Podcasts about Kingdom

So, where are you from? Where do you claim citizenship? Wherever your citizenship is, is where you belong. You may travel other places, but home is always where your citizenship is. Think about how where you are from has made a radical difference in your life. How different you would be if you were from somewhere else. You would talk different. You would have totally different customs. Your view on the world would likely be different. What you know is what you know, and to you it’s what is normal. Some cultures eat with their hands. Other cultures would consider you downright barbaric if you dug into your bowl without a spoon or fork. Some cultures kiss when they meet – for others that’s just weird. In some cultures you take off your shoes before you enter someone’s home – but not everyone was taught that. We’re not being rude, we’re just different. Our culture shapes what feels normal. With that perspective, think about what Paul says in Philippians 3:20, “But we are citizens of heaven.” As a follower of Jesus, you’ve been set apart and your citizenship has changed. You’re not from here. You actually don’t even belong here. Your culture has changed and what used to be normal is no longer normal to you. God has been doing a work in you, changing your identity and reassigning your citizenship. You’re now a member of the Kingdom of Heaven. You know what that means – that means everything is changing for you. You’re undergoing a radical shift. It’s why you just can’t do the things you used to do and feel the way you once did. It’s why you now desire such different things. Sis, you’re not from here! You belong to a different culture. Yesterday I met a woman with a beautiful accent. I knew she was from somewhere very different than me. I asked and she said South Africa. Oh, everything she said just sounded so incredibly fancy to me. I really just wanted to have tea with her. And really, as citizens of HEAVEN, that’s the way it should be with us. We should sound different when we talk to people who don’t yet have their citizenship in Heaven. We should be attractive, intriguing, inviting, irresistible. Girls, we are here representing Heaven – make everyone want to come visit! And once they visit, they will want to stay! The girls from the Kingdom of God do things differently than the rest of the world. Instead of looking out for ourselves, we’re out here loving the heck out of our neighbors. We’re refusing offense, resisting bitterness, and continually choosing forgiveness. We’re stepping down from pedestals, canceling the performance, and learning to embrace humility. Our priorities have shifted from, “What can I get?” to, “What can I give?” Kingdom girls walk in victory through surrender. Now, what a radically uncommon concept that is! In every other kingdom, surrender means defeat. If you wave that white flag, you’re giving up. You’ve lost. But in the Kingdom of God, surrender is not losing—it’s winning. Surrender is the highest act of trust. It’s laying down your need to control, your need to be right, your need to be seen, your need to win, and saying, “Jesus, I trust You more than I trust myself.” Paul tells us in verse 19 about the world culture. “Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.” Welp, can’t you see how that was you? I was that person – weren’t you too? What I wanted was all I craved. I made my desires my god, my goal, my focus. That’s natural in the world. Every marketing strategy tells you get what you want, and what you want is what they have to sell you. Wake up, Sis – we have to remember we are different! We don’t belong here so we can’t fall into that culture. We belong to Heaven and in the Kingdom of Heaven our King is our God. Paul says when we are in the world’s culture, we brag about shameful things. Do you want to really see that? Ask God to open your eyes to see what that looks like. Then, scroll through your facebook memories and look at your posts from past years. I make my own self wanna gag! The things I used to brag about are shameful. The photos I used to post just hoping someone would see me. I’m embarrassed for myself. It didn’t used to bother me at all, but my citizenship has changed. How about yours? When you finally know where you really belong, there’s a shift because you realize you no longer have to prove your worth. You’re a citizen of Heaven! World culture thinks primarily about this life—what’s happening here, what’s happening now, what we can have, accomplish, experience, and enjoy in this moment. But Kingdom girls remember that this life is only a tiny fraction of our existence, with eternity stretching out before us. So where are your thoughts? Are they consumed with what is happening here, or anchored in what is coming there? Are you making decisions based only on what feels good right now, or are you considering what matters forever? Because when you know you’re a citizen of heaven, eternity changes the way you live today. Suddenly, what looked so important yesterday may not seem nearly as important anymore. The applause fades. The possessions lose their grip. The need to prove yourself starts to loosen. And the things that last forever begin to matter a whole lot more. Girl, don’t let a temporary world distract you from an eternal Kingdom. You belong somewhere bigger than here. Your circumstances are temporary. Your citizenship is eternal. You are here to represent the place you belong to. So if heaven is your home, your life should increasingly look like the King you belong to. You belong where Jesus is, so his way becomes your way. Jesus says to pray like this, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Have you ever thought about what that means as an action plan for you? You’re walking out God’s kingdom here on earth. You’re bringing the culture of heaven into this world where God has temporarily placed you. You’re living here, but you belong there. You have an earthly address, but a heavenly identity. You participate in this world, but you don’t have to be shaped by this world. You represent another Kingdom. And everywhere you go, you get to give people a little glimpse of what your home is like. Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:  Zechariah 13–14; Psalm 147; Luke 15 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible. Today is October 2nd, and our readings are Zechariah 13–14, Psalm 147, and Luke 15. Zechariah gives us visions of cleansing, restoration, and God's presence among his people. Psalm 147 tells us that God heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. He gathers the outcasts and brings them home. And then we come to Luke 15. Jesus tells three stories about lost things. A shepherd loses a sheep. A woman loses a coin. And a father loses his sons. In each story, something precious has been lost. And in each story, the heart of God is revealed in the finding. The shepherd searches. The woman searches. The father runs toward the younger son and then goes outside looking for the older one. And when what is lost is found, there's a party. Jesus is showing us what God is like. God is not standing at a distance waiting for lost people to somehow find their own way home. God is the Good Shepherd who goes looking. God is the Good Father who runs down the road. And God is the Father who walks out of the party to find the child who is standing just outside the door. Maybe that's the invitation today. Let yourself be found. And come join the party. TODAY'S DEVOTION The Father Who Finds Lost Things God has a way of finding lost things. That's what Luke 15 is about. A lost sheep. A lost coin. And two lost boys. We usually call this last story the parable of the prodigal son. And usually our attention goes immediately to the younger brother. And for good reason. He is obviously lost. He asks his father for his inheritance. He leaves home. He travels to a distant land. He wastes everything. And eventually he finds himself hungry, broken, and feeding pigs. He's lost. But then Jesus tells us something beautiful. He comes to his senses. Something awakens in him. He remembers his father's house. And so he begins the long journey home. But the younger brother isn't the only lost son in the story. There's another one. The older brother. He's been home the whole time. He's been working. He's been responsible. He's followed the rules. He's done what was expected of him. And he's lost too. The younger brother is lost in his appetites. The older brother is lost in his pride. One has wandered into a distant country. The other has managed to become distant from his father's heart while never leaving the property. And maybe that's the more dangerous kind of lostness. Because it's harder to recognize. You can be in the house and still not know the Father's heart. You can be religious. Responsible. Obedient. Hardworking. And still imagine that everything the Father has must somehow be earned. Listen to the older brother. "All these years I've slaved for you." Slaved. That's how he sees himself. Not as a son. As a slave. And that's exactly how the younger brother planned to return too. "I'll go home and ask my father to make me one of his hired servants." Both boys misunderstand their father. Both imagine their relationship with him in terms of servitude. One runs away from the Father. The other works for the Father. But neither seems to understand what it means simply to be loved by the Father. And the Father goes after both. When the younger son is still a long way off, his father sees him. He runs. He embraces him. He kisses him. Before the boy can finish his speech, the Father is already restoring him. Bring the robe. Bring the ring. Bring the sandals. Prepare the feast. My son was lost, and now he is found. But then the Father notices someone else is missing. The older brother. He's standing outside. Angry. Refusing to come in. So what does the Father do? He goes out to him too. The Father leaves the party to find another lost son. And his words are so tender: "My dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours." Everything I have is yours. You don't have to earn this. You don't have to compete with your brother. You don't have to prove your worth. You're my son. Come inside. Join the party. That's the heart of God. The shepherd goes looking for the sheep. The woman goes looking for the coin. The Father goes looking for both sons. God has a way of finding lost things. Maybe you identify with the younger brother today. Maybe you've wandered. Maybe you've made choices you regret. Maybe shame has convinced you that you have forfeited your place at the table. Look down the road. The Father is running toward you. Or maybe you're the older brother. You've tried hard. You've done the right things. You've been faithful. But somewhere along the way, faith became labor. Relationship became obligation. And you started thinking like a servant instead of a beloved child. The Father comes looking for you too. He's standing outside with you. "My dear son." "My dear daughter." "Everything I have is yours." Come inside. Psalm 147 says that God heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. He gathers the outcasts. That's what Jesus shows us. This is the Father's heart. He gathers. He heals. He restores. He finds. And then he celebrates. So wherever you are today, let yourself be found. If you're far away, look toward home. If you're standing just outside the door, listen for the Father's voice. The party isn't complete without you. Come home. Come inside. Receive the robe. Receive the ring. Receive your place at the table. You are not a slave. You are a beloved child. And the Father has come looking for you. That's the prayer I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, and my son. And that's the prayer I have for you. May we see the Good Father today. May we see the Good Shepherd. May we awaken to the God who is always pursuing our hearts. And may we hear him say: "My dear son, my dear daughter, all I have is yours. Come, let's join the party." May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

