Podcasts about lord god

Before You Do Anything Else—Pray This (BLESSINGS ARE CHASING YOU) | Blessed Morning Prayer For Today SUBSCRIBE to catch all the latest prayers uploaded to the Daily Effective Prayer Podcast! For more powerful daily prayers and to connect with the ministry visit: https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org © Copyright DailyEffectivePrayer.com  SUPPORT THE MINISTRY: (We are listener-supported)https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/donate/ DO YOU NEED PRAYER? Send us a prayer request right now:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/prayer-request-online/ CONNECT WITH US:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/connectYouTube (1M+ SUBSCRIBERS)X / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook Daily Effective Prayer™

Tuesday, 16 June 2026   just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28   “Just as the ‘Son, the Man', not He came to be attended to but to attend, and give the ‘soul, His' – ransom for many.” (CG)   In the previous verse, Jesus told the disciples that whoever desires to be first among them should be their slave. With that noted, He next explains why this is to be so in His kingdom, saying, “Just as the ‘Son, the Man'.”   Referring to Himself, Jesus highlights His humanity. He is fully human. Thus, His example is one that is understandable and attainable in the stream of human existence by others, even if it is not what is normally expected of greatness or preeminence. In this example He sets forth, He notes that “not He came to be attended to.”   This would have been evident to the disciples, even if they didn't really pay attention to it throughout their days together. People didn't come to Jesus to serve Him. The disciples followed Him and learned from Him. They also did the things He directed, such as telling Peter to get a fish in which he would find a coin in its mouth, but there is nothing about people coming to Him and serving Him in a designated capacity.   There is a note in Luke 8:2, 3 about the women who helped provide for Him from their substance, but that is not so much attending to Him as one would think of a servant or slave, but as helpers assisting the ministry of which He was the leader.   Examples such as Martha serving while Mary listened to Jesus cannot be used to dismiss Jesus' words here. Those were duties people do in their regular lives. Jesus being present was incidental to the fact. In other words, Martha would have served anyone who came into her house in a similar manner.   Jesus' words are referring to a person who actively allowed people to serve Him because they were under Him and designated to do so. And so, to explicitly state that the opposite was true, He continues, saying, “but to attend.”   The disciples had seen Jesus tirelessly serving the masses, tending to them, even at His own expense. He didn't expect people to come to His castle and meet His every need. He was in the thick of the masses of Israel, tending to their needs, both physical and spiritual.   In just a short time from His words to these disciples, He would give them a visual, tangible lesson of servitude, which is recorded in John 13:1-17. The Creator and Sustainer of all things would wash their feet, instructing them on what it means to live a life of servitude. And more, Jesus says, “and give the ‘soul, His' – ransom for many.”   A new word is seen, lutron, something to loosen with. As such, it signifies a redemption price, as in one paying a sum to loosen another's bonds. The word is found only here and in the parallel passage in Mark 10:45. However, it is also used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament over twenty times, including key passages, such as Exodus 21:30, Leviticus 19:20, Proverbs 13:8, and Isaiah 45:13.   The word is used to translate specific Hebrew words (such as pidyon, geulah, and kopher) to indicate a redemption price or ransom paid to liberate individuals, such as slaves, captives, or those subject to the death penalty.   The meaning of Jesus' words is clear and unambiguous. Jesus would give His soul, meaning His life, as a ransom payment for others. This, then, would be the ultimate ministration of His life on behalf of those He came to attend to.   Life application: As noted above, Jesus was among the people of Israel, actively serving them with His life, and yet, the disciples probably never stopped to think, “Jesus is spending all His time serving others.”   They would have heard the teaching and thought, “He sure is a great Teacher.” They would have seen the miracles and thought, “He has the most incredible healing abilities.” But they probably didn't put two and two together to conclude, “Jesus is the most stupendous Servant we have ever seen.”   And yet, this is exactly what He was doing. The teaching, healing, counseling, and training were all forms of service which permeated His existence. As Christians, we can get so myopic about things that we miss the greater picture of what is going on in the world around us.   Some focus so heavily on Israel that they miss what God is doing in the church. Some focus so heavily on the church that they miss what God is doing in regard to Israel. We might focus so much on helping that we never take time to teach personal responsibility. We might focus so much on doctrine that we forget about evangelizing.   This doesn't mean that we don't each have our own specialty that we can excel at. But we should not become so focused on our specialty that we forget that others are doing great things that are not necessarily directly related to what we are doing.   A church that teaches sound doctrine may not have a lot of converts, but a church with very basic doctrine may get multitudes saved. One is not better than the other. Rather, they have different abilities and capabilities that should be considered.   It is great to have converts. People's eternal destinies are changed by that. But it is also great that people don't just get converted and then stagnate. There needs to be proper doctrine taught that will keep people from being led astray.   Let us not get bogged down in our own little circle where we forget that God is doing a great work of building His church with an almost innumerable number of specialties, all of which overlap and are intended to bring His purposes together into a perfect body someday.   Lord God, may we be ready to recognize the value of what others are doing, seeing the importance and effect of their efforts, and acknowledging them as such. It took the disciples of Jesus quite a while to figure out what He was doing. May we be willing to carefully evaluate all You have going on in order to build Your people into an everlasting dwelling. Amen.

A thousand times a year, someone sits across the table from Jeremy Stalnecker and says: "I've tried everything. If this doesn't work, I'm not going to make it." How is a gentle and lowly Jesus the answer to that? Dane Ortlund, pastor of Naperville Presbyterian and author of the runaway evangelical bestseller Gentle and Lowly, sits down with Jeremy to break down the Jesus most Christian men have never been taught. The Jesus who, as Spurgeon noted, only once told us what was in his own heart. The Jesus whose default is mercy and whose anger always requires provocation. The Jesus with nail-scarred arms who, according to 1 Corinthians 12, feels your trauma more acutely than you do. This is one of the most theologically rich conversations on the channel - anchored in Matthew 11:28-30, with stops in Hebrews 1, John 14, Exodus 34, and 1 Corinthians 12. If you've ever pictured Jesus as a watered-down, decaffeinated, domesticated version of God, this conversation will reset that picture. RESOURCES MENTIONED• Dane Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers (Crossway): https://www.crossway.org/books/gentle-and-lowly-tpb/• Thomas Goodwin, The Heart of Christ in Heaven for Sinners on Earth - the 400-year-old book that wrecked Dane• Dane Ortlund, Edwards on the Christian Life (Crossway) CONNECT WITH DANE• Website: https://www.daneortlund.com• Naperville Presbyterian Church: https://www.naperpres.org • X (formerly Twitter): @daneortlund KEY VERSES• Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden"• Hebrews 1:3 - Jesus, the exact representation of God• John 14:9 - "If you've seen me, you have seen the Father"• Exodus 34:6 - "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, slow to anger"• 1 Corinthians 12 - We are the body of Christ Subscribe for more interviews, biblical breakdowns, and conversations with men who've been there: https://www.youtube.com/@MarchOrDieShow?sub_confirmation=1 Hit Subscribe, share this episode with your community, and drop a comment on what landed hardest for you. Want more reinforcement? Subscribe to our newsletter, The Forward Edge, to go beyond the podcast and dig deeper into these topics and more: https://marchordie.substack.com! Join us daily for encouragement and biblical truth with the Mighty Oaks Daily Devotional, you can sign up for reminders: https://mightyoaksprograms.org/daily-devotional or text JOIN to (832) 333-8794 Follow March or Die:https://instagram.com/MarchOrDie https://Facebook.com/MarchOrDieShow https://TikTok.com/March_or_Die Follow Jeremy:https://instagram.com/jeremystalnecker https://jeremystalnecker.com Follow Sean:https://instagram.com/seantopgunkennard https://youtube.com/@SeanTopGunKennard Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Monday, 15 June 2026   And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— Matthew 20:27   “And whoever, if he wills in you to be first, let him be your slave.” (CG)   In the previous verse, Jesus told the disciples that whoever desires to be great among them should be their attendant. In that He contrasted megas, great, with diakonos, attendant (a deacon). The word diakonos is likely derived from two words signifying through and dust. One other supposed root would make it through, and to run (such as errands).   Either way, the one who is great is to be the one who either scurries through the dust, getting dirty helping others, or he is to be running errands for others. Jesus now continues the contrast, saying, “And whoever, if he wills in you to be first.”   In this, Jesus uses the word prótos. It means first in time, place, order of importance, etc. It speaks of the position of preeminence. If someone desires to be preeminent in God's eyes among those he associates with, Jesus says, “let him be your slave.”   The word is doulos, a slave. It is derived from deó, to bind. One can see the idea of a person being bound in some manner, and thus in subjection to another. He may be bound with shackles or with something as simple as an understanding that he is another's property, but he is bound and without any inherent rights within the relationship.   Jesus has turned the idea of what greatness and being preeminent are upside down. With these points set forth, the disciples were probably thoroughly confused at what He was trying to tell them. In the next verse, He will explain why these things are the way they are. However, even until the time leading up to His cross, they will not truly understand what He is talking about.   After that event and the subsequent resurrection, the mental tumblers will begin to click.   Life application: Greatness has many forms, and it is perceived differently by various people. Suppose someone has a lot of money and is being driven somewhere very important in a limousine.   The car hits a major pothole and receives significant damage. The driver cannot fix it, communications are down, and the weather is horrifying. The meeting will not take place, money will be lost, the competition will gain the advantage, and calamity may be the result.   Along comes an old farmer in his beat-up old pickup. He just left Bible study where they looked over Matthew 20. He sees there is trouble, pulls over, and gets out in the terrible weather. It is so bad that rolling down the window to explain the situation practically floods the limo. The farmer walks around, looks things over, and gives a thumbs-up that he can take care of it.   For the next forty minutes, he lies in the mud, fixing the car, smacking his knuckles, cutting his hand, and missing mom's home-cooked dinner while rectifying the situation. He never said, “I'll do it for this much.” He just got to work and fixed it.   Once the job was done and he was certain the car would make it, he explained what the problem was, told them what to do as soon as they could for a permanent, reliable fix, bid them good night, handed them a tract (a bit wet, bloody, and muddy), and headed back to his truck without saying another word.   Who is the greatest in this encounter? The businessman will make it just on time if the patch holds. He will secure a big deal, and life will continue to be cushy. The farmer gets home, apologizes for being late, soaked, and covered in mud. His wife tends to his wounds. She never asks what happened and he never explains. It's just another day in his wonderful, simple life. Who is the greatest in this encounter?   Someone has to drive a limo while the man does his business. Someone has to get the gas out of the ground for a car to run. Someone has to provide the electrical skills to get the motors to run the lights. Someone needs to cook dinner.   What is greatness? Think about it from Jesus' perspective.   Lord God, help us to have hearts filled with faith in You. When this is the case, whatever our job is will be one of joyful service, considering others, and desiring to bring glory to You. May it be so in our lives. Amen.  

Click here to WATCH LIVE STREAM Worship Service on our Youtube Channel. That You May Believe, Part 21 John 10:22-42 John 10:22-23 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. John 10:24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”   John 10:25-26 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep.   John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.   John 10:28-29 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.   John 10:30 I and the Father are one.”   John 10:31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him.   John 10:32-33 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”   John 10:34-36 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods'? 35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— 36 do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,' because I said, ‘I am the Son of God'?   John 10:37-38 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”   John 10:39 Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.   John 10:40-42 He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. 41 And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” 42 And many believed in him there.   The Shepherd knows us.   Psalm 139:1 O LORD, you have searched me and known me!   Psalm 139:13-14a For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.   Psalm 103:13-14 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. 14 For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. The Shepherd leads us. Psalm 32:8-9 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. 9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. Hebrews 13:20-21 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. The Shepherd cares for us.   Ezekiel 34:15-16 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. 16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.   Isaiah 40:11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. Psalm 145:14-16 The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. 16 You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Shepherd assures us. 1 John 5:11-13 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.   Isaiah 43:1b “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Jude 24-25 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Psalm 95:6-8a Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! 7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts… Respond | Connect | Next Steps The post John: That You May Believe appeared first on Charleston Baptist Church.

What if you're more upset by God's mercy toward others than grateful for His mercy toward you? Pastor Dave reveals how Jonah—despite being rescued by God's whale-sized grace—still pouted when enemies received forgiveness instead of judgment. Through dramatic modern whale encounters and sobering global statistics, Dave challenges us to examine our own hearts: are we celebrating when people repent, or secretly hoping God will "get them"? This convicting message exposes how spiritual seniority doesn't equal spiritual maturity and calls us to break the cycle of offense. Don't miss this chance to let the whale spit you back where God wants you—free from bitterness and ready for His purposes!4 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. 2 So he prayed to the Lord, and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!”4 Then the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be angry?”5 So Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city. There he made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city. 6 And the Lord God prepared a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be shade for his head to deliver him from his misery. So Jonah was very grateful for the plant. 7 But as morning dawned the next day God prepared a worm, and it so damaged the plant that it withered. 8 And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah's head, so that he grew faint. Then he wished death for himself, and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”9 Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”And he said, “It is right for me to be angry, even to death!”10 But the Lord said, “You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?”

