Podcasts about like israel

We are all prone to wander. Like Israel at Sinai, we often grow impatient, compromise, and look elsewhere for what only God can provide. Yet this passage reminds us that salvation meets at the intersection of repentance and grace, and that God delights to restore those who return to Him. Discover how Moses points us to the greater Mediator, Jesus Christ, through whom God renews His covenant and restores His presence to His people.Exodus 32-34Andy Kvernen

The Temple Comes to Samaria Acts 8:4-25 by William Klock Remember back in Chapter 5, when Peter and John were arrested and brought before the priests and elders, and Gamaliel, one of the leading Pharisees, told his fellow council members: “Leave them alone.  If what they're doing is of human origin, it will come to ruin.  But if it's from God, you won't be able to stop them.  You might even be found to be fighting against God.”  They let Peter and John go that day, but since then they haven't been heeding Gamaliel's advice.  They stoned Stephen.  And at the end of last week's text Luke told us that Saul of Tarsus was going house to house, dragging men and women to prison and that, while the apostles remained in Jerusalem, everyone else was scattered through Jerusalem and Samaria.  And it turns out Gamaliel was right.  Neither Saul nor anyone else could stop what God was doing.  This new temple, not made with hands, not made of bricks and mortar, but instead of people, purified by the blood of Jesus and indwelt themselves by God's Spirit, this temple was going to fill the earth.  Persecution won't stop it.  Just the opposite, in fact.  Luke writes in Acts 8:4 [Page 1089 in the pew Bibles]: “Those who were scattered went all over the place announcing the word.”  These were people who knew, first hand, the transforming power of the gospel.  Many of them had been eyewitnesses to the risen Jesus.  They had seen signs and wonders, done by Jesus and then done by the apostles.  They knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that God was at work and Israel's hopes were being fulfilled.  There was no stopping them.  If they had to flee Jerusalem, so much the better.  Now the good news about Jesus would be proclaimed all over the place.  Think back to Stephen's speech before the Sanhedrin and how he'd highlighted how God works through rejection and persecution.  Joseph's brothers had sold him as a slave, but through their evil God delivered his people.  Ditto with Moses.  Pharaoh wanted all the baby boys of the Hebrews drowned, so Moses' mother put him in a basket and Providence floated him down the river right to Pharaoh's daughter.  And Jesus, the supreme example: The forces of evil and death rose up to do their worst in killing Jesus, but in doing so they played right into God's hands.  They concentrated themselves all in one place, in one great act, allowing Jesus to rise from death to conquer them.  So Saul of Tarsus, threatening the church?  God's going to use that to—to get the gospel out of Jerusalem, to all of Judaea—and even to Samaria. So Philip.  You remember Philip?  He was one of the seven in Chapter 6, whom the church chose and laid hands on to do the work that was taking the apostles away from their prayer and preaching.  Stephen was another of them.  When the church calls people and lays hands on them and commissions them to be servants of the gospel, there's no telling where that may lead.  So “Philip,” says Luke in verse 5, “went off to a town in Samaria and announced the Messiah to them.” I suspect no one would have thought—or wanted—to take the gospel to Samaria—at least not for a long time—even though Jesus had said that his church would take the gospel there.  But in the context of Acts, I think Luke wants to stress that even more than taking the gospel to Samaria, what Philip is doing is taking the temple there.  And that's pretty significant.  Samaria was the piece of land between the two Jewish territories, between Judaea in the south and Galilee in the north.  The Samaritans were the people who had lived there while the Jews were off in exile in Babylon.  We don't really know for certain the origins of the Samaritans.  They claimed—and they still claim, as they're still there to this day—that they're the descendants of what was left of the northern Israelite tribes after the nation was destroyed by the Assyrians.  The Jews claimed that the Samaritans were the people resettled in the land by the Babylonians after they'd sent the Jewish people into exile.  There's probably some truth to both.  Whatever the case, the Samaritans followed their own form of Judaism.  They had their own version of the torah, of the first five books of the Old Testament.  They rejected the Prophets and other books.  They looked forward to their own version of the Messiah.  They called him the Ta'eb or “The Returner”—the prophet Moses promised would come.  But maybe what's most important in the context of Acts, was that the Samaritans had their own temple on Mt. Gerizim.  The Jews would never let them anywhere near the temple in Jerusalem—they weren't real Jews and they had corrupted Israelite religion—but even if the Jews allowed them into the temple, the Samaritans would never go there.  As far as they were concerned, theirs was the real temple.  The Samaritans were a people utterly without God's presence. And now Philip finds his way there and carries the for real real temple to a people who didn't even know the old one.  And when God's temple arrives in Samaria, the people can't help but notice.  Verse 6: “The crowds, acting as one, clung to what Philip was saying, as they heard him and saw the signs he performed.  For unclean spirits came out of many of them, and several who were paralyzed or lame were cured.  So there was great joy in that town.” “But there was a man named Simon, who had lived in the town for some while and who practiced magic. He used to astonish the Samaritan people, giving out that he was some great personage.  Everyone, small and great alike, paid attention to him, and said, “This man is the one called ‘God's Great Power'!”  [Luke might be hinting that the people thought of Simon as maybe being the Ta'eb, the Samaritan “Messiah”.] They had been under his spell for some time, since they were amazed at the magic he could perform.  But when they believed Philip as he was announcing to them the message about God's kingdom and the name of Jesus the Messiah, they were baptized, men and women alike.  Simon too believed and was baptized, paying close attention to Philip.  When he saw signs, and great and powerful deeds, it was his turn to be astonished.” The devil was doing one thing in Judaea in a futile attempt to quash the gospel.  He was doing something else to the same end in Samaria.  He'd been doing it for a long time, leading the Samaritans away from God's torah and God's temple.  Now there's this man, Simon, who has enchanted these Samaritans with his magic.  Maybe it was just sleight of hand magic, but the way Luke, throughout Acts, contrasts magic with the power of the Holy Spirit, it seems like Simon actually did have some kind of power and if that power wasn't from God, it was coming from demonic forces of some kind.  That's just the sort of thing the devil would do to lead people astray.  But Philip, empowered by God's Spirit, it's obvious to everyone—even to Simon—his power was different and it was far superior.  Seeing it, these people believed the good news about Jesus that Philip was proclaiming.  And they did what believers do: they were baptised.  Like Israel following God through the Red Sea and into the promised land, in faith these Samaritan followed Jesus through the waters of baptism and into God's new creation. Samaritans embracing and giving their allegiance to Jesus may not seem like a big deal to us, but it was a really big deal to everyone involved.  Again, Samaritans and Jews didn't mix.  Even though Jesus had said that his disciples would take the good news to Samaria, they had no plan to go there—and probably little or no desire to.  But God had a plan to get them there, and when Philip does end up in Samaria, he doesn't let that hold him back.  It's pretty clear that these early believers thought of the gospel as something for Jews, but—hey—if gentiles came to them and wanted in, if Samaritans heard and believed, that was great.  They saw God at work in these people, even if these people weren't their evangelistic priority. And yet, something odd happens.  These Samaritans hear the gospel, see God at work, they believe, they're baptised, but there's something missing.  I suspect Philip noticed it immediately and sent word back to Jerusalem—excited on one hand, but concerned on the other.  Verse 14: “When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received God's word, they sent Peter and John to them.  When they arrived, they prayed for them, asking that they would receive the Holy Spirit, since up to that point the Spirit had come upon none of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.  Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” Like I said, something was missing.  The Spirit was clearly at work.  Faith in Jesus is a gift of the Spirit and no one comes to Jesus without the Spirit first moving in the heart.  But so far in Acts, when people believed and were baptised, they all had some kind of experience of being transformed by the Spirit  They were obviously different.  The Spirit did a work of new creation in them.  And they typically—and immediately—displayed supernatural gifts.  Some prophesied, some healed, some spoke in other languages, and so on.  Whenever we see God doing something new in the story of redemption, it's usually got miracles clustered all around it and we see this no less in the early days of the church.  Bringing Samaritans to Jesus was very much something new.  But this time the miracles didn't happen.  I expect Philip was surprised.  What was wrong?  So he sent word to Jerusalem and Peter and John decided to go see for themselves.  And, sure enough, something was missing.  These people had believed, but the Spirit—God—hadn't yet come to live in them  They were not yet part of the new temple. I don't know if Peter and John understood everything at this point.  I suspect that they just recognised that these new believers were lacking the indwelling Spirit.  It was weird and inexplicable at the time.  And so Peter and John just did the only thing that made sense: they laid their hands on these people and prayed that God would give them his Spirit.  And God did.  Luke doesn't say how it was obvious, but it was apparently obvious that the Spirit had filled the Samaritans.  And I think as time passed, Peter and John and the others started to figure out what God was doing in withholding the very thing—I should say, the very person—who fulfils God's promises to dwell with his people.  By the time Luke wrote, it all made perfect sense. You see, there was always a danger that the Samaritans would hear the gospel and believe, but that because of the divide between them and the Jews, the Samaritans would end up with a separate church of their own.  A lot of them would have been perfectly happy to have it that way and plenty of Jewish believers would no doubt be happy to have it that way.  But that would undermine the very gospel itself.  God doesn't have multiple people.  He has one.  With all our divisions in the church today, it's easy to forget this, but Jesus was clear: God has one people and one of the essentials of the gospel is that it heals the breaches, heals the divisions, heals the animosity between the people of the world.  We saw the first dramatic sign of this healing at Pentecost as the men there heard the gospel proclaimed in their own languages.  It was a dramatic reversal of the Tower of Babel episode.  And now it happens with the Samaritans.  God withholds his Spirit from them in order to get Peter and John to pray and lay hands on them and in that God makes it clear to everyone that they are all united in Jesus and the Spirit.  The apostles and the Jewish believers can't dismiss the Samaritan believers and neither can the Samaritans—with their long history of doing their own thing and having their own temple—neither can they act as if they have no need of or can be separate from the Jewish believers. We need to be careful we don't mistake Luke's point here.  We often read this passage at confirmations when the bishop lays hands on us and prays for us to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit.  But Luke wasn't thinking about confirmation.  Confirmation is a rite that developed centuries later.  Pentecostals and Charismatics use this passage to explain their experience, arguing that this passage proves that receiving the Holy Spirit is a second work of grace apart from baptism and conversion.  But that's not Luke's point either.  In fact, his point is that what happened with the Samaritans, with God withholding the Spirit, was unique—a one-off thing—that was necessary to ensure everyone knew that there is one church, one body and that our unity in diversity is one of the gospel's most powerful witnesses to God setting the human race to rights.  The whole thing that made this episode stand out was the delay in the Samaritans receiving the Holy Spirit, because the indwelling of the Spirit it not a second blessing or a second work of grace.  It's what happens when we believe and are baptised.  It's what makes us God's temple.  Jesus purifies us so that the Spirit can fill us. And then Simon the Magician. The gospel goes to a new place, but the same old problem comes up again.  In Jerusalem it was Ananias and Sapphira.  The devil crept in.  They let their love of money compromise the purity so essential to being God's temple.  They serve as a warning: Jesus purifies us so that we can be God's temple, but to remain God's temple requires continued purity.  And now the Samaritan believers their own warning about this.  Verse 18: “When Simon saw that the spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money.  “Give me this power too,” he said, “so that anyone I lay my hands on will receive the holy spirit.”  “May your silver die with you!” retorted Peter. “Did you really think that God's gift could be bought with money?  You have no part or share in this word!  Your heart is not straight before God.  So repent from this wickedness, and pray to the Lord.  Perhaps he will forgive the scheme you had in your heart.  I can see that you are still stuck in the bitter poison and chains of unrighteousness.”  “Pray to the Lord for me,” said Simon in reply, “that none of what you've said will happen to me.”  After Peter and John had finished bearing witness and speaking the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, announcing the good news to many Samaritan villages.” Simon liked the status his magic gave him.  And now he sees something really amazing, something that clearly and dramatically upstaged whatever it was that he was doing.  And Simon wanted it.  But it wasn't so much the Holy Spirit that Simon wanted.  Tricks were nice.  He'd been doing them for a long time.  But what Simon wanted was the ability to control people.  He didn't want the Holy Spirit.  He wanted what he thought Peter and John had: he wanted the ability to lay hands on people and to give them the Spirit. And in that, Simon was exposed.  It wasn't about Jesus for Simon.  It wasn't about being God's temple.  It wasn't about being purified by the cross.  It wasn't about being part of God's new creation.  Simon was still firmly part of the old.  He wanted to use and control people for his own personal gain and prestige.  His old magic had been upstaged.  No one would be impressed by it anymore.   But if he could be like Peter and John, if he could lay hands on people himself and impart the Spirit to them, well, then he's be back on top of things.  For those who read The Magician's Nephew this month, he's like Uncle Andrew, seeing a new world being miraculously born around him and new life sprouting from the ground, and all he can think of is bring bits of iron to plant so they can grow into factories and battleships to make him rich. He was blind.  He heard the gospel.  He heard the good news about Jesus.  He saw the life the Spirit in these people and he saw new creation being born.  But he wasn't interested any of it.  He just wanted to be in control.  He saw it as a way to get rich.  So he offers to buy this gift from Peter and John—as if it was theirs to sell.  As if it was their power to impart the Spirit. But Peter and John had no such power.  They didn't go around laying hands on people and giving them the Spirit any more than a modern-day Anglican bishop or Pentecostal evangelist does so.  This was a unique situation.  God gives the Spirit, not men, not preachers, not bishops, not even apostles.  This was simply a case in which it was necessary for both the Jews and the Samaritans to understand that they were one people in Jesus and the Spirit. The crazy thing is that we still see this sort of thing despite all the warnings in scripture.  There are far too many people out there, preachers—people calling themselves “apostles”—offering the Spirit or his gifts for money, as if those gifts are the work of human beings and not God.  I expect that when Simon asked Peter and John to sell him this gift—one they didn't even actually have—Peter immediately remembered Ananias and then Sapphira falling dead at his feet.  Because he knew, this false idea needed to die.  If allowed to fester, it would corrupt the church. And so he rebuked Simon—who, by God's mercy isn't struck dead on the spot.  “You're no believer, Simon.  You're still stuck in the bitter poison and chains of unrighteousness.” Luke tells us that Simon asked them to pray for him so that he wouldn't fall under God's judgement.  I have to wonder if they told him about Ananias and Sapphira and left him quaking in his boots.  Luke doesn't tell us what happened to him, whether he eventually understood and actually believed the gospel or not.  What Luke wants to stress here, what we shouldn't lose of, is that the Spirit is not under human control.  The Holy Spirit isn't magic.  Magic is the human attempt to manipulate God.  Humans have been trying to figure out ways to do that ever since our fall.  Magic treats God like a vending machine.  Push B5 to get this or push D2 to get that.  Say this spell, offer this sacrifice—follow the right formula and you can control the divine.  The so-called “Prosperity Gospel” is a modern version of this.  But you don't have to be into the Prosperity Gospel or the Word-Faith movement to be guilty of thinking you can control God.  When we bargain with God, we're doing the same thing.  We think that if we offer God this or that, we obligate him to give us something in return.  Brothers and Sisters, God's been teaching his people from the beginning that he doesn't work this way.  He's sovereign.  He sends his Spirit as a mighty rushing wind and, as Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Those who are born of that Spirit are blown along with it.”  Those who surrender themselves to Jesus and the Spirit are blown into purity, blown into holiness, blown into godliness, blown into ministry and blown into mission.  That's what Luke shows us in Acts.  Jesus purifies us, the Spirit fills, and in those acts God make us his living temple.  A temple through which he will make himself known and through which he will eventually fill the earth with his presence. In this morning's Collect we asked the Lord to teach to us to ask for the things that please him.  Brothers and Sisters, if we understand ourselves to be his temple, his working model of new creation in the midst of the old, I can hardly think of a better prayer.  It's a prayer very much like “on earth as in heaven”.  A prayer that sets aside our own agendas and ask for God to bring us into his.  I'd like to close praying that Collect again. Let your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of your humble servants; and, that we may obtain what we ask of you, teach us to ask for those things that please you, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

