Podcasts about king god

Israel's Future in Bible Prophecy:  A Biblical Exposition   Introduction: The Setting from Luke 21 As we open our Bibles to the Gospel of Luke, chapter 21, we find Jesus standing on the Mount of Olives, overlooking the city of Jerusalem. His disciples marvel at the temple's grandeur, but the Lord turns their attention to far greater matters—the signs of the end times and the destiny of His people.    In Luke 21:20-24, Jesus declares: "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”   Here, the Lord Jesus foretells the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, a tragic fulfillment of judgment on unbelieving Israel.    Yet, notice the phrase "until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." This points beyond that historical event to a future restoration. The "times of the Gentiles" refer to the period when Gentile powers dominate Jerusalem, but it has an end. From this vantage, Jesus shifts in verses 25-28 to cosmic signs and His return:   "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”   Luke 21 sets the stage for our study: Israel's past rebellion, present trials, and glorious future under the Messiah's reign. God's Word promises that though Israel has stumbled, He will lift them up. Let us trace this thread through Scripture, seeing God's unchanging faithfulness to His covenant people. Israel's Past: From Abraham's Call to Repeated Rejection To understand Israel's future, we must first look back to her origins. God did not find Israel as a nation; He created her. In Genesis 12:1-3, the Lord calls Abram, a Gentile idol-worshiper from Ur of the Chaldees:   "Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”   Abram—later Abraham—became the father of the Jewish nation through Isaac and Jacob, whom God renamed Israel (Genesis 32:28). This was no accident of history; it was divine election. God promised Abraham an everlasting covenant in Genesis 17:7-8:   "And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”   This covenant is unconditional—based on God's promise, not Israel's performance. It includes land, seed, and blessing, and it stands today. God reiterated it to Isaac (Genesis 26:3-4) and Jacob (Genesis 28:13-15), forming the twelve tribes of Israel.   Yet, from the exodus onward, Israel repeatedly rejected her Creator. In the wilderness, they murmured against Moses and God (Exodus 17:3; Numbers 14:1-4). Entering the land, they turned to idols (Judges 2:11-13).    The kings, from Saul to the divided kingdom, led them into idolatry, culminating in Assyrian and Babylonian captivities (2 Kings 17:7-18; 2 Kings 25). Prophets like Jeremiah warned of judgment for covenant unfaithfulness (Jeremiah 3:6-10).   This pattern peaked in the rejection of the Messiah Himself. The Jewish leaders knew the Scriptures foretold His coming. Psalm 22:16-18 vividly describes His crucifixion:  "For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.”   Isaiah 53:3-6, 9-12 paints the suffering Servant: "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. ... And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”   Micah 5:2 pinpointed His birthplace in Bethlehem. Zechariah 9:9 described His humble entry on a donkey. The religious elite studied these texts daily. Yet, when Jesus fulfilled them—born in Bethlehem, riding into Jerusalem on a colt, bearing our sins on Calvary—they rejected Him defiantly, not blindly.   In John 1:11, we read: "He came unto his own, and his own received him not." They expected a conquering general to smash Rome, not a suffering Savior (Acts 1:6). But they knew. In Matthew 27:22-25, Pilate asks, "What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?" The crowd cries, "Let him be crucified." When warned of innocent blood, they shout, "His blood be on us, and on our children." This was open defiance. Peter charges in Acts 2:23: "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain."    And in Acts 7:51-52, Stephen indicts: "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers.”   Israel's history is one of gracious election met with stubborn rebellion. Yet God, in mercy, preserved a remnant through exile and diaspora, never forsaking His word.   Israel Today: A Tiny Nation Amid Global Hatred and Fleeting Peace Fast-forward to our day. Ethnic Israel—the Jewish people descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—numbers about 9.6 million worldwide, with roughly 7.3 million living in the modern State of Israel. This political entity, reestablished in 1948, occupies a land about 8,500 square miles—roughly seven times the size of Rhode Island, yet smaller than many U.S. states, squeezed between vast hostile neighbors. It's a miracle of survival: a people scattered for nearly 2,000 years, regathered to their ancient homeland against all odds.   But today, antisemitism surges like a tidal wave, especially in the United States. Reports show a 21% global rise in incidents in July 2025 alone, with the U.S. seeing nearly 70% of religion-based hate crimes targeting Jews. ADL surveys reveal antisemitism has woven into daily American Jewish life—on campuses, streets, and workplaces—spiking since recent Middle East conflicts. Why this hatred? Scripture unveils the roots.   