Sunday, 14 June 2026   Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. Matthew 20:26   “Not thus, also, it will be in you, but whoever if he wills in you to ‘great, become', let him be your attendant.” (CG)   In the previous verse, Jesus noted that the rulers of the nations subjugate their people and the “greats” dominate them. Despite that being the normal way of the world, He continues, “Not thus, also, it will be in you.”   The paradigm in Christ's kingdom will not be in accord with that of the nations, which is one of authority ruling with power and pressure. Without even hearing His words, we can go back to the beginning and see what it was like in Eden.   Though little is recorded, and what was said may have been left unrecorded, it can be seen that the Lord gave great freedom to the man. There was a law, but it was at the extreme end of anything considered oppressive.   He was allowed the freedom to eat anything he wanted, with one exception. And more, the one exception was made with freedom of choice as to whether he would eat it or not. He was, however, given the warning of negative consequences if he did. There was no hint of subjugation or domination.   In Christ's coming, the same was true. Jesus was their leader. Even if they didn't know His nature at the time, they knew He was sent from God. And they were given the choice of continuing to follow Him or not –   “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Do you also want to go away?' 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'”   Knowing these things already, Jesus begins to define what kingdom greatness is like, saying, “but whoever if he wills in you to ‘great, become', let him be your attendant.”   Rather than being forced, greatness is based on the will of the person, meaning free will desires for pleasing the ruler. But in order to please Him, in His eyes, it is for the one seeking that position to be an attendant to others.   The idea of “self” that is found in the nation's rulers is turned upside down. Rather, Jesus desires selflessness. Instead of demanding service, voluntary servitude is seen.   Life application: In the United States, the same attitude that is found in Jesus' words is laid out for those in positions of power in the same verbiage that is seen in Jesus' words. People who work for the governing body are said to enter “public service.”   The words form an ideal that is sadly lacking in the hearts and minds of most government officials today. Instead of the government serving the people, it engages in ruling tyrannically over them. This is especially so on the left side of the aisle.   Those in the democrat party (which has essentially become socialist, leaning toward communist) want total governmental control over all aspects of life. This model, failed as it is, has seen the extermination of hundreds of millions of people around the world. It is an ideology of total subjugation and dogged domination.   Those at the top are not “servants” of the public, but power-seeking executioners, waiting with bated breath for anyone to reverence God, demonstrate a desire for personal freedom, or uphold biblical morality. When this is seen, they are pursued as if they are terrorists.   The struggle is real, and at some point, the people will relinquish their heritage, and the American experiment will end. People cannot seem to live in a society without desiring control, even to the point of bondage.   Jesus' kingdom will never allow such an attitude. The Head of the kingdom gave up everything to come in the form of a bondservant to redeem His people. He will, therefore, ensure that the idea of “public service” is upheld in an eternal manner.   The shackles of this fallen world will be forever removed. Hallelujah for Jesus. He has made possible that which man cannot fully attain. All praises to our God.   Lord God, it is very hard not to want to have authority and rule in some fashion or another. We feel that “our way is the right way,” often to the point where we want to impose it on others. But Lord, what is revealed in Your word is truly the right way. May we be willing to follow that path at all times. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.

This week, Pastor Jeff continues a series in the book of Acts named ACTS: The Mission of God is Our Mission. The next message in the series is based in Acts 27 and is entitled "Protection and Provision." The main idea of the sermon is: The Lord God, who rules the wind and the waves, protects and provides for his people. ———————— Connect with Us: Website: parkwoodonline.org Facebook: facebook.com/parkwoodonline Instagram: instagram.com/parkwoodonline.org Check out more resources and sermons online at: parkwoodonline.org

Solomon, the son of David, stood before the temple as it was filled with the glory of the Lord, and led Israel in blessing the Lord their God. His heart was full with the fact that the Lord God of Israel had "fulfilled with his hands what he spoke with his mouth" to his father David. We can follow this Solomon as he contemplates the promises that God made and the performances which followed, leading to the praises of the inheritor. At the same time, we must recognise that this is even more wonderfully true of the Son of David who has built a spiritual temple, and in whom God has wonderfully accomplished his covenant with David to a glorious degree.

One Touch From God Will Shift It All—KEEP BELIEVING | Blessed Morning Prayer To Start Your Day Right SUBSCRIBE to catch all the latest prayers uploaded to the Daily Effective Prayer Podcast! For more powerful daily prayers and to connect with the ministry visit: https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org © Copyright DailyEffectivePrayer.com  SUPPORT THE MINISTRY: (We are listener-supported)https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/donate/ DO YOU NEED PRAYER? Send us a prayer request right now:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/prayer-request-online/ CONNECT WITH US:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/connectYouTube (1M+ SUBSCRIBERS)X / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook Daily Effective Prayer™

Saturday, 13 June 2026   But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Matthew 20:25   “The ‘also Jesus having summoned them', He said, ‘You have known that the ‘rulers, the nations' they subjugate them, and the greats, they dominate them.'” (CG)   In the previous verse, it said that when the ten heard what was requested by James and John, the other ten were displeased with them. In response to this tiff, Matthew records, “The ‘also Jesus having summoned them'.”   He called all of them toward Himself. This wasn't just an inappropriate request that needed to be corrected. Rather, the attitude of the ten was not right as well. They were upset that James and John had tried to get an early start on what one of them might have been entitled to. Thus, pride in position filled them all. Therefore, “He said, ‘You have known that the ‘rulers, the nations' they subjugate them.'”   A new word is seen here, katakurieuo, to lord against. Hence, it signifies control, subjugation, and the exercising of dominion over others. It is a stern word, the intent of which is seen in Acts 19:16 –   “Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered [katakurieuo] them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”   Of this clause, the majority of versions translate the word ethnos as “Gentiles.” As if there is a distinction between Israel and the surrounding nations. This is incorrect. Israel is one of the nations of the world, and it was ruled by those who subjugated it. This was true from the first king onward.   It was something these disciples would be keenly aware of as they followed Jesus, knowing that Herod had already had John the Immerser beheaded. John pointed the way to Jesus, so they would be on their guard concerning their own situation.   The people of Israel were even warned by the Lord, right from the mouth of Samuel in 1 Samuel 8:10-17, what treatment they could expect from a king. Along with that, Jesus continues, saying, “and the greats, they dominate them.”   Another new word is seen, katexousiazó, to have (wield) full privilege over. It will only be seen again in the parallel passage found in Mark 10:42. This is something the people of Israel were keenly aware of in their own society. The “greats” included the Herodians, Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees.   They wielded authority over the people without a care about their value, something testified to in the gospels. Jesus will speak of this later in Matthew –   “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. 4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.” Matthew 23:2-4   Life application: The Pulpit Commentary, in line with other commentaries, says the following concerning this verse –   “Exercise dominion over them; i.e. over the Gentiles. Κατακυριεύουσιν [katakurieuousin], lord it over - significant of an absolute and oppressive domination. Exercise authority upon them; i.e. over the Gentiles (κατεξουσιάξουσιν) [katexousiaxousin]; use authority harshly and severely. The heathen, when they are raised to pre-eminence, employ their power cruelly and in order to gain their own ends and purposes, and aspire to superiority only with such objects in view.”   There is a problem when evaluating the Scripture from an Israeli/Gentile view, something that happens throughout biblical commentaries. Israel was a nation filled with power-hungry, sinful people. At times, the Bible uses the Hebrew term goy (Gentile/nation) to describe them –   “Alas, sinful nation [goy], A people laden with iniquity, A brood of evildoers, Children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the Lord, They have provoked to anger The Holy One of Israel, They have turned away backward.” Isaiah 1:4   The only thing that makes Israel holy is the Lord. Without the Lord's sanctifying them, they are no better than the other nations. In the church, the only thing that makes us holy is Jesus. When we are sanctified by the blood of Christ, we are set apart as holy. However, we can, like Israel, be filled with sinful thoughts, words, and deeds.   Thus, our position of holiness is something we should strive to live out. But in our attempts at doing so, we need to realize that even under the very best conditions (in regard to our conduct), we will always fall short of the true holiness of God.   Let us be careful not to elevate Israel as a people, or ourselves as the church, to a status that doesn't actually exist. This is the reason the instructions for the Lord's Supper are given –   “Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.” 1 Corinthians 11:27-29   Let us remember our lowly state before God. There is no merit on our part because we are His people. Our relationship with Him is one of God's infinite grace, having been poured out on us.   Lord God, may our lives be an acceptable offering to You. Our lives are often filled with sinful desires, bad thoughts towards others, enmity, strife, greed, and so on. We may not have all of these, but each of us is driven by some at one point or another. Thank You for Your grace that has accepted us as we are. Help us to live lives worthy of that calling. Amen.

So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring[a] and hers; he will crush[b] your head, and you will strike his heel.” 16 To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”

Friday, 12 June 2026   And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. Matthew 20:24   “And having heard, the ten, they outraged about the two brothers.” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus informed the sons of Zebedee that they would indeed drink His cup and be baptized with His baptism. However, He informed them that to sit at His right and left was not His to give, but for those prepared by His Father. With those words complete, it next says, “And having heard, the ten.”   This means the other ten apostles who had been called aside in verse 17, and who would have included Matthew, the one writing about what occurred. Of them, it says, “they outraged about the two brothers.”   A new word is seen, aganakteó, to be greatly indignant. It is only seen seven times, all in the synoptic gospels. One can see them missing the point of Jesus' words and being upset that James and John asked for this honorable seating at their expense.   Apparently, they all had the same aspiration and didn't like that these two stepped forward, bringing their mother to sweeten the deal. Each of them was thinking about an earthly royal court with earthly rewards and honors. They hungrily desired to obtain special rank and privilege in such a setting.   Whether they still had this ambition at the time of the ascension, they certainly still had the notion of an earthly kingdom on their mind at that time –   “Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, ‘Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?' 7 And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.'” Acts 1:6-8   It is clear that throughout all of Jesus' ministry, they continued to misunderstand what God was doing in redemptive history. That continued in Acts as they struggled with the issue of Gentiles, law observance, etc.   Jesus had purposefully withheld much so that they could learn to simply trust His unfolding plan. The directive hand of God would effectively bring about what He purposed as they, along with us, have watched it unfold.   Life application: Nothing has changed in the hearts of many believers as they strive to find power and position within churches. People stand ready to curry the pastor's favor, willing to cut others apart with their tongues in an attempt to be heightened in the eyes of those in charge.   An example from right at the beginning concerning such personal dysfunction is found in 3 John –   “I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.” 3 John 1:9, 10   It's hard to understand how a person who was nothing but a johnny come lately would not receive a person who had been with Jesus throughout His ministry. But his name is recorded in Scripture, letting us know that such people exist. It is a sure indication that more like him are to be expected in the years to come.   Churches are filled with them. Imagine the backstabbing and corruption in larger denominations like Roman Catholicism. Power struggles that should not exist fill them because the focus is on self, not the furtherance of Christ's gospel and instruction in His word.   Let us consider these things and do our utmost to be people willing to serve, considering that Jesus set the example from the beginning. It is what Paul implores us to reflect on in Philippians 2:1-11. Take time to read that today.   Lord God, may we carefully consider our situation in the world, knowing that we are just temporary vessels to be used for a short span of time to further the knowledge of You in a world that desperately needs to hear it. May our hearts be humble, and may our feet be ready to share the good news every chance we get. Amen.  