Rawan Gabriel Osman is back for her second appearance on TheJewFunction — and this time, the conversation goes even deeper. As she continues her journey toward Judaism, she's also challenging the assumptions and backlash that have made her a controversial figure in Arab circles.IG: @rawanosman2024X: @RawaneOsmaneFB: Rawan Osman-- --WHAT IS THEJEWFUNCTION - A 10min EXPLANATIONhttps://youtu.be/5TlUt5FqVgQLISTEN TO THE MYSTERY BOOK PODCAST SERIES:https://tinyurl.com/y7tmfpesSETH'S BOOK:https://www.antidotetoantisemitism.com/FREE AUDIOBOOK (With Audible trial) OF THE JEWISH CHOICE - UNITY OR ANTISEMITISM:https://amzn.to/3u40evCLIKE/SHARE/SUBSCRIBEFollow us on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram @thejewfunctionSUPPORT US ON PATREONpatreon.com/thejewfunction

Samson's story in Judges 14 is a powerful warning about what happens when we let our eyes lead our hearts instead of trusting God. Like Israel in his day, many of us are caught in cycles of chasing what looks good, feels right, or promises happiness, only to find that it leaves us empty. Samson's impulsive decisions cost him his marriage, his relationships, and ultimately his sense of purpose. God's grace is real and He can work through our mistakes, but that grace does not erase the earthly consequences of our choices. True peace is not found in the things that catch our attention. It is found in Christ alone. The challenge for each of us is to let the Word of God lead our decisions rather than our feelings or impulses.

Come Follow Me Kids Podcast - a primary podcast for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (Not officially affiliated in any way.) This week we are studying 2 Kings 17–25“He Trusted in the Lord God of Israel”We will learn about king Hezekiah and king Josiah. Mahershalalhashbaz Isaiah's sonZaphnathpaaneah Joseph when prime minister of EgyptTilgathpilneser king of AssyriaChushanrishathaim king who oppressed IsraelNebuchadnezzar king of BabylonBerodachbaladan king of BabylonMephibosheth. grandson of king SaulHazarmaveth sons of NoahAmmishaddai follower of MosesChedorlaomer king of ElamBashanhavothjair Son of ManassehHezekiah King of IsraelAre you looking for a scripture study church podcast? You are listening to Come Follow Me Kids! A Come Follow Me Podcast For Kids. This is specifically a Primary Podcast or Primary Scripture Study Poscast that studies Come Follow Me. Welcome to Come Follow Me Kids! We are a scripture study podcast that accompanies the Come Follow Me Manual by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We play games, sing songs, and tell stories to go along with the scriptures. This year we are specifically studying the Old Testament. We sometimes use audio clips from the Friend Magazine and other church sources, however we are not officially sponsored by the church in any way. If your children would like a free baptism shout out or to be guests on this podcast, email us at comefollowmekidspodcast@gmail.com. If you like this podcast, please leave us a review. Thank you! Despite the prophet Elisha's powerful ministry, the people of the Northern Kingdom of Israel did not repent. Eventually, the Assyrian Empire conquered and scattered the ten tribes of Israel. Meanwhile, the Southern Kingdom of Judah wasn't doing much better: idolatry was also widespread there.Amid all this spiritual decay, the scriptures mention two kings of Judah who, for a time, turned their people back to the Lord. One was Hezekiah. During his reign, the Assyrians conquered much of Judah. But Hezekiah and his people showed faith in the Lord, who saved Jerusalem in a miraculous way. Later, after another period of apostasy, Josiah became king. Inspired in part by a rediscovery of the book of the law of Moses, Josiah brought reforms that revived the religious life of his people.Like Israel and Judah, we all make both good and bad choices. When we sense that our lives need some reforms, we can take encouragement from these two bright spots in the dark years of Judah's history. Perhaps the examples of Hezekiah and Josiah can inspire us to “trust in the Lord our God” (2 Kings 18:22).

Pharaoh's “shock and awe” strategy in going after the Israelites was an attempt to overwhelm them with fear, but Moses calls God's people to respond differently: “Fear not, stand firm,” trusting that the Lord Himself will fight for them. As God parts the Red Sea and defeats Egypt, He reveals His holiness, power, and glory, inviting all people to stand in awe of Him, for His steadfast love endures forever. Like Israel and Moses, our journey of faith moves us from fear and doubt to awe and worship as we come to know God more deeply and stand in wonder at Jesus, asking with the psalmist, “What is man that You are mindful of him?”

