Podcasts about Judea

Where did western thought come from? Join us today as we look at Alexander the Great, his impact on Judea in the 300's BC, in the 1st century during Jesus' day, and how Hellenism is still impacting the world we live in today. https://longhollow.com/theforgottenjesuspodcastshownotes

Enjoy this week's session 231 of the Land of Israel Fellowship recorded live on June 29, 2025. (Torah Parsha Korach) Join The Land of Israel Fellowship and gain access to all the Bible teachings from Judea and receive your personal invitation to join the exclusive live online gatherings with families around the world every week. Fellowship: thelandofisrael.com/membership/ YouTube: @thelandofisrael‬ FB: www.facebook.com/TheLandofIsraelcom/ X: x.com/thelandofisrael

Do You Know Who Is Visiting Us Today 11 Afterward he was on his way to a town called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd were traveling with him. 12 Just as he neared the gate of the town, a dead man was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the town was also with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said, "Don't weep." 14 Then he came up and touched the open coffin, and the pallbearers stopped. And he said, "Young man, I tell you, get up!" 15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16 Then fear came over everyone, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among us," and "God has visited his people." 17 This report about him went throughout Judea and all the vicinity. Luke 7:11–17 I want to start by emphasizing part of verse sixteen—"God has visited His people" What would go through your mind if you were to have a patrol car pull in front of your house and two officers come up to knock on your door? How about your boss walking into your office and closing the door behind him? There is a line in an old song that talks about the taxman com'in a'knock'in. In war time the last thing parents—or wives—want to see is that unmarked car pull-up and a couple of well-dressed military men get out and ring the doorbell. All of these visits are ominous. Many consider a visit from God to be like this. Even the gentle Jesus, as some portray Him… only to be. Why? Why would Jesus coming for a visit be ominous? Because He never leaves things as they were. Jesus revealed sin in the heart, when many only look to outward action… like many of the religious sort… So…how religious are you? What did Jesus do when He visited the so-called pious? He called them out. He called them nicely painted graves, full of dead men's bones. He took time to make a whip and threw some of them, out of His Father's house for doing what they called church business there. How many in our day, consider prosperity, growth, and numbers to be marks of a good Church? Are we moneychangers? Does this place become somewhere to show social position—or religiousness… rather than a sanctuary for refugees of a real spiritual war? This spiritual war we are in not only kills the soul, but the body as well. If it were not so, the young man in our text would not have died. The church is supposed to be a place to find help—a place to call out in our need, in prayer.It is not a place to show how much we—to show anything off…anything other than our sin—to admit our condition— TO HIM… And this … SO AS TO BE FORGIVEN. Yet DO WE compare—our car to the one you pull in next to in the church lot…. Do you wonder about those people in the pew in front of you? Why are THEY here? And MY kids…never, of course, made THAT kind of noise when they were in church! Did you know that Jesus cursed a fig tree because it did not produce fruit. So, can we show Him all the great fruit stored away to our merit? Now, do you know what He expects of you? He says that it is not just a matter of our doing wrong. It's that we do not even do what is right. Simple, common stuff is left undone—day in and day out—hour-to-hour. Do you want Him making a list? How detailed can He get with that? Minute-by-minute… or how about second-by-second? How uncaring, lazy and selfish have we been? All those things left undone! Do you know that this is really the same as hating, stealing, and killing. This is what we are about. Yes, by leaving these things undone, we do these other. Depraved indifference is a crime… "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." So, Jesus coming to visit… means the truth about us and these… no covering up when He is around…. He points to the corruption and sin of the heart—FIRST.

El paralítico salió caminando, pero el milagro mayor fue invisible: ¡Sus pecados fueron perdonados! (v. 20). Jesús demostró así Su identidad divina: Solo Dios puede perdonar pecados (v. 24). Hoy, Cristo repite: "Tus pecados son perdonados" (v. 20). Él no solo cura cuerpos; transforma identidades. Como el paralítico, levántate de tu lecho de culpa. Toma tu vida nueva y "ve a tu casa" (v. 24): testifica que hay Uno que perdona, sana, y devuelve la dignidad. "La fe que rompe techos no es silenciosa: es obstinada, creativa y centrada en Cristo. No teme el qué dirán; confía en el Qué Él hará". "Y al instante, levantándose en presencia de ellos, tomó la camilla en que estaba acostado, y se fue a su casa glorificando a Dios" (Lucas 5:25). Banda sonora: Drop the Tapes - Biblioteca de audio de YouTube Donaciones local: https://iglesiadeciudadreal.es/donaciones Web: http://iglesiadeciudadreal.es/ Podcast: http://www.ivoox.com/podcast-iglesia-. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPq8l9Q7KcX7j6iOGDPP_zg x (antes Twitter): https://x.com/home?lang=es Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IglesiaCristianaEvangelicaDeCiudadReal Nota informativa: En todos nuestros videos se pueden traducir los SUBTÍTULOS a cualquier idioma. Ir a configuración y elegir idioma de subtitulo. 29/06/2025 - PREDICACIÓN DE LA TARDE - SERIE:VARIADO Lucas 5:17-26 Reina-Valera 1960 Jesús sana a un paralítico (Mt. 9.1-8; Mr. 2.1-12) 17 Aconteció un día, que él estaba enseñando, y estaban sentados los fariseos y doctores de la ley, los cuales habían venido de todas las aldeas de Galilea, de Judea y Jerusalén; y el poder del Señor estaba con él para sanar. 18 Y sucedió que unos hombres que traían en un lecho a un hombre que estaba paralítico, procuraban llevarle adentro y ponerle delante de él. 19 Pero no hallando cómo hacerlo a causa de la multitud, subieron encima de la casa, y por el tejado le bajaron con el lecho, poniéndole en medio, delante de Jesús. 20 Al ver él la fe de ellos, le dijo: Hombre, tus pecados te son perdonados. 21 Entonces los escribas y los fariseos comenzaron a cavilar, diciendo: ¿Quién es este que habla blasfemias? ¿Quién puede perdonar pecados sino solo Dios? 22 Jesús entonces, conociendo los pensamientos de ellos, respondiendo les dijo: ¿Qué caviláis en vuestros corazones? 23 ¿Qué es más fácil, decir: Tus pecados te son perdonados, o decir: Levántate y anda? 24 Pues para que sepáis que el Hijo del Hombre tiene potestad en la tierra para perdonar pecados (dijo al paralítico): A ti te digo: Levántate, toma tu lecho, y vete a tu casa. 25 Al instante, levantándose en presencia de ellos, y tomando el lecho en que estaba acostado, se fue a su casa, glorificando a Dios. 26 Y todos, sobrecogidos de asombro, glorificaban a Dios; y llenos de temor, decían: Hoy hemos visto maravillas.

For the lives of these two great Apostles, we can only recommend a reading of the entire New Testament, which contains accounts of their lives and many of their inspired writings. St Peter, after preaching in Judea, Antioch and parts of Asia, came to Rome, where he was crucified by order of the Emperor Nero, about the year 66. Being led to the cross, he begged the executioner to crucify him upside-down, because he felt unworthy to partake of the same death as the Savior.   St Paul's apostolic labors extended from Arabia to Spain. He also ended his earthly course in Rome, beheaded by order of Nero, some say at the same time that St Peter was crucified.

As the gospel slowly spread out from the center at Jerusalem, it began to be accepted by various representatives of the variegated Gentile world. Remember . . . Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 1:8). There were the Samaritans (Acts 8:5ff). There was the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:38). There was Cornelius and his people (Acts 10:34). There was Sergius Paulus, the first out-and-out pagan (Acts 13:12). There was resistance to this, and some complaining (Acts 10:45; 11:2-3, 12), but nothing was definitively settled.

