who would serve as his official representatives. And the way he would teach his apostles is by spending time with them. 24, 7. Because of this, these 12 disciples would get to know their teacher and their Lord on a much more personal level from this point on, which is such a privilege for each of these 12 disciples. And then in our text, verses 14 through 16 gives us a list of these apostles names. And so A list of 12 disciples is also given in Matthew, Mark, and Acts. And in each of these lists, Simon Peter is always listed as first. And then Judas Iscariot is always listed as last. This is because Simon, who was renamed Peter, which literally means rock, is whom Jesus said, on this rock, I will Build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Jesus chose Peter to be the leader in whom he would begin to build his church after his resurrection. And Jesus words are actually fulfilled later in the Book of Acts we read on the day of Pentecost, Peter preaches a sermon of repentance to all who gather to hear him in Jerusalem. And about 3,000 people profess faith in Jesus that day and are baptized. And so hence, Jesus uses Peter to begin to build his church. So overall, there’s not actually a ton of information known about each of these apostles based on what God gives us in His Word. We know that, like, four of these guys were just simple fishermen and they were called to follow Jesus. And this was Peter and Peter’s brother Andrew, and then two other men named James and John, who Jesus called the Sons of Thunder. We know that John was called the disciple of whom Jesus loved, and that John wrote the Gospel of John and as well as three epistles and the Book of Revelation. And then we know that John was exiled to the island of Patmos at the end of his life. We know that Matthew, also known as Levi, was a tax collector who wrote the Gospel of Matthew, which we just spent some time learning about him a few weeks ago. We know Bartholomew was also known as Nathanael, and he was described by Jesus in the Book of John as an Israelite in whom there is no deceit. We know Thomas doubted the resurrection of Jesus until he saw him again, which, honestly is kind of a bummer thing to be remembered as. But I’m pretty sure as we get to heaven, we’ll learn like, there’s some other great things that Thomas did in faith. We know that Simon was a zealot, in which the zealots was like a zealous religious group who are committed to the fall of Rome. And then we know about Judas Iscariot, who was the money keeper for the apostles and who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. And after betraying Jesus, Judas hung himself in the field of blood and was later replaced by a man named Matthias, who became the 12th apostle in his place. And as for the rest of the disciples in this list, like, the Bible actually doesn’t give us a ton of information about them. And from what we know, these apostles, like, they did not come from noble or wealthy families. They weren’t priests or scholars. They weren’t even like, really educated. They were like untrained, ordinary people like you and me. And so don’t miss this with this list that is provided here. By Luke, these guys were just ordinary men. And yet they were called and chosen by an extraordinary God. And because they were chosen by an extraordinary God, by Jesus, their names will stand as pillars in heaven for all of eternity. Which is wild to think about. Just listen to what Revelation 12:14 says concerning the new Jerusalem that represents the city of God in the new heavens and new earth. It says this, and the wall of the city had 12 foundations, and on them were the 12 names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb. So these apostles, they may have been just ordinary guys before Jesus called them to himself, but because they were called by an extraordinary God, their names will be remembered as pillars in heaven forever. And the Bible doesn’t tell us much about the apostles, but that’s because it’s not about who the apostles are, it’s about the extraordinary God the apostles were called by and who followed for the sake of Christ’s kingdom. That’s what matters here in this passage. And because Jesus chose these 12 disciples who gave up their lives for the sake of the Gospel, according to church tradition, today there is a foundation that the household of God’s church stands upon and will forever stand upon, namely, because Christ is its cornerstone. And so we, Red Village Church, we are in debt to the way that God used these 12 disciples. And that is something incredible to think about. God chooses ordinary people like you and like me for extraordinary purposes that make ripples into eternity. And we would do good to never forget that. Moving on to verses 17 through 19, our text says, and he came down with them and stood on a level place with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them. So after Jesus chooses his 12 disciples, he now comes off of the mountain that he was on in prayer with these 12 at his side, to what Luke said, a level place. Now, this description of a level place, it’s important because it seems to be signifying that this is a