Original Postdate: 10-2-2024 === Gospel Matthew 18:1-5, 10 The disciples approached Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?" He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name  receives me. "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.” Reflection There always is a weakness in us where we keep turning to ourselves to find whatever it is within us that we need to do the work of God to be kind and forgiving. We forget about all these other beautiful things that we have in our tradition. Angels constantly watching us, encouraging us, giving us wisdom. Even the dead who have died pray for us. We have so many things that are around us that we miss so easily. So try as best you can to be aware of these wonderful spiritual beings who surround us every day of our life, hoping for us salvation and growth and love. Closing Prayer Father, awareness of the fullness of your message is so important for us. Keep us in touch with all the marvelous things you've created for us as we work toward this kingdom of God. They're abundant, and they're necessary. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Read OnlineThe Angel at Your Side“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.” Matthew 18:10Angels fascinate both young and old. Countless books and stories have been written and shared about encounters with these heavenly beings. If you were to behold one of God's angels, you would undoubtedly be filled with awe, marveling at the angel's beauty, splendor, and power.Today, the Church honors those members of the Celestial Hierarchy who are most intimately involved in our daily lives: our Guardian Angels. The Gospel for this Memorial offers us insight into both their nature and their greatness.The passage begins with a worldly question posed by Jesus' disciples: “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Their question reveals a lingering attachment to status and honor, reflective of human preoccupations both then and now. In response, Jesus performs a surprising gesture—He places a child in their midst.In the first-century Jewish context, children held little societal importance. They had no legal authority, no public voice, and no influence. Therefore, Jesus' action is radical. By presenting a child as the model of greatness, He overturns conventional standards and introduces new criteria: humility, simplicity, dependence, weakness, and childlike trust in God.Jesus then offers a deeper reason why a child is truly great: “Their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.” These angels are the Guardian Angels. If each child is assigned such a noble guardian who stands perpetually in the presence of God, then the child, too, shares in that dignity. In fact, so does every person, for God gifts each one of us with a Guardian Angel.From this perspective, human greatness is not determined by accomplishments or public acclaim but by the love and care God lavishes upon each soul. The very fact that God entrusts every person with an angel reveals each one's intrinsic worth and sacred dignity. The gift of a Guardian Angel means that each one of us—whether a powerful ruler or a hidden soul in humble circumstances—has value in God's eyes.This first form of greatness arises from our very nature—who we are in God's sight. Such recognition should be enough for us to honor one another and treat every person with reverence. If the angels of Heaven love and serve those around us—our families, neighbors, even strangers—then we, too, must strive to love and serve them with the same devotion and love.There is also a second form of greatness worth reflecting on: the greatness that comes from freely cooperating with the will of God. When we submit ourselves to His providence and actively embrace the mission our Guardian Angels are tasked with—to guide, protect, and lead us to holiness—God's grace abounds in our lives. This does not make us intrinsically “greater” than others, but it allows the greatness of God to shine more brightly through us. In this way, His glory is magnified in and through our cooperation with His will.Reflect today on the quiet presence of your Guardian Angel. Consider the immense dignity you possess in God's eyes, a dignity confirmed by the fact that an angel has been appointed to walk with you through life. Then reflect also on the dignity of every person you encounter each day. Even those who sin and stray from God's will have been entrusted to an angel's care. We must strive to love and serve them as their angels do. As you ponder this awe-inspiring gift, allow this truth to fill you with peace, humility, and a renewed resolve to follow God's will and to help others do the same, so that His greatness may radiate through your life.Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen. Guardian angel, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. Image: The Guardian Angel, by Bernhard PlockhorstSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:  Zechariah 10–12; Psalm 126; Luke 14 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible. Today is October 1st. A brand-new month is here, and we begin again, right where we are. Our readings today are Zechariah 10–12, Psalm 126, and Luke 14. Zechariah speaks of restoration. God gathers his scattered people and brings them home. Psalm 126 remembers another homecoming: "When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!" Mouths that had been filled with sorrow are filled with laughter. Those who planted in tears are harvesting with shouts of joy. And then Jesus brings us to a table. In Luke 14, Jesus tells a story about a great banquet. Invitations have gone out, but those who were originally invited are too preoccupied to come. They have property to inspect. Oxen to examine. Relationships and responsibilities demanding their attention. They have lives to manage. So the host does something surprising. He sends his servant into the streets and alleys and tells him to bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame. "Come. The banquet is ready." And there is still room. Maybe that's the good news for us today. There is still room. The kingdom of God isn't a prize for those who have managed to make something impressive of themselves. It's a banquet. And the invitation is gift. Come. Take your place. Receive the life God has given you in Christ. There is a place for you at the table. TODAY'S DEVOTION There's a Place for You at the Table There's a party going on. And everybody is invited. Jesus tells us about a man who prepares a great feast and sends out many invitations. Everything is ready. The table has been set. The food has been prepared. The invitation has gone out. "Come, the banquet is ready." But then the excuses begin. One person has purchased a field and needs to go inspect it. Another has bought some oxen and wants to try them out. Another has just gotten married. None of those things are bad. That's worth noticing. Fields aren't bad. Oxen aren't bad. Marriage certainly isn't bad. The problem isn't that these people are doing terrible things. The problem is that their lives have become so filled with their own interests that they cannot receive the invitation. They have things to manage. Things to protect. Things to accomplish. Things that feel more urgent than the banquet. And so they miss it. Then the host does something extraordinary. He says: Go out into the streets and alleys. Bring in the poor. The crippled. The blind. The lame. Bring them in. And they come. Why? Maybe because they don't have much to protect. They don't have impressive résumés to present. They don't have fields that need inspecting or investments that need managing. They simply hear the invitation. And they receive it. There's something beautiful about that. Because grace can only be received. You can't achieve an invitation. You can't earn a gift. You can only open your hands. And maybe that's why Jesus turns immediately afterward to the crowds following him and says some very difficult things. He tells them that following him means letting go. He even uses that shocking language about hating father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, even our own lives. I don't think Jesus is teaching us to despise ourselves or the people we love. That would contradict the very love he embodies and teaches. I think Jesus is exposing the things we cling to as sources of identity and security. He's saying: You can't receive the kingdom while insisting on possessing your life on your own terms. You can't follow me while demanding that everything remain under your control. You have to let go. And then Jesus says: "You cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own." Maybe there's another way of hearing that. Give up everything you own, and you might discover freedom from everything that owns you. Because there is so much that can own us. Our need to be recognized. Our success. Our failures. Our past. Our shame. Our money. Our reputation. Our religious identity. Our need to be right. Our need to prove ourselves. Even our image of who we think we're supposed to be. These things can own us. But Jesus is setting us free. He invites us to the table. Come as you are. Come empty-handed. Come hungry. Come knowing that you need grace. Come knowing that life is gift. Psalm 126 says that when God's people came home from exile, it felt like a dream. They laughed again. They sang again. Those who had planted with tears harvested with joy. That's what grace feels like. Homecoming. And maybe that's what the banquet is too. It's coming home. It's discovering that the seat at the table wasn't something you had to earn. It was prepared for you. It's discovering that your identity isn't something you have to manufacture. Your life is hidden with Christ in God. It's discovering that the things you thought would save you never could. But Jesus can. So bring your empty hands. Bring your hunger. Bring the parts of your life that have been owned by fear, shame, ambition, or regret. Bring them to the table. There's a place for you. The feast is ready. The invitation has gone out. Come. And maybe as we sit at that table, we will discover that the things that once owned us don't have the same power anymore. Because we know where we belong. We belong with him. That's the prayer I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, and my son. And that's the prayer I have for you. May we release what owns us. May we receive the invitation with gratitude. And may we discover who we truly are in Christ, seated at the table of grace. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

Voice of the Chiefs Mitch Holthus and Senior Team Reporter Matt McMullen break down the Chiefs' Week 3 win over Miami, plus wide receiver Tyquan Thornton joins the show! The guys also catch up with Ari Wolfe on all things NFL before taking a look at Kansas City's upcoming matchup against Las Vegas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this message, “Deliverance and the Kingdom,” we're challenged to cultivate a hunger for God's Word, remain open to the Holy Spirit, and recognize the spiritual battle taking place around us. Through powerful stories of deliverance and encounters with the supernatural, we're reminded that Jesus is at the center of everything and that the advance of His Kingdom brings freedom, transformation, and new life.

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8 NLT) The Bible doesn’t tell us how long Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden before temptation reared its head. The devil certainly had heard God’s warning to Adam: “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die” (Genesis 2:16–17 NLT). In narrative of Genesis, the tempter appears almost immediately with his wily pitch. His immediate appearance reminds me of Jesus’ parable of the Sower in Matthew 13. As the farmer scatters seed, some of it falls on the footpath. Birds quickly swoop in and devour it before it has a chance to grow. If you’ve ever dropped a French fry outside a McDonald’s in a heavily birded area, you can probably picture the scene. Birds suddenly seem to appear out of nowhere. If you live near a beach, you know there are seagulls that will swoop in and fly off with your lunch, your small dog, or your children. Jesus said, “The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts” (Matthew 13:19 NLT). This is one of the many reasons we need to pray for people who have just come to Christ. The devil will be at their door with temptation, doubt, and an onslaught of other things. Remember that wherever God is blessing, the devil will be opposing—immediately. He isn’t going to wait a year. He isn’t going to wait a month. He may not even wait an hour. You can be walking out of church when temptation suddenly strikes. You think, “What’s going on? Why here? Why now?” The fact is that Satan wants to undermine what just happened in your life. He opposes immediately. He always will. The apostle Peter wrote, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8 NLT). The devil knows all too well the power of God’s Word. According to Matthew 4:1–11, after Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit led Him to the wilderness, where He fasted for forty days. The devil appeared to Him there in His weakened state. Three times the devil tempted Jesus to deviate from God’s plan. Three times Jesus responded by quoting Scripture. Finally, Jesus commanded the devil to leave, and the devil went away. The devil knows what will happen if the seeds of Scripture start to take root in a believer’s life. He knows that a heart in which the words of the Bible are hidden is hard to access. He knows that a life guided by the Word of God is hard to disrupt. Reflection question: How can you keep the devil from snatching away a nugget of wisdom from God’s Word in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anthony Stroud | Recorded October 13, 2025

Anthony Stroud | Recorded October 13, 2025

You're working on yourself. You're trying to become a better husband. But underneath it all, are you still waiting for your wife to notice—and finally change?In Episode 116, Matt Hallock answers a question from a Christian husband: how do you become the man God calls you to be without turning self-improvement into another strategy for getting your wife to respond?You don't have to stop wanting affection, respect, or a stronger marriage. The shift is in what drives your growth: becoming a man you can respect again, even before your wife responds.You'll learn:• How approval-seeking can follow you into your self-improvement• Why wanting your wife's affection is different from making it your main motivation• How to make the desire to respect yourself stronger than the need to be noticed• A simple decision and prayer to begin owning your growth• How to direct zeal toward changing the status quo without blaming yourself or your wifeFor help putting this work into practice, explore The Masculine Husband, or begin with DNA of a Man and its Tactical Guide. The links below are the same resources Matt mentions in the episode.

Subscribe and Follow. Thanks! - NOTES AVAILABLE AT: https://www.gracereach.org/luke - In this teaching, Brad explains how Jesus demonstrated in Capernaum that he was the Christ of the Jewish Scriptures. Yet, most of the people rejected him in that city and many other cities in Israel. Consequently, Jesus pronounced judgment on those cities. This judgment was carried from AD 66 to AD 70 when Roman armies destroyed the cities of Israel. This teaching and other teachings are available on the Gracereach website: https://www.gracereach.org/luke - For more of Brad's resources, see below.Brad's books are all available on Amazon in Paperback.Revelation Volume 1: Judgment On First-Century Israelhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F7GBG42CRevelation Volume 2: War On The Saintshttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FN3XR59LRevelation Volume Three: The New and New Earth https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HJMYR1J1490 Years Determined: The Seventy Years of Daniel Explainedhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DPX7VZY5Nebuchadnezzar's Dream and the Kingdom of Grace -https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D9YFCXC8/Toxic Discipleship: Restoring the Gospel - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNN8PB7LAddicted To Grace: A New Life Awaits - https://www.amazon.com/Addicted-Grace-New-Life-Awaits/dp/0578407760Forgiven and Cleansed: 1 John 1:9 In Context - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08N3NBPPRReturn to Grace: A Commentary on Galatians - https://www.amazon.com/Return-Grace-Commentary-Brad-Robertson/dp/B08HV8HRTCStrategic Church: Reaching The World With Grace - https://www.amazon.com/Strategic-Church-Strategy-Reach-World/dp/B08733MRWWThe Story of Grace: Your Life Will Never Be The Same - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692084940Website: https://www.gracereach.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bradr1966YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClip-czxRgZbxtWg-w2YL7APodcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-gracereach-podcast-with-brad-robertson/id1503583444 (You may listen to Brad's podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Anchor, Google Podcasts, and most all podcast platforms.)If you would like to donate to Brad's ministry, Gracereach, to help reach more and more people with the good news of God's grace. click here:https://www.gracereach.org/donatetogracereachThank you!

Subscribe and Follow. Thanks! - NOTES AVAILABLE AT: https://www.gracereach.org/luke - In this teaching, Brad explains what the word of God was that Jesus taught from the boat. He also explains what the word of God is throughout the Scriptures. Brad also explains how Jesus demonstrated to James, John, and Peter that he is the Christ. Jesus then called them to leave everything and follow him. Brad also explains how discipleship leaders, pastor's, and Bible teachers misuse Jesus words about leaving everything and following him.This teaching and other teachings are available on the Gracereach website: https://www.gracereach.org/luke - For more of Brad's resources, see below.Brad's books are all available on Amazon in Paperback.Revelation Volume 1: Judgment On First-Century Israelhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F7GBG42CRevelation Volume 2: War On The Saintshttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FN3XR59LRevelation Volume Three: The New and New Earth https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HJMYR1J1490 Years Determined: The Seventy Years of Daniel Explainedhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DPX7VZY5Nebuchadnezzar's Dream and the Kingdom of Grace -https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D9YFCXC8/Toxic Discipleship: Restoring the Gospel - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNN8PB7LAddicted To Grace: A New Life Awaits - https://www.amazon.com/Addicted-Grace-New-Life-Awaits/dp/0578407760Forgiven and Cleansed: 1 John 1:9 In Context - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08N3NBPPRReturn to Grace: A Commentary on Galatians - https://www.amazon.com/Return-Grace-Commentary-Brad-Robertson/dp/B08HV8HRTCStrategic Church: Reaching The World With Grace - https://www.amazon.com/Strategic-Church-Strategy-Reach-World/dp/B08733MRWWThe Story of Grace: Your Life Will Never Be The Same - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692084940Website: https://www.gracereach.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bradr1966YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClip-czxRgZbxtWg-w2YL7APodcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-gracereach-podcast-with-brad-robertson/id1503583444 (You may listen to Brad's podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Anchor, Google Podcasts, and most all podcast platforms.)If you would like to donate to Brad's ministry, Gracereach, to help reach more and more people with the good news of God's grace. click here:https://www.gracereach.org/donatetogracereachThank you!