First, it's divine judgment for rejecting the Messiah. In Matthew 27:25, their cry of "His blood be on us, and on our children" echoes through generations, as Jesus warned in Luke 19:41-44: "And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.”   This "visitation" was Christ, spurned. Zechariah 12:2-3 prophesies nations gathering against Jerusalem like a "burdensome stone," a future reality foreshadowed today.   Second, Satan fuels this enmity. As the father of lies (John 8:44), he hates Israel because through her seed comes the woman's offspring who crushes his head (Genesis 3:15). Revelation 12:13 depicts the dragon (Satan) pursuing the woman (Israel):    "And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child." Satan knows Israel's role in God's redemptive plan—birthplace of the Church, guardian of Scripture, and future throne for Messiah.   Why does God allow this? To humble His people, drive them to repentance, and fulfill prophecy. Deuteronomy 28:15, 64 warns of curses for disobedience:  "But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee. ... And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.”   Yet, this scattering has an end. God uses hatred to refine Israel, as Hosea 5:15 states: "I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.”   Amid this, Israel boasts more peace initiatives than any nation. The Abraham Accords under President Trump in 2020 normalized ties with Arab states, and in 2025, Trump unveiled a bold 20-point Gaza peace plan, signed in its first phase, aiming for enduring prosperity without forced displacements.    Trump's "peace through strength" approach—bolstered by U.S. resolve—has invitations from leaders like Egypt's el-Sisi for regional summits. Noble as these are, Scripture warns they are fragile. Daniel 9:27 foretells a future "prince that shall come" (the Antichrist) who "shall confirm the covenant with many for one week"—a seven-year peace deal with Israel, only to break it midway: "And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”   No human accord can thwart God's timeline. These deals set the stage for the ultimate betrayal.     We must distinguish: Ethnic Israel is God's covenant people, the physical descendants of Abraham (Romans 9:4-5).    Political Israel is the modern state—a vessel for prophecy, but not the full spiritual fulfillment yet.  God preserves the nation, but salvation comes to individuals who repent.   God Is Not Done with Israel: Insights from Romans 9-10 Turn to Romans 9-10, where Paul, a Jew of Jews, wrestles with his people's unbelief. He affirms God's irrevocable gifts in Romans 11:29: "For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance." But chapters 9-10 explain the tension.   In Romans 9:1-5, Paul's anguish pours out: "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.”   Israel has every advantage—covenants, law, promises—yet many reject Christ. Paul explains in Romans 9:30-33: "What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”   Their zeal without knowledge (Romans 10:2) led to defiance.    Yet God hardens whom He will (Romans 9:18), not arbitrarily, but to fulfill mercy on both Jews and Gentiles (Romans 11:11-12, 25-27): "I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? ... For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.”   "All Israel shall be saved"—a national turning to Messiah at His return. Paul quotes Isaiah 59:20-21 and 27:9, confirming future restoration.     Beware of replacement theology, the dangerous error claiming the Church has permanently supplanted Israel in God's plan. It twists Romans 11 to say the "olive tree" is only the Church, erasing Israel's distinct promises. This denies the land covenant (Genesis 15:18), ignores prophecies like Ezekiel 37's dry bones reviving as a nation, and contradicts Paul's plea in Romans 10:1: "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved."    This desire points future, not past. God has two programs: one for the Church (the body of Christ, Jew and Gentile in one, Ephesians 2:14-16), and one for national Israel. To merge them robs God of His faithfulness and fuels antisemitism by devaluing the Jewish people. Though Israel has defied Him—from golden calf to crucifying the King—God loves His covenant people. Jeremiah 31:3 whispers: "The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."    He cannot break covenant; Numbers 23:19 assures: "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”   Israel's Future: Tribulation, Invasion, and Glorious Restoration The road ahead is stormy, but victory dawns. Zechariah 12:10 promises: "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.”   The Great Tribulation: Judgment and Awakening The Tribulation—a seven-year period of Jacob's trouble (Jeremiah 30:7)—brings global wrath, but especially on Israel. Why? First, to judge unbelieving Jews and the world for sin. Revelation 6-19 details seals, trumpets, and bowls of judgment. Second, to break Israel's defiance, as Zechariah 13:8-9 foretells:  "And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.”   