(Psalm 85) Patriotism and Christianity are not the same thing, but those who follow Christ should love their country. LIke Israel, our own nation, is in desperate need of divine intervention. It is time for God's people to pray. Download The Need of Our Nation and a free Bible prayer guide for leaders here, or click to order copies to provide to your church or local government leaders here. (10162260708) Join Scott Pauley's study through Scripture this year. Find resources for every book of the Bible by Dr. Pauley and Enjoying the Journey at enjoyingthejourney.org/journey-through-scripture/. Whether you're a new believer or have walked with the Lord for years, you'll find thousands of free devotionals, Bible studies, audio series, and Scripture tools designed to strengthen your faith, deepen your understanding of the Bible, and help you stay rooted in the Word of God. Explore now at EnjoyingTheJourney.org. Extend the Work Enjoying the Journey provides every resource for free worldwide. If you would like to help extend this Bible teaching, you may give at enjoyingthejourney.org/donations/

But if it's from God… Acts 5 by William Klock There was a package slip from Canada Post below the mail slot when I got here last Friday.  I was kind of annoyed, because not only did I have no idea where the package was from, for some reason I had to go all the way over to the post office in Comox to pick it up.  And when they handed it to me I was perplexed.  The sender was just some distribution company.  The box was large and heavy.  A mystery.  And when I got it home and opened it up, it was still a mystery.  A boxed set of about fifteen books from a ministry called Be United in Christ.  Nice looking hardcovers.  The set looks expensive.  A few of them were reprints of books by Jonathan Edwards, Jeremiah Burroughs, and Charles Spurgeon, but frustratingly none of the others say a word about their authors and I couldn't find much online about the ministry itself or who's behind it.  The books are a generous gift.  But do I just put them out for you all to take home and read?  Edwards, Burroughs, Spurgeon are okay.  Puritans, not Anglicans, but still part of the same general theological tradition—for the most part.  But are they there just to get me to trust the other anonymous books?  I don't know.  This is the shepherd's dilemma.  I don't have time to read them or really even to meaningfully skim them.  The problem would be solved if I knew something about who sent them. And I think that illustrates well what St. Luke is getting at in our text today.  We'll be looking at Acts 5.  [Page 1084 in the pew Bibles.]  And at first Acts 5 might seem like a series stories or events that are related only because they happened in the order Luke presents them, but are kind of otherwise “random”.  But the more I thought about the Chapter, the more a common theme started to take shape.  So far, Luke has shown us the birth of the church through the preaching of Peter and the work of the Spirit.  And then he's shown us the church taking shape, not just as some new religion—which I think is how we're often (wrongly!) prone to seeing it—but as the fulfilment of God's promises to Israel.  Luke shows us the church as the new temple.  God has returned to his people as he promised, but not to the bricks-and-mortar temple on the mountaintop above Jerusalem. Instead, he's come to indwell the people whom Jesus has purified with his blood.  This is a human temple meant to one day fill the whole earth and with it God's presence.  And Luke has shown us the church not just as a family, but as the family that Israel was always supposed to be, but failed to be; the family in which God is fulfilling his promises through Jesus and the Spirit; the family in which his kingdom, his new creation, his renewed humanity is being born.  It's a community meant to take up the vocation of Jesus and to be prophets, priests and kings, proclaiming the good news about the lordship of Jesus to Jerusalem and Judah—and eventually to the whole world. But as we've seen, it's not just the proclamation.  It's not just the preaching.  That's absolutely necessary.  But it's the lived community—the “family-ness”—of the church that backs up the message and says that this is the real deal.  Because Israel had been talking the talk for a thousand years.  But Israel ended up in exile in Babylon because she failed over and over to walk the walk.  You can't preach light while living in darkness.  You can't claim to be God's people while you worship idols.  You can't proclaim new creation while living like the old.  That's why, at the end of Chapter 4, which we saw last week, Luke talked for a second time about the way the church in Jerusalem became a family and took care of those in need.  They were actively living out the bounty and generosity of God and his new creation.  As the new Israel, they were a little land of milk and honey.  And Luke held up Jospeh the Levite as particularly exemplary, because he unselfishly sold some land and brought the proceeds to the apostles to help their ministry. It wasn't a requirement for church membership.  It sounds like Joseph was wealthy and so he used his wealth to build up the church and it was his way of living out new creation.  And it was obviously unique—not something everyone did—because they nicknamed him Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement”.  And that leads straight into Acts 5 and the story of Ananias and Sapphira.  This couple wanted the same sort of attention Barnabas was getting.  Luke writes, “There was, however, a man named Ananias with his wife, Sapphira.  He sold some property and, with his wife's knowledge, kept back part of the price.  He brought the rest and laid it at the apostle's feet.  ‘Ananias!' said Peter.  ‘Why did the Satan fill your heart to make you tell a lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the price of the land?  While it was still yours, it belonged to you, didn't it?  And, when you sold it, it was still in your power.  Why did you get such an idea in your heart?  It isn't men that you've lied to; it's God!'  When Ananias heard these words he fell down and died.  Everyone who heard about it was scared out of their wits.  The young men got up, took him away, wrapped up his body and buried him.  After an interval of about three hours, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.  Peter spoke to her.  ‘Tell me,' he said, ‘did you sell the land for this much?'  ‘Yes,” she replied, ‘that was the price.'  ‘So why,' Peter answered, ‘did you agree together to put the Holy Spirit to the test?  Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door and they will carry you out too!'  At once she fell down at his feet and died.  The young men were just coming in and they found her dead, so they took her out and buried her beside her husband.  Great fear came upon the whole gathering and on all who heard about these things.” Great fear!  No kidding.  Now, growing up—and for years afterward—I thought this was a story about “tithing”.  In Sunday school we would sing a song about how Ananias and Sapphira got together to conspire a plot to cheat the church and get ahead.  They knew God's power but did not fear it, tried to cheat the Holy Spirit.  Peter prophesied it and they both dropped dead. Uh!  (That “Uh!” was the good part—one of the few times you could be rowdy in church.) And the chorus of the song went on to sing about how God loves a cheerful giver, give him all you've got.  It had me terrified as a kid.  I didn't have any income, but I knew that someday when I did, I'd better give God his due or I might drop dead.  No one ever talked about the part where they lied about what they were giving.  And no one ever paid attention to the context of the story. It is a terrifying story.  Even the people in the church who saw it and heard about, Luke writes, were pretty terrified.  But the way we usually hear about Ananias and Sapphira, I think, gets us worried about the wrong thing.  Because, Brothers and Sisters, this is isn't a story about tithing; it's a story about the need for holiness.  It's a story that reminds us that if we're going to be God's temple, if we're going to be the place where he dwells in the person of his Spirit, if we're going to be the place where the world meets God, we need to take holiness seriously. The first thing that ought to tip us off here is the way these first chapters of Acts are all centred on the temple.  More specifically, they're focused on how the church has become the new temple and how it—particularly through Peter and John spending their days in the old temple—how the church is confronting and challenging the old: the old temple, the old Israel, and the priests and elders associated with both.  The second thing that ought to tip us off is the nature of the story.  It's not a common thing, even in the Bible, for God to just suddenly strike someone dead.  But the few times we do see that happen, what's it associated with?  Think Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's sons, playing around with the holy things of God and offering “strange fire” on the altar.  Zap.  Dead.  Instantly.  And poor Uzzah when David's men were rescuing the ark of the covenant from the Philistines.  They didn't carry it the way God had told them to.  Instead, they put it on a cart.  And the cart started to tip and Uzzah—well meaning, but horribly wrong—reached out to steady it.  And zap!  Uzzah was struck dead on the spot.  I can think of a few other slightly less dramatic.  There was Achan who, in the ruins of Jericho, stole some of the treasure that belonged to the Lord.  His sin had consequences for the whole community of Israel in their next battle, but maybe most importantly, it was the Lord who revealed the guilty to Joshua.  And Achan and his family died.  Or King Uzziah who arrogantly entered the temple to burn incense and was immediately struck with leprosy. The point is this, Brothers and Sisters, if you're going to walk with God, holiness is not an option.  The wages of sin is death.  For the vast majority of us, living and then dying is just so normal that sometimes we need a reminder that life is God's gift, that sin separates us from God, and that we die because of that separation.  Sometimes the reminders are instantaneous, dramatic, and terrifying.  Other times they play out over generations.  Like Israel herself: generation after generation of faithlessness and idolatry that eventually led, for the northern kingdom, to annihilation—national death—and for the southern kingdom exile.  St. Paul warns the Corinthians that some of them are sick and dying because they've abused the Lord's Supper.  In John's revelation, Jesus warns the churches that if they aren't faithful, if they fail to properly represent him and his kingdom, he will take away their lampstands.  They will, as churches, die.  God requires holiness of his people and holiness is serious business.  The church is God's means of making the good news of Jesus known.  The church is God's means of making his new creation visible and real in the world.  And if we undermine the credibility of the gospel through unholiness—well, God is patient—most of the time—but if we refuse to repent, he will make us witnesses to his power and sovereignty through his discipline rather than his blessing. Ananias and Sapphira lied because they wanted a reputation they hadn't earned.  How do we misrepresent the gospel and the kingdom and Jesus?  In what way do we or does the church compromise our witness?  What idols have we set up alongside the cross?  What things do we do that bring public shame on Jesus and the Spirit?  What compromises our holiness?  And do our compromises and our idolatries and our hypocrisies run so deep or are they so common that maybe we no longer even see them.  But people out there do.  And God does.  Brothers and Sisters, that's what the story of Ananias and Sapphira is about. But Acts 5 is more than a terrifying warning to holiness.  It's also an exhortation.  Look at verse 12: “Many signs and wonders were performed by the apostles amongst the people.  They were all together in Solomon's Porch, while none of the others dared join them, though the people spoke highly of them.  But more people, a crowd both of men and women, believed in the Lord and were added to their number.  They used to bring the sick into the streets and place them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on them as he went by.  Crowds gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing people who were sick or infested with unclean spirits.  All of them were cured.” God struck down the people who were compromising the church's gospel witness, but he blessed the ministry of Peter.  As Luke notes, after the confrontation with the Jewish authorities, no one dared to join him, but when Peter went out with boldness to proclaim the good news, God made him a walking pocket of new creation.  It makes me think of the dead temporarily raised on Good Friday, as if the shockwave of life was so powerful it had an almost undiscriminating effect as it went out from the cross.  The same sort of thing happens with Peter. I think when we read this, our modern democratic mindset has us wondering why we don't see this happening today.  Why doesn't this happen when my shadow falls on people when I'm walking around.  And again, I have to come back to the biblical witness itself.  The point of miracles is that they don't happen every day.  And when they do happen, even in the Bible, they cluster around those times and places where God is doing something new.  They clustered around Jesus and now we see them clustering around the apostles, validating them in the same way they validated Jesus.  And they're happening right at the gate of the temple—God's not so subtle way to announce that, yes, he's come back to dwell with his people just as he promised, but he's not dwelling in the holy of holies in the bricks-and-mortal temple; he's come to dwell in this people purified and made even holier than the holy of holies by the blood of Jesus.  Think of it like a rocket launch.  There's a blast of almost uncomprehensible power that launches a rocket off the ground and into orbit.  Once it's up there, it just needs a little nudge from time to time to keep it there.  This was God's way of launching the gospel. Now, verse 17: “Then the high priest got up and all who were with him, namely the group called the Sadducees.  They were filled with zeal [think “righteous indignation”] and seized the apostles and put them in the public jail.  But an angel of the Lord came in the night, opened the prison doors, and brought them out.  ‘Go and take your stand in the temple,' he said, ‘and speak all the words of this life to the people.'  When they heard this, they went in at early morning and began to teach.  When the high priest arrived with his entourage, they called the official assembly and all the elders of the sons of Israel, and they sent to the prison to have the apostles brought in.  But when the attendants went they didn't find them in the prison.  So they came and reported back.  ‘We found the jail shut up with maximum security,' they said, ‘and the guards were standing in front of the doors.  But when we opened up we found no one inside.'  When they heard these words, the commander of the temple police and the chief priests were at a loss about them, with no idea what had happened.  But then someone came with a message for them.  ‘Look!' he said.  ‘The men you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.'  Then the commander went with his attendants and brought them.  They didn't use force, though, because they were afraid that the people might stone them.” Luke has a sense of humour.  So does God.  The high priest is full of zeal.  This idea of “zeal” characterised what the Jews of those days thought of as faithfulness.  Their heroes were men like Phinehas, who speared a law-breaking idolater to the ground; like Judas Maccabbeus, who led a revolt against the pagan Geek rulers of Israel.  They were zealous for God and for his law and they burned with anger at anyone who compromised it.  And that's how they felt about the apostles.  Peter and John, just like Jesus, were challenging the temple.  The temple leaders wanted them dead, but they also feared the people.  Everyone else could see new creation and the power of God—life—bursting into the world, but all these guys could see was a threat to the status quo.  And so they throw the apostles into jail.  And God sends an angel to set them free and not just that, but to send them straight back to the temple, to the place where they were arrested.  And there's an urgency to the angel's words.  “Go back the temple.  Take your stand.  Speak the words of this life to the people.” The miracles were wonderful.  The miracles said that God was doing something, that new creation life was breaking in.  That there was something about the apostles.  But Brothers and Sisters, miracles without preaching lead to superstition.  Good works without preaching leave people applauding the people doing the good works.  It's our proclamation, our preaching, our announcement of the good news about Jesus, crucified and risen and lord, that makes sense of the miracles and the good works.  It's the preaching that points people to Jesus—not just in a generic sense to “God”, but specifically to Jesus.  It's the preaching that makes clear that in the Messiah, God has provided a sacrifice that purifies us from the stain of sin to make us fit to be his temple, filled with his own Spirit, to bring his grace and his mercy and his love and his holiness and his new creation to the world.  It's our life as God's working model of new creation that attracts people, but it's our preaching that calls them specifically to Jesus in repentance and faith. This whole chapter is a reminder that preaching alone without holiness and without living out new creation is not enough, but that it's also not enough to live out that new creation, to be a heaven on earth people, even to work miracles.  It has to be accompanied by the proclamation of the good news about Jesus.  Otherwise we're like the mystery box of books.  Who's this from?  Should I trust it?  So the angel sends them back to preach.  And there they are preaching in the temple just as the priests assemble to hold court.  And they send for the accused and no one can find them, until someone runs in and shouts: “They're back preaching right under your noses!” “So,” Luke goes on in verse 27, “they brough them and stood them in the assembly.  The high priest questioned them.  ‘We gave you strict orders, didn't we?' he demanded.  ‘We told you not to teach in this name, but look what you're doing.  You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you're trying to bring this man's blood on us.'  ‘We must obey God, not men!' responded Peter and the apostles.  ‘The God of our fathers raised Jesus after you had laid violent hands on him and hanged him on a tree.  God exalted him to his right hand as leader and saviour, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.  We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, which God gave to those who obey him.'  When they heard this, they were infuriated and wanted to kill them.  But then a Pharisee by the name of Gamaliel stood up in the assembly.  He was a law-teacher, highly respected by all the people.  He ordered the men to be put outside for a short while.  ‘Men of Israel,' he said to the gathering, ‘be careful what you do to these men.  Before these times Theudas rose up, claiming to be someone special and about four hundred men went off to join him.  But he was killed and all the people who trusted him were dispersed.  The movement came to nothing.  After that Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census and drew a crowd after himself.  But he was killed and all those who trusted him were scattered.  So my advice to you now is this.  Leave off from these men; let them be.  You see, if this plan or work is merely human in origin, it will come to ruin.  But if it's from God—well, you won't be able to stop them.  You might even be found to be fighting against God.'  They were persuaded by him and called the apostles back in.  They beat them and told them not to speak in the name of Jesus.  Then they let them go.  They, however, went out from the presence of the assembly celebrating, because they had been reckoned worthy to suffer disgrace for the name.  And all day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Messiah.” The assembly has the apostles beaten, but they know the scriptures.  They've seen how Jesus suffered and died as part of his ministry to fulfil those scriptures.  So Peter and John and the others take this opposition as confirmation.  And Luke goes into these details here, because this is going to be a pattern throughout the book of Acts.  Suffering for the name of Jesus is a privilege.  But he also highlights the importance of the church's integrity to its—to our—witness.  Again, we are God's temple.  He's returned as he promised, not to the stone building that once sat over Jerusalem, but by filling us—the people purified and made holy by the blood of Jesus.  The beauty of a human temple is that it can grow and grow and grow until it fills the earth with God's presence, with his wisdom, with his gospel life.  But it's also important that the temple remain pure.  Jesus has purified it.  The Holy Spirit has sanctified it.  But we're still human.  We're not perfect—not yet.  Brothers and Sisters, this is why, as Paul puts it, we need to put on the Messiah.  To put off the old, corrupt, sinful and selfish way of being human and put on Jesus and the new life of the gospel, the new life of the Spirit.  To be the holy people Jesus and the Spirit have made us.  To walk in integrity: in our personal affairs, in our relationships, in our marriages, in our business, in our politics, in our finances, in our life together as the church, as the temple.  We really do need to be the new humanity and God's new creation.  We need to be—so much as Jesus and the Spirit make it possible—to be God's future right here in the present.  And we need to take our stand and proclaim the name of Jesus so that when people notice our holiness and our integrity, they'll also know that it's not just us, but that it's all about this Jesus who died and rose again—for us, for them, for the sake of all creation—to forgive, to purify, to heal, and to set to rights.  I can't say exactly what it's supposed to look like.  Acts was unique.  The rocket ship was launching.  Now it's in orbit.  Our shadows are highly unlikely to heal anyone, and yet Peter's shadow and Peter's preaching really do represent the ministry of the faithful church to bring healing to the world, to wipe away tears, to announce what Jesus has done and what Jesus is doing and what Jesus will, finally, one day finish as we bring hope to the world.  Do it with integrity, Brothers and Sisters.  And do it in holiness. Let us pray: O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not our hold on things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