Learn more about the Hebrew Months and Feasts of the Lord: https://curtlandry.com/hebrewmonths 5787 Hebrew Calendar: http://curtlandry.com/calendar Do you know what time it is in God's Kingdom?In this episode of the Curt Landry Podcast, Rabbi Curt and Pastor Michael talk about integrating the Hebrew calendar into everyday life, not as a form of legalism but as a spiritual rhythm.The Feast Days are described as everlasting ordinances unto God Himself – His appointed times and seasons. The gift of Sabbath set a Creation, and the Hebrew months show patterns, cycles, and insights that are part of the inheritance of every grafted-in Believer.Aligning with God's calendar and coming into greater awareness of His times and seasons is not an obligation or legalism, but a homecoming – an invitation to crawl, walk, run into a deeper life with Him.Join Rabbi and Pastor Michael as they share the cycle of the Feasts and their unfolding purpose, practical resources to learn more, and how aligning with God's appointed times establishes a legacy of Kingdom purpose, faith, and identity for your family.#ChristianPodcast #TheCurtLandryPodcast #HebrewCalendar #JewishRoots #BiblicalTeaching #FeastsoftheLord

In this episode David, Mike, Ruthie, and Jeff talk about the Kingdom of God. The discussion centers on who inherits the Kingdom.

The fight against Captain Barter and his crew rages aboard the Endless Horizon while the monstrosity attacking Crescent Moon Island is held at bay by Terry and his family.Follow us on Instagram @radioddpod Podcast Artwork:DrawForthArts: https://www.etsy.com/shop/drawforthartsMusic (Freemusicarchive.org):Dread Pirate Roberts by Xennial (CC BY 4.0: Attribution 4.0 International: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Jazzy Detective by John Bartmann (CC0 1.0: CC01.0 Universal: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)Lift Off by Jahzzar (CC BY-SA 3.0: Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)Vibe Ace by Kevin MacLeod (Attribution 3.0 Unported: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/) Music (ivanduch.com):Givmaru Trading Harbor (Combat) by Ivan Duch (https://ivanduch.com/) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music: Www.Purple-Planet.comGrease MonkeysImminent DangerSmash & GrabSound Effects (Freesound.org):FM Radio Tuning Sweep by davidbain (CC0 1.0: CC0 1.0 Universal: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)

Welcome to Episode #302This weeks topic: Kingdom living changes the way we think about giving. It isn't only about what leaves our hands—it's about what's happening in our hearts.Elizabeth is the voice behind Elizabeth's Magical Garden, where faith and everyday life meet with warmth, honesty, and hope. Through scripture-centered encouragement, Elizabeth invites readers to ask, “What does God say?” and to step out of fear and into God's promises of provision, peace, and purpose. Each message is a gentle call to take the next right step and receive the abundant life God has prepared—are you ready for your abundance?Reclaim your wisdom, power, and liberation that comes with age. change your life - How  you feel about yourself - "affects"your ability to manifest" This episode will help shed some light - on how this new phase of life will change "everything" - Let's learn together.. Live Show ⤵️ on the podcast channelhttps://youtube.com/live/-o-_hlcvyRUPost ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxO3aS9ORb7YffOn1nXFfYGu9-w9g419WOhttp://www.ElizabethMagicalGarden.comCash app me: $Eliz241 Check out the Live show on my youtube channel @Elizabeth magical Garden Podcast

In this Daily Devotion for October 1, 2026, Pastor David Balla walks through Psalm 83:7-9, where a growing coalition of enemies, even the great empire of Assyria, lines up against God's people. Rather than panicking, the writer looks backward, remembering battles God had already won, and asks Him to act again the same way.This devotion applies that same pattern to prayer today. When new threats grow bigger than expected, look backward first. Remember what God has already done through Jesus, defeating sin and death once for all. That victory already happened and belongs to you completely. There we find true grace, forgiveness, and salvation, secured permanently, not dependent on the size of whatever coalition rises against you. Through His redemption we are welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven, and in the Lord's Supper that same finished victory is placed into your hands again, His true body and blood given for the forgiveness of sins.No coalition, however large it grows, can ever undo what Jesus has already accomplished. Nothing and no one can take it back from you.Subscribe for weekly sermons and Daily Devotions.If this devotion has blessed you, consider supporting this ministry: https://buymeacoffee.com/whitegandalphYou can also give directly at https://buymeacoffee.com/whitegandalphHashtags (5)#DailyDevotion #Lutheran #LCMS #BibleStudy #Christianity

Fr. Mike continues discussing the call of Nehemiah and how we should approach the work the Lord calls us to do. He explains why all work is divine participation in God's Kingdom on earth and encourages us to remember our service to God and to others, keeping our focus on serving and loving in the realm of our influence. Today's readings are Nehemiah 3, Zechariah 14, and Proverbs 20:23-26. 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.

Fresh off a trip from Jerusalem to Rome, Lance Wallnau stood near the spot where Nero made a public spectacle of Christians and blamed them for burning the city. The persecuted "cult" Rome tried to wipe out ended up outlasting the empire, and a church now stands over the place where Peter was buried. With America's political divide deepening and the midterms around the corner, Lance explains why the ruins of Rome give Christians a perspective they need right now. Nothing can stop the Kingdom, and this episode shows you why. ----------------------------------- Level 10 Liquid

Read OnlineTestifying to the TruthJesus appointed seventy-two other disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.”  Luke 10:1–3One of the clearest safeguards for ensuring the authenticity and integrity of Christian duty is that we proclaim the Gospel in communion with others. The Christian disciple is never a lone ranger. We do not carry the mission of Christ by private inspiration or isolated insight, but in the context of the Church. The Gospel we preach is not our own. It originates in God, is handed on through Sacred Tradition, and is entrusted to the Church as a whole.When Jesus sent out the seventy-two disciples, He sent them in pairs. This had deep theological and scriptural significance. According to Mosaic Law, the testimony of two or three witnesses was necessary to establish truth (cf. Deuteronomy 19:15). This standard was well known in Jewish culture and was traditionally applied to legal cases, but Jesus elevated it to strengthen the credibility of evangelization. Two disciples witnessing together to the truth of the Gospel would speak with a kind of moral and spiritual authority that mirrored this ancient tradition. Moreover, when we speak in union with the Church and act in concert with other faithful witnesses, our united work of evangelization becomes a harmonious echo of God's Word rather than a solitary voice subject to distortion.Even our Lord Himself respected this principle. When the Pharisees challenged Jesus for speaking on His own authority, He responded, “Even if I do testify on my own behalf, my testimony can be verified… I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me” (cf. John 8:14, 18). Jesus makes clear that He does not speak in isolation; the Father testifies on His behalf. Thus, even the Son, in His earthly mission, models the humility of cooperative testimony.Consider your own duty to testify to the truth of the Gospel. The Twelve whom Jesus had earlier sent represent the bishops of the Church, who form the foundation of Christ's mission through their participation in apostolic succession. In today's Gospel, the seventy-two represent every disciple of Christ, including each of us today. Discipleship is much more than following Jesus through a personal devotion to Him and His teachings. It also includes being sent by Him. Once we receive the Gospel and interiorize it through living faith and prayer, we will then be sent by Christ to go forth and testify to the truth we have received. This is not an option; it's a necessity.How well do you do this? Sometimes we can fall into the trap of thinking that our faith is something personal that we keep to ourselves. But it is not. It must be shared, and if we are disciples, then we are also evangelists.Being an evangelist does not necessarily mean we enter into a full-time apostolate by which we preach and teach as we travel from town to town. For most, evangelization takes place in the ordinary rhythms of life—in our families, workplaces, neighborhoods, and social settings. It means living our faith with authenticity, speaking the truth with charity, and radiating Christ through our actions as well as our words. It means being willing to witness to the Gospel even when it is uncomfortable, unpopular, or rejected, and doing so in union with others in the faith.Reflect today on whether you are testifying to the truth in the way God is asking of you. Have you embraced both the privilege and the responsibility of being sent? Resolve to go forth with the courage of a lamb in the midst of wolves, never alone, but always in communion with Christ and His Church, bearing witness to the Kingdom that is at hand. Doing so will not only bring blessings to others, it will also deepen your faith and communion with God.My Lord and Living Word, Your voice must go out to the ends of the earth, drawing many to You through the members of Your Mystical Body, the Church. Please draw me close to You, dear Lord, and when I am ready, send me forth with others to testify to the Truth of Your saving Word. Use me as an instrument of Your grace, that through my witness, You may draw many souls into the glory of Your Eternal Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Sending Out Disciples by Lawrence OP, license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.Source: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Zechariah 7–9; Luke 13 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible. Today is September 30th, and our readings are Zechariah 7–9 and Luke 13. Zechariah speaks to people trying to rebuild their lives after exile. They have questions about religion, fasting, and what faithfulness should look like now. And God's response is remarkably practical: Judge fairly. Show mercy and kindness to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. Don't scheme against one another. And then Zechariah gives us a beautiful vision of restoration. Old men and women will once again sit in the streets of Jerusalem. Children will play there. God's people will come home. And their king will come to them, righteous and victorious, yet humble, riding on a donkey. Then in Luke 13, Jesus confronts some of the hardest realities of life. People have been murdered by Pilate. A tower has collapsed and killed eighteen people. A woman has lived bent over for eighteen years. The world is falling down. But Jesus refuses to let tragedy tell us what God is like. Instead, he shows us the kingdom. A gardener tends patiently to a tree. A woman who has been bent over is lifted up. A mustard seed grows. Yeast quietly works through the dough. Something is happening. The kingdom of God is rising up. TODAY'S DEVOTION When the World Is Falling Down The world is falling down. Those are the headlines. They were the headlines in Jesus' day too. Violence. Tragedy. Disaster. Death. People come to Jesus with news that Pilate has killed some Galileans while they were offering sacrifices. It's horrifying. And behind their report seems to be a question. Why? Why did this happen to them? Did they somehow deserve it? Was God judging them? Were they worse than everyone else? Jesus says no. Then he brings up another tragedy. A tower in Siloam collapsed and killed eighteen people. Were they worse sinners than everyone else in Jerusalem? Again, Jesus says no. I think that's important. Because human beings have a long history of trying to make sense of suffering by assigning blame. Something terrible happens, and we want to know whose fault it was. Sometimes religious people take it even further. They tell us that tragedy is God's punishment. That suffering tells us something about the moral worth of the person who suffers. Jesus refuses that explanation. Towers fall. Violence happens. Bodies break. People die. We live in a world that groans. And Jesus doesn't give us an easy explanation for all of it. Instead, he gives us himself. And he announces something new. The kingdom of God is rising up. Look at what happens next. Jesus encounters a woman who has been bent over for eighteen years. Eighteen years. Imagine seeing the world that way for eighteen years. Unable to stand straight. Unable to lift your face. And Jesus sees her. That's important. He sees her. He calls her over. And he says: "Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!" Then he touches her. And immediately she stands up straight. The world has been pushing her down for eighteen years. Jesus raises her up. That's the kingdom. And when the religious leader objects because Jesus has healed her on the Sabbath, Jesus calls her a daughter of Abraham. He restores more than her body. He restores her place. Her dignity. Her belonging. The world bends people down. The kingdom raises them up. The world says some people don't matter. Jesus sees them. The world creates categories of insiders and outsiders. Jesus calls her daughter. The world is falling down. The kingdom is rising up. And Jesus says the kingdom is like a mustard seed. Tiny. Easy to overlook. But alive. Growing. Becoming a place where birds can find shelter. The kingdom is like yeast hidden in flour. You can't always see it working. But slowly, quietly, it changes everything. I need that word. Because sometimes I look at the world and I see everything that's falling down. War. Violence. Fear. Division. Loneliness. Grief. People bent beneath burdens they've carried for years. And it can seem overwhelming. Maybe you feel that too. But Jesus invites us to look again. Look for the mustard seed. Look for the yeast. Look for the woman standing up straight. Look for mercy. Look for healing. Look for forgiveness. Look for people crossing boundaries to love one another. Look for the quiet work of the Spirit. The kingdom is rising. And Zechariah gives us the same hope. He sees a king coming. But this king doesn't arrive on a war horse. He comes humbly. Riding on a donkey. And Zechariah says this king will bring an end to war. That's the king Jesus chooses to be. He doesn't save the world by becoming more violent than the violent. He doesn't conquer the world by becoming a greater version of Caesar. He comes in humility. He comes in peace. He comes in self-giving love. He comes to raise up those who have been bent down. And ultimately, he enters into the world's death and rises from it. That's our hope. The world is falling down. But death doesn't get the last word. Violence doesn't get the last word. Fear doesn't get the last word. The kingdom of God is rising up. And Jesus invites us to participate in it. To show mercy. To pursue justice. To lift up those who have been bent down. To make room for those who have been pushed aside. To become little mustard seeds of hope. To let the life and love of Christ work through us like yeast in the dough. So don't lose heart. The headlines aren't the whole story. There is another story unfolding. The kingdom is rising. Christ is making all things new. That's the prayer I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, and my son. And that's the prayer I have for you. May we see the kingdom rising in the midst of a world that seems to be falling down. And may we join Jesus in his work of healing, mercy, justice, peace, and love. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