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Thursday, 11 June 2026   So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.” Matthew 20:23   “And He says to them, ‘The ‘indeed, ‘cup, Mine',' you will drink, and the immersion, the ‘I, I am immersed' you will be immersed. The, also, to sit from ‘rights, Me', and from ‘lefts, Me', not it is Mine – these to give, but those it has been prepared under the ‘Father, Mine'.'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus told the sons of Zebedee that they didn't realize what they were asking. He asked them if they could drink the cup He was to drink from and to be immersed with the immersion that He was to be immersed with. They boldly claimed that they were able. In response to that, it next says, “And He says to them, ‘The ‘indeed, ‘cup, Mine',' you will drink.'”   Jesus' cup refers to His coming passion. His words do not mean that they would suffer vicariously for others, something Jesus alone could do. Rather, as the Head of the church, those who follow Him will enter into His suffering simply by being His follower. The level at which that occurs for these two is not addressed. Jesus merely states it as a fact.   Acts 12:2 reveals that James was killed with the sword by Herod. John's suffering began at the cross as he watched Jesus die. From that time on, his life was wholly sold out to whatever trials or persecutions came his way. Thus, he was a living martyr, a living witness to the sufferings of Christ throughout his years. Toward the end of them, he wrote to the church –   “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 1:9   There is a tradition that he survived being boiled in oil, but there is nothing to substantiate that beyond the tradition itself. Regardless, his life was long and was given over to the call of Christ. Jesus continues, saying, “and the immersion, the ‘I, I am immersed' you will be immersed.”   As noted in the previous verse, Jesus' immersion was His death on the cross. He died for the sins of the world. This is not what James and John would do, nor could they. However, they were immersed with Christ's immersion, something all believers participate in when they come to Christ –   “In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” Colossians 2:11, 12   Christ died for sin, while believers die to sin in Christ. Thus, we are immersed into His immersion. This is referring to what occurs when one receives Jesus, not an outward display of water baptism. Water baptism is a command given by Jesus as an identifying sign of the inner change that has taken place. Jesus continues, saying, “The, also, to sit from ‘rights, Me', and from ‘lefts, Me', not it is Mine – these to give.”   At first, this seems contradictory to Revelation 3:21 –   “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”   Jesus has full authority to grant to those who come to Him their place in His kingdom. This would include the position to His left and right, but there is an order and a propriety in all things, including the process of granting such a position. Therefore, Jesus continues, saying, “but those it has been prepared under the ‘Father, Mine'.”   The words “under the ‘Father, Mine'” mean “under His authority or direction.” Jesus could not grant what He had not yet received. The Father ordained that Jesus was to be born under the law, live without sinning under the law, and die in fulfillment of the law. For Him to say that He would grant these positions before His work was done would be improper.   This is reflected in the opening words of Romans –   “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” Romans 1:1-4   As noted, there is an order to all things. Jesus had to follow what was prescribed by the Father, fulfilling His will before He could make such a determination as to who would sit in such a position. Thus, they are positions that are, as He said, “prepared under the ‘Father, Mine'.”   Life application: The cup of Jesus' suffering is one that those who follow Him will participate in. The manner in which it takes place will be different for all. Paul speaks of this in 2 Corinthians –   “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-7   The fact that we have accepted Jesus means that we have partaken of the cup of Jesus' suffering. Any suffering beyond that will be based on our interactions within the world as followers of Christ. If someone were to move to a country where evangelism is forbidden and started evangelizing, he may be fined, imprisoned, or executed.   The choice to go to that country was voluntary. He could have stayed in his hometown and been a plumber. As a plumber, someone might say, “I will never hire that guy. He has a Jesus bumper sticker.” That suffering was also voluntary. He did not need to put the sticker on his car.   The level and type of suffering we will receive beyond participating in Jesus' suffering through faith in His completed work may be up to us, or it may be a result of our environment. The Christians in Nigeria will certainly agree to that. They are slaughtered by the thousands because of the name of Jesus.   Therefore, what occurs to any of us in our Christian walk will result from both personal choices as well as individual circumstances that are often beyond our control. No matter what, we should not fear in our walk in this world. We are His, and He will deliver us from this body of death to eternal life with Him.   Lord God, help us to have an eternal perspective in regard to our walk with You. Whatever happens here is temporary and will come to an end. But what lies ahead is eternal. May we not squander this short life we possess when it could be used for Your glory, each step of the way. Amen.

Wednesday, 10 June 2026   But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.” Matthew 20:22   “Answering, also, Jesus, He said, ‘Not you have known what you ask! Are you able to drink the cup, the ‘I, I am about to drink,' or the immersion, the ‘I, I am immersed' to be immersed?' They say to Him, ‘We are able.'” (CG).   In the previous verse, the mother of Zebedee's sons asked Jesus to grant that her two sons could sit on His right and left sides in His kingdom. In response, Matthew records, “Answering, also, Jesus, He said, ‘Not you have known what you ask!'”   As noted in the previous verse, a question like this can cause real problems for the one being asked. His mind will have to consider every contingency that may arise in the future, something such a spur-of-the-moment question will not normally allow.   Because of this, a tension arises between granting and not granting the request. In the case of Jesus, no such tension would arise. He would know and understand all future possibilities, including the negatives such a question would entail.   In this case, one of the immediate negatives is that the asker, not the one being asked, really has no idea what they (the verb is plural) are truly asking for. In the case of this question, Ellicott correctly states, “That nearness to Him in His glory could be obtained only by an equal nearness in suffering.”   It isn't that they counted such a cost. Rather, they have no idea about such a cost. They think Jesus will be hailed by the people as the Messiah and Israel's King, but there is not an inkling in their mind what He will go through for that to come about.   As this is so, these two men have actually put themselves ahead of Jesus. They are asking for a position in Jesus' kingdom before He has gone through what is necessary to obtain that kingdom. It is true that their request is conditional on His securing the kingdom, but because of their ignorance of what that involves, it's like saying, “Whatever happens that causes You to be king, we want to be there on seats with You when it is over.”   This is a natural human way of looking at things, and it is just what Jonathan did with David when he was set to become the king –   “And he said to him, ‘Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Even my father Saul knows that.'” 1 Samuel 23:17   Jonathan assumed that the future was set by his words, but God's plans and purposes must come to pass according to His will. Jesus, knowing what lies ahead in His ministry, hints that it will not be what these two men think, asking, “Are you able to drink the cup, the ‘I, I am about to drink'?”   The cup signifies one's lot, good and bad. When one drinks from a cup of sweetness, the sweetness becomes a part of that person, invigorating him. When he drinks hemlock, it becomes a part of him, destroying his life. Jesus had come to deal with sin in humanity. Such a cup would mean God's wrath on sin would be poured out. Israel sinned, and they received God's cup of wrath –   “Awake, awake! Stand up, O Jerusalem, You who have drunk at the hand of the Lord The cup of His fury; You have drunk the dregs of the cup of trembling, And drained it out.” Isaiah 51:17   Jesus' cup would be sufficient to deal with all of the sins of humanity. Thus, it would be a terrifying cup of wrath and judgment. He continues, asking, “or the immersion, the ‘I, I am immersed' to be immersed?”   Immersion signifies a change in direction and even in nature. John's immersion was one of repentance, turning from sin and returning to the way of the Lord. Jesus' immersion is found in the cross. It is the instrument of His immersion, going from life with God in Christ to immersion in death and separation from God for man's sin.   These together, the cup and the immersion, were what Jesus was destined for. And they were not for His sake but for the world. Despite this, and having no clue what this meant, the brothers chimed in with words of confidence. Matthew records, “They say to Him, ‘We are able.'”   It is a noble and confident affirmation lacking any comprehension of what lay ahead for Jesus.   Life application: Imagine what God in Christ was willing to do to restore us to Himself. He was under no obligation to suffer the indignation, torture, and humility of the cross in order to restore us to Him. And yet, He willingly did it.   What value does God see in us? It is hard to figure but it is there. His infinite goodness meant setting aside His glory and taking on a frail, human form. And His humanity went through all the struggles and trials humans face. And then it went through more when He was judged for our sins.   If you feel you are lacking value, look to the cross of Christ. You have infinite value in God's eyes when you accept the gospel and follow Jesus in faith.   Lord God, it is beyond our comprehension when we try to consider what the cross of Jesus truly signifies. It is the highest point of our existence when we to look and accept what it means. Everything changes from that moment on. Thank You, O God, for Jesus Christ our Lord. Thank You. Amen.  

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Wednesday morning, the 10th of June, 2026, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Book of Deuteronomy 12:1: “These are the statutes and judgements which you shall be careful to observe in the land which the Lord God of your fathers is giving you to possess, all the days that you live on the earth.” The Lord has given us statutes and judgements to live by, not for His sake, but for our sake, that we might live a life of joy and freedom and direction and fulfilment. To confirm that, we go to John 8:36, where Jesus, Himself, says: “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed”.Now, I looked up the Oxford Dictionary to look up the meaning of the word “statute”. It means a rule, a written law, a set up. Then I looked up the meaning of the word, “judgement”. It is sensible opinions, a conclusion, a decision. Can you see now, all of these laws have been put into place so that you and I can live a wonderful, free life. You know that word, “grace”? It is a beautiful, beautiful word. Grace is actually undeserved favour, undeserved loving kindness, given to you and me by Jesus Christ, through the power of His Holy Spirit. When you are born-again and the Spirit of God comes into you, you don't want to break the law anymore. You don't want to walk in untruth and in unrighteousness. You want to walk in freedom. Now freedom comes through obeying the word of God. I really want to encourage you today. This is not a time for you and me to “wing it” as they say, “Just give it a go. It doesn't matter, just do it.” No, the Lord has made you and me responsible people. The people of the world are looking to us to find out what the right way to live a fulfilled, joyous life is, and it is by obeying the rules, by walking in true judgement, by making right decisions. Don't just do things because you think it is a good idea and other people are doing them. No, that is why you read your Bible every morning. God will show you that you must do this because it is right and you must not do that because it is wrong. Of course, your plumb line is the one thing that you stand by, it is the Bible, and the word of God is what sets us free. So today, go into all the world with joy in your heart, knowing that you are doing the right thing because it is what the Bible says.Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day.Goodbye.

Lord God, be my refuge and my strengthSt. Helena Ministries is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. Your donations may be tax-deductibleSupport us at: sthelenaministries.com/supportPresentation of the Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) from The Liturgy of the Hours (Four Volumes) © 1975, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. The texts of Biblical readings are reproduced from the New American Bible © 1975

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Sermon TextGenesis 2:15–25; Song of Solomon 4:1–7; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11 (ESV)The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.Then the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him. Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him.So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said,This at last is bone of my bonesand flesh of my flesh;she shall be called Woman,because she was taken out of Man.Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.Behold, you are beautiful, my love, behold, you are beautiful! Your eyes are doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats leaping down the slopes of Gilead. Your teeth are like a flock of shorn ewes that have come up from the washing, all of which bear twins, and not one among them has lost its young. Your lips are like a scarlet thread, and your mouth is lovely. Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate behind your veil. Your neck is like the tower of David, built in rows of stone; on it hang a thousand shields, all of them shields of warriors. Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle, that graze among the lilies. Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, I will go away to the mountain of myrrh and the hill of frankincense. You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.Genesis 2:24Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.1 Corinthians 6:15–17Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, The two will become one flesh. But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.Proverbs 5:18–19Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love

Tuesday, 9 June 2026   And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.” Matthew 20:21   “The ‘Also He said' to her, ‘What do you desire?' She says to Him, ‘You said that they might sit, these, the ‘two sons of mine,' one from ‘rights, You', and one from ‘lefts, You', in the ‘kingdom, Yours'.” (CG)   In the previous verse, the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons, kneeling before Him and asking a petition from Him. Matthew continues with, “The ‘Also He said' to her, ‘What do you desire?'”   When put in a position like this, all a person can do is wait for whatever is coming. It is reminiscent of what occurred between the Lord and Abraham –   “Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. 23 And Abraham came near and said, ‘Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?'” Genesis 18:22, 23   Human beings have emotions and desires, wants and needs, and hopes and aspirations. Laying them before the Lord is one of the most common things we do. Jesus sees that what is being requested is obviously of great importance to them. With his question asked, “She says to Him, ‘You spoke.'”   The words mean she is asking for an authoritative statement to be made, essentially a declaration. Her request is “that they might sit, these, the ‘two sons of mine,'...”   She is asking for a decree to be made concerning her two sons. To sit in this case is not yet defined, but it means to hold a position. Israel “sat” in Egypt, the king “sits” on his throne, etc. A position is being requested. If it is made, it is something that will stand. People do this to other people, and it quite often puts them in a difficult position.   The reason for this is that a lifetime of contingencies may lie ahead that cannot be known at the time. Thus, when such a request is made, it can really put a person on the spot. As for the specific request, it is that “one from ‘rights, You', and one from ‘lefts, You'.”   The plural, rights and lefts, is a way of expressing the totality of one's side. This is common in Hebrew as well. But it is not unknown in English. We may say, “I am boxed in by my surroundings.” Such plural use gives a fuller sense than would be carried with a singular.   In this case, she is asking for her sons to sit in the fullness of Jesus right hand and left hand. The right hand is the preeminent position of honor, power, and authority. To be one's “right-hand man” means he has full authority to exercise the superior's will, just as Joseph had full authority over Pharaoh's house.    At that time, Pharaoh said, “...only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” The left side is one step down in prominence. If the one on the right cannot fulfill his duty, the one on the left would assume it.  As for this place of authority, she is asking for, it is “in the ‘kingdom, Yours'.”    Jesus had said they were going to Jerusalem. He had made a statement that they did not understand, but it appeared the promised earthly kingdom was at hand, something that the nation fully expected when they hailed Him on Palm Sunday –   “Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!'” Mark 11:9, 10   Because of the nearness of what was anticipated, she has come forward now, seizing the moment in anticipation of her sons being Jesus' chief men when that day arrived.   Life application: The sons of Zebedee have already been called “Sons of Thunder” by Jesus, as recorded in Mark 3:17. They had been a part of Jesus' inner circle, having been invited to events that only they and Peter were privy to, such as the transfiguration and the raising of Jairus' daughter.   It is evident from John's gospel that Jesus had a special spot in His heart for John, even allowing him to sit next to Him at the Last Supper. Peter was impulsive and was openly rebuked by Jesus in Matthew 16. Thus, these two seemed like a logical choice to be Jesus' chief men.   Though it may seem presumptuous to us, they probably felt that they had a right to their request already and wanted it solidified with their mother's appeal.   In the end, they will get two distinct places of honor from Jesus. James will be the first apostle to die, while John will be the last. As such, they were granted special honor by Jesus in one way, even if it was not what they expected as they stood with their mother before Jesus.   Lord God, thank You for hearing our pleas, misguided as they may be. You know when to grant our requests and when they are inappropriate. Our hearts are opened to You, and we often are overzealous in what we desire. Thank You that You know what is best for us and respond according to Your wisdom. Amen.  