In this installment of Metron Live, Bishop Jim Swilley continues his series on being seated in heavenly places, drawing from Ephesians 2 and Psalm 16:11. He challenges listeners to rethink joy—not as an emotional high, but as a state of presence. Using stories from his own life, the Israelites' wilderness journey, a beloved family cat nearing the end of its life, and even a tense basketball game, Bishop Jim argues that fullness of joy is found when we stop living in regret over the past or anxiety about the future and become fully present in the moment. His central revelation is that “in His presence is fullness of joy” also means learning to live in our own presence—to fully inhabit the life we are experiencing right now. Key Takeaways 1. Your Life Has a Path, Even When It Feels Circular Drawing from Psalm 16:11, Bishop Jim teaches that God shows us “the path of life,” but that path is often cyclical rather than linear. Like Israel wandering for 40 years before facing the same Jericho, many people revisit similar lessons until they learn to see their circumstances differently. Key Thought: Stop obsessing over the “should have, could have, would have” moments. Fullness of joy requires making peace with the path that brought you here. Scripture: Psalm 16:11 2. Presence Is the Gateway to Joy The core revelation of the message comes from a simple observation about a family cat that peacefully accepted the end of its life. “He was present all the way to the end.” — Bishop Jim Swilley recounting a conversation about Avery’s cat. That statement unlocked a deeper understanding of Psalm 16:11. Most people are physically present but mentally somewhere else—replaying the past, worrying about the future, or trying to solve problems that don’t yet exist. Bishop Jim shares a personal story of standing in the Gulf of Mexico on vacation while mentally sorting through future responsibilities, realizing: “My body’s in the Gulf of Mexico, but I’m not here.” — Bishop Jim Swilley Main Lesson: You cannot experience fullness of joy if you are not fully present. Scripture: Psalm 16:11 — “In Your presence is fullness of joy.” 3. Anxiety Pulls You Out of the Present Moment Whether it’s worrying about finances, relationships, aging, health, or the future, anxiety fragments attention and lowers our ability to experience joy. Bishop Jim contrasts this with Jesus’ teaching: Scriptures Referenced: Matthew 6 — Consider the lilies. Matthew 6:34 — “Take no thought for tomorrow.” The message is not irresponsibility; it is refusing to sacrifice today’s peace for tomorrow’s uncertainty. 4. Stop Rehearsing the Stories That Keep You Sick Referencing Proverbs, Bishop Jim teaches that many people unknowingly reinforce negative realities by constantly speaking about them. Scripture: Proverbs 13:12 — “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” He argues that there is a healthy place for processing pain, counseling, and healing, but eventually there comes a point where continuing to repeat the story keeps it alive. Key Thought: There comes a time when you stop retelling the wound and start telling a new story. 5. Don’t Make Your Joy Dependent on Other People’s Approval One of the strongest practical applications of the message is the reminder that everyone wants acceptance, but joy cannot be dependent upon it. “You got to feel good about yourself whether anybody gets it or not.” — Bishop Jim Swilley Jesus serves as the model. He never sought permission from others to live in the truth of who He was. Scriptures Referenced: John 8:58 — “Before Abraham was, I am.” John 10:18 — “No man takes my life, I lay it down.” 6. God Is Not Against Pleasure Bishop Jim closes by examining the final phrase of Psalm 16:11: “At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” He contrasts this with religious systems that often treat pleasure, enjoyment, and happiness as suspicious or sinful. Using Jesus turning water into wine at Cana as an example, he argues that God is not opposed to joy, celebration, or abundance. Scripture: John 2 — The wedding at Cana. His conclusion is that many religious traditions have taught people to expect struggle, guilt, and stress, while Scripture repeatedly points toward joy, peace, and life. Memorable Quote “You can’t have fullness of joy if you’re not present.” — Bishop Jim Swilley Main Scripture Psalm 16:11 “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Final Thought The heart of this message is simple but profound: joy is not found in fixing the past or controlling the future. It is found in fully inhabiting the present moment. According to Bishop Jim, the highest vibration, the heavenly place, and the fullness of joy are all experienced when we stop living somewhere else and become fully present to the life unfolding right in front of us.