All content from the Sons of UCF is brought to you by the law office of Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia. With 70+ years of combined legal experience, WHG specializes in personal injury, workers' comp, veteran disability, and SSI/SSDI cases. For more information, visit wernerhoffman.com or call 1-800-320-HELP.Join Eric Lopez and Trace Trylko as they debate some of the current topics surrounding UCF Sports. In this episode, the Knights scored a gritty home win over TCU, so is all well again? Plus: Now the Knights head on the road for a tough challenge; are they ready to capture a road dub?Also: The Lightz were on, the fans were missing, the Mouse is in the House, and it was a rough week for the Olympic Sports. Subscribe to our channel to watch future episodes of Around the Kingdom, with a new drop each week. #goknights #ucfknights #ucf #ucffootball #big12See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Are you treating the hope of the world like an urgent life-or-death truth, or are you holding back out of fear that things might get awkward? This week on Off Script, Neil is joined by guest teacher Ben to unpack what it practically looks like to speak truth unashamedly. They walk through the book of Romans to explain the vital difference between cultural lifestyle choices and the capital-G Gospel, emphasizing that sharing your faith isn't about winning online arguments or breaking down complex theology. The conversation offers a refreshing perspective on overcoming the fear of social awkwardness, recognizing everyday openings in relationships, and understanding why every believer has a story worth telling. The Challenge This week, audit how you approach sharing your faith. Instead of waiting for a perfect, cinematic moment, pray for discernment to spot simple, everyday openings in your normal conversations to share how Jesus is actively working in your life. Hosts: Neil Gregory and Ben What We Discuss • Why reading the book of Romans straight through in one sitting builds a deeper awe for the Gospel • The crucial distinction between the capital-G Gospel of salvation and lowercase-g Biblical commands • How to naturally look for relational openings to share how Jesus has impacted your life • Why sharing your experience with Jesus should feel as natural as recommending your favorite restaurant or hobby • The trap of confusing conservative cultural topics with the soul-saving message of Jesus  • Why expecting non-believers to love the commands of the Kingdom before knowing the King puts the cart before the horse • Treating the message of Christ as an indisputable fact of life rather than a mere lifestyle choice • Practical wisdom for parents on creating open, safe dialogue with kids about tough cultural topics • Navigating the personal fear of being labeled "weird" or wanting people to like you when sharing truth • Debunking the myth of the "boring testimony" and realizing that gradual heart transformation is a story worth sharing ⸻ About Southland Christian Church Southland is one church meeting in multiple locations across central Kentucky. We believe Jesus came for the lost and the broken, which means there's a place for everyone here. Around here, that means we worship defiantly, speak truth unashamedly, and extend grace generously. To support this ministry and help us continue to reach across Central Kentucky and all around the world, visit: https://southland.church/give

Mohammed Albuty is the CEO of NHC, Saudi Arabia's National Housing Company and the largest real estate developer in the region. Under his leadership, NHC has grown into one of the key forces behind the Kingdom's urban transformation. By the end of 2025, the company had reached 300,000 housing units, with a target of 600,000 by 2030. Today, NHC operates across 16 Saudi cities and more than 25 major urban destinations, with projects launched exceeding SAR 250 billion in value and sales surpassing SAR 120 billion. Its ambitions extend well beyond housing.  NHC expects the value of its residential and commercial portfolio to exceed SAR 500 billion by 2030, while its technology arm operates 13 digital platforms serving more than 35 million users. At the centre of that expansion Mohammed is helping shape how millions of people will live, work and experience Saudi cities as the Kingdom works toward its Vision 2030 housing and quality-of-life goals. 0:00 Intro5:03 Building Communities, Not Just Homes8:43 What Is NHC and What Does It Do?12:32 How NHC Is Scaling Across Saudi Arabia14:42 Transforming Saudi Arabia's Housing Market18:05 Building a New Housing Ecosystem23:49 Why Owning a Home Is Easier Today27:03 Achieving More in 10 Years Than 5029:02 How NHC Became Financially Sustainable33:03 Scaling Fast Without Sacrificing Quality37:03 Protecting Buyers and Building Trust40:42 How NHC Is Disrupting Real Estate44:20 The Hardest Decisions as NHC CEO46:18 Misconceptions About NHC50:25 Saudi Real Estate for International Investors54:01 The Future of Saudi Cities57:40 Why Leadership Can Be Lonely1:00:14 What NHC Taught Him About Himself1:01:15 Career Advice for the Next Generation1:03:08 Ego, Leadership and Sharing Credit1:05:21 Closing

What if lasting joy is found not in getting more, but in giving ourselves away?The world tells us to climb, compete, and promote ourselves, but God's Kingdom calls us to give, serve, love, and walk in humility. As we fix our eyes on Jesus and allow His Spirit to shape our mindset, selfishness gives way to unity, sacrificial love, and contagious joy.

In the early 1990's, over 50% of the apparel purchased in the U.S. was made in America. By 2017, only 2.7% was American made. Communities and families suffered devastating losses as jobs were shipped overseas and quality was often sacrificed for lower costs. Linda's guest in this episode, Dean Wegner, wanted to curb that trend and decided to act boldly on his conviction to support domestic manufacturing. As the founder and CEO of Authentically American, a premium, veteran-owned U.S. apparel brand, Dean is committed to supporting domestic manufacturing and American workers. Their lively discussion included topics on leadership, business development, employee relations, patriotism, faith, and courage.  ©Copyright 2026, Prosperity 101, LLC __________________________________________________________ For information about our online course and other resources visit: https://prosperity101.com To order a copy of Prosperity 101 – Job Security Through Business Prosperity® by Linda J. Hansen, click here: https://prosperity101.com/products/ Become a Prosperity Partner: https://prosperity101.com/partner-contribution/ If you would like to be an episode sponsor, please contact us directly at https://prosperity101.com. You can also support this podcast by engaging with our Strategic Partners using the promo codes listed below. Be free to work and free to hire by joining RedBalloon, America's #1 non-woke job board and talent connector. Use Promo Code P101 or go to RedBalloon.work/p101 to join Red Balloon and support Prosperity 101®. Connect with other Kingdom minded business owners by joining the US Christian Chamber of Commerce. Support both organizations by mentioning Prosperity 101, LLC or using code P101 to join. https://uschristianchamber.com Mother Nature's Trading Company®, providing natural products for your health, all Powered by Cranology®. Use this link to explore Buy One Get One Free product options and special discounts: https://mntc.shop/prosperity101/ Unite for impact by joining Christian Employers Alliance at www.ChristianEmployersAlliance.org and use Promo Code P101. Support Pro-Life Payments and help save babies with every swipe. Visit www.prolifepayments.com/life/p101 for more information. Maximize your podcast by contacting Podcast Town. Contact them today: https://podcasttown.zohothrive.com/affiliateportal/podcasttown/login Check out VAUSA, America's choice for virtual assistants- https://hirevausa.com/connect" Thank you to all our guests, listeners, Prosperity Partners, and Strategic Partners. You are appreciated!   The opinions expressed by guests on this podcast do not necessarily represent those held or promoted by Linda J. Hansen or Prosperity 101, LLC.    

Trapped! The only thing standing between the prisoners and the attacking farastu? Our 3 brave and wise heroes! Oh and Cloud Find links to all of our content & platforms here! Support us on Patreon! Watch us on Twitch! The Theme Song is "The Red Dragon's Inn" by Derek and Brandon Fiechter. The background music and ambient sounds are provided by Michael Ghelfi Studios.

Everyone wants the influence, authority, gifts, and power of Jesus. But do we want the character of Jesus? Before Jesus called His followers the salt and light of the world, He taught the Beatitudes, revealing the kind of inner life necessary to carry Kingdom influence. In this teaching, Dr. Joseph Mattera explores what it means to lead like Jesus through humility, empathy, meekness, righteousness, mercy, purity, peacemaking, and courage. Spiritual gifts may open doors, but only Christlike character can sustain what God entrusts to us. God wants to form something in us before He releases something through us. Discover why lasting Kingdom leadership begins not with your platform, gifting, or influence, but with becoming more like Jesus. leading like Jesus  

What if Christians have learned to expect defeat when Scripture teaches us to expect the victory of Christ's kingdom?“The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” — Habakkuk 2:14 In this episode of the Based Boomer Podcast, Mike DeVirgilio reflects on Iain Murray's The Puritan Hope and the historic Christian confidence in the advance of the gospel. From the Puritans and the Great Awakenings to the rise of pietism, dispensational pessimism, and modern evangelical retreat, Mike examines how Christians came to expect less from the Great Commission—and why that needs to change.Looking at Habakkuk 2:14, the kingdom of God, and Christ's command to disciple the nations, Mike argues that Christians should reject an escapist view of the faith and recover confidence that Christ is reigning now, His gospel is powerful, and His purposes in history will not fail.The Christian life is not about waiting for the gospel to lose. It is about living by faith rather than sight, building faithfully for generations to come, and trusting the promises of God.Christ is King. His kingdom is advancing. The gospel wins.Watch all of our videos and subscribe to our channel for the latest content >HereHere

The Book of Acts—also known as the Acts of the Apostles—reveals the explosive growth of the early Church and the fulfillment of Jesus' Great Commission. Written by Luke, the same author of the Gospel of Luke, this book captures the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Join Jerry as he walks through Acts and brings to life the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of the Holy Spirit, and the unstoppable advancement of God's Kingdom. Be inspired by ordinary people empowered by an extraordinary God—and take your daily Bible reading to the next level with The New Testament Daily with Jerry Dirmann. So grab your Bible and let's get started! LINKS: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY Listen to or download more teachings from Jerry and Solid Lives Ministries: https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library THE NEW TESTAMENT DAILY PODCAST https://thenewtestamentdailywithjerrydirmann.buzzsprout.com SOLID LIVES Learn more about Jerry Dirmann and Solid Lives Ministries: https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT Help us continue providing free resources around the world: https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below:FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

Voices in my Head (the Rick Lee James Podcast) episode 635: Targets of Jesus   In this short, early-morning episode of Voices in My Head, I share some reflections from my reading of Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible, particularly its observation that Jesus and His disciples often focused their ministry on those who were chronically ill, disabled, and marginalized. Drawing from my experiences as a healthcare chaplain, I talk about the many people I meet who long to be part of a faith community yet often feel excluded, overlooked, or underserved by the church. I reflect on what Scripture teaches about caring for those on the margins, from the Good Samaritan to the ministry of Jesus Himself, and I consider what it means for the church today to embody Christ's inclusive love. Rather than offering guilt or criticism, this episode is a heartfelt invitation to greater awareness, compassion, and community, reminding us that every person bears the image of God and has an essential place in the Kingdom.         Rick's Latest Single “Heaven Is Full of Criminals”     https://rickleejames.hearnow.com/heaven-is-full-of-criminals Connect with Rick Lee James Website: RickLeeJames.com Email: Rick@RickLeeJames.com Listen / Subscribe Subscribe, rate, and review Voices in My Head wherever you listen to podcasts. Music & Merch Bandcamp (music + merch): RickLeeJames.Bandcamp.com Streaming: Search “Rick Lee James” on your favorite music platform or on Spotify https://t.co/S7nCRl0xqa Audiobook Out of the Depths: A Songwriter's Journey Through the Psalms (Audible): Audiobook Link Special Offer 10% off at Bandcamp: use code 10off at checkout RickLeeJames.Bandcamp.com Hosted by Rick Lee James — Voices in My Head Podcast  

Jace and Rocky break down all 7 DC releases for the week of September 30, 2026. Wonder Woman Annual 2026 #1 gives the Matriarch considerably more depth and motivation, but Jace and Rocky both struggle with how this more vulnerable, emotionally driven characterization fits with the formidable version of the character established in Tom King's run. Bleeding Hearts #8 expands the complexity of Dennis Camp's zombie world by introducing different perspectives within the undead themselves, while Jace and Rocky praise the shifting viewpoints and striking artwork even as Jace sees the issue largely as setup for what comes next. Poison Ivy #48 leaves both Jace and Rocky frustrated by what feels like a regression for Ivy after so much character development under G. Willow Wilson, with Jace questioning whether the Bad Seeds storyline can ultimately use this setback to push her forward again. Superman: Kingdom of Zod Special #1 brings the nine-part crossover to a conclusion that Jace and Rocky find far less satisfying than its promising beginning, although Jace is much more enthusiastic about the numerous epilogues and the Superman stories they set up for the future. Zatanna #6 continues to divide the hosts, with Jace admiring Jamal Campbell's artwork but struggling to become invested in the expanding cast and magical lore, while Rocky remains enthusiastic about the Hidden City, its political intrigue and Campbell's continued world-building around Zatanna. Bizarro: Year None #3 earns praise from both Jace and Rocky for its artwork, but neither connects with the story, with Jace finding it forgettable between issues and Rocky still struggling to understand exactly what the series is trying to accomplish after reading the issue three times. Adventures of Superman: Book of El #12 closes Philip Kennedy Johnson's saga with Jace appreciating an earned resolution built around Superman's compassion and the larger mythology Johnson has added to the character, while Rocky remains unconvinced by this vision of Superman's future. There are no facsimiles or other reprints this week, but Jace and Rocky cover a substantial group of collected editions before ranking all 7 books and revealing their Books of the Week.