different place from the Sermon on the Mount, where Matthew clearly says Jesus went up on the mountain, and then he began preaching the Sermon on the Mount after he had ascended the mountain. And so the sermon, this sermon right here, it differs from the Sermon on the Mount in that it doesn’t focus on the Jewish law, but instead its focus is on love and fruit that a disciple’s life should have. And so although this like sermon is very similar and it’s actually using the same information that Jesus uses on the Sermon on the Mount, it’s actually only half as long as the Sermon on the Mount. And because of this, this sermon is often referred to as the Sermon on the Plain, in which many scholars agree was a similar sermon to the Sermon on the Mount, but it was given a different. It was given at a different time, likely before the Sermon on the Mount. So before Jesus preaches the Sermon on the Plain, Luke tells us a great crowd of Jesus, other disciples, and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon. They all gather to Jesus for these three reasons that Luke gives us. To hear Jesus preach, to be healed of their diseases and to be freed of unclean demonic spirit. So it’s important to note that Jesus fame, like it’s now spreading beyond just the region of Galilee and Judea in which Jesus has been up to this point. And so now, like Luke says, great multitudes, which is most likely in the thousands, are now coming from the sea coast of the cities on the Mediterranean, which means these were Gentile cities. And so Gentiles are now coming in to gather around Jesus to hear him teach and to be healed and to be freed by demonic spirits by Jesus. So we know that this is the reason why Jesus came is to redeem and to save not only the Jews, but also the Gentiles from every tribe and language and tongue on the earth. And as people came from near and far, their diseases were healed. And the demons that oppressed those who were troubled were cast out and cured. And those who came wondering like, could this be the long awaited Messiah that we have been waiting for? Truly they heard and they seen that this is the Christ. Verse 19 tells us that as people began to be healed and cured, others in the crowd who had not been healed simply made it their mission to just touch Jesus. Because Luke says divine power was radiating out from Jesus that healed them all. Now this is like an incredible scene that Luke is portraying for us. There are literally hundreds if not thousands of people pressing in just to simply touch Jesus. For just by touching him, lifelong illnesses, chronic pain, infirmities, and agonized demon possessed people who have been dealing with this for who knows how long are instantly healed when they touch Jesus. Like that is incredible. All because the Son of God, the Christ, was standing on level ground on planet earth and from him was radiating this life restoring power to whom all were healed. That came to him like, what a sight this must have been. This, this had to been incredible to witness, especially for the 12 disciples that are now called to join in with Jesus ministry. Like this had to be mind blowing. And the word for power here that Luke gives is actually the Greek word dunamis, which is where we get the English word for dynamite. And so this is the same power that Luke describes Jesus having in Luke 4:14, where Luke says, and Jesus returned in the power of the Holy Spirit to Galilee. So this power that Jesus has coming from him is directly related to the Holy Spirit who we see brings life and restoration both to creation and to all of mankind throughout the Bible. And this is the Holy Spirit’s life changing power being poured out from Jesus to everybody who is coming to him and to everybody who is touching him. And so this picture is certainly painting for us. A picture of the nations coming to Jesus in great physical and spiritual need. And Jesus is at the center, allowing all to come to him and to be healed as they believe and touch the Son of God, who is the supply and source of the Holy Spirit’s power, which knows no bounds. And it’s important to think about this scene in relation to the 12 disciples who were just chosen. Like up to this point, they’ve listened to Jesus teach, they’ve watched him heal and cast out demons. But this, this is on a completely different level. Directly after being chosen to be Jesus apostles and given authority to do the same work as Jesus, this scene unfolds. And so this is the work that Jesus is doing and will continue to do with all of his 12 disciples at his side. People will be drawn to Jesus in both physical and spiritual need, both Jews and Gentiles. And Jesus will continue to restore and change lives through the power of the Holy Spirit living in his disciples. This is what Jesus Kingdom looks like. And he invites his 12 disciples to join in on this work. For it is only the beginning and that ends our passage. And so from this I have three applications for you that I want to give you from this passage of Scripture that I think speak loudest. And so the first application I have for you, if you have put your faith in Christ, remember you are chosen by Christ for the purposes of his kingdom as his disciple. In the same way that Jesus chose the 12, he has chosen you that all may be drawn to Christ. Ephesians 1:4:5 says this. He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him in love. He predestined us for adoption to Himself as the sons through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of his will. That being said, there is purpose in the will of God as He calls his people from death to. So if you are a Christian here this morning, meaning that you have made Jesus like the Lord of your life, then just like the 12 disciples, remember that God has purpose for your life. As his disciple, he wants to use you to draw others to himself by sharing the gospel and by living as Christ’s ambassador, not because of what you’ve done, but because of who God is. And that is really encouraging to know that if you are in Christ, God created you for good works to do today, tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day and the next day that will ripple into eternity. When I was in college at a fall retreat for a collegiate ministry that I was a part of, it was in New Mexico. This was a collegiate ministry called the Christian Challenge. And the director there was named David Engelhardt. And so David led us out from this little Bible camp in the mountains of New Mexico. And he had all these students, including myself, gather around a little pond that was about 50 yards wide. And what David taught me that day and the rest of the students, I will never forget. With everyone gathered around this pond, he picked up a rock and then he just threw it into the pond and told all of us just to be silent and to watch. And so David does this. The rock goes. Splashes into this pond. And then ripples are sent out from this rock that go out all the way to the edges of this pond and. And then bounce off of different things in the pond until they all begin to go completely still. And so, in silence, everyone, including myself, watches these ripples go out. And after the ripples disappeared, David said this. Serving Christ is a lot like ripples in a pond. You, by faith, make a splash in obedience to Christ. And ripples are sent all across the pond, but the rock is at the bottom of the pond. And often the rock does not see the ripples that are going on up above. But God, he sees all that his hand is doing with these ripples. And so what he is saying is, God has purpose in every splash, every good work, every step of faith, every Gospel conversation, every Sunday service that we gather. God says he is working. And even if we can’t see it, God is building his kingdom through his chosen disciples, and that is through you. If you have put your faith in Jesus, he has chosen to use you to make ripples that will last for eternity. An extraordinary God calls ordinary people like you, like me, to follow him so that they might live with extraordinary purpose for the glory of God. So first application is, do not forget this. My second application from this passage is very simple, and that is to seek to make disciples of Christ Jesus. Master plan of evangelizing the world started with investing more time into just 12 disciples. And then Jesus spent even more time in just three of those disciples who were Peter, James and John. And so Jesus intentionally invited these disciples to not only join his ministry, but to also get a glimpse into his personal walk with God. And we are called to do the exact same thing. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he gave the great commission for his disciples to 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 to teach them to observe all that Christ has commanded his people. And so if you’re here and you believe in Jesus as the Lord of your life, then you are his disciple. And you too are called to make other disciples through baptism and teaching other followers of Jesus to observe all that Jesus has commanded in the Bible. So if you’re a believer, my question to you is, who are you discipling right now? Who are you helping to follow Christ? Discipleship can look like a lot of different things. It can look like serving in kids ministry to help teach kids about the Bible and how they can know God. It can look like having a daily time of family worship with your kids and teaching them about the Bible and how to walk with God. It can look like inviting people to church so they can hear God’s Word preached and then grow in their faith through community with other believers. It can look like meeting together with a believer who is new to the faith or with someone who is considering the claims of Christ and to study the Bible with them and teach them about Jesus. It can look like leading a small group Bible study that is teaching others God’s Word and how to put it into action. Or it can look like inviting a college student to your home for a meal to see how you are following Christ while encouraging them to do the same. Which is what I personally am praying that God will do with Adoptive Student Day today. And so, regardless of how we do discipleship, what’s important is that we do seek to do it no matter what it will. No matter what it will require you to be intentional and to invite another person into your life and into the church so that they too may become a disciple who follows Jesus and who keeps his commands and if you’re not sure where to start, then I encourage you to do what Jesus does here in our passage of scripture. Carve out some intentional time to pray to God that God would give you someone to disciple and to show you who that person is. And if you do this, then God will guide you in the right direction and he will equip you with what you need to help others grow in Christ. This is the work that God is doing and what he’s called us to do. And it’s not about who you are and how good you are at teaching or helping others. It’s about just seeking to be faithful and God using you to build up and raise up other disciples. My third and last application from this passage is point all people to the life restoring power found in Christ alone. Our passage ends with human need, both little and great being met in the person of Jesus. So Jesus is the only one with the power to change a person’s life from spiritual death to spiritual life. Only in Jesus can the Holy Spirit change a dead heart to beat for God and to live the extraordinary life that God calls us to live by faith. Jesus lived the life that we could not and died on a cross in our place. And then three days later, Jesus rose again from the dead and is victorious over sin and death. And today, Jesus is alive. That’s why we gather here and that’s why we continue to worship God. It’s because Jesus lives. And if you repent today and believe that Jesus truly is the Lord over all the earth who rose again from the dead, then scripture says you too will receive the resurrection power by the Holy Spirit who will come to live inside of you and who guarantees that you will be with God in heaven for eternity. Which is incredible. This is the gospel, the good news given to mankind. And so no matter who you are, where you’ve been, or what you’ve done, the power of God can change your life today. And I believe that wholeheartedly, because I am a walking example of that. God has changed my life from death to life through faith in Him. And so, in summary, point all people to the life restoring power that is found in Christ alone. May we never grow weary in doing that and in seeing that our Savior is the one who has life life restoring power so that all who believe may find new life and joy in him for eternity. That being said, please pray with me, God. We believe that Jesus truly is alive. And we believe, God, that you can use us as you use these 12 disciples to bring about life for others, to bring about Godliness, to bring about godly fruit that is good and righteous and holy. And Lord, that you call us to make other disciples. And so I pray, help us to be faithful in trusting Lord in your choosing and being faithful, to step out works of faith and to be intentional with others so that others may grow in Christ and be able to know and love you and walk with you and God, that the Gospel by your grace, may go to the ends of the earth, that you would use our small little church to fulfill your great commission. And God, that we would never grow weary in pointing people to the all powerful Christ who is alive and who gives new life to all who believe in him. And I pray God be with us as we continue our service today. And it’s in Jesus name we all pray. Amen. The post Chosen Disciples – Luke 6: 12-19 appeared first on Red Village Church.
Presented by Lauren Stibgen The Oxford language dictionary defines evangelism as the spreading of the Christian gospel by public preaching or personal witness.[1] It is also defined as zealous advocacy of a cause. Merriam-webster.com defines evangelism as a winning or revival of personal commitments to Christ, and it's also defined as militant or crusading zeal.[2] An evangelist is, therefore, someone who spreads the gospel by preaching or personal witness, winning personal commitments to Christ—and, I would add, with zeal! There are three ways to consider evangelism: proclamation, incarnational/relational, and apologetic/intellectual. Proclamation evangelism is the preaching mentioned above. It is a direct telling of the gospel to others. You probably will not be deploying this tactic at work, unless you are a preacher! Incarnational/relational evangelism is the living it out—building relationships and sharing your faith at work, with a bit of apologetic/intellectual evangelism as well. Meaning, you will need to be able to explain why you are living it out. One of the most relevant definitions of evangelism I have read is this working definition presented by the Theology of Work project that says, “Evangelism is the organic process of intentionally engaging individuals in their spiritual journey, joining the Holy Spirit, watching for where he is already at work to help these individuals take one step closer to God and a new life in Christ, becoming the unique reflection of the image of Christ as the resurrected, glorified persons God intended.”[3] This punctuates that evangelism is focused on the individual, and not some large group of people. We certainly come across many individuals during our workday! But why evangelize? Isn't this for the well-trained and professionals? And, surely, we shouldn't do this at work—or should we? Studies show 90% of church going people who come to Christ as adults do so because of a relationship with one or more Christians outside of the four walls of the church. With many of these adults going to work, this makes our workplace evangelism key to God's plan for salvation! Therefore 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 (Matthew 28:19-20). Earlier in Matthew 9:37-38 Jesus tells his disciples, the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. I want to remind you the disciples were not some well-studied priests of the time. And remember, Jesus was a humble carpenter before he began his ministry. God did not call the qualified, he qualified the called! Thinking about the disciples as fishermen and a tax collector and Jesus as a carpenter, helps me to feel more qualified in my calling to be an evangelist at work! Our purpose here at The Christian Working Woman is to encourage, equip, and empower Christians in the workplace to love Christ more, to live their daily lives by biblical principles, and to go to their jobs as ambassadors for Jesus Christ. Rooted in the verse from 2 Corinthians 5:20, which tells us we are Christ's ambassadors, we are here in ministry to help you grow as workplace evangelists. Clearly the word evangelism is rooted in our faith as followers of Jesus Christ. Are you zealous about it yet? Many women I encounter don't feel like they can share their faith at work. Whether it is feeling unqualified to share the gospel or simply fearing it will not be welcomed, there are more perceived obstacles than there are perceived open doors for Jesus at work. This is one of the reasons I like the working definition from the Theology of Work project mentioned earlier. The definition helps us frame the process of evangelism at work rather than simply telling us, “Hey, go proclaim Christ at work!” Evangelism is an organic process, specifically meaning it happens naturally. We don't need to get all worked up and plan it all out. Consider the examples we have in the Bible. First Jesus. Notice how he shared his good news with others. His evangelism was incarnational and relational in every way with a touch of apologetic wisdom! Even though I am sure Jesus divinely knew who he would encounter, he wasn't on a direct quest to find them, except for the disciples. They came to him. He encountered the woman at the well when he was thirsty, and he encountered the bleeding woman as he was going to heal another's child. Think about the healing of the demon possessed man when the evil spirits were cast into the pigs. This man was in Jesus's path as he arrived from crossing the sea. Think about the leper needing healing. He was also in Jesus's path. Finally, the criminal on the cross at the crucifixion. Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42-43). Now, I am not saying Jesus wasn't a preacher evangelist. We absolutely see Jesus speaking to great crowds and in the synagogue, but it happened organically. Evangelism at work can happen organically throughout the course of your day. It can be in a breakroom, or after a meeting. It could be grabbing a cup of coffee with a colleague you want to know better. If we pay attention to the example of Jesus, we also see he is intentional in how he engages each one of the people in his path. He engages individuals! Each one had a need, even before they knew they needed Jesus. Whether it was healing, food, or even a friend, Jesus met people where they were at. Being intentionally engaging with others was the next part of the definition I mentioned earlier. The Word is clear in Matthew 18:12. What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off (Matthew 18:12)? How can you intentionally engage with others? How can you help with the search for the one? Before you share the gospel with someone, have you ever considered what you know about them? Jesus had a clear advantage in being all knowing, so we will need to be good listeners and good at asking questions! In James 1:19, the word tells us to be quick to listen and slow to speak. Listen to colleagues when they talk about what they did over the weekend or even after work. Listen when they talk about family, favorite hobbies, or holiday plans! Next, discern if you can come alongside them in any way. Again, thinking of Jesus. How are you serving those around you? …not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others (Philippians 2:4). How can you extend intentional kindness to someone? Is it an encouraging word or an expression of gratitude? Is it bringing someone a cup of coffee, or lunch? Perhaps it is simply the act of listening itself. These organic and intentional engagements can build trust and a connection to start naturally sharing about your faith when it fits into the conversation, of course making sure it isn't making the other person feel uncomfortable. Has someone expressed a feeling like sadness, anger, concern, or fear? Maybe you can relate and mention how your faith has helped you in a similar