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

A Sermon for the Second Sunday after Trinity 1 John 3:13-24 & St. Luke 14:16-24 by William Klock Another town.  Another Sabbath.  And Jesus found himself in the synagogue reading the scriptures.  He'd spent the last few days doing the usual Messiah things: healing the sick, casting out demons, proclaiming good news to the poor, calling the people to repentance because God's kingdom was coming.  Some people loved it.  Others hated it.  If Jesus was the Messiah, he sure was doing it all wrong.  St. Luke says some of the Pharisees were determined to trap him.  They lurked everywhere he went, waiting for him to do or to say just the wrong thing that would get him into trouble.  “See!  See!” they want to shout to the crowds.  “He's a fake!”  If they were really lucky, maybe Jesus would do something downright arrestable and he'd end up in jail.  So far, no such luck. One of the leading Pharisees in this town invited him to lunch after the synagogue service.  If nothing else, it would look good to have this popular rabbi in his house, but maybe he'd get lucky.  Maybe he'd catch Jesus breaking the law red-handed.  And lo and behold as Jesus arrived at this Pharisees' house, he met a man whose limbs were swollen with dropsy.  I doubt he was invited.  The rabbis taught that dropsy was the Lord's punishment for secret sexual sins.  But in those days, doors were open, people came and went from banquets.  The poor and needy would show up looking for handouts.  On any other day, this Pharisee might have shooed away the man with dropsy, but not today.  It was a perfect opportunity to see what Jesus would do.  It was a given that Jesus healed the sick—but would he do his messianic doctoring on the Sabbath? But instead of letting himself be put on the spot, Jesus—as he so often did—flips the tables.  He takes one look at the afflicted man, then turns to the Pharisee and his torah-expert friends and puts them on the spot.  “Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath or not?” he asked.  They really should have seen that coming.  Now, no matter what they said, they'd condemn themselves.  And so while they stood there looking awkward, Jesus healed the man with dropsy and sent him away.  And then he turned back to the Pharisees and to the lawyers and said, “Suppose one of you has a son—or an ox—that falls in a well.  Are you going to tell me you won't pull him out straightaway even on the sabbath day?”  And, of course, they just looked at him.  They had nothing to say that wouldn't condemn them.  Because if their son or their ox fell in a well, even on the sabbath, of course they'd pull him out. It was hard to hear.  The Pharisees were right about a lot of things. They knew that Israel was supposed to be a bubble of God's light in the middle of a dark world.  They were the people who lived with the living God in their midst.  They were his people, graciously chosen, delivered from bondage, and made holy for just this task: to be light in the darkness.  The Pharisees were zealous for the law because they were grateful for God's grace.  Not all of the people in Israel were as faithful as the Pharisees.  The Pharisees tried to live their lives—even the little things—as if they were in the temple, in the presence of God.  They saw themselves as walking manifestations of God's light and of his kingdom—walking bubbles of what the world is supposed to be like.  And Jesus just exposed them, because as much as they were right on a lot of things, they'd forgotten the most important thing.  The law was about more than do this and don't to that.  It was about loving God and loving neighbour.  It was about showing others the same grace, the same lovingkindness that God had shown to them.  They knew this deep down, but somehow, through the generations, they'd forgotten.  Instead of being a light to lighten those lost in the dark, they were being light to shame and condemn those lost in the dark—and that's not light at all. At this point Jesus had already spoiled the party, so he just kept going.  Luke tells us in 14:7 that Jesus noticed how each guest claimed the best seat he could, so he told them that God's people should, instead, be humble.  “If you go to a wedding and just assume you can sit in the seat of honour, the host is going to tell you to move so the real guest of honour can sit there and you'll look like a fool in front of everyone.  No.  Instead, be humble.  Take the lowliest seat and let your host offer you a better place.” They were starting to figure out what Jesus was getting at.  He said, “Everyone who pushes himself forward will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself will be honoured.”  They knew this wasn't just about banquets.  Jesus was saying that the way these leaders of Israel were behaving at banquets had become representative of how they thought of themselves in relation to God and to each other.  They acted like God had chosen them because they were special when it was really the other way around: They were special because God had chosen them.  They knew better—just like we do.  They knew God chose Israel because he is gracious.  But they didn't act like it. So Jesus says: If you truly want to represent God and his kingdom, stop thinking so loftily of yourselves, stop avoiding the people who aren't like you and who don't share your status, and start throwing banquets for the crippled, the lame, and the blind.  Rejoice when sinners repent.  Rejoice when God saves the lost.  That's what God has done for you, after all—you've just forgotten. Everyone could feel the tension in the room growing and that's when some poor, clueless soul shouted out, “A blessing on everyone who eats bread in the kingdom of God.”  Maybe he'd totally missed point.  Maybe he was just trying to defuse the situation.  Blessed, indeed, is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God, but who will be there.  That was Jesus' point.  These people were sure they'd be there, but in so many ways the way they acted and the way they saw themselves said otherwise.  They weren't the walking bubbles of the kingdom they thought they were.  For all their holiness, they were really more like walking bubbles of darkness. So in response, Jesus told them another parable.  This is our Gospel today beginning at Luke 14:16. Jesus said, “Once a man made a great dinner, and invited lots of guests.  When the time for the meal arrived, he sent his servants to say to the guests, ‘Come now.  Everything is ready!'  But the whole lot of them began to make excuses.  The first said, ‘I've just bought a field, and I really have to go and see it. Please accept my apologies.'  Another one said, ‘I've just bought five yoke of oxen, and I've got to go and test them out.  Please accept my apologies.'  And another said, ‘I've just got married, so naturally I can't come.'  So the servant went back and told his master all this. As they sat eating what was probably a simple sabbath lunch prepared the day before, Jesus brings to mind an elaborate and expensive feast—the sort of thing that took days to prepare and that cost so much that the man throwing the part would send out invitation months in advance.  And the guests responded, “Yes, we'll be there!” and he made preparations.  So much wine and so much fruit.  So much meat and so much bread.  He arranged for musicians and dancers and other entertainers.  He got his house ready.  He sent his servants around to remind everyone.  And then the day of, he put on his finest clothes, threw open his doors—and no one came.  So he sent his servant out to find out what was up with his guests.  And they all had excuses.  This one bought a field sight unseen and had to go have a look at it.  This one bought a bunch of oxen and just had to try them out.  Another just got married.  Obviously his honeymoon was more important than this man's great feast. Imagine all the effort and expense that this man invested.  It was a huge deal for him.  But no one else cared.  No one else valued all that he had done for them.  Imagine how you'd feel if no one came to your wedding banquet after they all returned their RSVP cards saying they'd be there.  Jesus says the man was understandably angry, but he wasn't going to let all his expense and preparations go to waste. ‘Go out quickly,' he said to his servant.  ‘Go into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in here the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.'  ‘Alright, Master,' the servant said, ‘I've done that—but there's still room.'  ‘Well then,' said the master to the servant, ‘go out to the highways and the hedges and make them come in, so that my house may be full!  Let me tell you this: none of those people who were invited will get to taste my dinner.' If his rich friends won't come, he'll invite the poor.  Notice that his servant literally has to bring, to compel them to come to the banquet.  Imagine what the poor people in the town thought at the invitation.  Imagine what the blind beggar sleeping in a ditch thought when this rich man's servant pulled him up and dragged him into a fancy house full of fancy food.  They would have thought it was a joke, at least until they actually got there.  That's why the servant had to compel them to come, because they knew how these things worked.  They didn't belong.  But the rich man brought them in.  He brought them all in.  And they had the time of their lives—and, I think, so did he. Now, Luke doesn't tell us how the Pharisees responded.  In the next verse he jumps to a completely different time and place.  But we know.  We know that this just made them angrier and more hostile to Jesus—not every last one of them, but most of them.  Eventually they'd be angry enough that they'd conspire to have Jesus arrested.  But why did the things that Jesus did and said at that sabbath lunch make them so angry? So remember that the Jews, and especially the Pharisees, were waiting for the Lord's return.  The prophets had talked about that day in terms of a great banquet and this banquet idea then became a common image of the coming Day of the Lord.  Israel's God would return to judge and to cast down the nations (and the unfaithful within Israel—like the tax collectors and the sinner with dropsy) and then he'd throw a great feast for his beloved people.  The closest things they had to describe it was their entry into the promised land, the land of milk and honey, and the prosperous days of King David.  It would be like that, only a thousand times more so.  When Jesus told a story of a man preparing a great feast, everyone listening knew he was talking about the Lord and how he would come to deliver his people and set everything to rights and usher in the age to come—the age when they would feast in his presence.  And now Jesus explains that he's come to throw open the doors to God's great banquet.  This is what Israel has been waiting for all these years.  And yet Jesus rebukes them.  This isn't the first time the Lord has extended his invitation.  For centuries he had called to his people through the prophets, but they had refused to hear the prophets and had even killed some of them.  The Pharisees knew that and they were committed to making sure they didn't do the same thing.  Except that's exactly what they were doing.  This time God has spared no expense.  His people had rejected and killed the prophets.  This time he's sent his own son, who humbled himself to be born in their flesh.  He's travelled through Galilee and Judea, calling everyone to the banquet, but like the people in the parable, they all have excuses. And those excuses.  One man says that he's bought five yoke of oxen sight-unseen and has to check them over.  Another has bought a field sight-unseen and needs to go have a look at it.  The third just got married and has obligations to his new bride.  All three of these excuses have echoes that go back to the law in Deuteronomy.  A man who had built a new house, but hadn't dedicated it yet; a man who had bought a field, but hadn't enjoyed its produce; and a newly married man were all legitimately excused from going off to war.  And now these guests twist those laws as excuses to reject their host's banquet.  But this is what Israel had done with the law: twisting it into something it was never meant to be.  And it's that twisting of the law that was particularly exemplified by the Pharisees.  Jesus didn't meet their expectations of the Messiah.  His banquets included too many sinners, unclean people, and outsiders.  Those were the people that the Pharisees, with their hyper-holiness, left exposed.  The Messiah was supposed to come and feast with people like them, while raining down fire and brimstone on all those unholy people.  And so they scowled as Jesus forgave sins and welcomed home the prodigals.  The Pharisees had gutted the torah of its loving heart and that was profoundly exemplified by their angry glares as Jesus healed a sick man on the sabbath.  There could be no better way to celebrate the sabbath than to dance and sing and glorify God for his lovingkindness, but instead they tisked-tisked and frowned and gave Jesus disapproving how-dare-you scowls.  The angels rejoiced in heaven to see God's mighty works—but here on earth the people most expecting it, the people most longing for it, frowned and disapproved because God didn't do his mighty works according to what they thought the rules were.  That was their attitude towards Jesus' entire messianic ministry.  The banquet had come, but now they wanted nothing to do with it.  And so Jesus warns them: I'm going to take my invitation to the unclean and to the sick and to the poor—and even to the gentiles—and having rejected me, you will have no share in God's new creation.  If I were to let you in, you'd only mess it up—because you don't know what love is. The parable was a warning.  Matthew records it too, and I expect he was thinking of his people, most of whom continued to rejected Jesus even as their judgement day was so close.  But think of Luke.  He was one of those gentiles.  He was one of those poor men, sleeping in a ditch while the rich man prepared his banquet.  Maybe he didn't even know the banquet was going to happen.  He saw the caterers coming and going, wondered what it was all about, but he never expected to be there.  He'd never received an invitation, but more importantly, he wasn't even the right sort of person.  He was a gentile—uncircumcised and unclean.  Jews didn't associate with his sort.  And then the rich man's servant came, woke him up with a kick, and said, “Hey!  My master's thrown a banquet and no one came, so now he's inviting you to know his goodness.”  For Luke, that servant seems likely to have been the Apostle Paul.  And Paul gave Luke a firm gospel shove into the banquet.  And before he knew it Luke was dancing and singing and praising and glorify the God of Israel—the God of those weird, annoying Jews—and this God was like none of the gods he'd ever known.  This God was good and loving and most of all faithful.  And even though Luke, as a gentile, had no right to be at the banquet, he was welcomed in because when he heard about this Jesus, this Messiah who had died and risen from the dead, and he believed and he was caught up in God's great redemptive act of new creation. In fact, this unexpected and undeserved invitation to the banquet so transformed Luke that before too long he joined Paul as they set sail for Europe as gospel heralds—to proclaim to the lordship of Jesus.  A few years later he would join Paul on another missionary journey.  And about ten years after they'd left Troas that first time, Luke would journey with Paul on his final voyage, the one that took him to Rome to appeal his case before Caesar.  And not only was Luke, with Paul, singing the glories of Jesus and the God of Israel through Greece and on to Rome, he also talked to those who had met Jesus and he recorded their stories and wrote his gospel and then followed it up with the book of Acts.  Luke learned profoundly what grace is.  He knew profoundly the love of God.  Because even though he was a foreigner, through Jesus, the God of Israel had made him a son and even poured his own Spirit into him—including Luke in promises he had no natural right to be part of. Brothers and Sisters, Luke is us.  Like Paul hauling him out of the ditch and sending him into the banquet, the Lord's servants have come to us, proclaiming the good news about Jesus, hauling each of us out of our own ditch, giving us a gospel kick in the pants, and (with the Spirit's help) propelling us into God's great banquet.  We need a reminder of this, because we're prone to taking our place before the Lord for granted.  The Pharisees had their way of taking their family status for granted and we have our ways, but however we do it, it always seems to stem from forgetting that whether Jew or gentile, whether we were born into the family or whether we came later, we forget that it is by the gracious lovingkindness of God—who gave his son to die so that we who were his enemies can be here as his sons and daughters.  And when we forget the lovingkindness of God, we tend to become unloving ourselves—just like the Pharisees. Remember how Paul rebuked the Corinthians saying that they could have all sorts of spiritual gifts, but without love, they were might as well just be clanging cymbals?  Well, here's how John puts that same sentiment in today's Epistle—form the third chapter of his first letter: We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the family.  Anyone who does not love abides in death.  Everyone who hates his brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has the life of the coming age abiding in him.  This is how we know love: [Jesus] laid down his life for us.  And we too ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.  Anyone who has the means of life in this world, and sees a brother or sister in need, and closes his heart against them—how can God's love be abiding in him?  Children, let us not love in word or in speech, but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:14-18) Does God's love abide in us?  I think that all too often, we come to the banquet, to the Lord's Table.  We eat the bread and we drink the wine, but we've forgotten the amazing sacrifice of love in which we participate here.  We take the Lord's feast for granted.  Or maybe we eat it for the wrong reasons.  But we find some kind of assurance here, the Table reminds us that we belong to God and to his family, but then we go out into the world—or maybe we even interact with our brothers and sisters here—and instead of being bubbles of gospel light in the darkness, instead of being bubbles of God's future here in the present, we're darkness.  We call ourselves God's sons and daughters, we follow the rules, but there's no love.  We eat the Lord's bread and we drink the Lord's wine and we should be reminded of God's great provision for us, of his great blessings, but we ignore the needy.  Here we're reminded that in Jesus and because of his death on our behalf, we've been given life and have a share in God's new creation, but too often we keep it to ourselves instead of taking it to the highways and hedges.  Here we have the means of life, the gospel, the good news about Jesus, crucified and risen.  We know the gracious lovingkindness of God.  We don't belong here, but he's invited us anyway.  He's forgiven our sins and filled us with his Spirit and given us a promise of new creation.  And we go out to a world in need, people suffering physically and people dying spiritually, and we close our hearts against them. So, Brothers and Sisters, come the Lord's Table this morning and be reminded that in Jesus, God has humbled himself and given his life for our sake.  This is the defining act of love.  But don't just remember.  The Lord's Supper is more than an intellectual exercise.  As we eat the Lord's bread and drink his wine, we participate in that great act of love ourselves.  So be shaped, be transformed by the love of God made manifest at the cross.  Every time you come to the Table and participate in God's perfect love, let it define you more and more.  Abide in God's love and, more and more, let God's love abide in you, that you might truly be a gospel light in the darkness. Let us pray: Father, you delight to show mercy to sinners and you graciously sent your Son to suffer the punishment we deserve.  We have received your grace and have been given new life.  Remind us to set aside all thoughts of self-righteousness.  Give us opportunities now to share your gracious love with others—with each other and with the world, that everyone we encounter may be transformed by your gospel.  We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Send us a textActs 15:1-4But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. Support the show