Daily Dose of Hope September 30, 2026   Scripture: Genesis 38   Prayer:  Holy God, We come before you this morning in awe of your blessings and love.  Thank you, Lord, for the ways you continue to guide our lives.  Lord, we are desperate to know you better.  In these next few moments of silence, Jesus, please speak to us.  We need to hear your voice...  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are doing a deep dive into the book of Genesis, followed by the book of Exodus.  Today's reading is Genesis 38.   The story takes a break from Joseph and turns to Judah, his older brother.  Judah was a businessman of sorts, he leaves his home and family for financial reasons we assume. He moves away from his Hebrew roots to a Canaanite town. Not surprisingly, he ends up marrying a Canaanite woman. Why is this an issue? As we have mentioned before, the Canaanites worshiped other gods.  There was no way this wouldn't seep into the family life of Judah.  The whole chapter sees Judah's moral decline.   Judah arranged for his oldest son, Er, to marry a young woman named Tamar. But Er was a wicked man in the Lord's sight, so the Lord took his life.  Judah told Er's younger brother Onan to marry Tamar.  At the time, they practiced Levirate marriage, which meant if a man died before he produced a male heir, then the next oldest brother would sleep with his sister-in-law to try to produce an heir. The baby would then be considered a child of the dead brother. This may sound weird to us but it was one of several systems that God put in place to ensure that the most vulnerable segments of society would be cared for.    Onan didn't want to have a child who would not be his own heir.  So whenever he had sex with Tamar, he spilled the semen on the ground. This prevented her from having a child who would belong to his brother. And the Lord considered Onan evil for doing this, so he killed him too.   Judah decides he doesn't want to risk his third son with Tamar. If Shelah dies, then Judah will be without heirs, and any inheritance he may gain from Jacob will be lost. So he misleads Tamar into waiting until Shelah is grown up. I'm not sure that we can understand the significance of this. This was a grave sin, denying Tamar the ability to have a husband, a male heir or any kind of meaningful life. He doesn't release her from the marriage -he tells her to go live as a widow which means she could not remarry - but he doesn't offer her the option of his third son. Tamar is in a no win situation here. Doomed to live a life of poverty and/or prostitution.   Tamar has taken matters into her own hands. Judah has basically abandoned her. Years have gone by, Shelah the third son is definitely marrying age and Judah has never sent for Tamar. She knows he isn't planning to, nor is he planning to release her from living as a widow. She knows that her fate isn't good unless she does something drastic. So she takes off her widow's clothing and dresses like a prostitute. She hangs out where her father-in-law will see her and he propositions her. So, this gives us more insight into Judah's character. Maybe he frequented prostitutes, Tamar must have somehow known that he would be willing to solicit her.   And Tamar ends up pregnant.  Judah finds out and he is ready to execute Tamar.  In the end, when Judah finds that he was the guy who got his daughter in law pregnant, he declares her righteous. Even though she was deceptive, she was the one who managed to continue to family line.)  Okay, so this whole scenario seems dysfunctional, right? Evil sons, so evil that God kills them. A conniving father-in-law who doesn't care for the well-being of his daughter in law or his family line. A desperate daughter in law who pretends to be a prostitute so her father-in-law can get her pregnant. It all sounds a bit weird. So, what are we to make of this? Why was this included in God's whole story of redemption?   Here are some thoughts:   o   Judah leaves his family, leaves all Godly influence, and moves to Canaan. The further we move away from Godly community, the further we will move from God. There is a purpose in gathering with other believers, having a community of worship. We are a forgetful people and we need to be reminded who and whose we are. Judah clearly forgot this. o    The culture of the near east during this time period left much to be desired. Women, children, foreigners were highly vulnerable. They had zero social status and could easily be abused and maligned. God put some structures in place to ensure the care of the most vulnerable - Levirate marriage, gleaning; the prophets spoke out about mistreatment of the poor, the Old Testament clearly speaks of taking care of widows and orphans. Jesus walked closely to the poor, the needy, the oppressed, the outcast. Clearly, God cares for those who are needy and vulnerable and the expectation is that we will as well.  o   Finally, this story really demonstrates how God uses broken, messed up people to achieve his purposes. Judah was far from Godly. Tamar, though God called her righteous and she was certainly courageous, she was still a bit deceptive and scrappy. And yet God chose these two people to carry on the line of Jacob. It was the union of these two flawed individuals that produced an heir in the direct line of Jesus. If you look at Matthew 1, Tamar is the first of four women specifically mentioned by name in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. God could have chosen anyone...but he chose them. I love this because it demonstrates how God uses sinful people, flawed people, broken people, people with baggage, people who have failed, people who weren't the best and brightest, imperfect people like you and me, to achieve his purposes. We may not have a great past. We might not even have a super present, but he wants to use us, flaws and all, to expand his Kingdom, to carry out his mission in the world.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Pastor Hank preaches from 1 Samuel 16:1-13 as part of our series A Kingdom of Priests

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260930dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Philippians 2:5-8 I Yield When my kids were little, I loved roughhousing. ‘Daddy! Daddy! Let’s wrestle!’ they would squeal and giggle. I would body slam, clothesline, piledrive, you name it, and they would tackle and tug with all the might and strength a toddler could muster. Usually, once I tuckered them out, they would pin me down and declare themselves the kings and queens of the ring. I miss those days. Just for the record, and you’ll have to take my word for it, I could’ve beaten them any time, every time. I outweighed them by two hundred pounds. If it were a real fight, they wouldn't have had a chance. But I yielded. I let them win. I let myself be overpowered. When I read our Bible passage today, I think back to those times when I would roughhouse and wrestle with my kids. Jesus didn’t need to submit himself to torture and execution. Jesus didn’t need to let himself be swallowed up by death. But Jesus allowed himself to die so that you and I would be saved from eternal death. He allowed himself to “lose” so that you and I could shout with joy that victory over the grave is ours! He yielded. That’s the best news you’ll hear all day! In your relationships, reflect the attitude of Jesus. Because Jesus has served you by saving you, serve others. And when they ask why, you can tell them what Jesus has done for you and for them. Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are true God, yet you made yourself nothing and went to the cross for me. Forgive me for my stubborn pride. Fill my heart so that I may have the same mindset you displayed—willing to serve, willing to put others first, willing to follow you in humble love. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

00:00:00 Micah 1 – Micah Sheweth the Wrath of God Against Jacob for Idolatry00:02:33 Micah 2 – Against Oppression, Injustice, and False Prophets00:04:50 Micah 3 – The Cruelty of the Princes and the Falsehood of the Prophets00:06:42 Micah 4 – The Glory, Peace, and Kingdom of the Church in the Latter Days00:09:13 Micah 5 – The Birth of Christ and His Conquest Over His Enemies00:11:28 Micah 6 – God's Controversy With His People for Ingratitude and Injustice00:13:51 Micah 7 – The Church Complaining of Her Small Number Trusteth in God

How can youth pastors and parents teach teenagers to trust God, live generously, and develop real faith? Doug Edwards shares the story of giving his last $5 when his plans had fallen apart and how that moment became part of a much bigger lesson about generosity, obedience, stewardship, and trusting God when you can't see what comes next. For youth pastors, student ministry leaders, volunteers, Christian parents, teachers, and grandparents, this episode explores something students notice more than we realize: whether the adults leading them actually live the faith they teach. Discover how sacrificial giving, Christian generosity, and everyday obedience can show the next generation what trusting God really looks like. Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _________________________________________________________________________________

Send us Fan MailWhy wouldn't anyone who ha a job want to impress their boss. that means they are diligent in the task they have been given. Jesus told a story about three men who were given a task by their boss. Two of them were congratulated but the third one was condemned. What was the difference between them?This is worth learning because it is related to our life and the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth. So buckle up and let's get ready to go to work.Be a friend and tell someone else about the Hope Club Podcast.