7 June 2026 | This week, Pastor Evan continues our Genesis sermon series in Genesis 3:1-24 on the origin of the voice that questions God's goodness and plan for us from the fall of man. Genesis 3:1-24 The Fall 3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You[a] shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,[b] she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. 8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool[c] of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”[d] 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring[e] and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” 16 To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for[f] your husband, and he shall rule over you.” 17 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” 20 The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.[g] 21 And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them. 22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” 23 therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

As always, the Lord God makes good on His promises, and Solomon flourishes under the Lord's lavish provision. Blessed with peace on every side and abundant wealth, Solomon does not kick back and take it easy; instead, he sets His mind on things above and gets to work. Knowing that the Lord had promised David a son who would come from his family and would establish God's house forever, Solomon builds a center of worship for God that reflects the plans for the original tabernacle. In work, wealth, and worship, Solomon is a foreshadow of the Son of David who would establish a greater kingdom where God is worshipped by the nations and the people dwell with Him in peace. 1 Kings 4 - 1:12 .  1 Kings 5 - 6:13 .  1 Kings 6 - 10:41 .  Psalm 88 - 17:18 .  Psalm 89 - 19:39 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Tuesday, 8 June 2026   Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. Matthew 20:20   “Then she approached Him, the mother – the ‘sons, Zebedee', with the ‘sons, hers', worshipping and asking something from Him.” (CG)   In the previous verse, Jesus told the twelve about His coming passion and the resurrection that will occur on the third day. Matthew next records, “Then she approached Him, the mother – the ‘sons, Zebedee'.”   This would be Salome, as can be determined from two separate sets of verses –   “And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, 56 among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.” Matthew 27:55, 56   “There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, 41 who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.” Mark 15:40, 41   Some also place her as the sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus –   “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” John 19:10   This is possible, but Mark's “many other women” means that it must remain speculation. Next, Matthew records that she came “with the ‘sons, hers'.” These are specified elsewhere, such as in Mark's record of this event, as James and John –   “Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, ‘Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.'” Mark 10:35   It is apparent that the request of James and John (as cited in Mark 10) is mingled with the actions of their mother. Whether they or she initially instigated the event, they were all aware of it and probably figured that Jesus would incline towards their appeal if it was made through their mother. Whatever the case, she came “worshipping.”   The word proskuneó, which has been seen ten times already, is used. It is a derivative of pro, to or toward, and either kuón, dog, or kyneo, to kiss. Either way, the sense is understood. It is like a dog that comes to the feet of a master or kissing the feet of a superior.   Thus, it implies a sense of worship. In conjunction with her humble prostration, it says, “and asking something from Him.”   Unitedly, they have a petition from Jesus. One can tell by the mother's inclusion that is something beyond a regular request.   Life application: Of this event, Cambridge, who was obviously there at the time of Jesus, making a video of the event, says –   “St Mark begins ‘And James and John the sons of Zebedee came unto him, saying, &c.' For once St Matthew is more graphic and true to detail than St Mark.”   I mean, how else could they state this unless they were on the same “See the Messiah” tour? The utterly ridiculous nature of their comment is indicative of some arrogant buffoon who has decided what must be true and what must be a fabrication in God's word.   Without ever considering that the two accounts could easily be melded together into one scene, they have derided the word of God and claimed that one account is “superior” to the other. To say “more...true to detail” means that the other account is less true to detail.   Rather than such an arrogant and dismissive comment, John Gill handles the variance between the two with logic –   “These two disciples, having observed what Christ had said concerning the twelve disciples sitting on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel, and what he had just related, concerning his rising again the third day, which they might understand of some display of his glory; and concluding from all this, that the setting up of his temporal monarchy was at hand, inform their mother of it, and move to her, to use her interest with Christ, in their favour: and which they did, partly to shun the envy and ill will of the rest of the disciples; and partly, to conceal their own pride and vanity; as also, they might think a request from her, on their behalf, would be more easily granted: accordingly, she agreeing to the motion, they all three came, as Matthew relates, and the mother is the mouth, and speaks for her sons; so that they may be said to make such a request by her, she representing them; or they joined in the petition with her; or as soon as she had made it, they seconded it, and made it their own.”   Be humble with God's word. Don't be arrogant or a know-it-all. Someday, you will have to stand before its Author and give an account concerning how you treated it.   Lord God, help us to remember to always handle Your word with respect and care. May we never diminish its sacred contents. You are God. Help us to accept Your word as trustworthy and reliable, seeking to understand the difficult parts with humility. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.  

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” — Isaiah 40:8 The prophet Isaiah contrasts the briefness of human life with the eternity of the Word of God. We are born, grow, mature, and die, but the Word of God remains forever. We come and go from history, but the Word of God remains alive, sovereign, and victorious from generation to generation.Many have tried to discredit the Word of God, but its truths endure. Many unbelievers and skeptics have tried to stand against the credibility of Scripture, shouting with arrogance and claiming it is false, but the Word of God is the anvil that has broken their hammer every time. The Word of God has overcome all the fires of intolerance and remained victorious. It is inspired, inerrant, infallible, and sufficient. It does not need to be updated or redefined.Heaven and earth will pass away, but the Word of God will not pass away (see Luke 21:33). It is the truth. It is the sword of the Spirit. It is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path (Psalm 119:105). It is more precious than much refined gold and sweeter than honey.The Word of God restores the soul, enlightens the eyes, gladdens the heart, and gives wisdom to the simple. It is living and active. It is powerful. God's Word endures forever! Lord God, remind us that although our lives fade, your Word stands forever. Plant your eternal truth in our hearts. May your Word guide our steps, strengthen our faith, silence our doubts, and anchor us in your unchanging victory. Amen.

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Istrouma Baptist Church (BR) Jun 7, 2026 ========== June 7 - Wisdom from the Word Welcome! We're glad you've joined us today for our Sunday morning worship service! For more information about Istrouma, go to istrouma.org or contact us at info@istrouma.org. We glorify God by making disciples of all nations. ========== Connection Card https://istrouma.org/myinfo June 7, 2026 Micah Cating How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty!2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young—a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God.4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Psalm 84:1-4, NIV THE CHURCH IS GOD'S HOUSE THE CHURCH IS A HOME FOR US 3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young—a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God.4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Psalm 84:3-4, NIV THE CHURCH IS A HOME FOR US · The church should be a welcoming place for all people who will worship the Lord. · The church is a place for our families. PURSUING THE LORD IS WORTH THE STRUGGLE 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.7 They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.8 Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty; listen to me, God of Jacob.9 Look on our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed one. Psalm 84:5-9, NIV THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE TO BE THAN IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD 10Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.12 Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you. Psalm 84:10-12 NIV Want to receive weekly announcements in your inbox each week? https://istrouma.org/email Give Online Text ISTROUMA IBC to 73256 or go to: https://istrouma.org/give Our Website https://istrouma.org

Because Christ will restore creation and dwell with his people forever, we must anchor our hope in the future he promises. Revelation 21:1–22:21 (ESV): 21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” 9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. 16 The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. 17 He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel's measurement. 18 The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. 22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. 22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. 6 And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.” 7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” 8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” 10 And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.” 12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” 14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. 16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” 17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. 18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

Sunday, 7 June 2026   and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”  Matthew 20:19   “and they will surrender Him to the Gentiles unto the ‘mock, and flog, and crucify', and the third day, He will rise up.” (CG)   In the previous verse, Jesus reminded His twelve that in going up to Jerusalem, He would be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes who would condemn Him to death. He finishes this thought, saying, “and they will surrender Him to the Gentiles.”   Despite the chief priests and scribes condemning Jesus to death, they did not have the authority to crucify Him. As such, the gospels bear out that they went to the Gentiles to have the sentence against Jesus executed. Once in Gentile hands, however, there was more that would be expected. He was delivered “unto the ‘mock, and flog, and crucify'.”   For the first time, Jesus specifically notes the means by which He would be killed. It is a new word, stauroó, to impale. But that must be understood not as being pierced through the entire body, but through parts of the body, being affixed to something, such as a cross, pole, wall, etc.   In the case of Jesus' coming crucifixion, there is a debate whether the cross He bore was only the lintel, which was then affixed to a standing tree or pole, or if He bore the entire cross.   One theory, clearly refuted by verses in the gospels, is that Jesus was affixed to a single stake. In such a case, His hands would be pierced above His head with His body hanging below them. However, Matthew 27:37 says that the accusation against Him was put above His head. Therefore, that is not how He was crucified. As for His death, which is certain when one is crucified by the Romans, Jesus says, “and the third day, He will rise up.”   This is stated in all three synoptic gospels. Jesus would rise on, not after, the third day. It is confirmed in Acts and the epistles as well. It is an important point that many miss, instead assuming that it was three days and then Jesus arose at the start of the fourth day.   Life application: Of Jesus' words, it says in Luke –   “But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.” Luke 18:33   Mark adds in another thought, saying, “But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him” (Mark 9:32).   Jesus spoke the word concerning His passion directly to the men. He told them exactly what would happen. And yet they didn't understand, and they were afraid to ask. If you have read the Bible a few times, you begin to realize there are things you just don't understand.   This usually isn't the case the first few reads through because most people cannot process all that is being thrown at them. Like hearing a song on the radio or learning a new language, it takes a bit of repetition to begin to understand the lyrics of the song or the variation of the words in a language.   The same is true with reading the Bible. After a few times through, distinctions in various accounts begin to show up. If this is the word of God, it is telling us something that is true, just like Jesus' words to the apostles. And yet, we struggle with what is said.   Instead of feeling foolish and not asking, and instead of not wanting to bother God, as if He is too busy with other things, He is pleased with our wanting to know what His word is saying. And so, it should be natural to us to call out, “Lord, I don't understand what is going on here. Show me what you are telling us in Your word.”   If you do this, you will often find that very soon after, you will read a commentary, hear someone talking about, or get led to another part of the Bible that exactingly explains what you were wanting to know. God is there, waiting for you to talk to Him. That is called “prayer.”   Prayer doesn't need to be on your knees with your eyes closed and your hands clasped. It is communication between you and God in whatever manner establishes the link. From there, a sense of fellowship is established, and He gladly responds to your petition. That is, of course, if you are in Christ. If you are not, no reply should be expected.   But if you are in Christ, you are God's child through adoption. Your heavenly Father is waiting for you to talk to Him. So open thy mouth, and speak. He will not be bothered at all.   Lord God, Your word is big and difficult for us to grasp when we first start into it. It continues to be that way as we dig deeper. But You gave it to us. And so, coming to You is the appropriate way to have it revealed to us. Help us to remember this and to seek Your face when we come to things we do not understand. Open our eyes, O God, to see wonderful things in Your word. Amen.  