The books of 1st and 2nd Kings are not simply a record of failure and exile. They are filled with threads of the gospel pointing forward to Jesus Christ. Three of those threads stand out: syncretistic idolatry, the limits of religious reformation, and the lamp of David. Like Israel, we are not tempted to replace Jesus but to add to Him, trusting good gifts more than the Giver. External behavior change can never produce the internal transformation that only God can bring. And just as God preserved the line of David through exile and devastation, He has kept every promise He made, fulfilling them completely in Jesus Christ.

As we conclude our Joshua: Almost Home series, we arrive at Joshua's final words to God's people. This is a powerful call to remember, respond, and choose.After years of witnessing God's faithfulness, provision, protection, and victory, Joshua gathers Israel and asks the defining question: “Whom will you serve?” It's not merely a question for ancient Israel. It's the same question every believer must answer today.Joshua reminds the people that everything they have is because of God's grace. He fought their battles. He kept His promises. He brought them home. But the gospel always demands a response.This closing message challenges us to examine our own hearts. What competes for our worship? Comfort? Success? Security? Control? Like Israel, we cannot remain neutral. We were made to worship.The good news is that while faithfulness is too heavy a burden to carry in our own strength, God has given us His Spirit to empower us to follow Him.“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” The question is: What will your response be?

Life doesn't always go the way we planned. Unexpected changes, new challenges, and unfamiliar seasons have a way of shaking our faith — turning our worship into worry and our praise into panic. But what if those strange, uncomfortable places are exactly where God needs us to be? In this message, Brother Hughes explores what it looks like to trust God when everything around us feels unfamiliar. Like Israel standing at the edge of the Promised Land, we are often unprepared for the new thing God is doing — not because He has forgotten us, but because He is getting us ready to receive it. God is never in a new place. We are. The Bible calls us to be strong and courageous — to take hold of the problem before it takes hold of us. Fear doesn't reduce the danger we face; it only increases the weight of it. But when we choose to follow God, even at a distance, even in patience, we position ourselves to witness what He alone can do. Whatever strange place you find yourself in today, God has already been there. Trust the journey, follow His lead, and praise Him on the way.

Life doesn't always go the way we planned. Unexpected changes, new challenges, and unfamiliar seasons have a way of shaking our faith — turning our worship into worry and our praise into panic. But what if those strange, uncomfortable places are exactly where God needs us to be? In this message, Brother Hughes explores what it looks like to trust God when everything around us feels unfamiliar. Like Israel standing at the edge of the Promised Land, we are often unprepared for the new thing God is doing — not because He has forgotten us, but because He is getting us ready to receive it. God is never in a new place. We are. The Bible calls us to be strong and courageous — to take hold of the problem before it takes hold of us. Fear doesn't reduce the danger we face; it only increases the weight of it. But when we choose to follow God, even at a distance, even in patience, we position ourselves to witness what He alone can do. Whatever strange place you find yourself in today, God has already been there. Trust the journey, follow His lead, and praise Him on the way.

Life doesn't always go the way we planned. Unexpected changes, new challenges, and unfamiliar seasons have a way of shaking our faith — turning our worship into worry and our praise into panic. But what if those strange, uncomfortable places are exactly where God needs us to be? In this message, Brother Hughes explores what it looks like to trust God when everything around us feels unfamiliar. Like Israel standing at the edge of the Promised Land, we are often unprepared for the new thing God is doing — not because He has forgotten us, but because He is getting us ready to receive it. God is never in a new place. We are. The Bible calls us to be strong and courageous — to take hold of the problem before it takes hold of us. Fear doesn't reduce the danger we face; it only increases the weight of it. But when we choose to follow God, even at a distance, even in patience, we position ourselves to witness what He alone can do. Whatever strange place you find yourself in today, God has already been there. Trust the journey, follow His lead, and praise Him on the way.

Life doesn't always go the way we planned. Unexpected changes, new challenges, and unfamiliar seasons have a way of shaking our faith — turning our worship into worry and our praise into panic. But what if those strange, uncomfortable places are exactly where God needs us to be? In this message, Brother Hughes explores what it looks like to trust God when everything around us feels unfamiliar. Like Israel standing at the edge of the Promised Land, we are often unprepared for the new thing God is doing — not because He has forgotten us, but because He is getting us ready to receive it. God is never in a new place. We are. The Bible calls us to be strong and courageous — to take hold of the problem before it takes hold of us. Fear doesn't reduce the danger we face; it only increases the weight of it. But when we choose to follow God, even at a distance, even in patience, we position ourselves to witness what He alone can do. Whatever strange place you find yourself in today, God has already been there. Trust the journey, follow His lead, and praise Him on the way.

This exploration of Psalm 88 takes us into one of Scripture's rawest expressions of spiritual desolation. We encounter a worship leader who penned a song not of triumph, but of anguisha tune called 'The Suffering of Affliction' meant for the entire community to sing together. The central message challenges our assumptions about spiritual dryness: when God feels distant, it may not mean we've done something wrong or that God has abandoned us. Instead, spiritual writers throughout history describe patterns of 'consolation and desolation'seasons where we sail smoothly on the winds of the Spirit, and seasons where the lake seems drained, exposing all the junk at the bottom. The profound insight here is that God sometimes leads us into these dark nights not to punish us, but to help us see what lies beneath the surface of our hearts. Like Israel wandering through the desert, these wilderness experiences reveal our true character and teach us to seek God himself rather than merely the feelings He gives us. The psalm becomes a permission slip to pray honestly, to cry out without pretense, and to recognize that even Jesus on the cross experienced God's seeming distance while remaining in perfect obedience. We're invited to draw near with bold faith, understanding that darkness may actually be God's closest presence doing transformative work within us.

“Do You Ever Get Tired?” calls us to shake off weariness and passive faith, rise in obedience, and actively take hold of every promise God has already placed before us. Like Israel under Joshua, we are reminded that the old season is gone, the Word is enough, and our inheritance in Christ is far larger than what we often settle for. We step into God’s calling through submission, we overcome by depending on Him when circumstances look impossible, and we occupy His promises by cultivating a holy hunger that refuses apathy or limitation. As we set our minds for action, trust His presence, and move forward in faith rather than waiting for proof, we discover that victory multiplies, peace strengthens us, and every step of obedience opens new ground for God’s glory in our lives.

Sunday, April 12, 2026 Discovering Jesus Through the Bible | Keep God at the Center Exodus 31:1-14 Pastor Ben Price How quickly our hearts drift when God isn't first. Like Israel and the golden calf, we often turn to what feels immediate or controllable. This message calls us back to trust, surrender, and keeping God at the center—especially in the waiting. 3 Key Points: Drift happens when we lose focus on God Idols can be subtle (comfort, control, success) God's mercy calls us back to center Connect with us at www.bcn.org! Need prayer? We would love to pray for you, simply submit your request here.

Do you need rest today? Terrence acknowledges what we all feel…exhaustion. Whether from work, parenting, driving, lack of sleep, constant news, or simply trying to keep up with life, there is a collective weariness in our culture. While some fatigue is unavoidable, much of it stems from our own striving. We often live like “little gods,” trying to control outcomes and earn our value. In that mindset, rest becomes optional instead of essential. Hebrews 4 reminds us that God's rest is still available today. True rest begins with faith–trusting God's promises and His faithfulness. Like Israel, we miss rest when we choose unbelief. But God's invitation still stands: “Today.” In a culture that glorifies hustle, Scripture teaches that rest is entered, not earned. It is a gift made possible through Christ's finished work. We don't achieve it, we enter it by surrendering self-reliance, approval-seeking, and control. The gospel is not only our hope for eternity; it is our invitation to experience Christ's rest today. Will you enter it?

Pastor Alex shared this message that he desires us to remember. Be confident in this one thing: God is faithful, and He will finish what He started in you. Nothing about your life, where you are, what you've faced, or what you're still struggling with, has taken Him by surprise. He called you, saved you, and delivered you for a purpose.Like Israel and Gideon, we can forget what God has already done for us when things get difficult. But, God continually draws us back to Himself, reminding us that He is our deliverer, healer, and our provider. Even when we feel hidden, weak, or insignificant, God sees us differently. He fulfills His plans not because of our strength, but because of His.Today, the Word of the Lord is this: be fully confident that He will complete the work He began in you. Regardless of how you feel right now, God is still busy with your life. There is only one requirement: respond. Lay your life before Him, surrender your heart, and come back to the altar. He's not finished yet.   Scriptures Referenced: Philippians 1:3–7 Judges 6:1–27

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is Judges 19:30. "And all who saw it said, 'Such a thing has never happened or been seen from the day that the people of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt until this day; consider it, take counsel, and speak.'" — Judges 19:30 After the concubine's body was divided and sent throughout Israel, the nation was stunned. The people were forced to face their own moral decay—something so grotesque that it defied explanation. They cried out, "Such a thing has never happened!" And yet, it had happened—because of their silence, their compromise, and their abandonment of God. Israel had reached a point of no return. Evil was no longer outside their borders—it was within their tribes, their homes, and their hearts. And now, the nation that had ignored sin for generations was finally forced to see the cost of its complacency. We're not far from this moment today. Our culture flaunts what it once feared. We parade what God calls perverse and applaud what He condemns. The Church, too, has grown numb—more comfortable debating truth than defending it. Like Israel, we've seen so much sin that we barely flinch anymore. But evil always demands a response. It won't wait. It won't relent. And if we don't confront it, it will consume us. The people of Israel were called to "consider, take counsel, and speak." That's not just good advice—it's a call to repentance and reform. To look honestly at the ruin, seek God's wisdom, and speak the truth boldly once more. This is what revival looks like—it begins with seeing evil for what it is, grieving over it, and then turning to God for healing. We don't need louder outrage—we need deeper repentance. It's time for believers and the Church collective to rise again—to speak truth into a world collapsing under the weight of lies, to lead with courage when others retreat, and to call a generation back to holiness. Evil has spoken loudly. Now, it's time for the righteous to answer. ASK THIS: Where have you grown numb to evil in your life or culture? What truth has God been asking you to speak that you've delayed? DO THIS: Speak truth in love this week where culture has grown comfortable with sin. Lead your family, church, or circle in prayer for revival and holiness. PRAY THIS: Lord, let me never grow numb to evil. Give me courage to speak, wisdom to act, and humility to repent. Awaken Your Church, heal our land, and start that renewal in me. Amen. PLAY THIS: "God Turn It Around."