God Empowers the Weak (7)  (audio) David Eells, 9/30/26 We all want to manifest the fruit of the Spirit, but first there must be the crucifixion of the lusts. Jesus taught us and He's our example. Many people think He was an example so that we wouldn't have to die. No, Jesus didn't die so that we wouldn't have to die. Jesus died so that we could die. I'm talking about dying spiritually; dying to self. He died to make it possible for us to die to self.  Those who refuse to take up their cross and follow Him, and refuse to obey His commands, are refusing to be disciples. Even if they call themselves Christians. I want to show you that Jesus turned the other cheek, but He did it as an example to us. When Jesus was before Pilate and the Sanhedrin (Matthew 27:12-14), He resisted not the evil. He did turn the other cheek. He had the power to say “No.” He had more power than the disciples understood He had because they thought they were going to save Him with the sword. (Mat.26:52) Then saith Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into its place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. He said, “Don't you know I could call more than 12 legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53) Look, Jesus had power they didn't know of to keep from going to the cross. He didn't have to resort to man's arm of the flesh. One angel in the Old Testament killed 185,000 men (2 Kings 19:35) and Jesus is talking about calling 72,000 angels here. That's power! Christians need to realize that their power is not in the arm of the flesh; it's in the Kingdom of Heaven. That power should be used to fulfill God's Will. In the very next verse after Jesus said, “Don't you know I could call more than 12 legions of angels?” He said, “how then should the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?” (Mat.26:54) We want the Scriptures to be fulfilled in us, which is the manifestation of Christ; however, they won't be fulfilled if you refuse to go to your cross. Just as Jesus had a free will and He could have called the 12 legions of angels, we have a free will, and we could, in many cases, walk away from our cross. But that doesn't mean we won't be faced with it again. We will be faced with it again and again because God is merciful. And we'll be faced with it until we get it right or just run out of time because we are running out of time. We've been put here to bear fruit, and we've been given a certain amount of time to do that. There's a door closing on the other end of this life. I've shared before the vision my wife had about being on a treadmill. The door ahead was closing. We had to run faster and faster to get through the door before it closed. The treadmill was imperceptibly picking up speed going in the opposite direction, and we had to run faster and faster. That's the way the world is; it's picking up speed in the opposite direction, and the door is closing. We're running a race but it's not a race against one another; this is a race against time. There's a door closing. You have to bear fruit or else you'll be called what Scripture and Jesus called an “unprofitable servant,” cast forth into outer darkness (Matthew 25:30). There's no such thing as bearing fruit without the cross. I'm going to point out just a few of Jesus' commands and show you that when you obey them, they put you in a position of weakness. You cannot defend yourself. You cannot hit back. You won't be able to do the things that your flesh wants because, if you do, your flesh will live and it will get stronger. (Rom.8:13) For if ye live after the flesh (in other words, if you walk in obedience to the flesh), ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live. We want the new man to live and there's only one way that can happen – the old man has to die. They live in the same house. The spiritual man was supposed to go into the Promised Land and kill the old man and live in his house, and we are, in one parallel, that promised land. That spiritual man is Christ in us and He's the spiritual man in every one of us, Who seeks to take over our vessel. (1Pe.2:18) Servants, [be] in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. (19) For this is acceptable (the literal translation is actually “grace”), For this is grace, if for conscience toward God a man endureth griefs, suffering wrongfully. Grace? That's right. God sends us through grace down here on this earth. Sometimes we don't look on it as grace, but it's fleshly suffering. He calls it grace. That's the original word there. We have to go through suffering. (Act.14:22) … Through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God. We must go through suffering because the flesh doesn't die without suffering. If you're not suffering, then you're not ceasing from sin. Peter said, He that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin (1Pe.4:1). That's because when you're suffering, when the flesh is suffering – and I'm talking about that entity of the old man in you, the mind of the flesh in you – when that old man is suffering, it means that he's not getting his way and he's dying. This is not about the physical flesh suffering, you understand. I'm talking about that entity that lives in you that wants to gratify “self.” If the old man is not suffering, you're not bearing the cross; you're not obeying the commands of Jesus to lose your life. So Peter called it “grace” here. (1Pe.2:20) For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted [for it,] ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer [for it,] ye shall take it patiently, this is grace with God. The last thing we want is to do right and to have wrong done to us in return. We want justice and our rights. The flesh demands its rights, but the flesh is a dead man. We reckon the old man to be dead unto sin (Romans 6:11) and dead men don't demand rights. You can slap the dead man on one cheek and they'll turn the other one, too. That's the way Jesus commanded us. If you want that old man to die, then don't feed him. Just don't obey him and he'll die. This is grace with God. (1Pe.2:21) For hereunto were ye called…. We were called to suffer in what the world would call “wrongfully.” In other words, we're called to suffer when we do right. (1Pe.2:21) For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps: (22) who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: (23) who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously. In other words, Jesus left judgment, wrath and payback in the hands of God. Peter said Jesus left this example to us so that we should follow in His steps. Every day we're going to have an opportunity to do this. There's just no way you could live this life without having an opportunity to deny our self life. Don't waste your time. Redeem the time (Ephesians 5:16), the Scripture says. This is what we're here for. Suffering is one of God's greatest methods to put to death your flesh so that Christ can live in you.  (1Pe.3:13) And who is he that will harm you, if ye be zealous of that which is good? (14) But even if ye should suffer for righteousness' sake, blessed [are ye:] and fear not their fear, neither be troubled; (15) but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: [being] ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear: (16) having a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ. (17) For it is better, if the will of God should so will, that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing. (18) Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit. We can see a spiritual type there in the life of Christ. When He resisted not the evil, He was put to death in the flesh, but He was made alive in the spirit. This is a spiritual type for us because, if we want to be made alive in the spirit, we must accept our death in the fleshly self-life daily.  (1Pe.4:14) If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed [are ye;] because the [Spirit] of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you. (15) For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a meddler in other men's matters: but if [a man suffer] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name. (17) For the time [is come] for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if [it begin] first at us, what [shall be] the end of them that obey not the gospel of God? (18) And if the righteous is scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear? (19) Wherefore let them also that suffer according to the will of God (That doesn't fit the prosperity doctrine very well, does it?) commit their souls in well-doing unto a faithful Creator. Commit your soul unto a faithful Creator. Jesus obeyed His own command in Matthew 5:39 and He was crucified for it. I can imagine several places where He could have interjected just a little bit of truth and totally turned the situation around, such as when He talked about, “destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (Joh.2:19). Of course, he spake of the temple of his body (21), but that's not what was brought out at the trial by the Sanhedrin and I never saw Him even objecting to it, though He knew what He meant. He didn't bother to stick up for Himself. There's one person from the Old Testament who really impressed me with his understanding of not resisting him that is evil, and that's David. He obeyed this. I've seen probably a half-dozen to a dozen good examples of where David obeyed this doctrine. He seemed to be way ahead of his time in understanding what it was that pleased God. He seemed to be almost walking in New Testament revelation in some areas of this resisting not evil and it definitely bore fruit in his soul. (Psa.38:12) They also that seek after my life lay snares [for me,] And they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and meditate deceits all the day long. (13) But I, as a deaf man, hear not; And I am as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. (14) Yea, I am as a man that heareth not, And in whose mouth are no reproofs. (15) For in thee, O Lord, do I hope: Thou wilt answer, O Lord my God. David put his trust in God to bring about justice, just as the Lord did (1 Peter 2:23), and not with his own tongue, nor in his own strength. In fact, as we read on here, you'll see that David knew and understood God's purpose. You know, it's a fiery trial when you resist not the evil, no matter what form it is. There's a righteous indignation that rises up on the inside of you wanting justice, but listen, we can't afford justice. Nobody reading this can afford justice. We want mercy. With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful (Psa.18:25). If you get justice, you're in trouble. Did you know that? God gives justice to some and He gives mercy to others (Romans 9:21-23). Christians get mercy. The world doesn't always get mercy. But I'll tell you what, the only thing we better show to the world is mercy because God's going to be merciful and forgiving to those who are merciful and forgiving. And to those who are not merciful, He's going to give justice (Matthew 18:35). None of us here can afford the justice of God. Not everybody even gets a revelation of God in this world, but they get justice because every man is going to reap what he sows (Galatians 6:7). People ask, “What do you do with the wicked who never hear the name of Christ?” No problem. They're going to get justice. Everybody in this world is going to at least get justice, but Christians, at least true Christians, are going to get mercy and grace from Him.  God's not doing wrong by doing that because He's at the very least giving justice to people. But we had better pray that we don't get justice because that means we'll pay for what we've done and what we are doing that is wrong. David understood this, and Jesus understood this. So David says, “for I said, Lest they rejoice over me: When my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.” (Psa.38:16) (17) For I am ready to fall, And my sorrow is continually before me. (18) For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. (19) But mine enemies are lively, [and] are strong; And they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. (20) They also that render evil for good Are adversaries unto me, because I follow the thing that is good. (21) Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be not far from me. (22) Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation. (39:1) I said, I will take heed to my ways, That I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, While the wicked is before me. (2) I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; And my sorrow was stirred. (3) My heart was hot within me; While I was musing the fire burned; [Then] spake I with my tongue: (4) Lord, make me to know mine end, And the measure of my days, what it is; Let me to know how frail I am. You know, when David resisted not the evil, when he kept his mouth shut when he was really being pressured to speak up, he said the fire burned in him. Have you ever felt that fire? I have. It's just like a real fire burning in you. It's a fiery trial that's come to prove you and to burn up the wood, hay and stubble of the self-life. You know, we've been told by some church ministers that the fiery trial is in the next life, but that's as big a lie as has ever been told. (1Co.3:12) But if any man buildeth on the foundation gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, stubble; (13) each man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man's work of what sort it is. It's here that you go through the fiery trial to burn up the wood, hay and stubble, not in the next life. The Bible says, “the day shall declare it.” There are no days in eternity. This is where the fiery trial comes. But you can avoid the fiery trial very easily. All you have to do is not obey the commands of Jesus. If you don't obey Him, it's easy to avoid those kinds of trials, and quite often we'll go around them, but what we're doing is putting off the day of crucifixion and the day of bearing fruit. God wants to motivate us with many, many Scriptures that today is the day of salvation. Today is God's day of deliverance (2 Corinthians 6:2). I found many places where David understood this. One of them is when Nabal's herds had been protected by David and his men out in the wilderness (1 Samuel 25:16). By the way, Nabal means “fool.” And David's men were sent to Nabal to get some supplies for his men, who were living in the wilderness, and Nabal answered them very roughly and sent them back without any help (1 Samuel 25:10,11,14). So David had decided, “I'll just go over there and take his head off” (1 Samuel 25:22). Meanwhile, Nabal's wife, who was a very understanding and wise woman, decided she was going to go meet David and ask his forgiveness, and she did (1 Samuel 25:24). And one thing she said is, “Thank God that the Lord has withheld you from avenging yourself at your own hand” (1 Samuel 25:26,31). She said that twice. Then David thanked her for her part in bringing that to pass (1 Samuel 25:32,33). You know, there's something wrong about us avenging ourselves with our own hand. (Rom.12:19) Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath [of God:] for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord. He said, if you do this, “thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head” (20). In other words, it's God's job to repay. If we repay, then God has to whip us because we've been commanded over and over not to repay. If we do it, He's going to whip us, but He doesn't have to whip them.  I'll give you an example. If you have two kids and you tell them, “Now, look, don't you hit back. If so-and-so does something to you, you come and tell me; I'll take care of it. If one of them hits back, then the other one has al­ready gotten his punishment. In that case, why should I hit him again? I'm going to have to hit you since you're the one who needs the whipping because you disobeyed me.” Here's the point. This is the way God does things. If He tells us. “Don't do it,” there's a purpose in it. (Eph.6:12) For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]. What we war against must be done in the spirit; it must be done with authority of Christ and through the power of faith. It can't be done in the flesh.  Let me show you a really good example of this from David. (2Sa.16:5) And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, there came out thence a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out, and cursed still as he came. (6) And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. (7) And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Begone, begone, thou man of blood, and base fellow: (8) the Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned … Well, I don't know if Shimei knew it or not, but David had opportunity about three times to kill Saul. It was in his hand to do it, and he wouldn't do it. He would resist the evil. He wouldn't repay. He left that to the Lord, and the Lord took care of that. The Lord used the Philistines to take Saul and his whole family out (1 Samuel 31:6), but He didn't have to blame David for it. David even had to dodge some of Saul's spears and his evil spirits (1 Samuel 18:11, 19:10). Shimei went on with his slander… And the Lord hath delivered the kingdom unto the hand of Absalom thy son; and, behold, thou art [taken] in thine own mischief, because thou art a man of blood. (2Sa.16:9) Then said Abishai the son of Zeruah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse the lord my king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. (10) And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? Because he curseth, and because the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David … Do you see that? “The Lord hath said unto him, ‘Curse David.'” David wasn't wrong here. The Lord works all things after the counsel of His Own Will (Ephesians 1:11). He sends wicked people to us to crucify our flesh. It's His purpose to do that, just as He sent and used the hand of wicked men to crucify the Lord. (Act.2:23) Him, being delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye by the hand of lawless men did crucify and slay. God used these vessels of dishonor. He used the people of Israel and He used the wicked Roman Empire to crucify the Lord, as the Scripture says. It's the same with us. He put us here in the midst of a bunch of wolves. Jesus said, “I send you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves” (Luk.10:3). We have been put here for crucifixion, and the world is designed to crucify us. If you don't understand that, you don't understand the sovereignty of God. God designed this world to crucify us. Jesus was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). Stop and think. “The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Before Adam fell, God designed a Savior. Do you think we're in Plan B? Nope. We're in Plan A. There never has been a Plan B because God is Sovereign. He designed this world to manifest sons, and to manifest sons, you have to have a fallen nature to begin with. There have to be people who don't deserve God's goodness. That's where you have to start out because God wasn't creating angels. If He was creating angels, He wouldn't have had to make man at all. God didn't want angels. He wanted somebody who was fallen and so they could gratefully realize they picked up by the grace of God. You remember what Jesus said to one of the Pharisees? (Luk.7:40) And Jesus, answering, said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Teacher, say on. (41) A certain lender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred shillings, and the other fifty. (42) When they had not [wherewith] to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most? (43) Simon answered and said, He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. (47) Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little. In other words, “Who is forgiven much, loveth much.” See, we're going to know how to love God because we don't deserve anything. We have fallen and have been picked up by grace, not by our works, but by grace or unmerited favor. We don't deserve anything. We deserve justice, but pray you don't get that because God's grace is far above justice. His mercy is far above justice. That's why we have to give grace to other people. Don't give them what they deserve; you may get what you deserve. (Mat.7:2) For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you. If you give somebody justice, you'll receive it back. Give them mercy. Give them grace. God will judge them. God may even judge them out of your mouth, but understand that it won't be with your flesh. The prophets spoke judgments. In the Book of Revelation, prophets speak judgment in (Revelation 11:6). I'm convinced that everything that happens in the Book of Revelation comes out of the mouth of God's children. Many of the curses today that are coming upon this world are coming out of the mouth of God's children. In fact, I'm convinced that all of them do. God is bringing judgment, and He's doing it through His people but it won't be personal retaliation or unforgiveness. They're speaking judgment, but they're not doing it with the mouth of the flesh. You know, we can't rise up against this government that God ordained according to Romans 13. If you do, God promises, “all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword” (Mat.26:52). But ultimately God's Kingdom is coming. The saints are going to possess the Kingdom, and they're going to take it from the Beast. They will do this by using the Sword of the Spirit and it will be happening in the spirit realm. They won't be doing it in the flesh. The flesh must be crucified. Works of the flesh must cease. You must desist. You must resist not him who is evil. In the spirit realm, we can do many mighty things. God has planned it that way so that your spirit man will be strong, but your flesh will be weak. That's the way God's salvation, God's deliverance, and every need is going to come. David understood that the Lord had commanded this, and we need to understand this, too. All we have to do is read Job to see that circumstances are the same today as they were back then. (Job2:10) … What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?…. And you know what? Job repented after God answered him in chapters 38-40. He repented of his self-righteousness. He repented (Job 42:1-6) and God gave him back what he'd lost (Job 42:10). But God used crucifixion in Job's life. Job wasn't physically doing wrong things; he wasn't in outward immoral disobedience. His problem was self-righteousness. God brought all this against him to bring him to repentance. David was also put in a position of crucifixion by God. God sent this enemy against him and David understood that. I think very few people in the Old Testament had wisdom like David concerning this. And he said, (2Sa.16:10) And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? Because he curseth, and because the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David; who then shall say, Wherefore hast thou done so? (11) And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more [may] this Benjamite now [do it]? let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him. “The Lord hath bidden him.” Think about that the next time people come against you and want to put you on the cross, and you keep wanting to climb down. We do want to climb down off that cross, but you can't drive the nails. God has designed the wicked to put the cross in the ground and drive the nails. That's their calling in this world.  God has vessels of honor and vessels of dishonor. He has vessels of grace and vessels of wrath. They're all doing His Will, one way or the other. All things serve the Lord, and He works all things after the counsel of His Own Will (Ephesians 1:11). If you understand this, you can walk in grace and peace in this world, no matter what comes against you, because God put you there for a purpose. He put you there to be crucified and so that you would learn to use the weapons of your warfare (2 Corinthians 10:4). You know, sometimes the Lord sends the devil against you just so you can defeat him. He'll send the enemy against you, but He doesn't want you to go against him by wrestling with flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). Remember that the Bible says, “resist not him that is evil” (Mat.5:39). On the other hand, it says, “resist the devil” (Jas.4:7). “Resist not him that is evil” is talking about man. We don't wrestle with flesh and blood. When they wrestled with flesh and blood in the Old Testament, that was a type and shadow of them wrestling with principalities and powers. Go back over there and read the names of those kings and the names of those tribes that were conquered, and study in the Hebrew what those names mean. You're going to find out they're all the lusts of the flesh and demon spirits. That's who the Israelites were spiritually wrestling with and everything that happened to them was a type and a shadow for us. (1Co.10:11) Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come. So go back to the Old Testament and look at it carefully. You'll see what they wrestled with.  Today we think we're supposed to carry on an Old Testament-type warfare in the way we war with people, but you can't grow if you do that. God will chasten you if you do that because you're rebelling against His Word. And David said of his accuser, “the Lord hath bidden him” (2Sa.16:11). (12) It may be that the Lord will look on the wrong done to me, and that the Lord will requite me good for [his] cursing of me this day. David is saying that the Lord will pay him back good for his resisting not evil. If the Lord's going to bless you for it, go ahead and let them curse. Didn't Jesus say you'd be blessed when men would curse you? Absolutely (Matthew 5:11). Didn't He say the spirit of grace and the Spirit of God would rest upon you? Have you ever experienced that? I have. When I first learned of this doctrine, the Lord put me in situations where I did, by His grace, turn the other cheek, and I felt the power of God on me for going through that. It's just a great anointing that comes upon you when you obey God in the place where you want to defend yourself, and you refuse to do it. Instead, you leave it in the hands of God, and you won't defend yourself.  If you do defend ‘self', then the old man will live; he'll climb down off that cross. Even though he's crucified, he's not totally dead yet, so he can still climb down. It's true that we have to reckon him dead (Romans 6:11), but until he is dead, don't let him live; don't feed him. Do you know what fasting is a type of? Well, when you fast, you're not feeding the flesh. What happens when you don't feed it? It gets weak. What does that do? It makes the spiritual man strong. There's a reason for fasting and there's a spiritual type. The whole chapter of Isaiah 58 is talking about spiritual fasting, about denying yourself, so we see that they had a revelation of that in the Old Testament, too. (2Sa.16:13) So David and his men went by the way; and Shimei went along on the hill-side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust. (14) And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary; and he refreshed himself there. Well, that wasn't the end of the story. David never did do anything to Shimei, but his son Solomon had him killed because he rebelled against his commands and left the city. It's hard to comprehend why Shimei was so against David. My guess is he was a low-life who just didn't want to understand the situation here. Anybody who was on Absalom's side and saw righteousness in Absalom and not in David, and saw righteousness in Saul and not in David, was in trouble. He was a sick son of the devil. Leaving our recompense in God's hands will do a work in you that nothing else will do because our old man would like to get the last word. And the last place you'll usually overcome in doing this is in your family. You can do it pretty well with the world and with the Christians around you, but one of the last places you're going to do it is with your family. The Scriptures teach this really well. The Lord says, “bless them that persecute you; bless, and curse not” (Rom.12:14).(17) Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men. (18) If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men. We're to be at peace with all men. I once had a rather strange thing happen to me when I was in that state between dreaming and waking up. I was faced with an enemy that had come against this country. I saw an invasion force, and I was in the midst of it, and I was saying things to them in this dream like, “You're not my enemy.” The world may have enemies, but the world is not our enemy. Did you know the world is not our enemy? He said, “I will be his father, and he shall be my son: if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men” (2Sa.7:14). See, the rod is not your enemy; the rod is God's method of creation. When what we call our “enemy” is finished doing their work, God's going to destroy them. They have a work to do that we have to cooperate with God in. They are the rod of God who comes against us, but they're not really our enemy. We are to resist not that evil because that evil is what crucifies this flesh, which is our true enemy; it's the enemy of our eternal life. So they're doing a work in us that nothing else could do, and we need them. And God says, “as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men” (Rom.12:18). (19) Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath [of God]. “Give place unto the wrath.” That “of God” wasn't in the original. Just cross that out because it's not in there. It says, “give place unto the wrath: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord” (19). (20) But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head. (21) Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Our method to bring the Gospel to people around us is to overcome evil with good. And Paul said, always leave the vengeance up to the Lord. Now I've heard for years that this ‘heaping coals of fire upon their head' was coals of conviction. Maybe so. But if you don't take vengeance, the Lord will, because He said to Israel, I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse (Gen.12:3). The Bible says we're the Israel of God. That verse is about you. It's not about a bunch of pagan Israelites who don't know God. No, it doesn't have anything to do with them. It has to do with the Israel of God. For as many as are of the faith of Abraham, these are the sons of Abraham (Romans 4:16). (Rom.2:28) For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: (29) but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart…. God's going to bless those who bless you, but He's going to curse those who curse you.  (Psa.140:9) As for the head of those that compass me about, Let the mischief of their own lips cover them. (10) Let burning coals fall upon them: Let them be cast into the fire, Into deep pits, whence they shall not rise. So, this ‘burning coals upon the head;' could mean a lot more than just the convicting power. There are some people who will be totally convicted when you resist not their evil, and God can overcome evil in people who can be convicted because the power of God is drawing them. But there are some people who have no desire toward God. They're not being drawn of God, as a matter of fact. The Scripture doesn't say God draws everybody. (Joh.6:44) No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him…. It's just not in there. And this won't do anything for them, but the Bible does say God's judgment will fall upon them. If you resist not the evil, God's judgment will fall upon them, so those burning coals can mean the judgment of God. (Rom.13:1) Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God…. Did you know that there is no power but of God? If somebody has power over you, guess Who gave them that power? Jesus told Pilate, “thou wouldest have no power against me, except it were given thee from above” (Joh.19:11). It's the same situation with us. God puts us in positions where physically we don't have the power; the enemy, the wicked, have the power. How many times have you ever seen a Christian government over a country? Daniel said that God gives the kingdom to whom He will and He sets up over it the basest of men (Daniel 4:17). Did you ever wonder why God does that? Did you ever wonder why, in the days of Jesus, there were the Neros and the Caesars, and since then the Hitlers and the Mussolinis? God does that because we need crucifixion. God is in the process of creating sons, and there has to be a crucifixion for sons. The people in power most often are the wicked. The Bible says in Romans 13 that when they're put in power, God puts them there. So it says, “let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the [powers] that be are ordained of God” (Rom.13:1). And that was written in the days of the Herods and the Caesars and the Neros! God put them in there and they crucified the Christians. They brought the Christians through trouble and all that was God's purpose. (Act.14:22) … Through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God.