How God's people respond to prophecy—especially prophecy portending hardship—reveals where ultimate priorities lie. Some respond in fear to warnings of coming tribulation, while others respond with speculative diagnoses that match today's headlines with Bible prophecy. Daniel responded with faith in God's character and confidence in His promises; he prayed in the direction of both. "So I gave my face to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes," Daniel 9:3 (LSB). God gave Daniel prophetic visions of Israel's scary future not to satisfy his curiosity, but to realign His people to His priorities, and strengthen their faithfulness to Him. That's why Daniel's prayer in Chapter 9 shows the same pattern we find in the apostles praying Psalm 2, in John's vision of heaven, and in Christ's instruction to His disciples concerning prayer. When God promises His people something, we're meant to think and pray in the direction of those promises, letting His word direct our petitions, and then our lives. This Lord's Day, we'll begin our look at Daniel 9, starting with a prayer that precedes one of the Old Testament's clear prophecies of our Lord's first advent, Calvary, and the inauguration of His covenant of grace. Join us as we turn to Daniel 9:1-3 and consider "Back to the Future: When Prophecy Prompts Prayer." Prepare for Sunday: Read Daniel 9:1-19, meditating on verses 1-3. What historic setting is described in verses 1-3? What specifically was Daniel reading? What was Daniel's immediate response after understanding God's promise? What does Daniel's attention to Jeremiah's prophecy reveal about his view of Scri

Deen Salami | Guest Pastor Standing Firm: A Look at Stephen Check out the weekly sermon here or on our SRBC podcast on Apple Podcast and Spotify. While you're at it, check us out on Facebook and Instagram too. Like what you hear? We'd love to know.At South Run, we read every message personally. Whether you have a question, want to share how God is moving in your life, or are thinking about visiting in person, this is the place to start. If you click the link below, Pastor Eric will personally reach out to you. Listening online? Let us know. Sermon Transcript Standing Firm: What Stephen's Martyrdom in Acts 6–7 Teaches Us About Faith Under Fire — Sermon TranscriptSouth Run Baptist Church | Springfield, VA Guest Preacher: Deen SalamiActs 6:8–7:60June 7, 2026This is a full sermon transcript from South Run Baptist Church in Springfield, Virginia. In this message, guest preacher Deen Salami preaches on the martyrdom of Stephen from Acts 6–7. This sermon addresses how Stephen — an ordinary believer full of faith and the Holy Spirit — stood firm against hate and persecution before the Sanhedrin, what his conduct, his defense, and his death reveal about the cost of following Jesus, and why the church's first martyr was not a tragic accident but a catalyst for the spread of the gospel. Opening: A Passage That Can Almost Preach ItselfI am a little excited today about the message. We've got a lot of ground to cover. There's a large section of scripture that I want us to go through. I'm going to act as your guide. It's not very often that there are passages of scripture that actually can preach themselves. This passage just might be one of them. So what I'd like to do is just to act as your guide. I'll read through big chunks of scripture and I'll just make a couple of observations for us to consider as we do. To do that, though, I'll only need about another hour. Are you guys good with that? I know better than to get in the way of lunch, so I'll make sure that I'll get through this thing in a reasonable amount of time, and I promise we'll survive the experience, all right? All right, why don't you join me in prayer? Gracious God and Father, behold this time. It is you who have called all these people here. None are here by accident. You have assigned me to this task for this day and this hour, and I just pray, Lord God, that you would act and move. Empower now your servant to be able to bring forth this majesty for your people's benefit and for the glory of your great name. May everything that be said and done would be pleasing to you. We pray all of this in Jesus' name. Amen. Context: Who Was Stephen, and Why Does He Matter?Now, we've already had the first section of our passage read to us. We're going to look at the first martyr of the early church. If you guys know, that is a follower by the name of Stephen. Before he was crucified, Jesus warned the disciples that the world would hate them because of him, and as a result, they would suffer persecution. So how do we stand firm against the hate and persecution? Well, Stephen is going to help us answer that question because he experienced exactly what Jesus said he would. How he handles the hate is a great example for us to follow. Now, again, we've already read that first section in Acts 6:1–8, but as we go into the commentary of it, I want you to consider three simple things: the charges brought before Stephen, his conduct throughout this whole trial, and what it costs him at the end. Three things — charges, his conduct, and the cost. The gospel was being preached early on. It's the early part of the church's existence. The gospel was being preached, and after an early reception by the masses, opposition began to rise, specifically from the religious leaders. Stephen was a Hellenistic Jew, which means that his native tongue was not Aramaic, but it was Greek. He was also a Diaspora Jew, meaning that he was not born and raised inside Israel proper. He was born and raised outside of Israel. He came to Jerusalem, heard the gospel, and became a believer. He was not one of the original 12. He had no special place of prominence. In fact, when we first learn of Stephen a few verses earlier, he was in charge of food distribution for the church. In other words, Stephen was a simple, normal person, just like any one of us. His only desire was to serve and to be used by God. Now look at how he was described in this section. It says that he was full of God's grace and power, and he performed great signs and wonders. Up until this point, that description was only made of the apostles. But he ran into his fellow Diaspora Jews, and they could not withstand him in debate, because the Spirit of God had given him great wisdom. Since they were unable to defeat Stephen in debate, they slandered him, brought him up on trumped-up charges, and dragged him before the Sanhedrin. And this, by the way, is the third time that a follower of Jesus was dragged before the Sanhedrin. The first time it was Peter and John for healing a lame man. But because the crowds were praising God, they let them go. The second time was with all 12 apostles. They were beaten and sternly warned no longer to preach the gospel. This time, the Diaspora Jews were mobilized as a mob against Stephen, and if you were hearing properly and paying attention, you noticed that Stephen is alone. Incidentally, this is the same council that sentenced Jesus to death. The Charges Against Stephen: Disrespecting Moses and the TempleSo let's hear the charges brought against Stephen. It was the disrespect of the law — which is referred to as Moses — and the disrespect of God, the temple, because they believed that God's presence was in the temple. But Stephen is going to take these two charges and turn them on his accusers. But for now, I want to draw your attention to how Luke describes Stephen as he stands before the Sanhedrin. He says that he has the face of an angel. Now, I doubt very much that the Sanhedrin thought Stephen was hot, right? But what is it that made his appearance unmistakable? The question I want us to consider is, how is it possible that a normal person like Stephen — who was not part of the inner circle of Jesus — is able to do the things that Stephen had done and was described the way Luke describes him? Acts 6:5 — Full of Faith and the Holy Spirit: What That Actually MeansAnd I believe that the answer is found in verse 5 of chapter 6. This is the very first description we have of Stephen: he's a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. But the question is, what does that mean exactly? Let me start with full of faith. Because there are three aspects of faith that we see in Stephen. First, there's an intellectual determination. What do I mean by that? It simply means that he's asking himself, is the gospel true, and do I believe it? Am I a sinner, like the gospel says, and do I need a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ? Stephen's answer is yes. The second is, do I trust Jesus? Will I submit my life to him and proclaim him as my Lord? Again, Stephen answers, yes. But finally, will I commit everything to him, even if it means my death? And as we will see, Stephen will answer that question yes as well. But let me ask us all a question here. How are we doing in these three aspects? For most Christians, they're okay intellectually up here. Do I need a Savior? Yes. But it's the other two that they stumble at. Is he actually Lord? Am I running my own life? Do I just need Jesus as an advisor — I'll call on him when I need to? Or is he actually Lord? Do we actually commit our lives to him, willing to die? Because Stephen was all in with Jesus, it gave the Holy Spirit free reign to use Stephen any way he wanted. Not like a puppet, but as an active and willing partner in the work of advancing the kingdom. It's like the Fellowship of the Ring. Do you guys remember the Fellowship of the Ring? Remember when Frodo said he was going to go and take the ring to Mordor? Aragorn said to him, if by my life or death I can protect you, I will. Why? Because the fate of Middle Earth hung in the balance, right? But for us today, it's the souls — the eternal souls of people — that hang in the balance. And the only hope for them is Jesus Christ. Amen? If by our life or death, if we have the opportunity to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ, will we? Are we all in like Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit? What the Sanhedrin saw in Stephen was the very presence of the divine emanating from him. But let's move on and see what happens next. Acts 7:1–16: Stephen's Defense Begins — Summarizing Genesis 12 Through Exodus 1 from Memory I'm going to read from chapter 7, verse 1. "Then the high priest asked Stephen, are these charges true? To this he replied, brothers and fathers, listen to me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia before he lived in Haran. Leave your country and your people, God said, and go to the land I will show you. So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living. He gave him no inheritance here, not even enough ground to set his foot on. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no children. God spoke to him in this way, for 400 years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, God said, and afterward they will come out of that country and worship me in this place. Then he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him eight days after his birth. Later, Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs. Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace. Then a famine struck all of Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our ancestors could not find food. When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our forefathers on their first visit. On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was. And Pharaoh learned about Joseph's family. After this, Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family, 75 in all. Then Jacob went down to Egypt where he and our ancestors died. Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a certain sum of money. And as the time drew near for God to fulfill his promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt had greatly increased. Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. He dealt treacherously with our people and oppressed our ancestors by forcing them to throw out their newborn babies so that they would die." Now, for those of you who may have picked up on it, Stephen just summarized Genesis 12 all the way through Exodus 1. Genesis 12 is where we have God's promise to bless the world through Abram. Stephen starts there and ends in Exodus chapter 1. That is approximately 39 chapters that he summarized from memory under pressure. Now, if you were on the Sanhedrin, what would you be thinking right now about the charge of disrespecting the law? At least at this point, it looks like that charge is on kind of shaky ground. In fact, some of the Sanhedrin might be looking at Stephen and secretly giving him a thumbs up. Way to go, bro. Good job, all right? Why Stephen Uses Geography and the Stories of Joseph and Moses StrategicallyWhat I don't want you to miss, though, is how Stephen is telling this story. I want you to notice the way Stephen is making use of geography — Mesopotamia, Haran, Israel, Egypt. He is summarizing what God did in those places, but why is he doing this? Also, I want you to keep in mind what he says about Joseph and his brothers. I'm going to develop that here in a minute. Just be patient, okay? Now, before we move on, I want to highlight how Stephen addresses his adversaries. To the mob, he refers to them as brothers. To the Sanhedrin, he refers to them as fathers. This mob who dragged him forcefully before the Sanhedrin, and this council that not only sentenced Jesus to death but beat the 12 apostles — the question on the table is, why is Stephen so cordial? A few observations. First, he does not seem to be taking their behavior toward him personally. The moment is not lost on Stephen. He's acutely aware of the danger he is in, but he remembers his mission, which was the same as Jesus. He does not want to condemn them. He wants them to know the truth. So he speaks to them in a way fitting that purpose. He does not retaliate against them for mistreating him. Second, Stephen understands that their behavior is symptomatic of a bigger issue. He knows what the Apostle Paul will later go on to understand and share with Timothy. As we read in 2 Timothy 2:25–26, Paul says this: "Opponents must be gently instructed in the hope that God will grant them repentance, leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil who has taken them captive to do his will." Stephen understands that these people have been taken captive by the devil so that they would do his will. But Stephen hopes that they will come to their senses. So he begins by instructing them gently. And in his approach, Stephen is reflecting the very heart of God. Back in Ezekiel 33:11, we hear God say this: "As surely as I live, declares the sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways. Why will you die, people of Israel?" Stephen does not clap back at them. Third, he is gentle because he is focused. He knows it's not about him. This encounter is much bigger than Stephen, and he is keenly aware of it, and we can tell by the way he conducts himself. It's a powerful lesson for us today, isn't it? If we're going to stand firm against hate and persecution, we will resist the urge to take people's behavior toward us personally. We remember that their behavior is symptomatic of a bigger issue. They are captives of the devil, and what we want to stay focused on is our mission to be active agents in freeing them through spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. Now one last point before we move on. We are 19 verses into Stephen's speech and in all his words, Stephen is not trying to defend himself. He has not yet answered the question that was put before him: are these charges true? He hasn't quite answered that question, at least not directly. Acts 7:20–43: Moses, the Burning Bush, and the Pattern of Rejected MessengersBut let's get back to the rest of Stephen's speech, because I think we'll find some more for us to consider. "Now at that time, Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child. For three months, he was cared for by his family. When he was placed outside, Pharaoh's daughter took him and brought him up as her own son. Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action. When Moses was 40 years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites. He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian. Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not. The next day, Moses came upon two Israelites who were fighting. He tried to reconcile them by saying, men, you are brothers. Why do you want to hurt each other? But the man who was mistreating the other pushed Moses aside and said, who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday? When Moses heard this, he fled to Midian, where he settled as a foreigner and had two sons. After 40 years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As he went over to get a closer look, he heard the Lord say, I am the Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look. Then the Lord said to him, take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt. This is the same Moses they had rejected with the words, who made you ruler and judge. He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God himself, through the angel who appeared to him in the bush. He led them out of Egypt and performed wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for 40 years in the wilderness." Once again, Stephen has done an excellent job in summarizing that next section. He pretty accurately brings the story to the lawgiver himself, the man Moses. But let me begin to tie some pieces of this puzzle together for us. Stephen brings up Joseph and Moses very strategically. Joseph, with his dreams, and Moses, even at his birth, were both marked by God for God's use and for the good of his people. But in both cases, they were originally rejected. In other words, our ancestors, says Stephen, missed God's messengers the first time. Even though the signs were there, they rejected their God-appointed leaders the first time. And Stephen is about to be very clear about the implications of this for them. He mentions God being with Moses in Midian and in Egypt. All the geographical references that Stephen has made is the point he's taking aim at — the misunderstanding of the temple. They refer to the temple as this holy place. But yet Stephen reminds the Sanhedrin that when Moses was in Midian on Mount Sinai, Moses was commanded to remove his sandals because where he was standing was holy ground. So which is it? Is it the holy ground that Moses was standing on in Mount Sinai in Midian? Or is it this holy place, the temple in Jerusalem? Wherever the presence of God touches down becomes holy. What Stephen is saying is that God is not bound by any single location. This is what the Sanhedrin failed to see in their attempt to defend the temple. And it is a pattern that Stephen is pointing out for them. In addition, Jesus sternly rebuked the religious leaders when he turned over the tables of the money changers and called the temple a den of thieves, because they were keeping people from God. God had left the building, and they were completely oblivious. Let me highlight the wisdom Stephen is using here. First, he knows the word and how to apply it to the situation he is presently in. Second, he understands the charges brought against him and how to use those same charges to highlight the error of his accusers. And finally, he does not lose focus of his mission. And the question on the table for us is, if we were under this pressure, could we do the same? Acts 7:44–53: Stephen Flips the Script — You Are the Ones Who Violated the LawNow Stephen is about to end his time with the Sanhedrin, and it's going to be a colossal end. Let's finish reading. "This is the Moses who told the Israelites, God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your own people. He was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai and with our ancestors, and he received living words to pass on to us. But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him, and their hearts turned back to Egypt. They told Aaron, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him. That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and reveled in it in what their own hands had made. But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon, and stars. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets: did you bring me sacrifices and offerings 40 years in the wilderness, people of Israel? You have taken up the tabernacle of Molech and the star of your God Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore, I will send you into exile beyond Babylon. Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant law with them in the wilderness. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen. After receiving the tabernacle, our ancestors under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them. It remained in the land until the time of David, who enjoyed God's favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who built a house for him. However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says, heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build me, says the Lord? Or where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things? You stiff-necked people, your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You were just like your ancestors. You always resist the Holy Spirit. Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him. You who have received the law that was given through angels, but have not yet obeyed it." Stephen ends his speech with a powerful rebuke of the Sanhedrin and this mob. The history of the Jewish people had been one of rebellion, culminating in the murder of Jesus, their long-awaited Messiah. Just as they did with Joseph and Moses, they missed Jesus the first time. I want you to underline verse 53. Stephen courageously tells the truth and provides a proper diagnosis of their problem. In so doing, he flips the script. So you accuse me of violating the law and desecrating the temple? I'm not guilty of either one of these, but you are. The evidence he provides is rightly in the law of Moses, and he records the embarrassing incident with the golden calf. This was abject idolatry, which got them exiled, and it's clear that their stubborn rebellion continued to blind them. Making the Means the End: The Sanhedrin's Fatal Error with the Law and the TempleThe inherent problem the Sanhedrin and the mob suffered from was that they made the means the end and did away with the end itself. What do I mean by that? Well, in Galatians 3:24–25, Paul says this: "So the law was our guardian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian." The law was the means by which we would be ready for Christ, who was literally the end of the law — he was what the law was preparing us for. But they made the means, the law, the end, and did away with the end itself, Jesus. Jesus says the same thing about the temple. In Mark 11:17, Jesus says this: "My house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves." The temple was the means by which all the nations would come to know who God is and pray to him. They turned the temple into a money-making machine, and they did away with God altogether. It's the same pattern. Acts 7:54–60: The Stoning of Stephen — Dying Like His LordLike all who stubbornly live in rebellion and refuse to hear the truth, they go after Stephen. "When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Look, he said, I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of the young man named Saul. And while they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Then he fell on his knees and cried out, Lord, do not hold this sin against them. When he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul approved of their killing." Stephen took a bold stand and it cost him his life. But here's the beauty of this passage. Stephen died in the same way his Lord did. He dies praying for the forgiveness of the people stoning him, just like Jesus. And because Stephen was so faithful to his call, the heavens opened so that Stephen sees the Lord Jesus rise from his throne to welcome his faithful servant home. How to Stand Firm Against Hate and Persecution: Look Up, Not AroundHow do we stand firm in the face of hate and persecution? First and foremost, we look up, not around. We look to Jesus. We need to be focused on Jesus because he is all he's asking us to be, and he has done all he's asking us to do. That includes suffering for his sake. Second, we need to remember one important thing. We're not simply spectators or victims. We are active agents of change. In other words, we do not lose sight of the mission, because this is why we are here. You know, I know some people — I've spoken to some people about this passage — and they seem to think that it's unfair for Stephen to have died. After all, why couldn't God have saved him? He saved the apostles. He saved John and Peter. Why couldn't he have saved Stephen? But if we read Acts 1:8, where Jesus told the disciples that they would be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and in the uttermost parts of the world, we begin to realize one important thing. Up until this point, guess where the church was localized? Jerusalem. Guess where they had their small groups? Jerusalem. Guess where they had their worship time? Jerusalem. But where were they supposed to go? But after Stephen was killed, we read this: "On that day, a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria." Stephen's death was the catalyst for the advancement of the gospel outside of Jerusalem. Remember, our faith is not a faith that we simply talk about. Our faith is a full contact sport. If by my life or death I can advance the gospel, I will. Stephen did it by his death. Closing: Active Agents of God's Redemptive WorkLet me read you one quote as I close. It says, "Suffering becomes the ongoing evidence that creation awaits restoration. And believers, bearing God's image and indwelt by the Spirit, participate in that redemptive work. Rather than passive victims of evil, they become agents through whom God's original creative intention progressively reasserts itself against the disorder introduced by sin." Will you be a part of that? Because this is our purpose. And once we understand our purpose and totally embrace it, then we look at the world very differently. We can stop asking why the world is the way it is. Because that's really the wrong question. The right question is, what are we going to do about it? Because we are supposed to be the active and willing participants in God's redemptive work. Is this work dangerous? Yeah. Stephen found that out very clearly. Remember, Jesus died for us first. So it is not like God is asking us to throw away our lives cavalierly. Far from it. Stephen understood the stakes and was keenly aware of the moment. But he determined that his life was worthy of sacrificing for the gospel. He stood firm. Can we? Let me pray. Our gracious God and Father, we thank you for this time that we can be in your word. We are reminded, Lord, that it's you who preserved your word, lo, these 2,000 years for us, this generation of believers, to learn and glean from. I pray, Father, for whatever lessons that may have been brought out here, that those seeds would be scattered in the hearts of your people and that they would grow into folks that would stand firm for the advancement of the gospel. Our only desire, Lord God, is like Stephen. We ask humbly that you would use us as we serve, and that you would be glorified. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. South Run Baptist Church | 8712 Selger Drive, Springfield, VA 22153 | Sunday Worship at 11am Serving Springfield, Burke, West Springfield, Lorton, Alexandria, Fort Belvoir, and Franconia, Virginia. Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