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You know, when I was growing up, it was a pretty long trip to get to the ocean. I grew up in Illinois, so we didn't have a lot of ocean experience. Needless to say, when I lived along the East Coast for over 20 years, I became fascinated with the ocean. I still love to watch it, I love to walk along the beach, I love to romp in the waves a little, but I haven't gotten used to those big breakers rolling in. Hey, listen, I'm a lake boy, okay; a pool kid. But those big old waves, they make me feel as if they could pick me up and carry me all the way to England, which I would rather fly to anyway than go by way of the Atlantic Ocean. But I have good friends who really know what to do with those giant waves. They've taught me that what you do is you surf on it if you know how, and they're good at it. They wait for that big old curl to come roaring down on them, they leap on their surfboard and they ride that wave. Now, I see a mega wave as a threat. My friends? They see it as a vehicle. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Surfing the Wave That Could Sink You." Now, our word for today from the Word of God comes from Acts 8, and it talks about the day that a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem. All except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. It really sounds like a large wave coming in against God's people. But listen to what they did with it. "Those who had been scattered," chapter 8, verse 4 says, "preached the Word wherever they went." Now, here is this violent enemy attack on the infant church, and it forces the believers out of their little nest in Jerusalem. Probably losing their home, and their family connections, and possibly their job. What did they do? Did they sink? No, they surfed on that big wave! They started spreading the Gospel in all the places they were forced to go. Now, that's just what God had predicted in Acts 1:8, when He said, "You'll be My witnesses in Jerusalem, then Judea and Samaria, and in the uttermost parts of the earth." But they weren't leaving Jerusalem until this persecution hit. See, the attacks of the enemy often end up facilitating the plans of God (don't you love it?), because of how believers handle the heavy waves of crisis that come crashing toward them. You could do that. It's called capturing your crisis for Christ. This type of believer surfs on a wave of trouble instead of sinking under it. Let's fast-forward 2,000 years from the book of Acts to your life right now. You've got pressure. What's the wave that's coming in at you right now? You've got stress, you've got some anxiety. Can you see it? There's a crisis that's threatening you, or maybe a disappointment, or a disease, a disaster. Capture your crisis for Christ. Do what these early Christians did. They used it as a platform to proclaim Jesus. They said, "Well, if the crisis has forced me into a place I never wanted to be, I'm going to use this as a place to proclaim Christ." Basically, they believed that their situation was their assignment wherever God put them. See, the crises of life put us in positions where a lot of folks are watching what we do; where we meet new people, where we can find a platform for saying, "Jesus is enough, even in this; especially in this situation." Now, the enemy would love to use this wave that you see coming at you to sink you, but don't go down under it. Remember, your situation is your assignment from God. Do what the great surfers do! Ride on top of this wave; surf on it. Capture it for Christ.

Matt 28:19-20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Then, Jesus gives these three commands and a promise. Let's take a look at each one. Command 1: Make Disciples: Command 2: Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: Command 3: Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you: The Promise: And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age: Acts 1:8: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Now, where do we actually do this? Jerusalem (where we are now)Judea and Samaria (neighboring areas) End of the earth (all other places)

====================================================SUSCRIBETEhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNpffyr-7_zP1x1lS89ByaQ?sub_confirmation=1====================================================DEVOCIÓN MATUTINA PARA ADULTOS 2025“CON JESÚS HOY”Narrado por: Exyomara AvilaDesde: Bogotá, ColombiaUna cortesía de DR'Ministries y Canaan Seventh-Day Adventist Church ===================|| www.drministries.org ||===================26 de JunioDerribando muros«Y le era necesario pasar por Samaria» (Juan 4: 4).Como Samaria estaba entre Judea y Galilea, a Jesús le era necesario pasar por Samaria si quería seguir el camino más corto. Pero eso no era lo que hacían sus contemporáneos judíos, que preferían bordear Samaria antes que cruzar sus fronteras. Eso significa que nada le obligaba a pasar por Samaria, pero quería hacerlo, derribando así el muro de prejuicios que separaba a ambos pueblos.Nuestro mundo está lleno de fronteras, barreras y muros de separación. Recuerdo la euforia con la que millones de europeos celebramos la caída del muro de Berlín aquel histórico 9 de noviembre de 1989. De sus ruinas todavía conservo un pedazo, recogido allí mismo poco después. Un muro que había separado durante decenios de guerra fría la Alemania Oriental de la llamada «Alemania libre».La caída de ese muro supuso para muchos el cambio del curso de su historia. Marcó el final de un orden mundial basado en el contrapeso de dos bloques político-económicos antagónicos, separados por un «telón de acero», y dio paso al complejo «equilibrio» (o desequilibrio) de poderes en el que vivimos desde entonces. Porque los grandes problemas del mundo no quedaron resueltos con la mera caída del muro.Con el mismo fin de defender intereses, de aislar y separar, muchos otros muros han sido erigidos en nuestro complejo mundo, desde la antigua Gran Muralla China, hasta el reciente muro que Israel sigue construyendo para delimitar los territorios palestinos, o los que otras potencias justifican para defenderse de presuntas invasiones frente a los millones de emigrantes, expatriados, refugiados o exiliados de nuestros tiempos.Derribado el Muro de Berlín, surgieron otros. Y siguen reforzándose muros, fronteras y barreras de todo tipo: de amenazas, de injusticias, de intereses, de prejuicios, de pobreza, de racismo, de miedo, de silencio.Jesús no se sintió encerrado por los muros de prejuicios de su entorno. Al cruzar la frontera de Samaria empezó a extender el reino de Dios fuera de los territorios de Israel y a reclutar para su proyecto a colaboradores no judíos, empezando por una mujer: la primera persona misionera cristiana de la historia (Juan 4: 28-42).Su gran proyecto para la humanidad incluye la importante tarea de unir a todos los pueblos, «derribando la pared intermedia de separación» (Efe. 2: 14) con la que los seres humanos nos aislamos por nacionalidades, lenguas, etnias, géneros y un largo etcétera.Señor, derriba en mi propia mente y corazón cualquier muro que me separe de ti o de mis semejantes. 

Listen to the Message from Sunday, June 22, 2025 Honor's Reward: How Doors of Blessing Open   Summary of "Power of the Lord Always Present" b Luke 5:17, Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18 Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. 19 And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. 20 When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you" This message highlights the truth that God's power is always present wherever His presence is. Drawing from Luke 5:17, where Jesus taught among Pharisees and religious leaders, the Scripture notes, “the power of the Lord was present to heal them.” However, healing didn't happen automatically—it required faith and action. The story of the paralyzed man lowered through the roof by his friends shows how persistent, active faith can tap into God's healing power. Jesus responded not to passivity, but to visible faith. He forgave the man's sins, resulting in both spiritual and physical healing, demonstrating that healing of the soul and body are often connected. Key takeaways: The Lord's power is always available when He is present. That power must be activated by faith. Faith requires action—not just belief, but effort and persistence. Jesus doesn't always “pray” for healing; sometimes He simply declares wholeness. Let your actions reflect faith, as “faith without works is dead” (James). The message ends by encouraging listeners to keep this truth in mind daily and to check out the related message, “Honor's Reward: How Doors of Blessing Open.”

Acts 15:1, 2b-4a, 5-12 - [After many Gentiles came to faith in Jesus,] some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And … Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed … But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.” The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the Gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did to us, and He made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Luke 1:57-66, 80 - When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel. Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist Saint John, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3) Must artificial intelligence open the door to "that hideous strength" described by C.S. Lewis?" asks Father Dwight Longenecker. In Lewis' story, the National Institute of Co-ordinated Experiments (NICE) seeks world domination through science and technology, including transhumanist technology. Eighty years later, are we on the brink of such realities? https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2025/05/c-s-lewis-a-i-apocalypse-dwight-longenecker.html 4) Email comment to Terry & Jesse, "I don't believe in Jesus, the bible is full of errors and science is the only foundation of truth, and you should quit preaching lies!"

Gospel  Luke 1:5-17 In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years. Once when he was serving as priest in his division's turn before God, according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense. Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. John will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn their hearts toward their children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.” Reflection God makes promises to all of us. He made a promise to Zechariah and Elizabeth that they would have a son one day, and when the time pass for it to happen in this ordinary way, he lost sight of the promise, and gave up on it. And yet, when an angel appeared to him to tell him that this was going to happen, but it was going to happen in a way that was beyond anything that would have been normal, it was an extraordinary event, a woman far into her old age having a baby. But what the lesson seems to me to be that no matter how long it takes, no matter what form it takes, the promises that God makes to us will take place. We have to believe. We have to trust, or we are not going to be open to when it does happen. Closing Prayer Father, bless us with an ability to trust beyond what is logical. What is practical. You've made a promise to all of us that we will know you, we will live with you, you will dwell in us, and we will do things that are your work in others. Bless us with the faith that we need that never do we lose the hope that that will happen. Then we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the days of Herod, King of Judea,there was a priest named Zechariahof the priestly division of Abijah;his wife was from the daughters of Aaron,and her name was Elizabeth.Both were righteous in the eyes of God,observing all the commandmentsand ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barrenand both were advanced in years.Once when he was servingas priest in his division's turn before God,according to the practice of the priestly service,he was chosen by lotto enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outsideat the hour of the incense offering,the angel of the Lord appeared to him,standing at the right of the altar of incense.Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him.But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah,because your prayer has been heard.Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,and you shall name him John.And you will have joy and gladness,and many will rejoice at his birth,for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.John will drink neither wine nor strong drink.He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb,and he will turn many of the children of Israelto the Lord their God.He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijahto turn their hearts toward their childrenand the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous,to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”

Meditación del Evangelio según San Lucas 1, 57-66.80 por el biblista P. Norberto Padilla, misionero claretiano.Martes, 24/jun/2025, Solemnidad del nacimiento de Juan Bautista. Se va a llamar Juan.Canción: Instrumento de tu amor (2017), de Verónica Sanfilippo----------Lectura del santo evangelio según san Lucas 1, 57-66.80A Isabel se le cumplió el tiempo y dio a luz un hijo. Se enteraron sus vecinos y parientes de que el Señor le había hecho una gran misericordia, y la felicitaban. A los ocho días fueron a circuncidar al niño, y lo llamaban Zacarías, como a su padre. La madre intervino diciendo: "No. Se va a llamar Juan." Le replicaron: "Ninguno de tus parientes se llama así." Entonces preguntaban por señas al padre cómo quería que se llamase. Él pidió una tablilla y escribió: "Juan es su nombre." Todos se quedaron extrañados e inmediatamente se le soltó la boca y la lengua, y empezó a hablar bendiciendo a Dios. Los vecinos quedaron sobrecogidos, y corrió la noticia por toda la montaña de Judea. Y todos los que lo oían reflexionaban diciendo: "¿Qué va a ser este niño?" Porque la mano de Dios estaba con él. El niño iba creciendo y su carácter se afianzaba; vivió en el desierto hasta que se presentó a Israel.Palabra del Señor... Gloria a ti, Señor Jesús#SoyClaretiano #Evangelio #MisionerosClaretianos #CMFAntillasIntro: Lámpara Es Tu Palabra, de Ain Karem

+ Evangelio de nuestro Señor Jesucristo según san Lucas 1, 57-66. 80 Cuando llegó el tiempo en que Isabel debía ser madre, dio a luz un hijo. Al enterarse sus vecinos y parientes de la gran misericordia con que Dios la había tratado, se alegraban con ella. A los ocho días, se reunieron para circuncidar al niño, y querían llamarlo Zacarías, como su padre; pero la madre dijo: «No, debe llamarse Juan.» Ellos le decían: «No hay nadie en tu familia que lleve ese nombre.» Entonces preguntaron por señas al padre qué nombre quería que le pusieran. Este pidió una pizarra y escribió: «Su nombre es Juan.» Todos quedaron admirados. Y en ese mismo momento, Zacarías recuperó el habla y comenzó a alabar a Dios. Este acontecimiento produjo una gran impresión entre la gente de los alrededores, y se lo comentaba en toda la región montañosa de Judea. Todos los que se enteraron guardaban este recuerdo en su corazón y se decían: «¿Qué llegará a ser este niño?» Porque la mano del Señor estaba con él. El niño iba creciendo y se fortalecía en su espíritu; y vivió en lugares desiertos hasta el día en que se manifestó a Israel.Palabra del Señor.

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

Lc 1,57-66.80.Cuando llegó el tiempo en que Isabel debía ser madre, dio a luz un hijo.Al enterarse sus vecinos y parientes de la gran misericordia con que Dios la había tratado, se alegraban con ella.A los ocho días, se reunieron para circuncidar al niño, y querían llamarlo Zacarías, como su padre;pero la madre dijo: "No, debe llamarse Juan".Ellos le decían: "No hay nadie en tu familia que lleve ese nombre".Entonces preguntaron por señas al padre qué nombre quería que le pusieran.Este pidió una pizarra y escribió: "Su nombre es Juan". Todos quedaron admirados.Y en ese mismo momento, Zacarías recuperó el habla y comenzó a alabar a Dios.Este acontecimiento produjo una gran impresión entre la gente de los alrededores, y se lo comentaba en toda la región montañosa de Judea.Todos los que se enteraron guardaban este recuerdo en su corazón y se decían: "¿Qué llegará a ser este niño?". Porque la mano del Señor estaba con él.El niño iba creciendo y se fortalecía en su espíritu; y vivió en lugares desiertos hasta el día en que se manifestó a Israel.

57 Now Elizabeth's full time of being delivered was come, and she brought forth a son.Elisabeth autem impletum est tempus pariendi, et peperit filium. 58 And her neighbours and kinsfolks heard that the Lord had shewed his great mercy towards her, and they congratulated with her.Et audierunt vicini et cognati ejus quia magnificavit Dominus misericordiam suam cum illa, et congratulabantur ei. 59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called him by his father's name Zachary.Et factum est in die octavo, venerunt circumcidere puerum, et vocabant eum nomine patris sui Zachariam. 60 And his mother answering, said: Not so; but he shall be called John.Et respondens mater ejus, dixit : Nequaquam, sed vocabitur Joannes. 61 And they said to her: There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.Et dixerunt ad illam : Quia nemo est in cognatione tua, qui vocetur hoc nomine. 62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.Innuebant autem patri ejus, quem vellet vocari eum. 63 And demanding a writing table, he wrote, saying: John is his name. And they all wondered.Et postulans pugillarem scripsit, dicens : Joannes est nomen ejus. Et mirati sunt universi. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.Apertum est autem illico os ejus, et lingua ejus, et loquebatur benedicens Deum. 65 And fear came upon all their neighbours; and all these things were noised abroad over all the hill country of Judea.Et factus est timor super omnes vicinos eorum : et super omnia montana Judaeae divulgabantur omnia verba haec : 66 And all they that had heard them laid them up in their heart, saying: What an one, think ye, shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.et posuerunt omnes qui audierant in corde suo, dicentes : Quis, putas, puer iste erit? etenim manus Domini erat cum illo. 67 And Zachary his father was filled with the Holy Ghost; and he prophesied, saying:Et Zacharias pater ejus repletus est Spiritu Sancto : et prophetavit, dicens : 68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people:Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel, quia visitavit, et fecit redemptionem plebis suae 

Por aquellos días, le llegó a Isabel la hora de dar a luz y tuvo un hijo. Cuando sus vecinos y parientes se enteraron de que el Señor le había manifestado tan grande misericordia, se regocijaron con ella.A los ocho días fueron a circuncidar al niño y le querían poner Zacarías, como su padre; pero la madre se opuso, diciéndoles: “No. Su nombre será Juan”. Ellos le decían: “Pero si ninguno de tus parientes se llama así”.Entonces le preguntaron por señas al padre cómo quería que se llamara el niño. Él pidió una tablilla y escribió: “Juan es su nombre”. Todos se quedaron extrañados. En ese momento a Zacarías se le soltó la lengua, recobró el habla y empezó a bendecir a Dios.Un sentimiento de temor se apoderó de los vecinos y en toda la región montañosa de Judea se comentaba este suceso. Cuantos se enteraban de ello se preguntaban impresionados: “¿Qué va a ser de este niño?” Esto lo decían, porque realmente la mano de Dios estaba con él.El niño se iba desarrollando físicamente y su espíritu se iba fortaleciendo, y vivió en el desierto hasta el día en que se dio a conocer al pueblo de Israel.

Natividad de San Juan BautistaSan Lucas 1, 57 – 66. 80Cuando llegó el tiempo en que Isabel debía ser madre, dio a luz un hijo. Al enterarse sus vecinos y parientes de la gran misericordia con que Dios la había tratado, se alegraban con ella. A los ocho días, se reunieron para circuncidar al niño, y querían llamarlo Zacarías, como su padre; pero la madre dijo: "No, debe llamarse Juan". Ellos le decían: "No hay nadie en tu familia que lleve ese nombre".Entonces preguntaron por señas al padre qué nombre quería que le pusieran. Este pidió una pizarra y escribió: "Su nombre es Juan". Todos quedaron admirados. Y en ese mismo momento, Zacarías recuperó el habla y comenzó a alabar a Dios.Este acontecimiento produjo una gran impresión entre la gente de los alrededores, y se lo comentaba en toda la región montañosa de Judea. Todos los que se enteraron guardaban este recuerdo en su corazón y se decían: "¿Qué llegará a ser este niño?". Porque la mano del Señor estaba con él. El niño iba creciendo y se fortalecía en su espíritu; y vivió en lugares desiertos hasta el día en que se manifestó a Israel.………………..Además puedes escuchar el Evangelio diario en las siguientes plataformas:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2M0Ubx3Jh55B6W3b20c3GOApple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evangelio-del-d%C3%ADa/id1590423907 Para más información puede consultar nuestro sitio: https://www.vozcatolica.com o escríbanos a info@vozcatolica.com .Si quiere colaborar con este Apostolado lo puede hacer dirigiéndose a: https://vozcatolica.com/ayudanos . Desde ya muchas gracias.

Enjoy this week's session 230 of the Land of Israel Fellowship recorded live on June 22, 2025. (Torah Parsha Shelach) Join The Land of Israel Fellowship and gain access to all the Bible teachings from Judea and receive your personal invitation to join the exclusive live online gatherings with families around the world every week. Fellowship: thelandofisrael.com/membership/ YouTube: @thelandofisrael‬ FB: www.facebook.com/TheLandofIsraelcom/ X: x.com/thelandofisrael

Acts 2:14-21 ESV  14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'

 5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zachary, of the course of Abia; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth.Fuit in diebus Herodis, regis Judaeae, sacerdos quidam nomine Zacharias de vice Abia, et uxor illius de filiabus Aaron, et nomen ejus Elisabeth. 6 And they were both just before God, walking in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord without blame.Erant autem justi ambo ante Deum, incedentes in omnibus mandatis et justificationibus Domini sine querela. 7 And they had no son, for that Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.Et non erat illis filius, eo quod esset Elisabeth sterilis, et ambo processissent in diebus suis. 8 And it came to pass, when he executed the priestly function in the order of his course before God,Factum est autem, cum sacerdotio fungeretur in ordine vicis suae ante Deum, 9 According to the custom of the priestly office, it was his lot to offer incense, going into the temple of the Lord.secundum consuetudinem sacerdotii, sorte exiit ut incensum poneret, ingressus in templum Domini : 10 And all the multitude of the people was praying without, at the hour of incense.et omnis multitudo populi erat orans foris hora incensi. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.Apparuit autem illi angelus Domini, stans a dextris altaris incensi. 12 And Zachary seeing him, was troubled, and fear fell upon him.Et Zacharias turbatus est videns, et timor irruit super eum. 13 But the angel said to him: Fear not, Zachary, for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John:Ait autem ad illum angelus : Ne timeas, Zacharia, quoniam exaudita est deprecatio tua : et uxor tua Elisabeth pariet tibi filium, et vocabis nomen ejus Joannem : 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice in his nativity.et erit gaudium tibi, et exsultatio, et multi in nativitate ejus gaudebunt : 15 For he shall be great before the Lord; and shall drink no wine nor strong drink: and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.erit enim magnus coram Domino : et vinum et siceram non bibet, et Spiritu Sancto replebitur adhuc ex utero matris suae : 16 And he shall convert many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.et multos filiorum Israel convertet ad Dominum Deum ipsorum : 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias; that he may turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the incredulous to the wisdom of the just, to prepare unto the Lord a perfect people.et ipse praecedet ante illum in spiritu et virtute Eliae : ut convertat corda patrum in filios, et incredulos ad prudentiam justorum, parare Domino plebem perfectam.

Muchos más recursos para tu vida de fe (Santo Rosario, Oración, etc.) en nuestra web https://sercreyente.com________________Martes, 24 de junio de 2025 (Natividad de San Juan Bautista)Evangelio del día y reflexión... ¡Deja que la Palabra del Señor transforme tu vida! Texto íntegro del Evangelio y de la Reflexión en https://sercreyente.com/24-junio-natividad-de-san-juan-bautista/[Lucas 1, 57-66.80] A Isabel se le cumplió el tiempo del parto y dio a luz un hijo. Se enteraron sus vecinos y parientes de que el Señor le había hecho una gran misericordia, y se alegraban con ella. A los ocho días vinieron a circuncidar al niño, y querían llamarlo Zacarías, como su padre; pero la madre intervino diciendo: «¡No! Se va a llamar Juan». Y le dijeron: «Ninguno de tus parientes se llama así». Entonces preguntaban por señas al padre cómo quería que se llamase. Él pidió una tablilla y escribió: «Juan es su nombre». Y todos se quedaron maravillados. Inmediatamente se le soltó la boca y la lengua, y empezó a hablar bendiciendo a Dios. Los vecinos quedaron sobrecogidos, y se comentaban todos estos hechos por toda la montaña de Judea. Y todos los que los oían reflexionaban diciendo: «Pues ¿qué será este niño?». Porque la mano del Señor estaba con él. El niño crecía y se fortalecía en el espíritu, y vivía en lugares desiertos hasta los días de su manifestación a Israel.________________Descárgate la app de SerCreyente en https://sercreyente.com/app/¿Conoces nuestra Oración Online? Más información en: https://sercreyente.com/oracion¿Quieres recibir cada día el Evangelio en tu whatsapp? Alta en: www.sercreyente.com/whatsappTambién puedes hacer tu donativo en https://sercreyente.com/ayudanos/Contacto: info@sercreyente.com

+ Del Evangelio según san Lucas +Por aquellos días, le llegó a Isabel la hora de dar a luz y tuvo un hijo. Cuando sus vecinos y parientes se enteraron de que el Señor le había manifestado tan grande misericordia, se regocijaron con ella.A los ocho días fueron a circuncidar al niño y le querían poner Zacarías, como su padre; pero la madre se opuso, diciéndoles: "No. Su nombre será Juan". Ellos le decían: "Pero si ninguno de tus parientes se llama así".Entonces le preguntaron por señas al padre cómo quería que se llamara el niño. Él pidió una tablilla y escribió: "Juan es su nombre". Todos se quedaron extrañados. En ese momento a Zacarías se le soltó la lengua, recobró el habla y empezó a bendecir a Dios.Un sentimiento de temor se apoderó de los vecinos, y en toda la región montañosa de Judea se comentaba este suceso. Cuantos se enteraban de ello se preguntaban impresionados: "¿Qué va a ser de este niño?" Esto lo decían, porque realmente la mano de Dios estaba con él.El niño se iba desarrollando físicamente y su espíritu se iba fortaleciendo, y vivió en el desierto hasta el día en que se dio a conocer al pueblo de Israel.Palabra del Señor.