Dr. Imes has made Exodus the focus of her professional career in Biblical Scholarship. Her doctoral work presented an impactful thesis on the 3rd commandment, which led to the publication of "Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters." Among several other publications, she is now developing a robust commentary on the book of Exodus set to publish in 2027. CONNECT WITH DR. IMES+ ⁠Her bio+ Follow her on Substack, Facebook, Instagram, and X + Buy her book, "⁠⁠Bearing God's Name⁠⁠" ⁠GO DEEPER IN EXODUS⁠ + ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Exodus Study Devotional⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Video Teachings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + ⁠Exodus Adventure Journal⁠ + ⁠⁠⁠⁠Family Companion Guide⁠⁠  CONNECT WITH US+ Learn more about First Church Williamsport on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠+ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ our services online every Sunday at 9 AM+ Follow us on social media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠ 

Wednesday In this episode of Seeing Without Seeing, we come together in prayer and faith to seek the Lord concerning the pressing issues affecting our world today. This Christian podcast is a place for daily prayer, spiritual encouragement, and faith-based support as we lift up our children, our parents, and our loved ones who are facing sickness and life's challenges. We also pray for our leaders, asking God to release His wisdom, protection, and divine direction across the earth. If you are seeking peace, strength, and a deeper connection with God, this moment of prayer and encouragement is for you. Thank you for being a faithful supporter of this podcast. Your prayers, your shares, and your willingness to join your faith with ours help spread the message of hope, healing, and Kingdom living. There is power in agreement, and we are grateful to stand with you as we believe God to move mightily. If you have a prayer request, you may text 843-790-4229 or submit it by email to seeingwithoutseeing2020@gmail.com. Please place “Prayer Request” in the subject line. If you feel led to sow a seed into this ministry: • You may send via Zelle using the email seeingwithoutseeing2020@gmail.com • For PayPal instructions, email us with “Seed” in the subject line • Cash App: $seeingwithoutseeing Thank you again for your continued support. Please share this episode with others and join us as we grow in faith, walk in purpose, and seek the presence of God together.

Tuesday In this episode of Seeing Without Seeing, we come together in prayer and faith to seek the Lord concerning the pressing issues affecting our world today. This Christian podcast is a place for daily prayer, spiritual encouragement, and faith-based support as we lift up our children, our parents, and our loved ones who are facing sickness and life's challenges. We also pray for our leaders, asking God to release His wisdom, protection, and divine direction across the earth. If you are seeking peace, strength, and a deeper connection with God, this moment of prayer and encouragement is for you. Thank you for being a faithful supporter of this podcast. Your prayers, your shares, and your willingness to join your faith with ours help spread the message of hope, healing, and Kingdom living. There is power in agreement, and we are grateful to stand with you as we believe God to move mightily. If you have a prayer request, you may text 843-790-4229 or submit it by email to seeingwithoutseeing2020@gmail.com. Please place “Prayer Request” in the subject line. If you feel led to sow a seed into this ministry: • You may send via Zelle using the email seeingwithoutseeing2020@gmail.com • For PayPal instructions, email us with “Seed” in the subject line • Cash App: $seeingwithoutseeing Thank you again for your continued support. Please share this episode with others and join us as we grow in faith, walk in purpose, and seek the presence of God together.