1 Kings 17:1-6 · (Elijah stands before the Lord God of Israel.)

June day of prayer 2026.. Lord God we thank you. Anointing blessings to each of those listening. Glory to God. Let it flow. Thanks for the support books available on Amazon and kindle author Sharron Downs. Send prayer requests via Spotify or email me. Much love

Saturday, 6 June 2026   “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, Matthew 20:18   “You behold! We ascend to Jerusalem, and the ‘Son, the Man', He will be surrendered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will sentence Him – death.” (CG)   In the previous verse, it said Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. Taking His twelve disciples aside, He readied to speak to them, saying, “You behold! We ascend to Jerusalem.”   It is a fact they were aware of. Thus, the meaning is, “Something should be expected when we ascend to Jerusalem.” With that in mind, He continues, saying, “and the ‘Son, the Man', He will be surrendered.”   This is the third time Jesus has spoken of this event. It is why He specifically said, “We ascend to Jerusalem.” What He referred to in the past will now be realized –   “From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.” Matthew 16:21   “Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.' And they were exceedingly sorrowful.” Matthew 17:22, 23   The first time He spoke of this was just after Peter's words, acknowledging that Jesus is the Messiah. The second time was shortly after the transfiguration. When they had come down the mountain, and the afflicted boy was healed, He told them of what was ahead. Now, in accord with His previous words, He confirms to them that the time has come. He will be surrendered “to the chief priests and scribes.”   These are the religious leaders of Israel. They would be the ones to make various decisions according to the Law of Moses concerning what should be done with transgressors of the law. Despite standing Jesus before their council and finding He had done nothing in violation of the law, Jesus notes, “and they will sentence Him – death.”   How could their Messiah and the Son of God, as confirmed before those two previous warnings, be sentenced to death? The disciples, despite hearing Jesus' words, will be seen not to have understood Him at all.   Life application: How often do we hear someone say something and we don't process it in the manner they intended? Later, when whatever they said comes to pass, we may say, “I thought you were joking” or “I just didn't get what you were saying.”   This is common because we tend to hear what we want to hear. Unfortunately, we do this with God's word as well. There are pastors, preachers, and teachers of the Bible who purposefully ignore the word, speak against it, or say it has an error.   When we hear this, we might say, “Those are really bad people. Look how they treat the word!” And yet, in our own doctrine or beliefs concerning the Bible, we may do exactly the same thing. Do we accept that the Earth is billions of years old? Then we are treating the Bible in the same manner.   Do we have a female Bible teacher or pastor? If so, we have rejected what God's word says concerning such things. When we hear the story of Samson, do we say, “That is just an exaggeration” concerning something reported about him? What right do we have to make such a claim?   It is one thing to misunderstand what we are being told, but to block out the clearly spoken (and then recorded) word of God, we make ourselves the arbiter of what God's word says. Of course, there must be a context to every passage in Scripture. If we are rightly handling the context, then the fault will lie with those who are not doing so. But when something is explicit and in context, we must accept what God has said.   It is important to have this attitude. Just because we don't understand a particular issue, we should still work within the framework of what God has said, accepting it by faith as reliable.   Lord God, help us to have the right attitude concerning Your word, never second-guessing what is plainly stated for us. It may be that a translation is faulty or an analysis is wrong, so give us the wisdom to check those things out. But what is said that is plain and clear, may we accept it and apply it to our walk before You. Amen.  

Once again God's words through Isaiah attracted our thoughts.  There are so many parallels today with the attitudes the LORD was seeking to counteract in Israel in the time of Isaiah.  The message the prophet was to convey was, “For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, ‘In returning (or repentance, mg) and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.' But you were unwilling …” [30 v.15]In v. 18 this is repeated with added emphasis, “… the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.  For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.”  We see that the LORD's words to the people through Isaiah have remarkable parallels in the words of Jesus – remember the invitations to the wedding banquet – and the poor response – see Matt 22 v.3 and John's record of Jesus saying, “the Scriptures … bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me … you do not have the love of God within you.” [John 5 v.39-41]  What would he say to you?As we read each day – let us make sure we see the “witness” of the Scriptures.  There are also some thought parallels in today's final chapter in Hebrews, “Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.' So that we can confidently say, the Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'” [v.5,6]  Paul writes of the sacrifices we should make, to be content, to have no love of money.  He reminds and stresses, our Lord sacrificed himself “in order to sanctify the people through his own blood” [v.12]  And then v.15 should jump out to attract our thoughts, “Through him then let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name … for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” [v.16] Let us make sure they are pleasing to us – and come genuinely from our hearts – a contrast to the noise and show in the Temple in the days of Isaiah, Jesus and Paul; learning that “in quietness and in trust shall be (y)our strength.”

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Friday, 5 June 2026   Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, Matthew 20:17   “And ascending, the ‘Jesus to Jerusalem', He took twelve disciples apart alone, and in the road, He said to them,” (CG)   In the previous verse, the final thought concerning the parable of the workers in the vineyard was given. With that complete, a new direction takes place, beginning with, “And ascending, the ‘Jesus to Jerusalem'.”   Regardless of the elevation where one is, the Bible always describes the journey to Jerusalem as an ascent. In fact, there are many locations with a higher elevation in the land itself. The highest among them is Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights, which sits at 7,336 feet above sea level.   After that, many peaks are higher than Jerusalem, a few of them are Mount Ha'Ari, Mount Ramon, Mount ‘Arif, Mount ‘Ofa'im, Mount Hilla, Mount Zafrir, and Mount Hillel. These and other points exceed the elevation of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, which sits at 2,430 feet. Despite this, the trek there is considered an ascent.   Of this trek, Charles Ellicott says, “The narrative is not continuous, and in the interval between Matthew 20:16-17 we may probably place our Lord's ‘abode beyond Jordan' (John 10:40), the raising of Lazarus, and the short sojourn in the city called Ephraim (John 11:54). This would seem to have been followed by a return to Persea, and then the journey to Jerusalem begins.”   If this is correct, it can be found in what is known as a harmonization of the gospels, which several reliable sources have taken the time to put together, showing the exact chronology of events throughout the four gospels. Of this ascent, the narrative continues, saying, “He took twelve disciples apart alone.”   At this time, there were probably many people with them on the trek, but Jesus wanted to specifically provide information to the twelve that the others were not yet to be privy to. Therefore, Matthew continues, “and in the road, He said to them.”   The verse excitedly ends as if a breath is needed before continuing to the precious words of Jesus to His twelve selected apostles.   Life application: It is important to confirm information in commentaries, not taking them at face value until verified and considered in relation to what the Bible says. In John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible, he records the following concerning this verse –   “Which was situated (f) in the highest part of the land of Israel: the land of Israel, is said to be higher than any other land whatever; and the temple at Jerusalem, higher than any part of the land of Israel; wherefore Christ's going to Jerusalem, is expressed by going up to it.”   His footnote says his information was derived from “T. Bab. Sanhedrim, fol. 87. 1.” When John Gill recorded this, in the 1700s, he was using what information was available to him. Unfortunately, the Babylonian Talmud presented him with erroneous information, which has since been passed on to the minds of those who have read it.   At many times, the ascent to Jerusalem is not a physical ascent at all. However, it is always a theological ascent as one moves closer to the point where man meets with the God of Israel. That is why it can be said that a person on Mount Hermon, high above Jerusalem in elevation, will ascend as he makes the trek to Jerusalem.   Remember this as you read the Bible. John Gill certainly didn't intentionally provide wrong information, but for some reason, the compilers of the Babylonian Talmud did. They probably knew what was said was incorrect, but they recorded it anyway.   Understanding that this biblical elevation of Jerusalem is stated as it is, it then becomes more pertinent when considering Paul's words in Galatians –   “For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.” Galatians 4:24-26   At one point, the city of Jerusalem was considered the pinnacle of elevation because it was where God was dealing with men, interacting with them through temple rites and rituals. That ended with the completed work of Christ. The veil was torn, and access to God through Jesus Christ was made available.   The temple in Jerusalem, which ministers the law of Moses, is not, nor will it ever again be, the pinnacle of God's interactions with man. It is a place of bondage leading to death. It is a place of enmity with God. Wherever Jesus Christ is, that is the place where the spiritual ascent is now realized. That is because He fulfilled the law, set it aside, and introduced the New Covenant in His blood.   To miss this point has led to incredibly bad theology in relation to end times events (eschatology) within the church. People openly applaud the coming construction of the temple in Jerusalem, which will reintroduce sacrifices based on the Law of Moses. It is the very thing Christ came to abolish, and yet Christians actively support this diabolical event. This should not be.   Let us fix our eyes on Jesus alone, mourning over Israel's failure to see the One they have missed for so long. Pray for them. Many will die before their time of realization comes about. Pray to God that eyes will be opened before that tragic day which lies ahead comes upon them.   Lord God, we lift up the lost in the world, knowing that a day of judgment lies ahead for all unless the word gets to them before it arrives. May You work mightily through missionaries, social media, and the simple but effective words of believers around the world to just open their mouths and speak about Your goodness as seen in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  