Study 23- Luke 18:31–19:27 Seeing and trusting There are 4 sections in this study all of which have something to do with seeing and not seeing, understanding and not understanding or just plain hidden. The first section, Luke 18: 31–34 serves as a summary of what is to follow. Do read Luke 18:31-34. The disciples had a reasonable excuse for not understanding. What Jesus was saying was so strange and unexpected they could be forgiven for not understanding. But we, in all probability, have some knowledge of how things turned out so we do not have that excuse. v 34 provides a challenge to us, the readers or hearers: will we be blind or deaf, will we see or hear and understand? Blindness and sight are metaphors for no faith and faith. Have you moved from blindness to sight? Remind yourself what the effect of your blindness was and how you first knew that you were seeing or, if you are in a group, share together your journey from blindness to sight, darkness to light. Question 1: What is the significance of the rising sequence of names given to Jesus by the blind man (named as Bartimaeus, literally ‘son of filth’, in Mk 10: 46). Those names are Jesus of Nazareth; Jesus, son of David; Lord. Jesus of Nazareth probably meant to him the prophet with power to heal and who would have compassion on him; Jesus, son of David, meant Jesus was the Messiah; Lord that Jesus was worth following. The question and answer in 18: 41 may appear strange but begging was a profession in those days as it still is in some countries, dependant on a visible handicap and providing a good income. If the man was cured of his blindness he would have to find a job with no skills or experience to call on. Question 2: The emphasis is not on Bartimaeus’ restored sight but his faith (18: 42, 43). What exactly did his faith consist of? What is this miracle saying to us? The important phrase is ‘he followed Jesus’. He must have known something about Jesus or he would not have made so much noise trying to attract his attention. We, too, are not expected to start from detailed knowledge about what following Jesus means. We, too, are expected to get up (metaphorically speaking) and follow him. Do read Luke 19: 1–10. Zacchaeus was not only short of stature; he was a collaborator with the hated Romans. He would not dare to push his way to the front of the crowd for fear of a knife in his back. So he ran ahead! Not what an important man should do. But the crowd saw him go and mocked him so that Jesus learned his name. Jesus was intending to go straight through Jericho so that he would not have to spend time (possibly days?) being entertained with full ceremony. But he is prepared to go to Zacchaeus’ house. Question 3: Note the significance of seeing in this account. Who does the seeing? Everybody. Zacchaeus had to take action to see Jesus, Jesus sees him; the crowd sees what is going on and starts to mutter. The servant figure of Is 53 takes hostility meant for others on himself. Statements there like: “he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” reflect the costly love that Jesus gives to Zacchaeus? Question 4: We read earlier in this chapter that the rich man/camel had to go through the eye of the needle! What happened to prove that Zaccheus didn’t dodge round? The promises of repayment Zacchaeus made are far reaching. If you do the Maths on what he said you will see that if he had cheated just on one eighth of his debtors he would end up with nothing. Perhaps he is saying that he has been a good man and that he has not been cheating in the past? Do read Luke 19: 11–27. Luke does not use the parable of the minas to teach successful stewardship as Matthew uses it in Matt 25: 14–30 but to explain the apparent non-appearance of the Kingdom (the people thought the kingdom of God was going to appear at once 19: 11). The parable uses a well-known and well-understood situation. 73 years earlier Herod the Great, second son of the just assassinated king, made a successful journey to Rome to petition Caesar to appoint him the next king of Judea. Later, about 37 years before Luke wrote, Herod’s son Archelaus had made a similar, but unsuccessful, journey seeking the same thing. (A ‘mina’ was about 100 days wages for a working man.) Queston 5: What would be the likely outcome for a servant of the would-be king if (a) the petitioner who would be king was successful, (b) he was unsuccessful? By their actions the servants would demonstrate their allegiance or otherwise to the man seeking to be king. Their future livelihoods, or possibly their lives, would be dependant on having chosen the right option. The last phrase of v 15 should perhaps read ‘how much trading have you done’ effectively asking how conspicuous have you been while I was away when it was known that you supported me. If I win, you win. If I lose, you lose. Question 6: How was this relevant to the developing situation as Jesus travelled to Jerusalem? How is it relevant to us? If he was indeed the Messiah he claimed to be and they showed their loyalty by open declaration of their support of him they would gain. If he wasn’t, they would be in a very dangerous situation. At least that was the way it looked. Things did not quite work out in that straightforward way. He was indeed the Messiah but they were still in a dangerous situation, humanly speaking. But in the vast story of human history they became very important. The comment of the third servant in 19: 21 must have been meant as a complement! He must have been suggesting that his master was something like a warlord in a country with much internal fighting going on! Question 7: How can this and the master’s reply (v 21, 22) be related to Jesus, or to God? Ps 18: 25, 26 relates to this sort of situation. It says of God ‘To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.’ It suggest that, at least in part, our understanding of God will depend on our general attitudes. Question 8: The final comment in 19: 27 ‘But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them — bring them here and kill them in front of me. is realistic in the Judaean kingship, or warlord, scenario. How can it possibly be related to Jesus, or God? This is another unfinished story. We are told what the enemies deserved, not what actually happened to them. Compare what we deserve and what we actually get from the Lord. After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. So says 19: 28, finally bringing to an end the long account of the journey of Jesus to Jerusalem and introducing the last phase of Luke’s account of Jesus’ life, death and victory. Tap or click here to save/download this as a MP3 audio file

Lucas 1, 57-66. 80: Por aquellos días, le llegó a Isabel la hora de dar a luz y tuvo un hijo. Cuando sus vecinos y parientes se enteraron de que el Señor le había manifestado tan grande misericordia, se regocijaron con ella.A los ocho días fueron a circuncidar al niño y le querían poner Zacarías, como su padre; pero la madre se opuso, diciéndoles: “No. Su nombre será Juan”. Ellos le decían: “Pero si ninguno de tus parientes se llama así”.Entonces le preguntaron por señas al padre cómo quería que se llamara el niño. Él pidió una tablilla y escribió: “Juan es su nombre”. Todos se quedaron extrañados. En ese momento a Zacarías se le soltó la lengua, recobró el habla y empezó a bendecir a Dios.Un sentimiento de temor se apoderó de los vecinos y en toda la región montañosa de Judea se comentaba este suceso. Cuantos se enteraban de ello se preguntaban impresionados: “¿Qué va a ser de este niño?” Esto lo decían, porque realmente la mano de Dios estaba con él.El niño se iba desarrollando físicamente y su espíritu se iba fortaleciendo, y vivió en el desierto hasta el día en que se dio a conocer al pueblo de Israel. 

In this message, we explore the surprising ways God works through adversity to expand His kingdom. The story of the early church in Acts 8 shows us how persecution led to the spread of the Gospel beyond Jerusalem. We see that what seems negative at first - the scattering of believers - actually fulfills Jesus' command to be witnesses in Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. This reminds us that God can use difficult circumstances in our lives for a greater purpose. The conversion of Samaritans, a group despised by Jews, demonstrates God's love for all people and challenges us to look beyond cultural barriers. As we reflect on this, we're encouraged to trust God's plan even when it's uncomfortable or unexpected, and to be open to sharing the Gospel with those we might normally avoid.