Third, to prepare earth for Christ's return in Revelation 19:11-16, where He treads the winepress of wrath: "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. ... And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”   During this horror, Israel becomes a focal point—and unwilling host to the world. Revelation 12:6 describes: "And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days." Multitudes flee to Israel seeking refuge, only to face Antichrist's fury. Yet, salvation breaks through. God seals 144,000 Jewish evangelists from the tribes (Revelation 7:4-8)—12,000 from each—to proclaim the Gospel worldwide.    Two witnesses in Jerusalem, empowered, most likely Moses and Elijah, prophesy for 1,260 days, calling fire from heaven and striking with plagues (Revelation 11:3-6): "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. ... And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.” Their ministry awakens thousands. When slain, God resurrects them before a watching world (Revelation 11:7-12). Many Jews repent, fulfilling Romans 11:26. As Antichrist's abomination desecrates the temple (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15), believing Jews flee to Petra (Bozrah), the rose-red city of Edom. Jesus urged in Matthew 24:15-21:  "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: ... For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”   God supernaturally protects them there for 1,260 days (Revelation 12:14), as Micah 2:12 gathers a remnant to "Mizpah"—a stronghold.   The Ezekiel 38-39 Invasion: Gog's Futile Assault Before or early in the Tribulation, a massive coalition attacks a seemingly secure Israel. Ezekiel 38:1-6, 8-9, 14-16 describes: "And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. ... After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. ... Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.”   Gog (a title, perhaps Russia's leader) leads Magog (Russia), Persia (Iran), Ethiopia, Libya, Gomer (Turkey), and Togarmah. They invade for spoil, when Israel dwells "safely"—perhaps post-peace deal. God allows it to reveal His holiness (Ezekiel 38:16, 23).  But He intervenes supernaturally in Ezekiel 38:18-23; 39:1-6: "And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD. ... Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand. Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD. And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD.”   Birds and beasts feast on the dead (Ezekiel 39:17-20), and it takes seven months to bury them (39:12).  God uses this to turn Israel to Him (39:21-22, 29): "And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them. So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward. ... Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.”   The Antichrist's Treachery and Christ's Victorious Return The Antichrist emerges as a false peace-broker, confirming that seven-year covenant (Daniel 9:27). But midway, he betrays: halting sacrifices, setting up his image in the temple (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4): "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”   He persecutes Jews savagely (Daniel 7:25: "And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High"), demanding worship (Revelation 13:15).   But Christ returns! In Revelation 19:19-21: "And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.”   He binds Satan (Revelation 20:1-3) and crushes Israel's foes at Armageddon (Zechariah 14:1-4, 9): "Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. ... And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.”   The Millennial Restoration: Blessing Beyond Eden With enemies vanquished, Christ establishes His 1,000-year kingdom (Revelation 20:4-6). Israel, at last, fulfills her calling as head of nations (Isaiah 2:2-3). Zechariah 8:1-3, 7-8, 12-13 paints the joy: "Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain. ... Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness. ... For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.”   The desert blooms (Isaiah 35:1-2: "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing").    En-Gedi's shores overflow with fish (Ezekiel 47:8-10): "Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.”   Israel becomes the world's economic powerhouse, exporting blessings (Zechariah 8:13). Nations stream to Jerusalem for instruction (Micah 4:1-2). The wolf dwells with the lamb (Isaiah 11:6-9), pre-Edenic harmony restored.   Beyond the Millennium, after final rebellion and judgment (Revelation 20:7-15), God creates new heavens and earth (Revelation 21:1-4; Isaiah 65:17; 66:22). No more curse—eternal joy, with redeemed Israel and Church worshiping the Lamb forever.   Beloved, Israel's story is God's story: rebellion met with grace. Though they defied Him, He pursues with everlasting love. As Luke 21 urges, when signs unfold, "look up"—redemption draws near. May we, like Paul, pray for Israel's salvation, standing firm on God's unbreakable Word. Amen.

On Sunday 12th October Ps Paul Bartolo spoke on how GOD SEES WHAT OTHERS DON'T to launch into our Shepherd to king series.Is this your first time with us? We're so glad you joined us today! We'd love to get to know you!Connect with us at https://empowerchurch.org.au/connect GIVING https://empowerchurch.org.au/give​​SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS https://youtube.com/@empowerchurch_https://fb.com/empowerchurchauhttps://instagram.com/empowerchurch_https://www.tiktok.com/@empowerchurch#empowerchurchau #sunshinecoast

When you're young, there are probably things you're sure would never happen to you, or things you're sure you or friends would never do. But usually, as we get older, we begin to wonder whether there's any rhyme or reason to life. Scientifically, they now say life is chaotic, that there is nothing but disorder. That's both the practical and the intellectual perception. But Christianity has the most wonderful, the most sophisticated, and the most decisive answer to that perception: Jesus is King. When we see our lives and history looking chaotic, the Bible comes and says to us, “Calm down. There's an explanation.” Let me show you how the two aspects of the kingship of Christ make up this most wonderful answer: 1) Jesus Christ has a kingdom coming, and 2) Jesus is King right now of history. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on January 30, 1994. Series: Understanding Jesus. Scripture: Ephesians 1:9–12. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

Matthew 5:27-32 / Pastor Christian Simas

Hannah McGinty ★ Support this podcast ★

This week we are back to The God Story where to date we've seen Creation, Fall, Promise, Israel, and now Kingdom. Remember that God's kingdom is one of the major themes running through the God Story, as humans experience a constant wrestling to honor the true King (God) rather than descend into enthroning anything else in opposition to him. We'll see how Israel was designed to practice the truth of enthroning God alone as King (and how they failed to do that) as well as understanding how this affects us today.

Brad Davis ★ Support this podcast ★

DIVINE SUPPLY God's Supply System God has a supply system that provides for His people (Psalm 104:1-28, Genesis 1:29-30, Exodus 16:11).   God's Roles   As a Father: God provides for His children. As a King: God rules and provides for His kingdom. As a Creator: God provides for His creation. As a Deity: God is the ultimate provider. Examples of God's Supply Adam: God provided for Adam in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1:29-30). The Israelites: God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 16:11, Nehemiah 9:20, Psalm 78:29). His Prophets: God provided for His prophets, such as Elijah (1 Kings 17:1, 2 Kings 4:42).  

DIVINE SUPPLY God's Supply System God has a supply system that provides for His people (Psalm 104:1-28, Genesis 1:29-30, Exodus 16:11).   God's Roles   As a Father: God provides for His children. As a King: God rules and provides for His kingdom. As a Creator: God provides for His creation. As a Deity: God is the ultimate provider. Examples of God's Supply Adam: God provided for Adam in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1:29-30). The Israelites: God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 16:11, Nehemiah 9:20, Psalm 78:29). His Prophets: God provided for His prophets, such as Elijah (1 Kings 17:1, 2 Kings 4:42).  

Life Challenge visits Faith Covenant Church.

In John 12, we see Jesus as the King God intended Him to be—not like other kings who came and conquered by military might, but as the Ruler of a Kingdom that is not of this world. He was like no other king before or since—a king who preached love for our enemies, forgiveness for…

Return and the King God will discipline and judge all evil Immanuel the “sign” (Isa 7:14) New Davidic King, new creation (Isa 9,11) The highway Continue reading The post Isaiah VIII appeared first on Fides et Ratio.

Did you know that Kings operate by making decrees? As a child of God, you become a King by the coming of the Holy Spirit. Listen and learn how to operate as the King God called you to be

This teaching is from Matthew 22:1-40 and continues our exploration into Jesus' final week of his ministry before his death and resurrection. While there is rising anger against Him Jesus' heart is to continue to work to call those against Him to the truth of the Scriptures and to God.  Jesus makes it clear that it is possible to be incredibly religious and yet have no real genuine relationship with God. Pastor finishes exploring the 3 parables in Matthew 21 and 22 with today's dive starting with the third parable where we see that these individuals, the religious leaders, truly did not understand the scripture and did not respond to the obvious. 3 Parables     1.    Indictment (Matthew 21:28-32)     2.    Sentencing (Matthew 21:33-46) These two parables were discussed in last week's teaching. Use the links below to listen to Matthew Week 30)     3.     Execution (Matthew 22:1-14) is shown in the Parable of the Marriage Feast. It starts by saying the kingdom of heaven is like a King (God) who prepared a wedding banquet for His Son (the Messiah coming to Israel).  All of Israel was invited - the One they have been longing for!  The king sends out his servants to let the invitees know of the banquet, but even though they have been eagerly anticipating the Messiah's arrival, verse 53 says, “but they refused to come.” The king again sends his servants out to announce the banquet saying the dinner is prepared and all is ready! Come to the wedding banquet! (The long awaited Messiah is here!!  Come celebrate!) The parable goes on to say the invited paid no attention to this second invite and some seized the servant announcing the invite and killed him.  This enraged the king and he sent his army and destroyed the murderers and burnt down their city. (This is a foreshadowing - Jesus knows what is coming - because religious leaders and others rejected Him - not only reject Him but will kill Him and so this is Jesus giving a head up that judgement is coming to the city of Jerusalem (this will be discussed further in the upcoming weeks) The parable continues with the king telling the servants that as those invited did not come that they are to invite anyone they find.(prostitutes, tax collectors, and the non-Jewish world - Gentiles). And the servants filled the wedding hall. In verse 11 the King (God) notices a guest that is not wearing wedding clothes so the king asks him how he got in without the wedding clothes that he was offering to everyone who came. (The white robes of righteousness through faith in Jesus 
Christ). The man not having the clothing was thrown out into the darkness. Jesus is making it very clear that there is salvation and life forever found through faith in Him and Him alone.  He is challenging the religious leadership to see Him for who He is - the prophesied Messiah they have been waiting for! After Jesus told this Parable the Pharisees decided to lay plans to trap Jesus.  They united with the Herodians in a well-planned attack with the question that no matter which way Jesus replied, He would be found guilty by one or the other group. The question: “What is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”  If He answered yes, pay the tax to Caesar, the Pharisees would have risen up against Him as they were not happy to be under the control of Rome and despised paying tax to the very ones whose rule they were under. If He answered not to pay the tax then the Herodians would have risen up against Him as they supported Roman rule. But Jesus cuts their scheming plan off at the knees by His reply:”Show me the coin used for paying the imperial tax. Whose image and inscription is this?” They replied “Caesar's.” Jesus continues, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's.” Jesus' answer was brilliant. His answer doesn't allow either of them to accuse Him of anything. His response amazed them so they left Him and went on their way. The dissension around Jesus is rising with verbal attack after verbal attack. At each attack the crowds hear Jesus' answers and they are astonished at His teaching while the religious leaders get angrier. Further on in chapter 22 Jesus is asked this question, “Which is the greatest command in the law?” Jesus' answer: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and will all your mind!' This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the law and prophets hang on these two commandments.” Again they are amazed, but Jesus comes back immediately with a question for them! And it's a really good one!  Come back next week to find out!! Visit our website here https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website https://wpww.awakeusnow.com/matthew-discipling Watch the video from Youtube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOxHZDaamNk9DaM7h7LejJj7 Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app. We invite you to join us for our Sunday service every Sunday at 9:30am CT (live or on demand) here: https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

God called the great King David of Isreal a man after his own heart, even after he did some very bad things in his time as king. How is this possible? And what does it teach us about our own priorities in this world. What makes a leader after God's own heart?

Sermon Text: Isaiah 32-33 Teacher: Josh Armstrong Scripture Reading: Revelation 19:11-16

How do you pray? Raw and honest or buttoned up and polite?The pattern of prayer in the PsalmsCall out to GodComplainMake your RequestsRemember and PraisePsalm 51-3 Listen, God! Please, pay attention!    Can you make sense of these ramblings,    my groans and cries?    King-God, I need your help.Every morning    you'll hear me at it again.Every morning    I lay out the pieces of my life    on your altar    and watch for fire to descend.4-6 You don't socialize with Wicked,    or invite Evil over as your houseguest.Hot-Air-Boaster collapses in front of you;    you shake your head over Mischief-Maker.God destroys Lie-Speaker;    Blood-Thirsty and Truth-Bender disgust you.7-8 And here I am, your invited guest—    it's incredible!I enter your house; here I am,    prostrate in your inner sanctum,Waiting for directions    to get me safely through enemy lines.9-10 Every word they speak is a land mine;    their lungs breathe out poison gas.Their throats are gaping graves,    their tongues slick as mudslides.Pile on the guilt, God!    Let their so-called wisdom wreck them.Kick them out! They've had their chance.11-12 But you'll welcome us with open arms    when we run for cover to you.Let the party last all night!    Stand guard over our celebration.You are famous, God, for welcoming God-seekers,    for decking us out in delight.

Spiritual leaders always point out the real hero in the story. Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. This week, we are in 1 Samuel 12. I've titled this chapter "God is Faithful When We Are Not." Before I read the text, let me give you a little context. The nation of Israel is gathered at Gilgal. Samuel and Saul have gathered the people for a day of celebration, remembrance, and rededication. Think of this moment as a gathering on the National Mall. Samuel addresses the nation and references some historical people who have played critical roles in Israel's history. I will read verses 6-14, and it would be good for you to circle or underline these critical players in the text. Here's the text: And Samuel said to the people, “The Lord is witness, who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. Now therefore stand still that I may plead with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous deeds of the Lord that he performed for you and for your fathers. When Jacob went into Egypt, and the Egyptians oppressed them, then your fathers cried out to the Lord and the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place. But they forgot the Lord their God. And he sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab. And they fought against them. And they cried out to the Lord and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. But now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, that we may serve you.' And the Lord sent Jerubbaal and Barak and Jephthah and Samuel and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and you lived in safety. And when you saw that Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,' when the Lord your God was your king. And now behold the king whom you have chosen, for whom you have asked; behold, the Lord has set a king over you. If you will fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well. — 1 Samuel 12:6-14 There are two things worth noting about this part of Samuel's address. First, Samuel mentions a listing of great spiritual leaders—Moses, Aaron, Jacob, Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and himself. These are generational leaders who left a mark on the people of Israel forever. I believe that every generation needs spiritual leaders like this. Those who leave a generational mark. We should be praying for leaders like this in our time because we need them. But we should pray that they have these qualities—that they direct us toward deliverance, cry out against oppression, and drive us toward repentance. Second, we notice that Samuel also explains these historic spiritual leaders, including himself, were mere vessels. The heroes of the story were not these men. The hero was the Lord. It was the Lord who performed all the righteous deeds. He provided the leaders and the people with salvation, deliverance, safety, and a place to dwell. What I find especially profound about Samuel's address to the people is how he redirects attention to the Lord. If you think about the context of this situation, it could have been very easy after this military victory to make Saul the hero of the story and to boast and celebrate that. But Samuel doesn't play to this opportunity. In fact, he does the opposite of what we would expect. He tells them in their victory that their desire to have a king (i.e., Saul) over God, who is their King, was wrong and sinful. Great spiritual leaders do this. They have the propensity to look back over time, define the fine points of spiritual drift, and then carefully redirect people back to the real hero of the story—God. Today, we need more spiritual leaders like this in our homes, churches, and workplaces. So pray that God will raise up new spiritual leaders like Samuel who understand that the finite stories of our generations are only short sentences in a longer narrative with one Hero and King—God. God, raise up spiritual leaders who direct us back to you, the only Hero and King. Amen. #GodIsFaithful, #SpiritualLeadership, #TrueHero Ask This: In what ways can you recognize and acknowledge God's role as the true hero in your personal victories and successes? How can you actively encourage and support the development of spiritual leaders in your community who consistently point others to God? Do This: Pray for spiritual leaders. Pray This: Lord, help me to always see You as the true hero in my life and give me the wisdom to direct others to Your greatness. Raise up spiritual leaders around me who will guide us with humility and a steadfast focus on Your glory. Amen. Play This: Champion.

At one time, the iPhone was merely an idea in Apple's mind, and your favorite soft drinks began as mere concepts. These innovations did not emerge by chance; they were carefully crafted to address specific needs and solve problems envisioned by their creators. In a similar vein, every individual is a unique creation, designed with a purpose by a higher power. Happy Saturday! Our latest podcast episode is now live, and it's an opportunity you won't want to miss. Ambassador Elisha presents a compelling discussion on the profound idea that human beings are divine creations, each with a distinct purpose. This episode delves deeply into understanding our existence and aligning ourselves with our true calling.  Tune in now to engage with this thought-provoking conversation, uncover deeper insights about your own purpose, and be inspired to live more intentionally. Listen live to be part of this transformative experience and gain valuable wisdom that could reshape your perspective on life. Let us know what you learned when you're done listening

This Sunday we turn the corner literally as we enter the half-way point of the Book of I Samuel...chapter 16:1-13. But also, we turn the corner from a King God chose but grieved over, to a new King he will rejoice over for so many years. Our "beloved of God" David enters the scene for the first time.This section of scripture is ground zero for the Gospel, and I will explain why as we walk through the text together. 

2 Kings 4:18-37

2 Kings 4:8-17

Pastor Joseph continues 'Following Jesus, The Servant King" with "God vs, Caesars, Then and Now" based in Mark 12:13-17

Daniel: From the Felts to the Zoo, pt3 Deuteronomy 7:6-8 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 6 For you are a people holy to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on earth to be his people, his treasured possession. 7 “It was not because you […]

In the Old Testament, God is called the King of the Earth and referred to and worshipped as King. Yet even in the Old Testament, God revealed Himself as multi-personal, such that the Jews believed in a “two powers in heaven” theology for many centuries. In the New Testament this revelation is fulfilled in Jesus, who is God incarnate, and given dominion over all things. Yet when Jesus returns to the Earth we see a profound fulfillment in the notion that God is King — God as a Triune being will rule through the body of the Messiah forever.Timeline* 00:00 - Introduction* 13:37 - YHWH as the Monarch in the Old Testament* 22:44 - Jesus as King in the New Testament* 45:03 - The Millennial Kingdom & The Incarnation* 50:16 - 1 Corinthians 15:28 Breakdown* 1:08:33 - The New Reality in Eternity* 1:30:30 - Important Distinctions to Make* 1:35:58 - God as a Free Being of One Mind* 1:46:39 - Bonus: Christ as the Fulfillment of 3 Offices Get full access to The Dance of Life Podcast with Tudor Alexander at www.danceoflife.com/subscribe

Speaker: Matt RogersVisit CFC Online: cfcherrydale.com Address: 401 State Park Rd Greenville, SC 29609

Dr. Tim Sperduto - 2 Samuel 24

Dr. Tim Sperduto - 2 Samuel 21:15-22:51

God's Design for Raising of Children                                                                                              Ephesians 5:1 (ESV)“be imitators of God, as beloved children.”1.      The biblical environment of the home is full of grace.  2.      Standards in the home are for the child's future not for the parents temporary convenience. Colossians 1:2,3:20 (ESV)“Grace to you and peace from God our Father…Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”1 Timothy 3:4-5 (ESV)“He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?”Ephesians 6:4 (ESV)“bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”3.      The biblical home is familiar with the discipline.Deuteronomy 8:5 (ESV)“as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you.”Hebrews 12:5-7 (ESV)“'My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,                  nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,                   and chastises every son whom he receives.' It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.”   Lessons from God about disciplineDiscipline is not punishment Hebrews 12:10-11 (NIV)“God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”Discipline is for correctionGalatians 6:1 (NIV)“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted”Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”Proverbs 23:13-14 (NIV)“Do not withhold discipline from a child;                   if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.Punish them with the rod                   and save them from death.” Discipline is Love

Christ is KingGod's Design for the Woman in the Family Genesis 2:18,21-24 (ESV)“The Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.'”“So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, 'This at last is bone of my bones       and flesh of my flesh;she shall be called Woman,       because she was taken out of Man.' Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Ephesians 5:22-24,33 (ESV)“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.”“let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”1.     A godly wife is a help to their husband.  Proverbs 14:1 (NIV)“The wise woman builds her house,    but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.” 2.     Godly wives respect their husbands. 3.     Godly wives are to be oriented towards their homes. Proverbs 31:15-16 (ESV)“She rises while it is yet night       and provides food for her household                   and portions for her maidens.She considers a field and buys it;                   with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.” Titus 2:3-5 (ESV)“Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”Proverbs 31:27 (ESV)“She looks well to the ways of her household                    and does not eat the bread of idleness.” 4.     Godly wives are discerning. 5.     Godly wives are resilient. Joshua 1:5 (NIV)“…As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 2 Timothy 2:13 (NIV)“if we are faithless,      he remains faithful,      for he cannot disown himself.” 6.     Godly wives are generous. Romans 8:32 (ESV)“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”  7.     Godly wives need strengthening and healing. 1 Peter 5:7 (ESV)“Cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you.”

Woke Archie Bunker, King God of the Hill War, and my love language is isolating you.

David gives us a glimpse of the unique power and majesty and reach of the Anointed King of God. He is powerful, his rule is over all, there is no other in all the nations. Resistance is futile, so the saying goes. But there is no despair for those who love the forever King, with the forever Kingdom, because they are His people blessed forever. You don't need to come Sunday dressed in royal vestments to be welcome, this King welcomes all refuge seekers. Psalm 2

Listen to your King/ God speak TRUTH ABOUT OUR CURRENT SITUATION. HERBALIST VIOLA Answering Supporters Questions www.verywisealternatives.com Stop playing with your future and present --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/verywisealternatives/support

Dr. Nate Magloughlin - 1 Samuel 25

Dr. Nate Magloughlin - 1 Samuel 23-24

Dr. Nate Magloughlin - 1 Samuel 19-20

Dr. Nate Magloughlin - 1 Samuel 17

David King shares his testimony of God's grace in his life with special attention given to how God turned him around during a time of rebellion in his teen years.

The Servant King"God's Call Out of Isolation" // Dave GoffeneyIsaiah 50:10-11March 12th, 2023

Sermon Series | The Servant KingTo give to our M25 Initiative, text m25 to 623.252.5085 or visit redaz.in/m25.To download our Mobile App, search Redemption Church Peoria where you download apps to your device(s).To connect with us, visit this link:  http://redaz.in/RPTo invest in our ministry financially, text PEORIA to 833.694.4400 or visit this link: https://bit.ly/3roZDAW

The Servant King: Week 4Isaiah 45-47"God's Sovereignty is Good News" // Dave GoffeneyFebruary 26th, 2023

This week, Pastor Warren Williams continues us in our new sermon series titled The Servant King, a study of Isaiah 40-55; a unified poem that marks the beginning of Isaiah's “book of comfort,” so named because Isaiah 40 opens with, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.”It's a poem that begins with the glory and greatness of God and concludes with a reflection on the pinnacle of God's greatness — the suffering and substitutionary death of the Suffering Servant, Jesus Christ. Along the way, we see a great deal of the heart and character of the God who loves to bring his people back.This week, Pastor Williams teaches out of Isaiah 43 and 44.WEBSITEFor more information on Redemption Church Tempe, visit our website https://tempe.redemptionaz.com, to learn more about who we are, find ways to get involved,  or opportunities to serve.OUR APPDownload our app https://pushpay.com/get?handle=redemptiontempe&source=externalOR text "tempe app" to 77977STAY CONNECTEDFacebook:  https://www.facebook.com/redemptiontempe...Twitter:  https://twitter.com/redemptionTEMInstagram:  https://www.instagram.com/redemptiontempe....GIVINGEverything we have is a gift from the Lord because He owns it all. Therefore giving should be a priority for us who have received all we have. Giving cheerfully, sacrificially, and consistently is a part of our worship.Give Online: https://pushpay.com/g/redemptiontempe

Sermon Series | The Servant KingTo give to our M25 Initiative, text m25 to 623.252.5085 or visit redaz.in/m25.To download our Mobile App, search Redemption Church Peoria where you download apps to your device(s).To connect with us, visit this link:  http://redaz.in/RPTo invest in our ministry financially, text PEORIA to 833.694.4400 or visit this link: https://bit.ly/3roZDAW

The Bible has a lot to say about the greatness of God. To be “great” is to be remarkable, and that's how the Bible describes God's presence, compassion, strength, and much more. Psalm 96:4 TPT For the Lord's greatness is beyond description and he deserves all the praise that comes to him. He is our King-God and it's right to be in holy awe of him. As we walk closely with him, he makes us great too, giving us the power to live remarkable lives. Psalm 18:35 NLT You have given me your shield of victory. Your right hand supports me; your help has made me great. Check out this week's Scripture Playlist to learn more about how God is great. Follow along by reading the scriptures on our website at https://www.deepspirituality.com/god-is-great

Well, I suppose I've got a story or two left in these old bones. And hell, since it is another one about Marielda, why not make one about stories and the people who tell ‘em. Now I know what you might be thinking: Physicality alive, in the era that The Six operated in Marielda, it was knowledge which was forbidden, turned into contraband and currency both, not stories. But as anyone ever wounded by art can tell you, fiction is a sharper knife than information could be. And living fiction, played out in front of your eyes and ears? Very few things are as well honed as that. And so it was that Samothes, ever jealous and increasingly suspicious that his erstwhile beau might conquer his capital with culture instead cudgel, all but forbade the theater.  Of course, any scoundrel worth their shadow would narrow in on those two words preceding “forbade”: “All but. “ There were two exceptions to the rule banning theater.  The first was liturgical drama, approved by the Blessed Council and performed in the True Church of Samothes on the Day of High Sun and other feasts. Between us, these were boring. They might serve academic value to someone of today's New Archives, and I suppose for the true believer of that old era, seeing even the most sanitized depiction of their King-God, Artificer Divine would make their day.  But most folks, they wanted something a little less sacramental. Which is where the second exception comes in.  Once a season, as an act of supposed Good Will, the Preceptors of the Font of True Knowledge—the Fontmen—opened the gates of their domain and put on a grand show. A day of comedy and tragedy in the Font Theater—the leash let slack so that the next time those censors pulled on it, they could claim it was done in good faith. What does any of this have to do with the Six. Well, nothin, until those out-a-towners with mysterious pasts and glorious masks showed up, claiming they had a spot on the stage and job for Hitchcock, Castille, and the rest. Help those actors steal their names back. Hello everyone!! Here is our livestream marathon finale game, a return to Marielda playing Scene Thieves! Most donation and fundraising shouts were cut to get this (as close as possible) under 5 hours but we'd like to thank everyone again for joining us on stream and supporting the National Network of Abortion Funds with us!   Featuring: Austin Walker, Art Martinez-Tebbel, Jack de Quidt, Janine Hawkins, Ali Acampora and Sylvi Clare Music by Jack de Quidt Scene Thieves is available here: https://possible-worlds-games.itch.io/scene-thieves