As one year closes and another begins, leaders naturally pause to reflect. Some moments bring gratitude and joy; others surface disappointment, loss, or unanswered questions. Yet through every season—growth, waiting, and hardship—one truth remains steady: God has been faithful. In this episode, Looking Back, Moving Forward: Trusting God with Every Season, we explore how reflection rooted in gratitude strengthens our confidence for what lies ahead. Drawing from Scripture and leadership experience, this message invites Christian leaders to examine the past year honestly—recognizing both God's provision and His purpose in the struggles we did not choose. You'll be encouraged to look back with gratitude, recognizing where God carried you through late nights, difficult decisions, and unexpected detours. Like Israel standing on the far side of the Jordan, reflection helps us see that God's presence never wavered, even when circumstances felt uncertain. We also consider how every season teaches us something essential. Some seasons stretch us; others refine us. Growth does not always come through expansion—often it comes through perseverance. As Romans reminds us, God uses difficulty to shape character and produce hope, never wasting what we endure. Finally, this episode looks ahead with faith. The future may be unclear, but God goes before us. Trusting Him does not remove uncertainty, but it anchors us in confidence that He is already at work in what's next. Leaders are reminded that trusting God yesterday builds the courage to trust Him again tomorrow. Whether you are ending the year weary or hopeful, this episode offers space to reflect, release, and refocus—so you can move forward with open hands and a confident heart.

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is Judges 16:4-9: "After this he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, 'Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to humble him. And we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver.' So Delilah said to Samson, 'Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you.' Samson said to her, 'If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.' Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she bound him with them. Now she had men lying in ambush in an inner chamber. And she said to him, 'The Philistines are upon you, Samson!' But he snapped the bowstrings, as a thread of flax snaps when it touches the fire. So the secret of his strength was not known." — Judges 16:4-9 Samson fell in love with Delilah. On the outside, it probably looked harmless—even romantic. But underneath, the Philistine rulers were using her to unravel him. Notice their strategy: not an ambush, not an outright attack, but seduction. Quiet. Subtle. Patient. That's how sin usually works. Rarely does the enemy come at you with flashing lights and a sword in hand. More often, he whispers through slow compromise, through small concessions that seem harmless—until you realize you've been tied up. And here's the irony: Samson kept playing along. He knew she was setting him up, but he continued to entertain the idea. He tolerated the danger, thinking he could handle it. That's exactly how sin works in us. What we entertain today eventually enslaves us tomorrow. This is still happening now. Just look around. Our culture seduces us with subtle compromises—porn normalized as entertainment, propaganda hidden in schools, news outlets, and governments selling the lie that we can trade truth for comfort and cultural ideologies. Like Israel tolerating Gaza for generations, many believers today tolerate little footholds of sin, thinking they won't matter. But they do. Small compromises left unchecked lead to devastating collapse. Sin doesn't usually take you out all at once. It wears you down until you give away what you never meant to lose. ASK THIS: Where are you tolerating small compromises in your life right now? Why do you think subtle temptations feel safer than obvious ones? How can you recognize when sin is "wearing you down" before it's too late? What cultural lies are you tempted to tolerate instead of resisting? DO THIS: Identify: One "small" compromise you've been tolerating. Confess: Ask God to help you shut the door before it grows. Pay attention: Is culture shaping your convictions—or is God's Word? PRAY THIS: Lord, open my eyes to the subtle compromises that wear me down. Give me the courage to resist what seems small, and the wisdom to guard what You've set apart in me. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Lord, I Need You."

The Suffering of King David      David's fugitive years under Saul (1 Sam 22–24) were not wasted time but a period of divine training and refinement. Though anointed king by Samuel (1 Sam 16:13), David was not yet ready to rule. God enrolled him in the school of suffering, isolation, and rejection to develop the inner character necessary for kingship. In the cave of Adullam, David found himself surrounded not by Israel's elite but by society's outcasts, “everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented” (1 Sam 22:2). These men became his first followers, and God used them to teach David grace, compassion, and leadership under pressure. In the desert, David learned to live by divine viewpoint, to lean on God's sufficiency instead of human resources. His classroom was the wilderness; his lessons were hardship, endurance, and faith. Like Israel's desert testing, David's adversity exposed the contents of his soul and taught him to rest in God's perfect timing and immutable faithfulness (Deut 8:2).      During this season, David composed two psalms that record the anguish and growth of his soul (Psa 57; 142). Psalm 57 was written “when he fled from Saul in the cave” (Psa 57:1a), likely at Adullam (1 Sam 22:1). Here, David's faith triumphed over fear. Surrounded by danger, David prayed, “Be gracious to me, O God… for my soul takes refuge in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by” (Psa 57:1b). Though hunted, he chose praise over panic, saying, “My heart is steadfast, O God… I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples” (Psa 57:7, 9). Adversity was used as a vehicle to expedite his growth, and David learned that security rests not in circumstances but in divine stability. Psalm 142, written later “when he was in the cave,” probably at En-gedi (1 Sam 24:1–3), reveals a soul exhausted by prolonged pressure. David wrote, “No one cares for my soul” (Psa 142:4), capturing the loneliness of exile and the silence of isolation. Yet even there, David refocused on the Lord, saying, “I cried out to You, O Lord; I said, ‘You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living'” (Psa 142:5). According to Ross, “The faithful must depend on the LORD completely when they are in grave difficulties because there is no one else who truly cares for them.”[1] When human support failed, divine grace sustained him. Through these psalms, we see David's soul pressed, purified, and reshaped into a man of faith.      The results of that refinement soon became evident. Twice David was providentially placed in a position to kill Saul, first in the cave at En-gedi (1 Sam 24:1–7) and later at the hill of Hachilah (1 Sam 26:7–11). Both times David restrained himself, refusing to violate divine authority. David said, “The Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord's anointed” (1 Sam 24:6). This statement reveals a soul stabilized by Bible doctrine and governed by reverence for God's sovereignty. David refused to advance through human manipulation or self-promotion. His patience demonstrated that he had learned to wait for the Lord's vindication, as he said to Saul, “May the Lord judge between you and me… but my hand shall not be against you” (1 Sam 24:12). His restraint was the strength of humility developed through divine viewpoint thinking and prolonged testing (faith in action).      These wilderness years, likely spanning seven to ten years, formed the core of David's divine preparation. Every deprivation was a test; every trial was a lesson in grace orientation, faith-rest, and obedience under pressure. When David finally ascended to the throne, he ruled as a man whose soul had been tempered by adversity. The Lord had fulfilled His purpose, confirming the principle He'd spoken to Israel, “He humbled you and let you be hungry… that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord” (Deut 8:3). Thus, David's wilderness experience was a means of spiritual sanctification. The very afflictions that threatened his life became the instruments of his spiritual growth. By waiting on the Lord and trusting His timing, David demonstrated genuine humility and teachability, which are marks of a man after God's own heart (1 Sam 13:14; Acts 13:22). The Suffering of Daniel      Daniel's story begins in the shadow of national tragedy. As a young man, likely in his mid-to-late teens, he was taken captive when Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem and carried many of Judah's nobility to Babylon (Dan 1:1–4). Torn from his homeland, stripped of freedom, and thrust into the heart of a pagan empire, Daniel entered a culture saturated with idolatry, sorcery, and political scheming. Babylon sought not only to enslave his body but to reprogram his mind, to erase his identity as a servant of the Lord and remake him into a loyal functionary of the empire. The king ordered that his name be changed, his education redirected, and his diet replaced with food from the royal table (Dan 1:5–7). Yet from the very beginning, “Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself” (Dan 1:8). Daniel was resolved to stand firm in his faith. He understood that his real allegiance was not to Babylon's king but to the God of heaven. In a foreign land, he refused to lose his spiritual identity. Steven R. Cook, D.Min., M.Div.   [1] Allen P. Ross, A Commentary on the Psalms (90–150), vol.3, 875.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20251204dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. Psalm 80:3 Restore Us, O God “Do you see me?” This silent question lingers behind many cries for help. In a world filled with overwhelming noise, loneliness, and struggle, people long to know that someone notices them. They want the comfort of knowing that someone genuinely cares. Psalm 80 gives voice to those who feel left behind and overlooked. They’ve wandered away from God. Surrounded by adversity, they are broken and lost. Still, they don’t give up. Instead of surrendering to despair and defeat, they cry out to God in prayer: “Restore us, O God! Make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.” This prayer paints a beautiful picture—God’s face shining upon his people. Rather than shining with anger or disappointment, God's face radiates love, joy, and grace. When God’s face shines on you, it means that he does see you. And seeing you, he smiles upon you, sings over you, and rejoices to rescue and restore you. Yet, how can sinful people like us stand in the brilliance of God’s presence and live? On our own, we cannot. We have failed to imitate his love and have turned away from him. Like Israel, we experience the consequences—broken relationships, heavy hearts, and lingering guilt. Despite our sinfulness, Advent brings hope. The face of God has already shone on this world—in the face of Jesus Christ. He came into our darkness to bring light. He came, not to condemn but to restore. He carried our sin and shame and rose again to give us peace. Even when we feel lost or forgotten, God hears our prayers for restoration. Through Jesus, God truly sees you—and in seeing you, he forgives you, welcomes you, and rejoices over you. As you wait for Jesus to come again, you do not wait alone or in the dark. You wait enveloped in the warmth of God’s grace. Prayer: Lord, when I feel far from you, turn my heart back. Restore me by your mercy. Let your face shine on me through Jesus, my Savior. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20251204dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. Psalm 80:3 Restore Us, O God “Do you see me?” This silent question lingers behind many cries for help. In a world filled with overwhelming noise, loneliness, and struggle, people long to know that someone notices them. They want the comfort of knowing that someone genuinely cares. Psalm 80 gives voice to those who feel left behind and overlooked. They’ve wandered away from God. Surrounded by adversity, they are broken and lost. Still, they don’t give up. Instead of surrendering to despair and defeat, they cry out to God in prayer: “Restore us, O God! Make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.” This prayer paints a beautiful picture—God’s face shining upon his people. Rather than shining with anger or disappointment, God's face radiates love, joy, and grace. When God’s face shines on you, it means that he does see you. And seeing you, he smiles upon you, sings over you, and rejoices to rescue and restore you. Yet, how can sinful people like us stand in the brilliance of God’s presence and live? On our own, we cannot. We have failed to imitate his love and have turned away from him. Like Israel, we experience the consequences—broken relationships, heavy hearts, and lingering guilt. Despite our sinfulness, Advent brings hope. The face of God has already shone on this world—in the face of Jesus Christ. He came into our darkness to bring light. He came, not to condemn but to restore. He carried our sin and shame and rose again to give us peace. Even when we feel lost or forgotten, God hears our prayers for restoration. Through Jesus, God truly sees you—and in seeing you, he forgives you, welcomes you, and rejoices over you. As you wait for Jesus to come again, you do not wait alone or in the dark. You wait enveloped in the warmth of God’s grace. Prayer: Lord, when I feel far from you, turn my heart back. Restore me by your mercy. Let your face shine on me through Jesus, my Savior. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20251204dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. Psalm 80:3 Restore Us, O God “Do you see me?” This silent question lingers behind many cries for help. In a world filled with overwhelming noise, loneliness, and struggle, people long to know that someone notices them. They want the comfort of knowing that someone genuinely cares. Psalm 80 gives voice to those who feel left behind and overlooked. They’ve wandered away from God. Surrounded by adversity, they are broken and lost. Still, they don’t give up. Instead of surrendering to despair and defeat, they cry out to God in prayer: “Restore us, O God! Make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.” This prayer paints a beautiful picture—God’s face shining upon his people. Rather than shining with anger or disappointment, God's face radiates love, joy, and grace. When God’s face shines on you, it means that he does see you. And seeing you, he smiles upon you, sings over you, and rejoices to rescue and restore you. Yet, how can sinful people like us stand in the brilliance of God’s presence and live? On our own, we cannot. We have failed to imitate his love and have turned away from him. Like Israel, we experience the consequences—broken relationships, heavy hearts, and lingering guilt. Despite our sinfulness, Advent brings hope. The face of God has already shone on this world—in the face of Jesus Christ. He came into our darkness to bring light. He came, not to condemn but to restore. He carried our sin and shame and rose again to give us peace. Even when we feel lost or forgotten, God hears our prayers for restoration. Through Jesus, God truly sees you—and in seeing you, he forgives you, welcomes you, and rejoices over you. As you wait for Jesus to come again, you do not wait alone or in the dark. You wait enveloped in the warmth of God’s grace. Prayer: Lord, when I feel far from you, turn my heart back. Restore me by your mercy. Let your face shine on me through Jesus, my Savior. 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.