Do You Realize Who Lives Inside You? Acts 2:38 “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.  And you will receive the Holy Spirit.” I think when most of us read this, we focus on the repent and be baptized part of this verse.  Repentance is so important, and it is something that we can read about all throughout the Bible.  God is always calling His people to repentance, and sometimes they repented and other times they did not.  In the case of Sodom and Gomorrah, they were a wicked people and they refused to repent.  God sent fire down to destroy the towns.  However, when God sent Jonah to Ninevah to tell them they needed to repent, they did, and God saved them.   Did you know that Jonah was angry at God for saving Nineveh?  We read in Jonah 4:1-2, “But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.  And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is it not this what I have said when I was yet in my country?  That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.”  Jonah ran from the Lord when the Lord asked him to go to Ninevah.  I had always thought he ran from the Lord because he was afraid of the people in Ninevah.  However, this verse says that he ran because he knew God would have mercy on them, and he didn't want them to be saved. This is a somewhat common thing for us to do.  Maybe not running from the Lord, but definitely wishing people would get what they deserve.  Have you ever wished that someone got what they deserved?  Have you ever seen a car speed by you, or weave in and out of traffic, and think to yourself, “I hope there is a cop ahead.” Or do you see someone cut in line and hope that someone notices and that they get kicked out of the line?  Why do we do this?  Why do we wish ill on other people?  Maybe you are thinking that you are justified in thinking that you want the driver to get pulled over because you want them to learn their lesson and drive better.  But, what if they did get pulled over and they just got a warning, would you be ok with that? Sometimes we can do this with our kids as well.  Jonah felt that these people needed to be punished, and he knew that God would have mercy on them.  Sometimes, we can default to the thinking that when our children do something wrong, they need to be punished, and maybe that is true sometimes.  But do we take the time to think about the situation first?  Do we even consider giving them mercy?  Sometimes our children need our mercy.  Sometimes they messed up, did something they weren't supposed to do, and they know it was wrong.  They are truly sorry, and they learned a lesson from it.  Times like these are times when we should consider mercy.  Sometimes we think our kids will only learn if we punish them; however, I think they can learn a lot from mercy as well. As I said earlier, we tend to focus on the first part of this verse, Repent and be baptized.  However, I wonder how many of you also think of the ending of the verse?  How many of you truly know what it means?  The verse ends with, “and you will receive the Holy Spirit.”  I am not sure that everyone, or even most people, knows how powerful a statement that is.  Did you know that the power of the Holy Spirit is what raised Jesus from the dead?  Did you know that the same power resides in you?  Romans 8:11 "If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” When you are baptized, you are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. This means that when you are baptized, you receive the Holy Spirit.  If you are Catholic, then you receive the Holy Spirit again when you are confirmed.  This is all amazing to me.  The power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in me.  I just can't get over that.  I think if we all knew the power that we had through the Holy Spirit and then used that power for good, the world wouldn't know what was going on.  Jesus said in John 14:12-14, “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.” Did you catch that?  Jesus said we will do greater works than He if we believe.  This is only possible because of the Holy Spirit.  We have the Holy Spirit inside of us; we just need to call on Him.   We need to believe in Jesus and believe when He tells us that He sent us the Holy Spirit to guide us.  The Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead.  That same spirit lives in you.  What are you going to do with it?  Are you going to just sit around and let all that power pass you by, or are you going to use your newfound power for good?  Who do you know that could use some extra blessings?  I am sure that I have talked before about how important repentance is, and yet this will likely not be the last time you hear me talk about it.  Repentance is so important for so many reasons.  This verse just mentions one of the many: if you repent and are baptized, you will receive the Holy Spirit.  Now, after talking for a bit about how awesome the Holy Spirit is, wouldn't you do anything to be close to Him? Most, if not all, of you listening already have the Holy Spirit inside of you.  Call upon Him, and you will see how powerful He is.  Don't be afraid to talk with Him and ask Him for things.  That is why God sent Him to us, to help us.  Anything that happens as a result of the Holy Spirit glorifies God.  Jesus is with the Father, so when we ask God for things in Jesus' name, the Holy Spirit comes through for us, and the results glorify the Lord.  It is a win-win for everyone.  One of the easiest prayers to remember, and yet one of the most powerful, is, “Come, Holy Spirit, come.”  When you ask, God answers.  Anytime you are in need of a little assistance, or even a lot of assistance, pray, “Come, Holy Spirit, come.”  I truly feel you will be surprised at all the ways He comes through for you.   Dear Heavenly Father, I ask that you bless all those listening to this episode today. Lord, I ask that you send the Holy Spirit to everyone listening to this podcast. Lord, we ask that you open our eyes to how the Holy Spirit is working in our lives. Lord, we ask that you remind us to call on the Holy Spirit when we forget. Lord, we are so very thankful that you sent down the Holy Spirit to guide us in your ways.  Lord, help us to see the places in our lives where we need to repent, and then give us the courage to do so. We want to receive the Holy Spirit, Lord Jesus. We are open to it. Lord God, you are amazing. We are so very thankful for all you do for us.  We love you, Lord, and we ask all of this in accordance with your will, and in Jesus' holy name, amen. Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus. This month in Mentoring, we're talking about the Father's love. One of the things we discussed this week is how many of us know God loves us intellectually, but still struggle to believe it personally. We talked about how the Father's love isn't something we achieve—it's something we receive. If you've ever felt like you have to earn God's love, prove your worth, or get your act together before approaching Him, I think this series could really encourage you. You can find the link to join in the show notes. I look forward to meeting you here again on Monday! Remember, Jesus loves you just as you are, and so do I! Have a blessed day! Today's Word from the Lord was received in October 2025 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email CatholicCharismaticPrayerGroup@gmail.com. Today's Word from the Lord is, “You may not see the light within you. I do. So if I can lift it up, the light within you, I can draw others to myself. My heart yearns for all of my children and all of my creation. Walk confidently in the plan of your life. I am your Father.” www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

Mat 18:21; Mar 11:25-26; Mat 6:12; 1Cor13:1; Luk 23:34; Heb 10:16Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/what-jesus-says-liberty-in-christ--4116133/support.The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified. Isaiah 61:1-3 

The LORD God will help me

The Millennial Kingdom: Christ's Glorious Reign Upon the Earth Beloved reader, imagine a world where righteousness flows like a mighty river, where peace blankets every nation, where creation itself bursts forth in renewed splendor, and where the Lord Jesus Christ reigns visibly and personally from Jerusalem upon the throne of David. The Scriptures unveil this magnificent future age in vivid detail—a thousand-year period of unparalleled blessing, justice, and prosperity under the sovereign rule of the King of kings. Let us open the King James Version together and allow the Holy Spirit to illuminate these precious truths. As we journey through God's Word, may our hearts be stirred with hope and holy expectation. The Foundation: Satan Bound and the Saints Raised The Apostle John, exiled on the Isle of Patmos, received the climactic vision of this kingdom in the Book of Revelation. Hear the very words of Scripture: “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:1-6, KJV) With Satan bound and sealed in the bottomless pit, deception and demonic influence are dramatically curtailed. The Prince of Peace can now establish His rule without the constant sabotage of the adversary. At the same time, the faithful—particularly those who endured great tribulation—are raised in the first resurrection to share in Christ's government. This is no vague spiritual kingdom; it is a literal, earthly reign following the glorious return of Christ described in Revelation 19. The King and His Throne: Fulfillment of Ancient Covenants At the center of this kingdom stands the Lord Jesus Christ, fulfilling every promise made to the fathers. The Davidic Covenant is realized in full: “And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.” (2 Samuel 7:16, KJV) The angel Gabriel declared to Mary: “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” (Luke 1:32-33, KJV) Isaiah foresaw the government resting upon His shoulders: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7, KJV) Daniel beheld the Son of Man receiving universal dominion: “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13-14, KJV) Zechariah proclaimed: “And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.” (Zechariah 14:9, KJV) Jerusalem will be exalted, the nations will stream to it, and the glory of the Lord will fill the earth. Righteousness, Peace, and the Transformation of Creation Under this righteous King, injustice will vanish. Isaiah describes His perfect judgment: “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.” (Isaiah 11:1-5, KJV) The animal kingdom will be reconciled: “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:6-9, KJV) War will cease forever: “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isaiah 2:4, KJV) A Time of Extraordinary Economic Prosperity and Blessings This kingdom will overflow with economic prosperity and material blessings such as the world has never known. The curse upon the ground will be lifted in large measure, and the earth will yield her increase abundantly. Listen to the prophet Amos: “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.” (Amos 9:13-15, KJV) Joel echoes this abundance: “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.” (Joel 3:18, KJV) Isaiah 35 paints a picture of highways of holiness, blossoming deserts, and rejoicing: “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.” (Isaiah 35:1-2, KJV) The lame shall leap, the blind shall see, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Ezekiel foretells multiplied harvests and restored cities for Israel: “And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.” (Ezekiel 36:30, KJV) Homes will be built, vineyards planted, and families will enjoy the work of their hands without fear of loss. Commerce will flourish under just laws, with no exploitation or poverty for those who walk in obedience. The knowledge of the Lord and His righteous rule will produce a global economy of blessing, where “every man shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid.” (Micah 4:4, KJV) This is not socialism or forced equality, but divine prosperity flowing from the presence of the King. We Shall Rule and Reign with Christ One of the most astonishing privileges of this kingdom is that believers—those raised in the first resurrection—will rule and reign with Christ. The Scriptures are clear and repeated on this point. Revelation 20:6 declares that the resurrected saints “shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” Revelation 5:10 adds: “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:10, KJV) Paul encouraged Timothy: “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us.” (2 Timothy 2:12, KJV) Jesus Himself promised the apostles: “Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matthew 19:28, KJV) In the Parable of the Pounds, the faithful servants are rewarded with authority over cities: “And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.” (Luke 19:17, KJV) The Apostle Paul further declares: “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? … Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?” (1 Corinthians 6:2-3, KJV) Resurrected believers will serve as co-regents, administering justice, overseeing provinces, teaching the nations, and reflecting the character of Christ. What an incentive for faithfulness today! Our present service and suffering are preparing us for eternal responsibility in that coming day. Israel Restored, Worship Central, and the Transition to Eternity Israel will be regathered, regenerated, and prominent in the land (Ezekiel 36:24-28; 37:21-28). The temple vision in Ezekiel 40-48 reveals a glorious house of worship where the glory of God returns. All nations will come yearly to worship the King and keep the feasts (Zechariah 14:16-21). After the thousand years, Satan is briefly loosed, leading a final rebellion that is swiftly crushed (Revelation 20:7-10). Then follows the Great White Throne Judgment and the ushering in of the new heavens and new earth, where God tabernacles with man forever (Revelation 20:11–22:5). A Challenge to Serve Christ and Surrender All Today Dear friend, this glorious kingdom is not a fable—it is the certain promise of our faithful God. The same Jesus who died for your sins and rose victorious will one day reign in splendor, and those who belong to Him by faith will share in His reign. The challenge before us is clear: Will you serve Christ wholeheartedly today? Will you surrender your all—your ambitions, your possessions, your very life—to the One who will soon return as King? If you have never trusted Him as Savior, repent and believe the gospel today. If you are a believer, live as a future king or priest in training. Let every decision, every act of service, every moment of worship be shaped by the coming kingdom. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! May we be found faithful when He appears, ready to reign with Him in righteousness and joy. Surrender your all to Christ today, and enter into the blessed hope of His eternal kingdom. Amen.   