JUNE 22 | III The Advancement of the Kingdom | Mark 3:7-19Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him. Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

JUNE 22 | III The Advancement of the Kingdom | Mark 3:7-19Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

JUNE 22 | III The Advancement of the Kingdom | Mark 3:7-19Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him. Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

JUNE 22 | III The Advancement of the Kingdom | Mark 3:7-19Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him. Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Fr. Mike zeroes in on how Uzziah's prideful desire to worship God in his own way led to his tragic death. We are reminded once again how easily the kings over Judea strayed away from God after achieving greatness. Today's readings are 2 Kings 3, 2 Chronicles 26-27, and Psalm 72. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

====================================================SUSCRIBETEhattps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNpffyr-7_zP1x1lS89ByaQ?sub_confirmation=1====================================================DEVOCIÓN MATUTINA PARA ADOLESCENTES 2025“HABLEMOS CLARO”Narrado por: Mone MuñozDesde: Buenos Aires, ArgentinaUna cortesía de DR'Ministries y Canaan Seventh-Day Adventist Church===================|| www.drministries.org ||===================21 de JunioNuestra misión"Pero recibiréis poder, cuando haya venido sobre vosotros el Espíritu Santo, y me seréis testigos en Jerusalén, en toda Judea, en Samaria, y hasta lo último de la tierra" (Hechos 1:8, RV60).En un evento de jóvenes en Perú, el aire estaba cargado con algo más poderoso que la altitud de Lima: una misión. Fue allí donde conocí a Mateo, un chico cuya historia es como una llama que no puedes apagar. "Hechos 1:8 no es solo un versículo; es un estilo de vida", aseguró. Y vaya que lo vive.Estar parado ahí, escuchando a Mateo, me hizo pensar en mis propios días. En cómo a veces paso por la vida como si estuviera en "modo avión", desconectado de lo que realmente importa. Pero Mateo... Mateo está siempre en línea directa con el Espíritu Santo.Él me contó cómo sale a las calles y habla de Jesús con una valentía que contagia. Pero no es solo palabrería; Mateo camina su fe. Me habló de su servicio en un hogar de ancianos, cómo comparte historias de Jesús y cómo, a través de esas palabras, les devuelve a muchos la dignidad y el amor que el mundo les ha negado.Su pasión me golpeó fuerte, como un solo de guitarra eléctrica que te deja zumbando. Mateo no espera a que llegue el cambio; él es el cambio. Y eso me hizo preguntarme: ¿Y yo? "Seréis mis testigos", dice el versículo; y de pronto me veo a mí mismo, con ese mismo llamado vibrando en mis huesos.Ahora lo veo claro: Mi Jerusalén, mi Judea, mi Samaria... están justo aquí, en mi barrio, entre mi grupo de amigos... incluso en la tienda de la esquina. La misión no es solo para Mateo; ¡es mía también! Es nuestra.Oración: Padre celestial, aquí estoy, con mi corazón dispuesto y mi fe encendida. Llena mi vida con tu poder para que, como Mateo, sea un reflejo vivo de tu amor. 

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Acts 12 6 The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. 7 Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. 8 Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered. 9 So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn't realize it was actually happening. 10 They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him. 11 Peter finally came to his senses. “It's really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!” 12 When he realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer. 13 He knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it. 14 When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, “Peter is standing at the door!” 15 “You're out of your mind!” they said. When she insisted, they decided, “It must be his angel.” 16 Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed. 17 He motioned for them to quiet down and told them how the Lord had led him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers what happened,” he said. And then he went to another place. 18 At dawn there was a great commotion among the soldiers about what had happened to Peter. 19 Herod Agrippa ordered a thorough search for him. When he couldn't be found, Herod interrogated the guards and sentenced them to death. Afterward Herod left Judea to stay in Caesarea for a while.   Gods ways are not our ways…   Peter is out cold waiting to be executed…   It took a group of people praying… how is your church at that? How are your friends at that?   God broke the law by breaking Peter out of Jail.   Rhoda was so awestruck that she left Peter in the dark.   Peter though freed was wise enough to tell everyone to be quiet…    He was free, but also smart enough to get out of town.   God's plan does not seem fair or make much sense and even might seem cruel. Herod had the guards all executed for their role in this… fair, unfair.. its up to God to decide… we just follow orders of the Holy Spirit.    Did you ever think that maybe we limit God moving in our life because we want answers that are supernatural, but safe and in order?  God is not like that.

What does Yerushalayim represent? How does the current conflict with Iran impact upon that?   Were the Jews expelled from Jerusalem after the Temple was destroyed? Why did the Romans rebuild the city? Who were the Byzantines who occupied Eretz Yisrael for 300 years? How did the Jews get permission to start rebuilding the Temple and why was it ultimately unsuccessful?   Chapters 00:00 The Historical Significance of Jerusalem 03:05 Jerusalem: A City of Conflict and Unity 05:52 The Role of Prayer in Jewish Identity 08:50 Reflections on Leadership and Faith 11:56 The Roman Destruction and Its Aftermath 14:46 The Impact of Hadrian's Rule 17:53 The Bar Kokhba Revolt and Its Consequences 28:04 The Destruction of Judea and Jewish Martyrdom 31:32 Christianity's Shift and the Loss of Jerusalem's Centrality 35:31 Constantine's Reign and the Christianization of Jerusalem 40:36 Helena's Influence and the Rise of Christian Pilgrimage 44:22 Julian's Brief Reprieve for the Jews 49:02 Justinian's Persecution and the Transformation of Jerusalem 52:50 The Persian Conquest and Jewish Resurgence 56:27 The Muslim Era and Jewish Return to Jerusalem

Learn about all of the members of the ruling family of Judea in the New Testament.Support us on Patreon for Member access to our special podcast series on the Gospel of John (season 1) and Exodus (season 2) when it releases in July 2025.Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications Word & Table Episode Index

Enjoy this week's session 229 of the Land of Israel Fellowship recorded live on June 15, 2025. (Torah Parsha Beha'alotcha) Join The Land of Israel Fellowship and gain access to all the Bible teachings from Judea and receive your personal invitation to join the exclusive live online gatherings with families around the world every week. Fellowship: thelandofisrael.com/membership/ YouTube: @thelandofisrael‬ FB: www.facebook.com/TheLandofIsraelcom/ X: x.com/thelandofisrael

 Ezekiel 36:26–27, Acts 1:4–8, John 14:15–17, 25–27 The Spirit didn't arrive unexpectedly — He was promised by Jesus and foretold by the prophets.The Holy Spirit is the living fulfillment of God's plan to dwell within His people, continuing Jesus' presence and power in the world. Ezekiel 36:26–27 (ESV)And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.Acts 1:4–8 (ESV)And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”John 14:15–17, 25–27 (ESV)“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Send us a textActs 12:13-19When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time therSupport the show

ACTS of the Holy Spirit - A Study on the Book of Acts - Lesson 5Acts 6:1-8:3. The death of Stephen led to a great persecution of the believers in Jerusalem and many were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. But what was meant for evil, God used for good - they took the Gospel with them and shared it with everyone they met!To learn more about Michele and to support this international ministry, please visit https://intheword.com

Israeli Special Forces Commander, Joel Golden, now commands the Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria Brigade—his bullet-riddled truck a witness to the front lines of Oct. 7. On my recent trip to Israel, revival and warfare are converged. Today on the Endtime Show—A message of Pentecost from the White House, in the midst of chaos… Revival as the Spirit leads the way! --------------- 📚: Check out Jerusalem Prophecy College Online for less than $60 per course: https://jerusalemprophecycollege.com 📱: It's never been easier to understand. Stream Only Source and access exclusive content: https://watch.osn.tv/browse   ⭐️: Birch Gold: Claim your free info kit on gold: https://www.birchgold.com/endtime ☕️: First Cup Coffee: use code ENDTIME to get 10% off: https://www.firstcup.com 💵: American Financing: Begin saving today: https://www.americanfinancing.net/endtime Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Acts 2:14a, 22b-24, 31b-36 - But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. … Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves know—this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised Him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it … [King David] spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool.”' Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Welcome to Day 2649 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2649 – New Testament Orientation – The Book of Acts: The Spirit's Unstoppable Journey Putnam Church Message – 06/08/2025 Sermon Series: New Testament Orientation Message 7: The Book of Acts: The Spirit's Unstoppable Journey.   Last week, we explored: Jesus' Message to Gentiles & Jews - the Cross Core Verses: Hebrews 3:1-2 Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT) This week is Messager: 7 of 12 Title: The Book of Acts: The Spirit's Unstoppable Journey. Core Verses: Acts 1:8 Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT) Today is Pentecost, 50 days after the Resurrection Sunday. On this day, many representatives of the Israelites who had been taken into exile in the Assyria and Babylonian empires were in Jerusalem. The countries mentioned are also very similar to the nations dispersed at the Tower of Babbel being reunited again. The dispersed nations were being reunited to begin the construction of God's kingdom throughout the known world. As we get started this morning, let me set the stage by reading the account of Pentecost from Acts 2:1-12 On the day of Pentecost[a] all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages,[b] as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. 5 At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. 6 When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers. 7 They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, 8 and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! 9 Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” 12 They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other. The precursor to this passage is our core verse for today: Core Verses: Acts 1:8 (NLT) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in...