Welcome to episode #248!

Like Israel, there are times we need to restore the temple back to it's original purpose.

In this message Ps.Will Ford prophesied over Mercy Culture Austin that God is raising up prophetic Nazirite voices in Austin! Like Israel, Austin has a call to raise up prophetic voices, but has resisted and compromised God's kingdom voices, raised up secular voices, and has contaminated those called to have extreme devotion to the Lord. A Nazirite vow is more about consecration, and less about isolation! The call is to be set apart and separated unto the Lord in intimacy, not separated to be a rogue lone ranger Christian! The consecration and discipline of the Nazirite must spring from the filling of the spirit and the fire of God's jealousy on your heart 

This weekend, Tyler continued the Bible Study series by teaching through the book of Micah, a prophet who confronts Israel's long history of idolatry and injustice while also pointing forward to the hope of Christmas. One of the central passages he addressed was Micah 6:8, a verse many people view as inspirational—yet in its original context, it is actually a rebuke. Micah 6:8 reveals God's standard for His people: Act Justly — live with integrity, righteousness, and fairness toward others. Love Mercy — show compassion and steadfast love, especially toward the vulnerable. Walk Humbly with God — reject pride, and live in dependence on God rather than self. However, Tyler emphasized that Micah 6:8 ultimately exposes our inability to meet this standard on our own. Like Israel, we repeatedly fall short—no matter how disciplined, sincere, or well-intentioned we may be. This is why Micah points us beyond human effort to the coming King, the one born in Bethlehem, whose strength is divine and whose leadership is perfect. No matter how hard we try, our efforts alone can't reach God's summit. We need a Savior who not only shows the way but becomes the way—lifting us, forgiving us, and leading us into the life Micah describes.

God had promised to give the children of Israel everything they needed to rebuild the temple, including the gift of time. But when their priorities shifted, the first thing they failed to steward was that time. For 17 years, they did nothing with the assignment God had given them. Through Haggai, God calls them to “think carefully about your ways” and to evaluate how they had used their days. Time is one of the most overlooked gifts God has given us. Our days are numbered, and every one of them has a purpose. Like Israel, it is easy to let circumstances distract us and keep us from God's presence and His work. When we face difficult times, we must choose whether we will run to Him or away from Him. When we give Him our time, He adjusts everything else. The dash between our birth and death is what God has entrusted to us. While there is still breath in our lungs, how will we use the time God has given us?Check out our video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/r5XIw5lSUGQSubscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/8wmeCwBf_zkLearn more about us at chestnutmountain.orgFollow us on Facebook & Instagram @chestnutmtn_Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave a review, and let us know what you think.

What does baptism say about our freedom in Christ? Like Israel crossing the Red Sea, baptism pictures our deliverance from sin's power. We now walk free, no longer slaves, but alive in Christ.In this four-part series on the command “Baptize My Disciples,” we are invited to see baptism not as a symbolic obligation, but as a profound declaration of our union with Christ. Rooted in the authority and love of the risen Savior, baptism marks the believer's identity in Him, testifying that we have died to sin and been raised in newness of life. Through teaching, testimony, and Scripture, we are reminded that this command is both deeply spiritual and practically essential—anchored in Christ's power, pointing always to His glory, and flowing from a life of discipleship. Join Nate and Gabe as they explore Christ's command to “Baptize My Disciples.”Want to go deeper in studying this command of Christ? Download a free study guide at https://homediscipleship.comStudy guide includes: Scriptures referenced in podcastReview of Old Testament contextGuide for Scripture meditationQuestions for application and prayerFor more information, visit us at https://homediscipleship.comFind us on Facebook and Instagram @homediscipleshiphttps://www.facebook.com/homediscipleshipnetworkhttps://instagram.com/commandsofchristpodcast

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!Good morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)YouTube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comHebrews 4 Fear can be healthy for Christians if it fosters concern about falling short of God's promised rest. Israel had great assurances of rest but lost them due to a lack of faith, which led to disobedience and punishment from God. Their example remains powerful for believers, as a promised rest continues for the people of God. Disciples must diligently enter that rest by paying consistent attention to God's word. The word is living and active, penetrating the heart and revealing what does not belong. God sees all, even the depths of the heart. Fortunately, Jesus is a constant source of help on the path to rest, serving as a sympathetic high priest, so that the faithful can confidently approach the throne of grace for assistance in times of need.  We must take God's promise of rest seriously, not with a sense of anxiety, but with a deep awareness that we might miss it if we stop trusting Him. Like Israel, we know His voice and power, but we must still choose faith every day. It is easy to drift or harden our hearts when life feels overwhelming. That is why we must stay grounded in His word, allowing it to shape us and reveal what needs to change. Nothing is hidden from God, not even our secret doubts or fears. But we are not alone: Jesus knows our weaknesses. He invites us to come near, to find mercy, to find grace, and to keep walking with Him toward true rest. Worthy Lord, we come with humble hearts, thankful for the promise of heavenly rest that You freely offer to those who trust in You. We confess that at times we get distracted and allow things into our hearts that do not belong. Please cleanse our sins and make us holy and righteous in Your sight. Help us develop the discipline to be in Your word every day, knowing it is sufficient to touch our hearts and minds and direct us in Your ways. Please continue to bless us with the protection of Jesus, and give us grace in difficult times.   Thought Questions: Is it possible for someone saved by God to turn from Him in unbelief and lose heaven? How do you make sure that does not happen to you? How does daily Bible reading help you remain diligent in entering heaven's rest? What can God accomplish in your life with an open bible? What is the benefit of having Jesus as your sympathetic high priest? How does He assist you in confidently drawing near to the throne of grace?

Have you ever noticed how whenever you see someone promoting hatred toward Muslims, nine times out of ten it will be someone who supports Israel? There's a reason for that. Zionists promote Islamophobia because convincing westerners to hate Muslims is easier than convincing them to love Israel. Reading by Tim Foley.

* Life is full of tests—moments designed not to punish, but to reveal what's truly in our hearts. From everyday decisions like patience and humility to major areas like finances and relationships, God's testing us to shape us into who we're called to be. Like Israel before entering the promised land, these seasons of testing are vital for our growth and preparation.In this message, we'll explore the biblical foundation of tests—God's purpose isn't to harm but to develop trust, obedience, and character in us. We'll see how every test serves as a confirmation of what's already inside, and how passing them positions us for blessings and fruitfulness.Key Highlights:* The Purpose of Testing: God tests us to develop patience, humility, and trust—especially when it comes to our finances and priorities.* God's Invitation to Test Him: Malachi 3:10 challenges us to "test" God through tithing—revealing His promise to bless and open the floodgates of heaven.* Understanding Tithing in Perspective: Whether under the law or grace, giving willingly and cheerfully aligns our hearts with God's kingdom.* The True Test of Our Hearts: It's not just about what we know but about what we do—our attitude, obedience, and trust matter most.* Three Critical Areas of the Test: Heart, Stewardship, and Priority. Your financial choices are reflections of what's truly important to you.* Living Open-Handed: Every day is an opportunity to choose generosity over greed, trust over worry, and obedience over hesitation.* Turning Tests into Testimonies: When we trust God, even in tough times, we open the door to His blessings, purpose, and future.This isn't just about money—it's about aligning your entire life with God's plan. It's about trusting His promises, living with purpose, and letting your faith move from belief into action.

The National Security Hour with Brandon Weichert – The Middle East is a region where everyone plays the game—but Qatar (and Israel) has convinced Washington to help it cheat. We must rethink the U.S.-Qatar relationship from the ground up. Ban lobbying from all foreign powers with ties to extremist ideologies. Reinstate a Muslim immigration moratorium—not as a religious rebuke, but as a national...