Thursday, 4 June 2026   So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.” Matthew 20:16   “Thus, they will be the last, first, and the first, last. Many, then, they are called; few, also, selected.” (CG)   In the previous verse, Jesus finished His parable concerning the workers in the vineyard. His words now sum up the overall thought. They are words that go back to Matthew 19:30, and which closed out that chapter. He says, “Thus, they will be the last, first, and the first, last.”   In Matthew 19:30, it said, “Many, also, they will be: first, last, and last, first.” We can see that Jesus specifically built this parable around that thought to explain what prompted that statement in the first place. That was based on Peter's words. There, it said, “Then answering, Peter, he said to Him, ‘You behold! We, we left all, and we followed You! What hence it will be to us?'”   Only by following the progression of the narrative can the explanation for the parable be properly understood. Various views have been proposed as to Jesus' intent. Some find the laborers to indicate the beginning of the gospel, meaning the selection of Jesus' disciples at the outset of His ministry. That is then followed by those who labor throughout the church age. Those coming at the end of the age would be those who were hired at the eleventh hour.   Others also see it as the church age, but the pay is rewards for the followers, suggesting a connection to 1 Corinthians 3 and 2 Corinthians 5, meaning the judgment seat of Christ. These and other views don't look back to what precipitated Peter's question to Jesus.   Jesus counseled the rich young ruler who was trying to earn his way to perpetual life. He left sad because he realized he could not do so through law observance. That is when Jesus brought in the difficulty of entering the kingdom with the example of the camel going through the eye of a needle. The apostles were floored, asking who could be saved.   Jesus told them that with man, it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible. This is what brought about Peter's question to Jesus. As such, the vineyard is what is spoken of throughout the Old Testament and into the New. It is highlighted in Isaiah and summed up in Jesus' words of Matthew 21:40, 41 –   “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers? 41 They said to Him, ‘He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.'”   The vineyard is the economy where God is dealing with man in order to bring about a result. Israel was chosen to bring about that result, but they failed to understand that, despite the law, it was not law observance that would bring them restoration with God. This is what Jesus demonstrated in His words with the young ruler.   The laborers who were hired early were those in this vineyard who labored for God, be it Moses, Isaiah, Amos, etc. John the Baptist was the last of these. They were promised a certain wage and went into the field. At the time of Jesus, laborers were called to go into the field, starting with the disciples. As noted in the Matthew 20:8 commentary –   “Those who came last are to be paid first. It seems contradictory to the way one would normally think, but it is a demonstration to all concerning grace. Grace is getting what one does not deserve. The housemaster wants all of the laborers to see that he will treat the last with care and respect, despite their being late into the field.”   The pay is not the issue. It is the grace of what is received that is being conveyed. Those who worked in the field during the heat of the day were those who labored under the law. Their wages were set based on their state under the law. At the end of the day, the laborers who came last were given grace in what they received.   Israel could say, “We labored for all that time under the law, and yet, you are giving those who came later what we had to work for.” That thought is well expressed in Jesus' words about John –   “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Matthew 11:11   Jesus, using a harvest of grain instead of labor in the vineyard, essentially explains the parable in John 4 –   “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.' 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.” John 4:35-38   Understanding this, Jesus completes this thought saying, “Many, then, they are called; few, also, selected.”   The meaning is that there were people called to work in the field for eons, laboring until the time of the kingdom, Moses, for example. However, they were not selected for that dispensation. They were of the dispensation of law. John, despite being the greatest of all under the law, was not selected for the dispensation of grace. He was called to service but died before it was ushered in.   One cannot merit grace. Israel entered into the labor, the time of grace came, and eventually the vineyard was taken from them and given to others to tend to. God is doing something in the world (expressed by the vineyard), many are called to tend to it, but only when Jesus came, fulfilled the law, and allowed grace to be imparted can people be selected to truly receive what God has promised. That is seen in the final word of the verse, a new word, eklektós, selected.   HELPS Word Studies says, “Typically, eklektós (‘select, chosen') describes people who choose to follow the Lord, i.e. become God's choice by freely receiving faith (pístis) from Him. Accordingly, these two terms are directly connected (see Tit 1:1; Lk 18:7,8).”   Entering the kingdom only comes through faith, and it only comes apart from the law, even if those under the law have faith. For those of Israel who are selected for the kingdom Jesus is describing in the parable, it is (just like Gentiles) only for those who have faith since Christ's fulfillment of the law, coming to Him by faith.   Life application: Laboring for something that is already earned is a waste of time. If you are caught up in adherence to the Law of Moses and expect to receive God's favor, you will be sorely disappointed when you find yourself excluded from what God has offered those who are willing to come to Him by faith alone.   Lord God, we are lost sinners. You have done all that is necessary to reconcile us to Yourself. Why would we think we could do better than that? May we never presume to do so, but to trust wholly in the shed blood of Jesus Christ for our reconciliation with You. Amen.

The Bible says, “The LORD God of Jacob blesses everyone who trusts him and depends on him” (Psalm 146:5 CEV). In this message series, Pastor Rick talks about the ways you need to depend on God so that you can receive his blessing in your life.If you put your security in your bank account, your job, or your investments, it won't make you more secure—because you can still lose all those things. Pastor Rick explains through this message how you get God's blessing when you depend on his wealth and not your own. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1103/29?v=20251111

It's Time To Fight Back In The Spirit—BIND THE ENEMY | Blessed Morning Prayer To Start Your Day SUBSCRIBE to catch all the latest prayers uploaded to the Daily Effective Prayer Podcast! For more powerful daily prayers and to connect with the ministry visit: https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org © Copyright DailyEffectivePrayer.com  SUPPORT THE MINISTRY: (We are listener-supported)https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/donate/ DO YOU NEED PRAYER? Send us a prayer request right now:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/prayer-request-online/ CONNECT WITH US:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/connectYouTube (1M+ SUBSCRIBERS)X / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook Daily Effective Prayer™

Wednesday, 3 June 2026   Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?' Matthew 20:15   “Or not it permits me, what I will to do in ‘these, mine'? Or the ‘eye, you' evil, it is, because I – good, I am?” (CG)   In the previous verse, the housemaster told the grumbler to take what was his and go on his way, noting that he wanted to give the last man the same as those who came first. Before the man could exit, he had a bit more to say, beginning with, “Or not it permits me, what I will to do in ‘these, mine'?”   He is the housemaster and the one who decides what goes on in the labor related to his house, including the vineyard where the laborers were hired to work. The possessions were his. The only thing that no longer belonged to him was the wages he promised to pay, a denarius for each laborer who began work in the early hours.   As they were guaranteed that sum, they were owed that amount. According to the law, he was to settle accounts by the end of the day, which he did. Everything that was due to those he hired had been paid. That means as the next came forward to receive his wages, it was up to the housemaster to pay him what was right, even though no specified amount was stated.   As they came forward, he could have given three-quarters of a denarius, half of a denarius, a quarter of a denarius, or even one-eighth of a denarius for those who came at the last hour.   However, if he wanted to give them anything above that, because it was his own money, he was fully within his rights to do so. Understanding this, and having fully detailed the situation, he asks, “Or the ‘eye, you' evil, it is, because I – good, I am?”   The evil eye is something that goes back to Deuteronomy 15:9. It is seen again in Proverbs 28:22. In these instances, there is the sense of greed being conveyed –   “Beware lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,' and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing, and he cry out to the Lord against you, and it become sin among you.” Deuteronomy 15:9   “A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, And does not consider that poverty will come upon him.” Proverbs 28:22   Such references show that the eye is like an open channel leading right to the heart filled with greed. The eye sees, the mind considers, and the heart impels the person to covet, betray, etc. This is even the case with someone who has gotten just what he agreed to, but who sees someone else supposedly getting more than he “deserves” from someone who has good and honorable intentions.   Both men are at the end of their day. Both have needs to be met. How can a man live on an eighth of a denarius? Therefore, the housemaster had mercy on his situation and tended to his needs out of a willing heart.   Life application: There is a difference between these men who were paid, even those who were paid more than those who started work earlier, and most of those who are on welfare in the world today. What is that difference?   These men were out waiting for work to come to them. The problem with welfare is that it rewards people for doing nothing. As people will normally follow the easiest path, they will sit at home and do nothing for as long as the stream of money keeps coming in.   Unless there is an incentive for them to get up and get out, they will not do so. Instead, they will become as dependent on their monthly checks as drug addicts are on their daily dose. In fact, the dependence on welfare leads to dependence on alcohol, drugs, etc.   Governments have built systems to enslave their own citizens in this manner for one simple reason: power. As long as they keep the money flowing to indolent people, they are assured of their votes. And with their votes come favorable outcomes in elections.   With those election wins, there is power to continue and expand the cycle. Thus, from one seemingly good and “helpful” program, a country moves from producers to lazy do-nothings. And the structure of the government leans more and more towards socialism and eventually communism.   All the while, the people who are supposedly being helped are caught in slave chains of dependence. Lives are wasted, human potential is taken away, and families are destroyed. This is the power of the liberal agenda. It is a power of corruption and wickedness toward human beings.   Lord God, help us to carefully consider who we will support when we cast our votes for our leaders. May we never withhold voting if it is our right to do so. In not voting, we default to the lowest common denominator in our society. May we be responsible citizens of the nations in which we live. Amen.  

Let Go of Control—God's Plan Is Better Than Yours (FULL SURRENDER) | Blessed Morning Prayer SUBSCRIBE to catch all the latest prayers uploaded to the Daily Effective Prayer Podcast! For more powerful daily prayers and to connect with the ministry visit: https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org © Copyright DailyEffectivePrayer.com  SUPPORT THE MINISTRY: (We are listener-supported)https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/donate/ DO YOU NEED PRAYER? Send us a prayer request right now:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/prayer-request-online/ CONNECT WITH US:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/connectYouTube (1M+ SUBSCRIBERS)X / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook Daily Effective Prayer™

KJV 13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14 And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you. 15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

Let God Take First Place—START YOUR DAY RIGHT | Blessed Daily Effective Prayer To Begin Your Day With God SUBSCRIBE to catch all the latest prayers uploaded to the Daily Effective Prayer Podcast! For more powerful daily prayers and to connect with the ministry visit: https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org © Copyright DailyEffectivePrayer.com  SUPPORT THE MINISTRY: (We are listener-supported)https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/donate/ DO YOU NEED PRAYER? Send us a prayer request right now:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/prayer-request-online/ CONNECT WITH US:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/connectYouTube (1M+ SUBSCRIBERS)X / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook Daily Effective Prayer™

SCRIPTURE- Isaiah 61.1"The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; He has sent me to bring good news to the afflicted, to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, release to the prisoners,"REFLECTION- Sr. M. KarolynMUSIC- "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus" by John Catchings- "Forest Path" by Damjan Krajacic & Robert ThiesCONCERT FRIDAY"Good Day" by Forrest FrankOkay, okay, okay, okayI'm 'bout to have a good day (Good day)No matter what they say (What they say)The sun is shining down on meBirds are singing praiseI'm 'bout to have a good day (Good day)In every single wayThe God who made the universeKnows me by my nameSo it's a good dayBaby in my arms walking through the neighbourhoodLiving in the present, not woulda shoulda or couldaI remember back when I was low as a rugNow I'm standing up look at what my father doesTurning old things newGrey skies blueHear the church saying "Won't He do it"I know He's got my backThat's why I'm singing thatI'm 'bout to have a good day (Good day)No matter what they say (What they say)The sun is shining down on meBirds are singing praiseI'm 'bout to have a good day (Good day)In every single wayThe God who made the universeKnows me by my nameSo it's a good day (Yeah)It's a good day, mmm no, it's greatEverything I prayed for didn't come in lateI got all I need and I didn't have to waitAsk me if You love me, You didn't hesitateTurning old things newGrey skies blueHear the church saying "Won't He do it"I know He's got my backThat's why I'm singing thatI'm 'bout to have a good day (Good day)No matter what they say (What they say)The sun is shining down on meBirds are singing praiseI'm 'bout to have a good day (Good day)In every single wayThe God who made the universeKnows me by my nameSo it's a good dayNah-nah-nah-nahNah-nah-nah-nah-nah-nahNah-nah-nah-nahIt's a good dayNah-nah-nah-nahNah-nah-nah-nah-nah-nahNah-nah-nah-nahIt's a good dayNah-nah-nah-nahNah-nah-nah-nah-nah-nahNah-nah-nah-nahIt's a good dayNOTES-PRAYER OF LETTING GOTo You do I belong, O God, into Your hands I surrender my life. Pour out Your Spirit upon me that I may love You perfectly, and serve You faithfully until my soul rests in You.