The Book of Daniel is set in the sixth century BCE, during the Babylonian exile. It describes visions of empires rising and falling — and for a long stretch, the sequence tracks real history with remarkable precision. Kingdom after kingdom, exactly as it happened. Then, at a certain point, it stops being right. That break is one of the most important pieces of evidence. Bart joins host Megan Lewis to explain what Daniel gets right, where it goes wrong, and why the exact point of failure tells us when the book was really written. And Bart will talk about how this book and its ideas may have shaped Jesus' thinking. 

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Zechariah 4–6; Luke 12 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible. Today is September 29th, and our readings are Zechariah 4–6 and Luke 12. Zechariah continues his strange and beautiful visions. God's people have returned from exile. The temple lies unfinished. The task before Zerubbabel must have seemed enormous. And into that uncertainty comes one of Scripture's great words: "It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven's Armies." Not by might. Not by power. But by my Spirit. Then we come to Luke 12, where Jesus warns us about another kind of power. The power of possessions. The illusion of control. The anxiety that tells us we must accumulate enough, protect enough, and plan enough to make ourselves secure. Jesus tells the story of a rich man who has so much that he decides to tear down his barns and build bigger ones. But Jesus reminds us that life cannot be secured in a barn. And then he turns toward his disciples and says: "Don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom." Maybe that's the word for us today. Not by might. Not by power. Not by bigger barns. Not by controlling everything around us. But by the Spirit. And by trusting the heart of the Father who delights in giving us the kingdom. TODAY'S DEVOTION Not by Might, Not by Power We like big barns. Maybe we don't call them barns anymore. But we like them. We like bank accounts. Retirement accounts. Houses. Careers. Platforms. Reputations. Plans. We like whatever gives us the feeling that we've finally managed to secure our lives. And to be clear, there's nothing wrong with planning. There's nothing wrong with saving. There's nothing wrong with being responsible. But Jesus knows how easily these good things can become something else. They can become the place where we look for life. Jesus tells a story about a man whose land produces an enormous harvest. The man looks at everything he has and says: What am I going to do? I don't have room for all this. And then he comes up with a plan. "I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones." Bigger barns. More storage. More security. More control. And then he says something revealing. He tells himself that once he has enough stored away, he can finally relax. Now I'll be safe. Now I'll be secure. Now I can live. But Jesus says: That's an illusion. Because your life isn't stored in your barns. Your life isn't stored in your bank account. Your life isn't stored in your reputation. Your life isn't stored in how much control you can exercise over the future. Your life is in God. And that brings me back to Zechariah. Zerubbabel has been given an enormous task. The temple must be rebuilt. The mountain in front of him looks overwhelming. And God's word to him is: "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit." I need to hear that. Because I can spend a lot of energy trying to make things happen. Trying to manage outcomes. Trying to get everything lined up just right. Trying to build a big enough barn so that nothing unexpected can hurt me. Maybe you know that feeling too. If I can just get enough money. If I can just get the right job. If I can just get everyone to understand me. If I can just fix this relationship. If I can just get my health under control. If I can just make sure my children are okay. If I can just figure out what's coming next. Then I can breathe. Then I'll be safe. Then I'll have peace. But Jesus doesn't point us toward bigger barns. He points us toward the Father. And then he says something so tender: "Don't be afraid, little flock." I love that. Don't be afraid, little flock. Why? Because you've figured everything out? No. Because you've accumulated enough? No. Because you've protected yourself from every possible loss? No. "Because it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom." There it is. Gift. The kingdom is gift. Life is gift. Grace is gift. God himself is gift. And the Spirit is at work in us and around us in ways we cannot manufacture or control. Not by might. Not by power. But by my Spirit. Maybe that's the invitation today. Open your hands. Release your grip. Let go of the illusion that everything depends on you. You don't have to build a barn big enough to hold your future. You don't have to possess enough to become secure. You don't have to control everyone and everything around you. You have a Father who delights to give you the kingdom. And maybe the Spirit is whispering to us today: You can breathe. You can trust. You can let go. You are held. Jesus tells us to look at the ravens. Look at the lilies. Look at creation itself. God is present. God is giving. God is sustaining. And you are worth far more to him than birds and flowers. So maybe today we can stop measuring our lives by what we've managed to accumulate, achieve, or control. Maybe we can open our hands. Not by might. Not by power. Not by bigger barns. But by the Spirit. And maybe we'll discover that the life we've been trying so hard to secure has been gift all along. That's the prayer I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, and my son. And that's the prayer I have for you. May we loosen our grip. May we trust the Spirit. May we hear Jesus say again, "Don't be afraid, little flock." And may we discover the joy of receiving the kingdom as gift. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

Come Out of Babylon and Return to God's Ways | KIB 551 DESCRIPTION COME OUT OF BABYLON AND RETURN TO GOD'S WAYS What happens when believers stop fighting the Word of God and simply begin asking: "Father, what are Your ways?" In this special Feast of Tabernacles edition of Kingdom Intelligence Briefing, Dr. Michael Lake and Mary Lou Lake speak from the heart about their journey of learning to leave Babylon's patterns behind and increasingly align their lives with the Kingdom of God. The Feast of Tabernacles provides the backdrop for an important question: Are we allowing Scripture to define our Christianity—or are we interpreting Scripture through traditions and cultural assumptions we inherited from Babylon? Dr. Lake examines the biblical feasts as God's appointed times—divine rehearsals that point toward the work of Messiah. The spring feasts reveal what Christ accomplished in His first coming, while the fall feasts prophetically anticipate events associated with His return, His Kingdom, and ultimately the new heaven and new earth. Pasted text The discussion also confronts the historical process through which portions of Christianity became increasingly separated from their Hebraic foundations and absorbed practices from surrounding cultures. But this episode is NOT a call to religious legalism. It is a call to return to the Word. Dr. Lake explains the biblical concept of Torah as the loving instruction of the Father. Rather than viewing God's commandments through the harshness associated with Roman law, believers should understand God's instructions as revealing the pathway He established for His people. That produces one of the central principles of KIB 551: We cannot expect Kingdom results while deliberately walking according to the ways of another kingdom. Repentance realigns us with God. Obedience closes doors to the enemy. The Word renews our minds. And the Holy Spirit progressively teaches believers how to walk according to the Kingdom into which Christ has brought them. Pasted text Dr. Lake puts the principle powerfully: "You cannot outgive your disobedience." Kingdom life cannot be reduced to formulas, offerings, religious rituals, or outward appearances. God desires obedience flowing from faith and love. As believers leave Babylon, repent, and align themselves with Scripture, they progressively close doors through which the enemy has operated and learn how to walk in the blessings and freedom of God's Kingdom. Pasted text Mary Lou also shares a deeply personal message for believers who are exhausted, grieving, sick, or walking through overwhelming circumstances: LET GOD CARRY YOU. There are seasons when believers reach the end of their own strength. Surrender can be difficult—especially for someone who has experienced betrayal, trauma, disappointment, or loss. Yet surrendering ourselves into God's hands can become the beginning of restoration. Sometimes faith means standing. Sometimes faith means fighting. And sometimes faith means allowing the Father to carry us through something we cannot carry ourselves through. Pasted text KIB 551 also addresses sanctification. Maturity does not mean that temptation somehow ceases to exist. Rather, as believers grow closer to God, they increasingly recognize that sin simply costs too much. Why trade the presence of God for momentary pleasure? Why descend again into a valley from which God has already brought us? Why reopen doors Christ has helped us close? There are pleasures in the presence of God that Babylon cannot reproduce. Pasted text The episode concludes with perhaps its clearest statement of purpose: We do not obey God to make Him accept us. We obey Him because He has already accepted us in Christ. Because He loved us and gave Himself for us, our response is gratitude, surrender, obedience, and love. This Feast of Tabernacles, may the peace of God fill your home. May healing come to bodies and emotions. And may the Holy Spirit continue leading the remnant out of Babylon and deeper into the ways of the Kingdom. Pasted text Key Scriptures and Biblical Themes Leviticus 23:41 — The Feast of Tabernacles as an enduring appointed time. Zechariah 14:16–19 — The Feast of Tabernacles during Messiah's reign. Joshua 1:8 — Meditating upon and obeying God's Word. John 15:5 — Christ as the Vine and believers as the branches. Deuteronomy 28:1–68 — Blessings and curses associated with covenant faithfulness and disobedience. Hebrews 12:18–29 — Sinai, Zion, obedience, judgment, and "our God is a consuming fire." Romans 6:16–18 — Slavery to sin contrasted with obedience and righteousness. Proverbs 18:21 — Life and death in the power of the tongue. The transcript particularly emphasizes Leviticus 23:41 and the Hebrew concept of olam while discussing the enduring significance of the Feast of Tabernacles. Pasted text CHAPTERS / TIMELINE These timestamps come directly from the transcript's timestamp markers, with chapter headings describing the discussion beginning at or near those markers. 00:00 — Biblical Life TV: Empowering the Remnant 01:29 — Welcome to KIB 551 01:53 — A Special Feast of Tabernacles Conversation 02:13 — Encouragement During Difficult Times 04:58 — Mind War, Psychological Operations & New Age Thinking 08:48 — Self-Talk, Faith Teaching & New Age Parallels 12:09 — Healing, Trust & Learning to Surrender to God 16:03 — How Should Christians Approach the Biblical Feasts? 18:58 — The Feasts Are Divine Rehearsals 19:36 — Spring Feasts, Fall Feasts & Messiah 20:43 — Leviticus 23:41: "A Statute Forever" 22:38 — Tabernacles & the Millennial Reign 26:54 — Christianity, Paganism & Religious Tradition 31:36 — Polycarp, Passover & the Early Church 34:38 — Deconstructionism vs. Biblical Truth 38:02 — Culture Does Not Redefine God's Word 40:13 — Torah: The Loving Instruction of the Father 43:49 — "You Cannot Outgive Your Disobedience" 44:10 — Obedience Opens Doors to God's Kingdom 46:00 — Avoiding Legalism in the Hebraic Roots Movement 50:41 — Babylon's System Turns Everything Toward Self 51:33 — Strengthening Believers Going Through Difficult Times 52:19 — "Let God Carry You" 54:11 — Believing God for Healing 54:59 — Dr. Lake's Personal Healing Testimony 57:52 — Sanctification & Why Sin Becomes Too Expensive 59:47 — Experiencing the Peace of God 1:01:12 — Health, Food & Biblical Dietary Principles 1:05:48 — Obedience Even When We Do Not Understand 1:07:45 — Stop Fighting the Word of God 1:08:04 — Obedience From Love, Not Religious Legalism 1:08:33 — "Because He Loved Me, I Changed My Life" 1:09:42 — Biblical Life TV Partner Message CALL TO ACTION Babylon continually asks us to define good and evil for ourselves. The Kingdom asks a different question: What has God said? The goal is not religious legalism. The goal is not earning salvation. The goal is learning to walk with the God who has already redeemed us through Jesus Christ. Examine the traditions you inherited. Examine your priorities. Examine what you allow into your home. Examine your theology. And compare everything with the Word of God. When Scripture reveals something that needs to change, do not fight the Word. Repent. Realign. Obey. And keep walking deeper into the Kingdom. If KIB 551 has encouraged or challenged you, please LIKE this video, SUBSCRIBE to Biblical Life TV, and SHARE this episode with someone who is learning how to come out of Babylon and walk more fully in God's ways. COMMENT BELOW: What has God shown you from His Word that required you to change something you had previously believed or practiced? PARTNER WITH BIBLICAL LIFE TV Kingdom Intelligence Briefing and Biblical Life TV are made possible through the prayers and faithful support of our partners around the world. Our purpose remains to provide deep biblical teaching that will inform, strengthen, and empower the remnant for the days ahead. The program itself describes this mission as helping believers become empowered by the Word of God to fulfill His purposes in these last days. Pasted text If Biblical Life TV has strengthened your walk with God, please prayerfully consider partnering with the ministry. Biblical Life P.O. Box 160 Seymour, Missouri 65746-0160 Online giving is available through the ministry's official resources. Kingdom Intelligence Briefing Thank you to everyone who prays, gives, shares these programs, and stands with us as we work to prepare the remnant.