situation. Ultimately, you will need to be prepared to make a defense if anyone asks you for a reason for the hope you have. 1 Peter 3:15 tells us to do this with gentleness and respect. I would encourage you to make a list of ways God has helped you. This way, examples will be top of mind if this ever comes up! As you are deploying this organic and intentional evangelism, be encouraged! You are not expected to evangelize alone. Jesus has given to us the power of the Holy Spirit to help guide every situation. The early church was filled with evangelists just like you and me! Acts 1:8 promised they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. And they would be Jesus's witnesses in Jerusalem and in all of Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth. Do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say (Luke 12: 11-12). It is less about the perfect words and more about the ability to be a witness of Jesus through your life. How are people seeing the incarnational and relational Jesus through you? Paul reminds us of this. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20). Allow Christ to work through you! You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14). And remember you are not solely responsible for saving anyone! No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day (John 6:44). Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). You are merely the ambassador representative, a laborer in the harvest. While you may be a very important part of God's plan for someone's salvation, you simply are just that—one part. Paul beautifully states this. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:10-11). Jesus is the foundation of everything. Every interaction, every way you “build” into an individual's faith journey. Remember the statistic I spoke about as we stated our time today? 90% of adults making a decision for Christ are doing so because of interactions outside of the Church! Back to evangelizing at work. As you intentionally engage with others through the help of the Holy Spirt, take time to discern where God is working. Does someone show extra interest in your conversations about reading the Bible or joining a Bible study you are part of? Are they asking questions about why you are different when things seem to all be chaos around at work? These can be the promptings of the Holy Spirit drawing someone closer to Jesus! At your job, help people keep taking steps closer to God. Thinking of a builder placing one piece of a house at a time, place something simple each day and return. Perhaps you will be able to celebrate with someone that turns to a new life in Christ! Consider yourself and evangelist today! Pray about who will come organically into your path, intentionally engage them and lean in to how the Holy Spirit can move through you! [1] evangelism, n. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English Dictionary. (2023). Oed.com. https://doi.org/10.1093//OED//6381426726 [2] Definition of EVANGELISM. (n.d.). Www.merriam-Webster.com. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/evangelism [3] Work, T. of. (2018). Evangelism – Sharing the Gospel at Work (Overview). Theology of Work. https://www.theologyofwork.org/key-topics/evangelism-sharing-the-gospel-at-work-overview
Homosexual atheist Noah Yuval Harari says artificial intelligence will replace religion—and he said it on the world stage at Davos. Meanwhile, a historic first on the Temple Mount as Jewish visitors are allowed to bring printed prayers—and a growing push to rename Judea and Samaria back to Israel's biblical heartland. We'll analyze these headlines and more while taking your calls on this open-line edition of the Endtime Show! ⭐️: True Gold Republic: Get The Endtime Show special on precious metals at https://www.endtimegold.com📱: It's never been easier to understand. Stream Only Source Network and access exclusive content: https://watch.osn.tv/browse📚: Check out Jerusalem Prophecy College Online for less than $60 per course: https://jerusalemprophecycollege.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Get your Temple Mount Patches https://israelguys.link/temple-patch-86ew4ch9p Check out our upcoming Harvest Trips https://israelguys.link/israel-trip-86ewc1v67 Don't forget to join Jeremy and Ari at The Land of Israel Fellowship: https://thelandofisrael.com/membership-tiers/ For the first time in 25 years, hundreds of Jews prayed at Joseph's Tomb in Shechem, marking a historic shift in Judea and Samaria. Long restricted to nighttime visits under heavy IDF escort, worshippers were allowed to visit the heritage site during the daytime, a move Israeli leaders and rabbis called a long-overdue rectification and a step toward restoring a full Jewish presence at the site. This development comes just weeks after prayer restrictions were also eased on the Temple Mount. As these changes unfold on the ground, regional tensions are rising. President Trump announced a "massive armada" led by the USS Abraham Lincoln is moving toward Iran, while antisemitic violence again surfaced in New York and a disconnect from the Bible was evidenced by Tucker Carlson's remarks in Saudi Arabia.