The National Security Hour with Brandon Weichert – The Middle East is a region where everyone plays the game—but Qatar (and Israel) has convinced Washington to help it cheat. We must rethink the U.S.-Qatar relationship from the ground up. Ban lobbying from all foreign powers with ties to extremist ideologies. Reinstate a Muslim immigration moratorium—not as a religious rebuke, but as a national...

     In this episode of Arise + Abide, Sally and Curtis read Hosea chapter 8, where the prophet declares that Israel has “planted the wind and will harvest the whirlwind.” Through Hosea's message, God warns His people that their idolatry, self-appointed kings, and misplaced alliances will lead to destruction. Israel has built altars meant to remove sin, yet those very altars have become places of sin. They've forgotten their Maker and trusted in their own strength, seeking security in palaces, fortified cities, and foreign powers instead of the Lord.      As Sally and Curtis reflect, this passage reveals the danger of turning to anything other than God for hope and stability. Like Israel, we may strive to secure life through our own works or alliances, but these efforts are fruitless apart from the Lord. Curtis draws a parallel to modern faith, noting how our attempts at righteousness can drift into legalism when we depend on our own strength rather than Christ's finished work. Sally reminds us that life and fruitfulness come only from seeking God first—echoing Matthew 6:33: “Seek the kingdom of God above all else…”      Even amid judgment, there is grace. God still sends warnings—signs of His steadfast love calling us back to Him. As the hosts conclude, the true hope of this chapter is not in avoiding discipline but in trusting the Maker who loves, warns, and redeems His people.

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Get behind our through the Bible project. Read more here Project23. Our text today is Judges 6:7–10. When the people of Israel cried out to the LORD on account of the Midianites, the LORD sent a prophet to the people of Israel. And he said to them, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I led you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of slavery. And I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. And I said to you, ‘I am the LORD your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell.' But you have not obeyed my voice.” — Judges 6:7-10 Israel is desperate. Seven years of Midian's oppression has broken them, and they cry out to God for help. But instead of sending an army or a leader, God sends a prophet with a hard word. Before God deals with the enemy outside, he exposes the enemy within. He reminds them of his past faithfulness and their present disobedience. The message is raw, but it's true: because Israel's bigger problem isn't Midian — it's their unfaithfulness. No follower likes this part — the confrontation of God about who we are. We'd rather God just fix the crisis, remove the stress, and make life comfortable again. But God loves us too much to patch up the problems. Like Israel, our circumstances are often symptoms of the problem, not the real problem. The deeper problem is the drift of our hearts — the quiet compromises, misplaced loyalties, and neglected obedience that weaken us from within. And God knows that if he delivers us without dealing with those things, we'll just end up back in the same problematic pit. This is why he sometimes sends a word before providing a way out. It feels like a delay, but it's actually mercy. His goal isn't temporary relief — it's lasting change. That means the painful work of letting him search, confront, and reshape us is not punishment. It's preparation. And if we skip that work, we risk skipping the real victory he wants to give. So ask yourself the hard question: “What in me needs to change before my situation changes?” ASK THIS: Have you been asking God to fix your situation without letting Him change your heart? What hard truth might God be speaking to you right now? How could this season be preparation, not just punishment? Are you willing to let God do the deeper work before He brings the outward relief? DO THIS: Ask God in prayer: “What in me needs to change before my situation changes?” Write down whatever He brings to mind, and commit to addressing it today. PRAY THIS: Lord, don't just change what's around me — change what's in me. Even if it's painful, do the deep work that will make the victory last. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Give Us Clean Hands."

From the pages of Judges comes a timeless truth: The saviors we seek are merely shadows of the real Savior we need.Like Israel in Judges 3, we cycle through sin, struggle, and searching for salvation in all the wrong places. Money provides temporary security. Relationships offer fleeting comfort. Fame leaves us still insecure. But these broken saviors—these shadows—point us to our need for something greater, someone greater. Pastor Louis reminds us in this message that unlike the Judges who eventually died, Jesus conquered death itself, offering not just temporary relief, but eternal peace with God.

Aaron Maté : Is the US a Criminal State Like Israel?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Since last week, Israel has been attacking Iran's nuclear facilities, along with many other targets around the country. Iran has fired hundreds of missiles in response. NPR correspondent Geoff Brumfiel has been watching all of this very closely because Israel's missile defenses have been a focus of the Trump White House. This year, President Trump requested funding from Congress for a "Golden Dome for America" — a missile defense system that would protect all of the United States. The idea comes from Israel's Iron Dome — a network of interceptor missiles stationed at points across the country. Iron Dome and related Israeli air defenses don't get every missile fired — including some launched in the past few days by Iran — but the Israeli military says it has intercepted thousands of rockets since it was built. Trying to get that kind of protection for America, though, might be a very different matter. Read more of science correspondent Geoff Brumfiel's reporting on this topic and find NPR's coverage of the Middle East here. Questions about nuclear science? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss stocks retreating as havens rally after Iran strike. US crude oil jumps more than 8% on the heelds of Israeli strikes. Consumer sentiment reading rebounds to much higher level than expected. The case for rate cuts is growing.

This week we take a look at Zerubbabel and how God sent a word to encourage him through the prophet Zechariah.  Like Israel and Zerubbabel we often times face enemy opposition which can cause discouragement or we can become indifferent to the assignment God is calling us to do, but we must understand it is not by might nor by power, but by the Lord's Spirit that we will do what He is calling us to do.  No matter how many natural resources or people we have none of it matters if it is not driven by the Holy Spirit.  Unless the Lord builds the house then it is done in vain. 

Ada Karmi-Melamede is an architect who has designed famous buildings across Israel, including the Supreme Court building and the gateway to Ben Gurion airport.   Her daughter, filmmaker Yael Melamede, talks to us about her new film, ADA: My Mother the Architect, which is a heartfelt investigation of Ada's work, philosophical approach, and her relationships with her family. 

In this sermon from Exodus 14, we looked at how God rescues His people from impossible situations—not just through Israel's dramatic escape through the Red Sea, but ultimately through the resurrection of Jesus. God led Israel into what looked like a trap—not to harm them, but to show His power to save. With the sea in front of them and Pharaoh's army closing in behind, the people were overwhelmed by fear, doubt, and the temptation to return to slavery rather than trust God with the unknown. But God wasn't asking them to save themselves—He was asking them to be still and watch Him move. The Red Sea wasn't just a miracle of deliverance—it pointed ahead to the cross and resurrection, where Jesus stepped into death for us and rose again to bring us into new life. Like Israel, we're invited to stop striving, surrender control, and trust God to do what only He can do—bring us into a life of freedom, purpose, and identity in Christ.

When your umbilical cord is cut you're meant to begin growing into a sovereign being with a sovereign mind, and instead these empire simps are plugging the end of their umbilical cord into the Pentagon. It's pathetic. Reading by Tim Foley.

On Monday's Mark Levin Show, we bring you the Best of Mark Levin on Christmas Day! Sen Mitt Romney and Rep Jamie Raskin see no reason or actions that suggest President Biden has committed impeachable offenses and do not support an impeachment inquiry. Biden has not faithfully executed the laws of the United States, specifically immigration laws, and has our southern border wide open, which is a high crime and grounds for impeachment. Joe Biden's conduct and the conduct of his subordinates have violated a score of immigration laws, undermined the ability of border patrol and administrative law judges, and prevented local law enforcement from protecting their community and the entire country. Democrats have bent over backward to impeach Donald Trump but Biden's high crimes of defying immigration law are ignored. Also, Biden and Antony Blinken have leaked to the media that the world is losing support for Israel, all while funding Iran, Hamas, the PLO, and terrorism all over the Middle East. Biden is trying to control what Israel does next and trying to oust a duly elected Prime Minister of Israel in Benjamin Netanyahu, and at the same time calls Trump a dictator. The Union did not win the Civil War by feeding the Confederate cities but starved them to victory, which is why Biden's proposal to feed and aid Hamas while trying to defeat them is ridiculous. Like Israel, Biden and Blinken have kneecapped Ukraine too and are restricting them from fighting back against a much larger Russian army. Later, the case of Hunter Biden is straightforward tax evasion because Hunter did not pay any federal income taxes for 4 years, from 2017-2020. When he did file tax returns, Hunter knowingly filed false tax returns, and it is calculated that he owes $1.4 million in taxes. The Democrat media has a problem defending Hunter now because on one hand they say he cannot function properly because of addiction, but on the other hand you have over $30 million coming in from places like Burisma and China. President Biden will pardon his son whether he is re-elected or not because these are federal charges and he can do it even if he is not convicted yet. This should be another charge in the case of impeachment of Joe Biden, with the main reason being the violation of our immigration laws and violating his oath of office. Hunter Biden is the gold standard of people who you file under FARA for having influence from other countries and being a threat to national security. It is ridiculous to claim that Joe Biden did not know about Hunter's business activities, especially with his claim on video to fire the Ukrainian prosecutor.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Tuesday's Mark Levin Show, Sen Mitt Romney and Rep Jamie Raskin see no reason or actions that suggest President Biden has committed impeachable offenses and do not support an impeachment inquiry. Biden has not faithfully executed the laws of the United States, specifically immigration laws, and has our southern border wide open, which is a high crime and grounds for impeachment. Joe Biden's conduct and the conduct of his subordinates have violated a score of immigration laws, undermined the ability of border patrol and administrative law judges, and prevented local law enforcement from protecting their community and the entire country. Democrats have bent over backward to impeach Donald Trump but Biden's high crimes of defying immigration law are ignored. Also, Biden and Antony Blinken have leaked to the media that the world is losing support for Israel, all while funding Iran, Hamas, the PLO, and terrorism all over the Middle East. Biden is trying to control what Israel does next and trying to oust a duly elected Prime Minister of Israel in Benjamin Netanyahu, and at the same time calls Trump a dictator. The Union did not win the Civil War by feeding the Confederate cities but starved them to victory, which is why Biden's proposal to feed and aid Hamas while trying to defeat them is ridiculous. Like Israel, Biden and Blinken have kneecapped Ukraine too and are restricting them from fighting back against a much larger Russian army. Later, Mark is joined by lawyer and author Alan Dershowitz about his book, War Against the Jews: How to End Hamas Barbarism, and how the Hamas attack unveiled the radical anti-Semitism of the Democrat party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices