Podcasts about lord god

And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall call His Name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:30-33)

God's Fingerprints Are All Over Your Story | Blessed Morning Prayer To Start Your Day With GodSUBSCRIBE 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™

Gospel Luke 1:26-38 The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of Davidhis father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end." But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God." Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her. Reflection When the angel Gabriel tells Mary that she is to be the mother of the Messiah, he also reveals another special birth. Elizabeth, her cousin, who is way past the time of being able to have a child, is also pregnant, and this child will be named John. It is important to note that John is the necessary link, the transition, the liminal space through which the world will understand fully the corruption of the old, and the beauty and the dignity and the value of the new. Closing Prayer Father, there's a continual work, a continual transformation from religion that has a power over us and a spirit that can enter into us and infuse us with the gifts that we're here to share with one another. Bless us in this continual transition. Never let us get lazy. Let us not fall back to what is simple and easy. Let us continue to work with this great mystery. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The angel Gabriel was sent from Godto a town of Galilee called Nazareth,to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,of the house of David,and the virgin's name was Mary.And coming to her, he said,"Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."But she was greatly troubled at what was saidand pondered what sort of greeting this might be.Then the angel said to her,"Do not be afraid, Mary,for you have found favor with God.Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,and you shall name him Jesus.He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,and of his Kingdom there will be no end."But Mary said to the angel,"How can this be,since I have no relations with a man?"And the angel said to her in reply,"The Holy Spirit will come upon you,and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.Therefore the child to be bornwill be called holy, the Son of God.And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,has also conceived a son in her old age,and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;for nothing will be impossible for God."Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.May it be done to me according to your word."Then the angel departed from her.

Luke 1:57-77. This week in our Original Christmas Playlist series, we explore Zechariah's song—The Benedictus—a response born not from doubt, but from restored faith. After months of silence, Zechariah finally speaks, and his first words are worship: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel.” His song declares God's mercy, His faithfulness to His promises, and the unstoppable truth that what God has spoken is already as good as done. Jesus is the sunrise to those sitting in darkness—and His tender mercy still pursues us today. For upcoming events and important announcements at Skyline, visit our Facebook page for the latest details!If you'd like to check out more resources, get to know Skyline Church, or donate to our ministry and missions please visit www.skylineofallon.com. Don't forget to leave us a review and subscribe to have our Sunday message downloaded straight to your phone each week!

Monday, 8 December 2025   And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, Matthew 14:35  “And, having known Him, the men of that place, they sent to all that surrounding, and they brought to Him all those having sickly” (CG).   In the previous verse, Matthew noted that when Jesus and the disciples had crossed over the sea, they came to the land of Gennesaret. He next records, “And, having known Him, the men of that place.”   Jesus would have been known in the area because of previous visits. But more, John 6 notes –   “On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone— 23 however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks— 24 when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, ‘Rabbi, when did You come here?'” John 6:22-25   Jesus would have been known by those He first encountered, but more who had been on the other side of the Sea of Galilee with Him the day before, which had included some of those who had already returned, would have come to meet up with Him again.   In their excitement at having Jesus there, it next says, “they sent to all that surrounding.”   The word went out all around the area of Gennesaret, telling the residents that Jesus was again in the area, probably telling about what had happened the day before with the feeding of the five thousand, along with the healings that were performed, and so Matthew notes of these residents, “and they brought to Him all those having sickly.”   In the small nation of Israel, the ministry of Jesus was filled with a constant stream of needs. It was a continuous rush of people desiring the healing touch of the Master.   Life application: Considering the small size of Israel at the time of Jesus' ministry, both in land size and population, imagine the amount of physical suffering that is experienced around the world at any given time.   And when things are physically wrong with us, it is hard to focus on other things. Depending on the type of sickness and the level of pain, things can be so debilitating that there is nothing else we can think about. We may even take drugs to ease the pain, but they deaden our senses to the world around us.   God is not unaware of, nor uncaring about, these things. However, we are the ones who turned away from Him. For most of the world, we still do not regard Him as He expects, meaning through the offering of His Son.   And yet, because of the physical pains, wars, crime, and other suffering we see around us, we blame God and say we want nothing to do with Him. The fickle nature of this thinking is hard to imagine once we understand who God is and what He has done for us in giving Jesus to bring us back to Himself.   But even believers, at times, show a disdain for what God has done, blaming Him for our troubles and trials, as if He owes us. Jesus and the apostles' words are clear, however. There will be suffering, pain, loss, wars, and natural disasters until the time when God renews all things.   We cannot expect to be isolated from such calamities. This is why it is important to read the Bible and understand what it tells us. When we know that this world will continue to be out of whack and that we can expect to be included in the things that happen, we can then focus on what lies ahead.   Even with the troubles of this life, we have a hope that transcends it. Let us remember this and hold fast to our confession of faith.   Lord God, despite the trials and woes of this life, we thank You for the promises that are sure to come. We have the certain hope of an eternity of joy and blessing far above anything we can imagine at this time. Thank You that we have this hope. If this life were all there was, it would be a futile, vain existence indeed. Thank You for Jesus and all that comes through knowing Him! Amen.

Luke 1:26–38 - [26] In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, [27] to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. [28] And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” [29] But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. [30] And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. [31] And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. [32] He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, [33] and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” [34] And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” [35] And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. [36] And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. [37] For nothing will be impossible with God.” [38] And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. (ESV)   THE EVENING MINDSET IS COMING! Beginning January 1 - 2026 - A new DAILY podcast will be available to help you wind down, reset your mind on God’s truth, and prepare for a night of rest and rejuvenation. “The Daily Mindset” will launch on the podcast player of your choice on January 1, 2026. Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode: https://EveningMindset.com

Sunday, 7 December 2025   When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. Matthew 14:34   “And, having through-crossed, they came to the of land Gennesaret” (CG).   In the previous verse, Matthew noted that those in the boat came and worshiped Jesus, saying, “Truly! You are God's Son!” Next, he records, “And, having through-crossed.”   The word, used in Matthew 9:1, signifies to cross through from one side to another. They safely made the journey, despite the storm. Having come to the other side, it next says, “they came to the land of Gennesaret.”   This is a new and rare word, found only once in each of the three synoptic gospels, Gennésaret. It is a word of Hebrew origin. Strong's thinks it may be related to the name Kinnereth, and would thus mean Harps. This seems unlikely.   Another possibility is that it is derived from gan, garden, and Sharon. Thus, it would signify the Garden of Sharon. Another likely possibility would be Garden of Princes, the second half coming from the plural of the Hebrew sar, a prince. However, the plural may designate a fulness as in Princely Garden or Garden of the Prince (Hitchcock).   Of this location, the Topical Lexicon says –    “Gennesaret denotes the fertile plain that stretches for roughly three miles along the north-western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Bounded by the rising hills of Naphtali on the west and washed by the fresh waters of the lake on the east, the plain is celebrated in both Jewish and later historical sources for its mild climate, abundant springs, and astonishing productivity. Josephus wrote that it produced ‘every fruit' in profusion and that its temperate air allowed for continuous harvests. Numerous thermal and cold springs join to form streams that empty into the lake, creating a natural irrigation system. The plain's prominence made its name a convenient designation not only for the shoreline but for the entire lake itself, hence ‘Lake of Gennesaret' (Luke 5:1) as an alternate title for ‘Sea of Galilee' or ‘Sea of Tiberias.'”   John's gospel says that they were heading towards Capernaum when they left the other side. That is in the general area, Capernaum being to the north and Magdala to the south.   Life application: Despite having terrible times on the Sea of Galilee, struggling against the winds and waves, the appearance of Jesus taught the disciples a valuable lesson concerning who He is and our capabilities when we focus, or fail to focus, on Him.   After the ordeal, the sea was calmed, and the boat safely arrived on the other shore. This trip can be equated to our lives. We set out with confidence in where we are going, planning on a particular trip to take a certain amount of time, with a safe arrival at a designated location.   Nobody plans a trip and says, “We'll leave at 6:47 tomorrow, fly to Atlanta, switch planes, and continue towards Montana, but we will encounter terrible turbulence at 3:47 in the afternoon, lose the left wing of the aircraft, and die in a fiery inferno as the plane crashes into the side of a remote mountain.”   We don't know the future, so how can we plan such an event? But despite having a set schedule for arriving at Helene, Montana, we also don't know if we will actually get there or not. Our life is a journey where risk is involved. For most of us, we attempt to make it on our own effort, and usually without God.   But then the troubles come, and for those who are the Lord's, we remember Him, pick up our Bibles, and find Him there with us, reassuring us that He is present with us. With the knowledge of His presence, and with our eyes fixed on Him, we can do the miraculous in this life.   And when our journey is through, we will arrive safely on the next shore. Jesus has absolutely assured us that this is so. His word will never fail, and so let us not get disheartened, no matter what the trial. Nothing can prevent us from being brought safely into God's presence after this life is complete.   “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39   Lord God, our walk can be a walk of confidence and surety if we simply pick up the word, trust what it says, and apply faith in that to our lives. Otherwise, we are like rudderless ships tossed about on a sea of confusion and without hope. But because we know Your word, we know that You are there with us, ever faithful and tenderly guiding us to our final shore. Amen.  

“The Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.” — Luke 1:49 One danger we can slip into at Christmastime is discontent. Maybe we long for “the perfect gift” from someone. Or we hope for the perfect family gathering with “just the right people” around the table. Or perhaps we want Christmas worship to go “just so.” And then we grow ill-tempered or even cranky when things do not go as we dreamed.We can also slip into complaining about what we do not get from God. Or maybe there are injustices we face, or our life hasn't worked out the way we planned, or there are some sins we can't quite shake—and we wish God would take those problems away.Yet, as Mary's song celebrates, God's mercy shows up not only in answers that we expect from our prayers. Sometimes God's mercy shows up in our difficult situations. The angel's surprising, even shocking, announcement to Mary upended her world. Yet she still recognized God's saving grace in the promised birth of Jesus.Mary's song reveals something else too. She sees the power of God to lift up people who recognize their need for grace. In the world's eyes, the rich and powerful seem to have all they need in order to manage their lives. But people who recognize their own weaknesses will find that Jesus the Savior brings divine power to their struggles. May we join with Mary in humble gratitude for the gifts of God's mercy and strength. Lord God, you are merciful and mighty beyond our wildest imagination. Open our eyes to the great things you have done—and to your mercy to us in Jesus. Amen.

Don't Rush What God Is Growing (TRUST THE PROCESS) | Blessed Daily Effective Prayer For The MorningSUBSCRIBE 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™

Send us a textActs 3:22-26Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.' And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.' God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”Support the show

Saturday, 6 December 2025   Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:33   “And those in the boat, having come, they worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly! You are God's Son!'” (CG).   In the previous verse, it was noted that when Jesus and Peter got into the boat, the wind ceased. Overcome by the events they have seen and experienced, it next says, “And those in the boat.”   The words may suggest that there were more than just the disciples in there. The boats on the Sea of Galilee would not be very large, but they may have been large enough to carry some others along. Either way, the boat was big enough for them to get up and move around. That is seen in the word translated as “having come.”   The word is omitted by some texts and most modern Bibles. However, it would be the natural reaction to such events. Peter wanted to come to Jesus. This certainly wasn't limited to him, but he was the one who called out, and so he was the one who was petitioned to come.   Once those on the boat saw what had transpired, especially the sudden calming of the sea, it would be natural to come forward to be near Jesus. This was because “they worshiped Him.”   Jesus was well known to them and the One who instructed them. It is true that if someone encountered such events in the presence of an unknown person, he may want to stay back a bit and worship from a distance. But because of their familiarity with Jesus, they wanted to be nearer to Him when bowing before Him.     The words are natural, and as would be expected. With that noted, Matthew next notes that they were “saying, ‘Truly! You are God's Son!'”   The words lack a definite article, as in, “You are the Son of God.” Despite this, it is at least an acknowledgment that Jesus was ordained by God in a unique way. He had walked on the water, and the weather was under His control. At this point, they may have been thinking of someone in the line of Moses who did such things under the authority of the Lord.   Jesus had also healed the people and multiplied the bread. Therefore, they may also have been thinking of someone like Elijah or Elisha, who had healed and/or multiplied bread under the authority of the Lord. Even until the later points of the gospel narratives, a true and complete understanding of who Jesus was continued to escape the disciples.   To be dogmatic and state that the disciples thought Jesus was “the Son of God,” meaning deity, at this point would be stretching what the disciples actually believed. Even after the resurrection, they required schooling to understand who Jesus was and the things that pertained to Him –   “Then He said to them, ‘These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.' 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.” Luke 24:44, 45   Life application: There are several views concerning who “the sons of the God” are in Genesis 6. The predominant view is the sensational view, meaning that these were angel/human hybrids. Though sensational and, therefore, exciting, it doesn't at all match up with the rest of Scripture.   Being a son of “the God” signifies a person who is in a right relationship with God or one who is set in contrast to such a relationship. The structure of the early Genesis account is presented in such a way that thoughts are introduced and then they are explained in a following passage.   For example, the thought concerning the creation of man is presented in Genesis 1. However, that is more fully explained in Genesis 2. The thought of being obedient to the law given by God and the penalties for not doing so are seen in Genesis 2, but the example of the test concerning the law is seen in Genesis 3.   The thought of the promise of a return to a right state in the presence of God is seen in Genesis 3, and the anticipation of that by Eve, and the knowledge that it is lost to her is seen in Genesis 4.   The state of a disobedient line of people who are separated from the line of those who remain friendly to God is seen in Genesis 4. The line of those who are in a right relationship with God and who will eventually lead to the Messiah is seen in Genesis 5. This particular line that is set apart to God is meticulously detailed in Genesis 5, and it is explained by the words “sons of the God” in Genesis 6.   Themes are introduced and then expanded upon. Contrasts are set up to distinguish those who are out of favor with God from those who are in favor with God. This continues to develop throughout the book. For example, like the ungodly line of Cain being introduced, followed by the godly line, the generations of Ishmael are detailed in Genesis 25:12-18, followed by the generations of Isaac beginning in Genesis 25:19.   The generations of Esau are given in Genesis 36. This is followed by the story of Jacob's offspring and what happens to them, which continues to highlight the line of those in a right standing with “the God.”   To suddenly introduce a concept, such as angels sleeping with men, is wholly out of line with this carefully detailed pattern of what God is doing. It is a faulty analysis that fails to understand what God is doing in Scripture and why He highlights things in the manner he does. Yes, it is sensational, but it is also incorrect.   If you want proper theology concerning “the sons of the God,” stay away from the idea that angels came in and started having sex with human women. It is an unbiblical and unreasonable proposition.   Lord God, it is fun and exciting to watch monster movies, but such things are not based in reality. Why would we treat Your word as if it were an exception to what we already know about the world around us? Give us wisdom to keep Your word in its proper context. Be glorified in our pursuit of Your superior word. Amen.

Friday, 5 December 2025   And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Matthew 14:32   “And they, having gone into the boat, it ceased – the wind” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus stretched out His hand to retrieve Peter from sinking. At the same time, He told him his faith was little and asked why he doubted. The narrative continues with astonishing words, “And they, having gone into the boat, it ceased – the wind.”   A new word is seen, kopazó, to tire. Figuratively, it then means to relax and thus to cease. All three of its uses will be in relation to the wind dying down. One can see that the wind and waves were for the instruction of the disciples. If Jesus wanted to, He could have ceased the winds earlier.   Likewise, He could have let the storm wear itself out and then started across the sea. But He departed from the area of the feeding of the five thousand while it was still stormy, at a point when the men had been straining to cross for a long time.   Peter, despite his bravado, would have been tired from the long day and then the long, difficult night. His ability to focus and keep up a faithful spirit would have been diminished. All such things came into play as he croaked out to Jesus to rescue him on the water.   Once Peter's faith and ability to focus on the Object of his desire were shown to be weak, the storm was no longer needed. The winds that had distracted him gave way to calmness.   Life application: This account conveys a truth that we should all be aware of and prepared for. When our minds and bodies are tired, we can get more irritable, misdirected, prone to making mistakes, and even prone to sin, each depending on the surrounding circumstances.   When we are in such a state, we should remind ourselves to act carefully, respond to circumstances or to others circumspectly, and ask the Lord to guide us in whatever is set before us.   The main thing to remember is to be determined to fix our eyes on the Lord Jesus. The storms around us and the weariness that results from them will weaken our resolve. If we are not in a condition to go forward, we should have the wisdom to tell ourselves this or to let those we are in the battle with know that we they are not capable of handling the challenge.   This, rather than barging ahead and relying on our own strength, is a display of wisdom. As Clint Eastwood said in one of his movies, “A man's got to know his limitations.” When we fail to know our limitations and work within them, only disaster will result.   “When the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David and his servants with him went down and fought against the Philistines; and David grew faint. 16 Then Ishbi-Benob, who was one of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose bronze spear was three hundred shekels, who was bearing a new sword, thought he could kill David. 17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, ‘You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.'” 2 Samuel 21:15-17   David's son, Solomon, wrote that there is a time for everything under the sun. It is ok to understand that there are times to act and times to refrain from acting if we are incapable of doing so. If we fail in this, we may damage our testimony or bring harm to ourselves or others.   Lord God, give us wisdom to walk in this world in tune with who we are and with our eyes fixed steadily on Jesus. When we cannot be effective in what we plan to do, give us the wisdom to see this. If You will strengthen us for the task, we can proceed. But if it is time to step back from it, help us to know this as well. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.  

Stay Humble, Stay Blessed—Always Lean On God | Blessed Morning Prayer To Start Your Day With GodSUBSCRIBE 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™

Vayishlach | 5786 | Thus says the Lord God Concerning Edom, by Rav Eli Weber What was Esav's plan? Who is Edom?

Thursday, 4 December 2025   And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:31   “And immediately, Jesus, having extended the hand, He seized him, and He says to him, ‘Little-faithed! Into why – you doubted?'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Peter saw the tumultuous wind and became afraid. Along with that, he began to sink, calling out to Jesus to save him. It next says, “And immediately, Jesus, having extended the hand, He seized him.”   A new word, epilambanomai, to seize the hand, is seen here. It is derived from epi, upon, and lambanó, to take. Thus, it is to seize upon. Peter is in the process of sinking. Jesus is firmly fixed on the top of the water, and so He reaches down to Peter to rescue him.   The scene is amazing to contemplate. It defies the sense of logic that each of us would normally consider. Despite being completely out of the ordinary, there is no reason to assume that it is impossible. Not understanding how something works does not mean that it doesn't actually work. With Jesus reaching out to Peter, it next says, “and He says to him, ‘Little-faithed!'”   It is a sentiment He uses elsewhere. In Peter's case, his faith allowed him to step out of the boat and begin walking, but it didn't keep him from being distracted in obtaining the goal. One can see that faith in something isn't the entire scope of the matter. Peter lacked faith in all directions at once. That is seen in the next words, “Into why – you doubted?”   Peter's faith said, “I see Jesus, I can get to Him.” Hence, he started out on the water. However, once he took his eyes off the Object of his faith, he saw the boisterous wind and lacked faith that he could overcome it.   As noted in the previous commentary, it isn't that Peter lacked faith. Rather, it became misdirected and overwhelmed by another issue he wasn't confident he could handle. As such, Jesus says he doubted.   Life application: As can be seen, faith comes in varying degrees, but it also has to overcome many side challenges to be effective. If we were to extend the scenario in which Peter is in, we could add lightning, sharks, a pirate vessel (arrr matey), and other obstacles to his ability to stay afloat.   At what point will Peter's faith crack? As long as he keeps his eyes on the Object, Jesus, the other challenges would not be able to affect him. But that may be hard to do when a resounding bolt of lightning crashs between the two of them. In an instant, Peter's faith in his ability to continue without being killed by lightning might falter, and down he would go.   However, maybe the lightning flashes so brilliantly that it highlights Jesus in an exceptional way, actually boosting his faith. However, the pirate ship was able to spot him in the flash and sends off a round from a cannon. Peter sees the giant splash as the pirates adjust their cannon for another shot, and down he goes.   Each thing that distracts us from the goal we are set on attaining has its own faith challenge that we must overcome. Apply that thought to your own life. You want to do a particular thing. You know you are fully competent to do it. And yet, the side issues each bring a challenge that your faith in yourself or your abilities says, “I don't think I can do that.”   How do we overcome such things? The answer is to keep our eyes on the Object of our faith. If what you are pursuing is sanctioned by the Lord, you have to know that it will come to pass. But if you continuously allow life's distractions that cause you to lack faith in the challenge they present, you will never attain your goal.   You don't really need to have all the confidence in the world concerning all things, though. You are finite, and it isn't possible to adjust to every scenario that will arise in the course of time. Rather, you need to have confidence that Jesus can handle them.   If Peter said, “I can't handle the sharks, lightning, or pirates, but I know Jesus has said I can come to Him. Therefore, I will make it to Him,” then he would have prevailed. This is why Paul says what he says in Philippians –   “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:12, 13   Let us have faith that if we are working in accord with the will of the Lord, we will prevail in what we desire to do. If it isn't, then it will not come to pass. This isn't a fatalistic attitude. Rather, we are to strive for what we want but know that the Lord may not want it for us. If we don't strive to obtain the goal, it will certainly never be realized.   Lord God, help us in our faith. It gets challenged from ten thousand angles at a time, and we get distracted from the goal we are trying to attain. Help us to focus on the fact that You are with us in what we do. Because of Jesus, if it is meant to come about, it will. The side issues will never thwart what You have approved. Help us to remember this. Amen.  

Okay, it's not about you.  It's about what you expect from others.  And so many times, others will let you down.  Do your best to imitate the Lord God.  Your efforts will benefit someone.  It always will.  Look to God for affirmation.

Wednesday, 3 December 2025   But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” Matthew 14:30   “And seeing the forcible wind, he feared, and having begun to submerge, he croaked, saying, ‘Lord, You save me!'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Peter came down from the boat and commenced walking to Jesus. Matthew next records, “And seeing the forcible wind, he feared.”   It is the standard error that believers find themselves in to this day. What does it take to see the forcible wind? Follow the sequence of events:   Jesus: “You embolden! I, I am! You fear not!” Peter: “Lord, if You – You are – You command me to come to You upon the waters.” Jesus: “And He said, “You come!” Peter: He walked upon the waters to come unto Jesus. Peter: And seeing the forcible wind.   Jesus is the Object. Peter sees Jesus and petitions Him. Jesus directs Peter to come. Peter comes, looking at Jesus. Peter... takes his eyes off Jesus, “and having begun to submerge, he croaked.”   A new word is seen here, katapontizó, to plunge down, and thus to submerge. It is derived from kata, down against, and the same root as the area known as Pontus found in Acts 2:9 and 1 Peter 1:1. This word will only be seen again in Matthew 18:6.   Peter got distracted from what is most important. Jesus was the target to obtain. In allowing the distractions to take his eyes off the goal, his attention was likewise distracted. With his attention distracted, he was no longer mentally focused on what allowed him to walk on the water in the first place. Because of this, he cried out, “saying, ‘Lord, You save me!'”   Again, it is the standard response believers make in hopes of correcting their own blunders to this day: Believer is focused on Jesus. Believer takes his eyes off of Jesus and gets caught up in an infraction of the law, a particular sin, etc. Believer is now in a bad, bad pickle, finding no way of fixing his own slip-up. And so, believer croaks in his soul and to Jesus, “Help me! Help me, Lord Jesus!”   Life application: One of the most important thoughts for believers recorded in the New Testament is found in the first few words of Hebrews 12:2 –   “Eyeballing unto the ‘the faith Pioneer and Perfecter,' Jesus” (CG). Scholars repeatedly say that Peter's error was a lack of faith. And it is true that Jesus will call him ‘little-faithed' in the next verse. But Peter had faith, even if it was little. That was not the immediate problem. Rather, Peter took his eyes off of the Object of his faith.   The pastor who has been faithfully preaching to his congregation for many years may have amazing faith, but when he meets with a woman for counseling, his eyes may be misdirected from Jesus. At such a time, calamity may be just around the corner. It happened to David, and none of us is above such a lapse of judgment.   Along with Hebrews 12:2, Hebrews 3:1 says, “Thence, holy brothers – heavenly calling participants, you scrutinize the Apostle and High Priest, our confession, Jesus!”   We are not just to look in the direction of Jesus, we are to eyeball Him and to scrutinize Him, mentally considering Him at all times. When we fail to do this, we begin to sink into the troubled seas around us. In 1 Chronicles 29, David, a man who understood what it meant to take his eyes off the Lord and to sink into sin, petitioned the Lord for just this type of determination for His flock –   “O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the intent of the thoughts of the heart of Your people, and fix their heart toward You.”   Should we have any less of a heart? If not, then let us pray for such fixed determination. And while we are asking for our own strength, let us remember our fellow believers, those in our church, our pastors and teachers, and anyone else who comes to mind.   May we learn to direct our attention to Jesus, always remembering the sacred words of Scripture, “Eyeballing unto the ‘the faith Pioneer and Perfecter,' Jesus” (CG). Nothing else will do. All else will lead to a sad set of circumstances that may jeopardize our lives, our relationships, and our witness for the Lord Jesus.   Lord God, we are weak and frail creatures who need to constantly focus our hearts and souls on You. We should always scrutinize Jesus as if looking over the finest gem or most beautiful flower, considering every detail of His majesty. Help us to be focused on Him at all times. In this, we will be in the right frame of mind to handle all challenges we face. Amen.

Rekindle The Fire Within You—MOVE INTO GOD'S PURPOSE | Blessed Morning Prayer To Start Your DaySUBSCRIBE 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, 2 December 2025   So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. Matthew 14:29   “And He said, ‘You come!' And having descended from the boat, Peter, he walked upon the waters to come unto Jesus” (CG).   In the previous verse, Peter emphatically challenged Jesus that if it was Him, to command Peter also to come to Him on the waters. In response, we read Matthew's continued words, “And He said, ‘You come!'”   The response is immediate. There was no “Wait, I wasn't ready,” or “Sorry Peter, I didn't bring enough miracle juice for two people.” Rather, the command was confident that Peter could and should come out to Him. Therefore, it next says, “And having descended from the boat.”   Imagine being on the waters as the waves slammed against the boat. The meaning is that the boat's buoyancy allowed for the hull to be partly submerged in the water while the rest remained above the water. It wasn't that the entire boat just sat on top of the water as if it were sitting on an ice bed.   In other words, the laws of nature were working as they should. The water surrounding the boat was unchanged, and the boat was doing what boats do. And yet, Peter descended from the boat, which was in, not on top of, the water, and was able to stand on the water without sinking.   The change, therefore, was in Peter, not in the water. This is evidenced with the next words, “Peter, he walked upon the waters.”   The words don't say how long this occurred. They also don't record the distance, be it ten feet or fifty. Jesus was close enough to be heard, but far enough to necessitate Peter's effort to walk to Him. The testimony, however, declares that Peter did walk on the water. With that understanding, it next says, “to come unto Jesus.”   There is a slight difference in the texts here. Some say, “he came to Jesus,” others say, “to come to Jesus.” The writers of the Pulpit Commentary, having obviously been in the boat with the disciples, say –   “To go to Jesus; rather, and came to Jesus (Westcott and Hort; cf. margin of Revised Version). The true text states what did, in fact, happen, notwithstanding Peter's lack of faith (cf. ver. 31).”   Because verse 31 says that Jesus immediately stretched out His hand and caught him, the Pulpit Commentary has deduced that Peter must have made it all the way to Jesus. How they can conclude that this is the “true text” based on that, while dismissing the contents of verse 30, is exceptional. While Peter was distracted with the waves, Jesus could have taken three steps toward him.   Life application: As has been noted in the past, take all commentaries on the Bible with a grain of salt until you think through what is being said. For the Pulpit Commentary to state that the Westcott and Hort text is the true text based on a couple of words that may or may not have been properly thought through is damaging.   Nobody is going to lose his salvation over this. Whether Peter got to Jesus or was still on his way to Jesus isn't going to change someone's life or the direction of his life. But for the commentators to adamantly claim that one is the true text immediately dismisses the other text. What if that is the true text? They have now determined that what isn't God's word has replaced God's word!   That is not a sound attitude, nor is it a good place to be when we all must stand before the Lord and give an account for the lives we have lived. If we were not in the boat with the disciples, or flying a drone over the event, filming it while it was taking place, then we should reserve stating adamant words about texts as the Pulpit Commentary has done.   Only when there is no dispute in the text is there a reason to be adamant about what the text says. But even then, we need to be sure about our claims. After two thousand years of people looking over the word, new insights come up all the time, opening our eyes to new parallels, patterns, and points that may have never been considered before.   Lord God, it is beyond our imagination that we could just step onto the local body of water and tread on it as if it were dry land. But Jesus did it, and Peter did for a short span as well. How little our faith must be that we cannot do what You allowed Peter to do without a moment's hesitation! Strengthen us in our walk of faith, O God. Amen.

Praise Series #6 Praise the LordPsalm 117: “Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples.  For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.  Praise the Lord.”Praising the Lord is so important.  It is important not only when things are going well, but when things are not going so well.  God can and will use all things for your good.  It may feel impossible to see that when you are in it, but he will take what the devil means for harm and use it for good.  I was going to say that praising God when things are going well is easy.  But actually, that is not always true.  A lot of times, when things are going well, we don't think about God.  We are busy just living our happy lives, and unless something comes into our lives to upset the good things we have going, we often don't think of God.I don't think the problem is that we don't want to thank God for all the good he has given us; I just think that it doesn't occur to many of us.  We think more of God when we need something.  When things are bad, we are quick to blame God, or to ask Him why this is happening, but when things are good we don't think to ask God why it's happening.  What did we do right to deserve all this happiness?  Why did God allow the great things to happen?  Those are not questions we usually ask Him.  However, he is the first to be blamed when things go wrong.  Why is that?  Why do we give him none of the credit when things are going right and all of the blame when things go wrong?  God is there in the good and in the bad.  We would be nothing, have nothing, without him.  It would be so great if we could learn to praise in both good and bad situations.  That probably sounds strange, praise Him in the bad situations?  What am I supposed to say, thank you so much that my baby boy is sick?  No, that is not what I am saying.  You don't have to thank him, but you can praise.  You could say something like, “Lord, you are all-knowing, you are the great physician, and I know that you can heal my son.  You are all-powerful, and your ways are better than my ways.  I don't know why this is all happening, and I know I may not understand this side of heaven.  What I do know is that you love us and you want the best for us.  We ask that you heal our son.  We thank you so much for answering our prayers.  As you have said in Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it will be given, seek, and you will find, knock, and the door will be opened.” So, Lord God, we are grateful for your hearing our prayers and answering them.  We thank you for the strength you have given us, the strength to get out of bed in the morning. We love you, Lord, and we praise you for being you.”  Do you see how there are ways to praise God even in an impossibly bad situation? There are plenty of bad things that happen.  God does not want all these things to happen; they are not his perfect will.  I don't know why he allows bad things to happen.  However, I believe, if we start praising God more in our own lives, then we will see fewer bad and more good things happen.  If we can learn to praise God when we are struggling, and also remember to praise him and thank him when things are going well, I truly believe that is the way to a happier life.I have been listening to Father Mike Schmitz read the Bible in a Year podcast.  We have spent quite some time now listening to the story of King David.  Actually, David was discussed long before he became king.  When he was just a young boy, he took a slingshot and four flat stones and defeated the giant that no one else would go near.  The whole army was afraid of the giant, Goliath, but David knew God could do anything, so he was not afraid.  David had a complicated life.  He did so much good, and yet, he also did some really terrible things.  One thing that David did really well was praising God.  He thanked God when he was being blessed.  He remembered to thank God when things were going well.  He pointed out to all who would listen that God was the reason for his success.  However, even when things were bad, he praised God.  That doesn't mean he didn't question God.  He definitely did that.  He definitely asked why he had to go through things, why God was allowing them to happen, and how long the hard times would last.  Then, after questioning, he usually ended up praising. The Psalms in the Bible are full of David's praises and his questions to God.  In one minute, David will be asking God how long he will have to endure this suffering, and then in the next verse, David will be praising God and thanking God for all that He has done to bless him and provide for him.  I think when we start praising God more, we start to see more good things happen.  I believe this happens for two reasons.  First, I think God blesses us more when we remember to take a minute to thank Him and praise Him for all He has given to us.  Second, I think we see more because we are looking for the good.  When we stop to praise God when something good happens, then we are taking the time to notice it.  It is similar to when you start a gratitude practice.  If you stop and take 10 minutes in the morning, or even just 2 minutes, and write down a few things you are grateful for, then you will start to notice more and more things you have to be grateful for.  Is it because more great things are happening, or is it because you are noticing more good things?  Where you put your focus is so important.  If you focus on all that is going wrong, you will start to see more bad things in your life.  Where you are putting your focus is something that you have control over.  There are plenty of things happening in our lives that we don't have control over.  However, the focus of your thoughts is not one of those things.  If you do not believe what a difference this can make, I ask you to give it a try.  For one week, try focusing on noticing the good things that are happening throughout your day.  Try at the beginning or end of your day to write down 10 things that you can be grateful for or that you can praise God for.  If you know you are going to have to come up with 10 things, then you will spend your day looking for good things.  When you are on the lookout for good things, you will start to see them.  Trust me.  I will leave you with Psalm 118:1, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for all that you do for us.  I ask that you show us how to praise you, Lord.  I pray that we will remember to praise you in the good and the difficult times.  I pray that we can all find something to be grateful for each and every day.  Lord, I don't know why bad things happen.  I do know that you love us and work all things for our good.  I know you are leading this journey and that we are just along for the ride.  I ask that you lead our journey.  Lord, I ask that you bless all those who are listening right now.  Lord, I pray all of this in accordance with your holy will and in Jesus's holy name, Amen.Thank you so much or joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus. I look forward to meeting you here again tomorrow. Have a very blessed day!Today's Word from the Lord was received in July 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 are my children, and I love each and every one of you, and I meet you where you're at. So you can bring me your muck and mire, and your brambles. You can bring them to me, and I will fix them. I will heal them. I will lift you out of them. ” 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

“The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” (Genesis 2:9 NLT) “Let every heart prepare Him room.” These lyrics from “Joy to the World” remind us to embrace the fullness of the Christmas season. To be proactive in getting ourselves ready for the blessings and opportunities that are unique to this time of year. A good way to start preparing our hearts is to widen our focus from the familiar narrative of Luke 2 to the bigger story that starts in Genesis 3. There, we find a tree. Not a Christmas tree with brightly colored lights and ornaments, but the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden. After God created Adam and Eve and placed them in a literal paradise, He gave them one restriction: Don’t eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. You know how the story unfolds after that. The serpent tempted Eve. Eve ate the forbidden fruit. She gave the fruit to Adam. He ate it, too. They disobeyed God and lost their perfect fellowship with Him. In Genesis 3:15, we find the first Christmas verse in the Bible. God said to the serpent, “And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel” (NLT). Sin created a gulf between humankind and God—one that we can do nothing to bridge. Our only hope is a Savior, One sent by God who would live a sinless life, sacrifice Himself to pay the price for our sin, and then conquer death so that we might live forever. This is God’s plan of salvation. Yet just as our enemy interfered with God’s original plan, he also does everything he can to keep people from coming to salvation. That’s where the hostility of Genesis 3:15 comes in. The devil knew that a Messiah would come. He did everything in his power to stop it from taking place. Yet his power was a drop in a bucket compared to that of the Messiah who came. Before there was a world, before there were planets, before there was light and darkness, before there was matter, before there was anything but the Godhead, there was Jesus—coequal, coeternal, and coexistent with the Father and Holy Spirit. He was with God. He was God. Jesus Christ became human without ceasing to be God. He did not become identical to us, but He became identified with us. The birth that we celebrate this season is that of God Himself, who came to this earth to live among us. To conquer sin and death. To show us how to live. To give His life so that we might live forever. Reflection question: What difference does it make, in your life and in your prayers, that Jesus knows what it’s like to be human? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Isaiah 40:1-11     Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,     and cry to her that her warfare is ended,     that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord's hand     double for all her sins. 3 A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;     make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up,     and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level,     and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,     and all flesh shall see it together,     for the mouth of the Lord has spoken." 6 A voice says, "Cry!"     And I said, "What shall I cry?" All flesh is grass,     and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades     when the breath of the Lord blows on it;     surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades,     but the word of our God will stand forever. 9 Go on up to a high mountain,     O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength,     O Jerusalem, herald of good news;     lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah,     "Behold your God!" 10 Behold, the Lord God comes with might,     and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him,     and his recompense before him. 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. Key Words: Comfort, Pardon, Sin, Glory, Behold, Flesh, Word, Good News, Shepherd Keystone Verses: Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news, lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!" (Isaiah 40:9) Download Bulletin  

Monday, 1 December 2025   And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” Matthew 14:28   “And having answered Him, Peter, he said, ‘Lord, if You – You are – You command me to come to You upon the waters'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus called out to the disciples on the boat to be emboldened, for He is! He implored them not to fear. In response to this, the impetuous Peter needs evidence of what his eyes see. Therefore, Matthew records, “And having answered Him, Peter.”   Regardless of how many disciples there were on the boat, it is Peter who needed to be given the proof that would ease his suspicious mind concerning the phantasm who claimed to be Jesus. Therefore, Matthew's words continue, “he said, ‘Lord, if You – You are – You command me to come to You upon the waters.'”   Notice how Peter's words, though respectfully stated with the word “Lord,” challenge the declaration made by Jesus –   *...Jesus, He spoke to them, saying, “You embolden! I, I am! You fear not!”   *...Peter, he said, “Lord, if You – You are – You command me to come to You upon the waters.”   Of these words, the Pulpit Commentary says, “Not ‘bid me walk on the water;' for he does not want to perform a miracle, but to come to Jesus.” This is entirely incorrect. Peter uses the word keleuó, command, to signify that he desires the same ability that Jesus displays. If this was a sign of “impulsive love” for Jesus, as their commentary later states, the reaction would have been the same as is recorded in John 21:7 –   “Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!' Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.”   Peter wants proof of what his eyes refuse to believe. This is the reason for the word if, the emphatic challenge, and for the Lord to command him to do as was being done by Him.   Life application: Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” 1 Corinthians says –   “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” 1 Corinthians 1:20-25   The Bible sets a contrast between faith and sight, between belief and tangible evidence. Peter even had sight and sound, but it was not enough for him to accept. He wanted a personal sign to confirm to him that Jesus was really the One who had approached them and spoken to them.   What are you looking for to be assured of the faith you profess? Charismatic churches need proof of faith through the speaking of tongues. How can that be a proof of faith? If you have tangible evidence of something, you no longer have faith, but the surety of the experience.   They claim that if you don't speak in tongues, you don't have the filling of the Spirit. It is a false, damaging system of expectancy and contrived piety that dismisses the fundamental tenet of Christianity, salvation by grace through faith.   Be careful what you believe. Stick to the Bible, have faith in what it says, and confirm that faith by accepting Jesus' full, final, finished, and forever work on your behalf. In this, you will be pleasing to God.   Lord God, how good it is to know with all surety that we are saved through the work of Jesus Christ. We don't need more. Evidence and proof will come when You come for us. Until then, we have the words of Scripture. It is sufficient for our souls. Thank You for the words of surety that You have given to us. Amen.

Genesis 2: 5-16; 3: 8-15 ESV Genesis 2: 5-165 When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, 6 and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground— 7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. 8 And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.10 A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 And the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there. 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Cush. 14 And the name of the third river is the Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden,Genesis 3: 8-158 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool 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?” 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 and her offspring;he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

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Jeremiah 32 (Listen) Jeremiah Buys a Field During the Siege 32:1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. 2 At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard that was in the palace of the king of Judah. 3 For Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him, saying, “Why do you prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am giving this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall capture it; 4 Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him face to face and see him eye to eye. 5 And he shall take Zedekiah to Babylon, and there he shall remain until I visit him, declares the LORD. Though you fight against the Chaldeans, you shall not succeed'?” 6 Jeremiah said, “The word of the LORD came to me: 7 Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you and say, ‘Buy my field that is at Anathoth, for the right of redemption by purchase is yours.' 8 Then Hanamel my cousin came to me in the court of the guard, in accordance with the word of the LORD, and said to me, ‘Buy my field that is at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for the right of possession and redemption is yours; buy it for yourself.' Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD. 9 “And I bought the field at Anathoth from Hanamel my cousin, and weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver. 10 I signed the deed, sealed it, got witnesses, and weighed the money on scales. 11 Then I took the sealed deed of purchase, containing the terms and conditions and the open copy. 12 And I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah son of Mahseiah, in the presence of Hanamel my cousin, in the presence of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, and in the presence of all the Judeans who were sitting in the court of the guard. 13 I charged Baruch in their presence, saying, 14 ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware vessel, that they may last for a long time. 15 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.' Jeremiah Prays for Understanding 16 “After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed to the LORD, saying: 17 ‘Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. 18 You show steadfast love to thousands, but you repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty God, whose name is the LORD of hosts, 19 great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man, rewarding each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds. 20 You have shown signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and to this day in Israel and among all mankind, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day. 21 You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and outstretched arm, and with great terror. 22 And you gave them this land, which you swore to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey. 23 And they entered and took possession of it. But they did not obey your voice or walk in your law. They did nothing of all you commanded them to do. Therefore you have made all this disaster come upon them. 24 Behold, the siege mounds have come up to the city to take it, and because of sword and famine and pestilence the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans who are fighting against it. What you spoke has come to pass, and behold, you see it. 25 Yet you, O Lord GOD, have said to me, “Buy the field for money and get witnesses”—though the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans.'” 26 The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: 27 “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me? 28 Therefore, thus says the LORD: Behold, I am giving this city into the hands of the Chaldeans and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall capture it. 29 The Chaldeans who are fighting against this city shall come and set this city on fire and burn it, with the houses on whose roofs offerings have been made to Baal and drink offerings have been poured out to other gods, to provoke me to anger. 30 For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have done nothing but evil in my sight from their youth. The children of Israel have done nothing but provoke me to anger by the work of their hands, declares the LORD. 31 This city has aroused my anger and wrath, from the day it was built to this day, so that I will remove it from my sight 32 because of all the evil of the children of Israel and the children of Judah that they did to provoke me to anger—their kings and their officials, their priests and their prophets, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 33 They have turned to me their back and not their face. And though I have taught them persistently, they have not listened to receive instruction. 34 They set up their abominations in the house that is called by my name, to defile it. 35 They built the high places of Baal in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to offer up their sons and daughters to Molech, though I did not command them, nor did it enter into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin. They Shall Be My People; I Will Be Their God 36 “Now therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning this city of which you say, ‘It is given into the h...

QUOTES FOR REFLECTIONParagraph One: The Lord our God is but one only living and true God; whose subsistence is in and of Himself, infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but Himself; a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; who is immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, every way infinite, most holy, most wise, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will, for His own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him, and withal most just and terrible in His judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty. Paragraph Two: God, having all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of Himself, is alone in and unto Himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creature which He hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting His own glory in, by, unto, and upon them; He is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things, and He hath most sovereign dominion over all creatures, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever Himself pleases; in His sight all things are open and manifest, His knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to Him contingent or uncertain; He is most holy in all His counsels, in all His works, and in all His commands; to Him is due from angels and men, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, as creatures they owe unto the Creator, and whatever He is further pleased to require of them. Paragraph Three: In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences, the Father, the Word or Son, and Holy Spirit, of one substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided: the Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son; all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being, but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and comfortable dependence on Him.~“Of God and the Holy Trinity” in the 1689 Second London ConfessionSERMON PASSAGEDeuteronomy 6 (ESV) 4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Jeremiah 32 (ESV) 17 ‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.' John 1 (NIV) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made…. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. John 14 (ESV) 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.”John 17 (ESV) 1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. John 20 (ESV) 11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

“God Is Fully With Us In These Strange Days”   By Mary Lindow   Just over 2,000 years ago, Emmanuel, also called the Christ, changed the world.  In that moment when God became flesh, humanity watched prophecies unfold as hope was born. Jesus, our Emmanuel, provided hope that sin and death wouldn't always win and mankind wouldn't always feel so painfully alone.    What Does Emmanuel Mean in the Bible? It's a word written on countless Christmas cards and sung in some of our most-loved carols.  In Scripture, it first appears in the Old Testament in Isaiah 7:14, which says,    “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign;  The virgin will conceive, and give birth to a Son, and will call Him Emmanuel”.   The Lord Himself will do this, Scripture says.  In other words, this act, which occurred in the birth of Christ, was God-ordained and God-accomplished.    This points to grace, which doesn't come through human effort but rather through relying on God to do what we humans cannot. This was the reason Christ came.    God GAVE us this child, named Emmanuel, which literally means,  “with us is God,” or “God WITH us.”    He may seem distant.  It may even seem impossible this year for you to feel hopeful.  You might have lost your job.  Or maybe you're feeling isolated from those you love.  You may have even grieved the loss of a family member or friend.   Though he may have felt far away to them,  God was so much closer than his people knew — gently planning Jesus' entrance into the world in the most unexpected way.   Looking around, all you might be able to see right now is darkness.  If you try to adjust your eyes, blinking into the night, there seems to be no light.  The weight of sickness, death, injustice and pain perhaps, seem too heavy.   That's why I love this idea of advent which is practiced only among Christians.  And yes, it comes from probably a more liturgical view, but has been so embraced and now practice in homes and church gatherings across the world, as families gather to contemplate and to pray and to spend quiet time discussing when Jesus came as a child as the Messiah!  Emmanuel!!! God WITH Us!     Advent means "coming" or "arrival" and refers to the Christian season that begins four Sundays before Christmas, where focusing on preparation for the celebration of Jesus's birth and his anticipated return is a beautiful thing! It's definitely better than the commercial glut of constant “buy, buy, buy,” and, the overkill of sappy fantasy Christmas shows, as well as the pressurized giving of gifts to every boss, coworker, friend and pet!  It's a time of expectation, reverence and hope for many Christians!   I was reading through a Wycliffe advent devotional last evening, and these words so struck me that I'm going to share them with you trusting that they too, will move your heart to remember that Emmanuel, God …. IS with us!  No matter what may come   This excerpt of the devotional said, “As we enter the Advent season, do you feel weary? You're not alone. Or maybe you're just tired. Numb. Ready to pull the covers over your head and try this whole "Christmas cheer" thing again next year.    Don't feel guilty.  Instead, acknowledge the very real darkness of this world and you'll have eyes to see Advent through the same lens as the people waiting for a Messiah thousands of years ago. You could even say that being weary and worn out is an acceptable place from which to approach this Advent season. Because Advent exists to remind us that, while darkness surrounds us and troubles exist, the hope of Christmas isn't far away.   The people of Israel hadn't heard anything from God about their redeemer.  God's chosen people must have cried out to him, asking how long it would be before their hope, their salvation, would arrive!  It was too dark, and God seemed to be silent.    Has he felt that way to you this year? Silent? Though he may have felt far away to them, God was so much closer than his people knew —gently planning Jesus' entrance into the world in the most unexpected way.   But at the appointed time, Jesus came — God with us in flesh and blood. Born in Bethlehem, carried to Egypt, raised in Nazareth. Son of Man and Son of God. A humble child and a holy King. Worshiped by some, rejected by many. Fully human, yet eternally divine.”     What beautiful and raw honesty in those words in that excerpt from the devotional!   Friends! Any way you look at it, Emmanuel was a living Divine Grace.  The infinite King, wrapped in the cloth of an infant.  The holy One, living among the fallen.  In Him, the impossible became real, not only in prophecy, but in His very presence.    When God stepped into our world,  “impossible” lost all meaning.     In Isaiah 42:16 it says, “And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not;  I will lead them in paths that they have not known:  I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight.  These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.”      Dear believer!  The darkness of this world has always tried encroach upon the joy and the hope of God being with his people.  It hates that we cling to the light, and even though we cannot see or understand, everything fully about the ONE who came and paid the price for us, yet we abandoned our own hearts to him, trusting that he will guide and light our path. It is in this practice that all of hell must bow its knee and tremble for the very fact that Christ is in us and he is the hope of glory.  Someday we will return to the ONE who created us, but for now, he has come to walk with us, to be with us, and his Holy Spirit is here to correct, to guide, to convict and to advocate for us.    Let us cry out, “Oh Come! Oh Come Emmanuel! Oh come God! Be with us, in us, and move through us to help others who are trapped in the darkness!”   Let's take time to pray together about all of this right now. Lord God, only you can see into our hearts and know that under all the busy-ness of our lives , there is a deep longing to make this season one that welcomes you more deeply into our own lives.   Our hearts desire the warmth of your love and our minds search for your Light in the midst of the darkness. Help us to be peacemakers this season and to give special love to those who disagree with us. Please, Give us the strength and courage to forgive those who have hurt us or who treat us dismissively. Help us to free our hearts from the prison of anger and hurt. Only you Lord can bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us rest in this weary world. We thank you for being a God that IS  with us! Amen.   Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed As long as the complete message, website and podcast  information for Mary Lindow is included. Thank You! Copyright © 2025   " THE MESSENGER "  - "The Advocate of Hope"  Mary Lindow www.marylindow.com PODCAST   If you would be so kind and assist Mary helping her to meet other administrative needs such as website and podcast costs,  or  desire to bless her service in ministry with Spirit-led Love gifts or regular support: Please JOYFULLY send your gift in the form of:  ► Personal Checks ► Business Checks ► Money Orders ► Cashiers Checks To:  His Beloved Ministries Inc.  PO Box 1253 Denver, Colorado 80614  USA    Or feel free to use our send a tax-deductible gift with Pay Pal   paypal.me/mlindow  Under the name of - Mary Lindow His Beloved Ministries Inc.    ALL gifts are tax-deductible under His Beloved Ministries 5013c non-profit status.   We are financially accountable and have been in full compliance since 1985.  THANK YOU!      

A Day of Distinction Please turn to Malachi 3:13-18. That is on page 955 in the Pew Bibles. We are in the home stretch of Malachi. Next week will be our last sermon. By the way, Malachi has often been used for an Advent series. It is the last book of the Old Testament, and, as we saw 2 weeks ago, it promises that the Messiah will come soon. Next week will be another advent prophecy. Our sermon this morning concludes the pattern of (1) God's accusation, (2) the people questioning God, and (3) the Lord explaining. After that, we will we hear a surprising turn. There were some who did fear the Lord and responded to him. Listen for the contrasts between those who questioned the Lord, and those who feared him. Reading of Malachi 3:13-18 Prayer How do you justify sin in your life? I know that question presupposes an understanding of sin. I'm simply referring to breaking God's commands as he has revealed in his Word. ·      Do you find yourself saying, “well, this is a small thing. It doesn't really matter.” ·      Or, “everyone else does it, so what's the big deal.” ·      Or “At least I'm not as bad as he or she is.” ·      Are you tempted to make the ends justify the means? You think, “well, the results will be good, so it doesn't matter how I get there.” ·      Or maybe you are angry with God or wonder if he is even there? You think, “why does it even matter?” ·      Maybe you have been sinned against and therefore are tempted to respond likewise. ·      Or do you think that nobody will know. ·      Or do you tell yourself, “It feels right, how can it be wrong?” How do you justify sin? Really, the more important question is, will you respond to God's Word? These verses give us a contrast between two responses. 1. Those who justify and continue in their sin and 2, those who repent and respond. All throughout Malachi, we've seen different ways that the priests and the people have justified their sin. Often it was about their situation. They were poor and didn't want to bring their unblemished male animal to offer at the temple or bring their required tithe. Or they didn't love their spouse anymore, so why not get a divorce. Why not marry someone who didn't know Yahweh if they could get ahead economically. Based on their experience, they didn't even believe that God was just, so why did it matter what they did or didn't do. Verses 13-15 are the climax to their dismissal of God and how they justified their sin. The Lord said, “your words have been hard against me.” And they asked once again, “how” “How have we spoken against you?” And the Lord responds… you have said, , “it is vain to serve God. What is the profit of keeping his charge?” They didn't see any value in continuing to honor God. Why bother? It was so bad they didn't even want to mourn before the Lord because of their situation. They had gotten to the place where they weren't even sure God existed. In verse 15, we learn they'd been saying that “the arrogant were blessed.” “Evildoers not only prosper, …but they put God to the test and they escaped.” In other words, good things were happening to bad people. Why would God allow that and leave them to flail in their situation? You see, the people were feeling despondent. They didn't think God cared about them. In fact, to them, God seemed to care more about their enemies. And so, they responded by not caring themselves. They didn't care about God, and they didn't care about his commands. They felt defeated and wondered if God was even paying attention. Do you ever feel that way? You see other people seemingly doing well or prospering. Many of whom you don't believe should be prospering. And you are struggling with health or with finances or in relationships or in a career. And it brings you to a place of despondency - hopelessness and asking why. I've found that in those moments, I have been very susceptible to temptation. You know, you get down about something and feel discouraged and disconnected from the Lord. And then, you wonder if trying to honor God is even worth it. Just like the people were saying, it is vain… you know, it seems worthless to pursue the Lord. You then ask yourself, why not just do what I want? Why not just take matters into my own hands? And then, you do. That's exactly what the exiles who were back in Jerusalem were doing. They justified their sin. More and more, they rejected God. It was like a downward spiral of complacency and disillusionment that was leading them away from God. Instead of drawing closer to God, they were pulling away from him. Instead of seeking to honor him, they were dishonoring him. And then along came Malachi, the prophet. And he spoke God's very words to them. You have done this, and this, and this. You have questioned my justice. In your hearts and in your actions, you have walked away in defiance from my commands. You have been faithless. I think of all the accusations that the Lord has leveled against them, calling them faithless was perhaps the worst. They no longer trusted in the God who loved them, as he had just reminded them. What would they do? Really, they were at an inflection point. They were at a fork in the road. God had just called them to return to him. The question is, would they return? Would they renounce their ways and their thoughts against the Lord and return? The Lord's arms were open for them to come back to him. The question was, would they before it was too late? You know, I love our church family. I love you. We love each other and we love our neighbors. And I believe that each of us honestly want to honor the Lord in our lives. I know my glasses are a little rosy. But I know that there are secret sins in this room. There are dark closets. There's heart adultery, for sure, but statistically speaking, there's likely actual adultery happening, too. Other sexual sin as well. There's also a range of anger and prejudice and heart idols that turn our attention away from the Lord. Some sin we are blind to, but other sin we simply justify. It may be hidden from one another, but it is not hidden from God. Let me ask, How have you been responding to God's word in Malachi? It's been pretty intense. Have you felt convicted and have you been responding to the Lord in repentance and faith? …Have you renewed yourself to pursue the Lord and his commands? Will you forsake them and turn your heart back to the Lord? What would they do and what will you do? And that brings us to verse 16. This is the first time, in the entire book of Malachi, that we are given a glimmer of hope.. in regard to their hearts. Verse 16 – “then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another.” It's talking about people who with reverent awe and faith submitted themselves to the Lord. They were there. One question that people disagree about is whether this is a totally separate group from the Israelites who had been questioning God. Or whether some of those who had been questioning God repented and returned to him. Most think that it is one or the other. But I think what is more likely is that it's both. God has always had his remnant from among the people. But God also draws people away from their sin and back to him. Malachi was prophesying God's very Word. Of the thousands who had returned to Jerusalem, certainly there were some who upon hearing God's word, repented and returned as he had called them. We don't know for sure, but whatever the makeup of this group, the point is that there were some who by faith reverently trusted God… and as it says, sought to serve him. We don't even know what their conversation was about, but we are told that whatever it was God was pleased. They had in some way affirmed God's word and encouraged each other in that affirmation. And, they esteemed God's name. Rather than questioning God, they exalted the Lord God. This is God's very Word. Will you hear and respond to it by faith? Or will you react in defiance against it? What will you do? I want to take a brief tangent. Some of you will know this. The Protestant Reformers were very concerned NOT to bind someone's conscience. You know, someone's internal sense of right and wrong and truth and error. Martin Luther in his famous speech at the diet of Worms said that to go against one conscience is neither right nor safe. When we hear that, it's easy, I think, to mistakenly apply our culture's understanding of conscience. We might think Luther meant that we should never tell someone that what they believe or do is right or wrong. But that is not what Luther nor John Calvin nor the other Reformers meant. They meant that only the Word of God should bind someone conscience. Luther even said in that same speech, “my conscience is bound by the Word of God.” The Roman Catholic church was trying to bind the conscience of people to believe things that were contrary to Scripture. That is what they were opposed to. The Reformers believed that our consciences are marred by sin. Even as redeemed people, we need to submit our minds and hearts to God's word so that our inner sense of moral right and wrong will be transformed to God's standard. We absolutely can and should challenge one another. When we see a brother or sister do something or believing something contrary to God's Word, we should call it out in love. That is not wrongly binding someone's conscience; rather, it is directing someone's conscience to God's Word. Some churches and Christians today will justify lifestyles and beliefs so as not to constrain someone elses conscience. Some will say, “my conscience is clear,” as if their conscience is the final moral authority rather than Scripture. No, rather, as we each mature in our faith and in our knowledge of God's Word, our conscience will become more and more aligned with God's standard and THUS sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Our conscience should never replace what God has revealed in his Word. I bring this up because it is a common way to justify sin today – to appeal to a “clear conscience” even when it contradicts Scripture. Ok, back to Malachi 3 – the conscience of these people who feared the Lord were captivated by God through his Word. God had either convicted them of their sin and they repented and returned… or they has been in the minority, as a remnant, faithful to God and his Word all along. Likely, as I mentioned, both. And because they feared the Lord, God wrote their names and their faithful works in his book. It's called here the book of remembrance. A common practice at that time was for kings to write down significant events and significant people. It was their history. In fact, Persian kings were meticulous at this task. They preserved their records in the royal archive. Remember, it was the Medo Persians who, at this time, ruled over the region. So, this reference to the Lord keeping a book would have been understood even beyond the Israelites. The point is that God would not forget them. He would not forget his remnant who fixed their hearts and minds on him. Who esteemed his name. They shall be mine, he says. By the way, there is a little tiny phrase there in verse 17 that has huge significance. It's the phrase “in the day.” Do you see it? “In the day,” it says, “when I make up my treasured possession, I will spare them.” It is looking forward to the judgment day. It's looking forward to that day when God, in Christ, will fulfill his just judgment. That day will happen when Christ comes to judge. For us, we know that the final judgment will come when Jesus returns. In his first coming, Jesus came to save – he came to bring salvation. In his second coming, he will come for the final judgment. And on the day when Christ comes to judge, God will make his people his treasured possessions. I love that description. They had feared the Lord and honored him… and God wrote their names down in his book of life. We all have treasured possessions. If your house or apartment is on fire, what are the things that you would want to risk your life and run back in to save? Certainly, family members. Maybe a pet. Maybe your great great grandmother's pendant. Or maybe that jersey signed by your favorite athlete or coach. I'm not telling you to run back into your house for things. Let the firemen do that. But on that day, those who fear God and keep his commandments will be God's treasured possession. He will save them. That phrase “treasured possession” is a reference back to Mount Saini. God had rescued his people from slavery in Egypt. He had brought them across the Red Sea. He was about to give them his commandments, and he says, and listen to this… “if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, I will make you my treasured possession among all people of the earth.” In Malachi, at the end of verse 17, Lord says that he will “spare them as a man spares a son who serves him.” Back when I was about 14, my sister and I wanted to surprise our parents and clean the garage. Isn't that very nice.  However, there was still a car in the garage. So, I told my sister, ok, you get in the car. I'll push it back, and as soon as it gets out of the garage, put it into gear. It was a manual transmission. Every time my parents parked the car, they would put it in gear, so I thought it was like a parking brake.  So, I pushed the car out of the garage, but when my sister tried to put it in gear, it wouldn't go. Neither of us thought about the brake pedal. Well, our driveway was sloped, so the car started to pick up speed, and I was running alongside of it, but my sister couldn't stop it. Then the steering wheel locked up. We were both panicking. Then the car smashed into the stone wall next to our driveway. We both thought, oh no, we're going to get in big trouble with our dad. But when he got home, he wasn't angry at all. No, he was just glad we weren't hurt. We were spared. But I can tell you, if we had been one of his employees, the story would have ended differently. You see, a father spares a son. A father loves his children. They are his treasured possession. God the Father has done the most amazing thing for those who fear and honor him. He has spared them from his judgment. And he's done that by not sparing his only Son. God has rescued us from the fire of his wrath by sending his only son who endured his wrath on our behalf. And because of it, on that day, on that judgment day, God will spare his children. To put it in terms of Jesus first and second coming. God sent his son, Jesus Christ, into the world, to be judged so that when he comes again as judge, those who fear and serve him will not be judged. All of this has all been leading up to verse 18. On that day, there will be a distinction, it say, between the righteous and the wicked. By the way, let me mention, this is like a two-part sermon. Malachi 4 continues explaining what will happen on that day. I've titled today's sermon A Day of Distinction. Next week will be A Day of Deliverance. So, we won't spend any more time on that coming day. But come back next week to hear about the “sun of righteousness.” Rather, we'll spend the rest of our time today on the distinction spoken of in verse 18. At the heart of the distinction is whether someone fears and serves God. The first words at the beginning of 18 are pretty telling. It says, “Then once more… you will see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked” Malachi's entire prophecy has focused on (1) how God's people had walked away from him in disobedience. And (2) how he calls them to return to him in faithfulness in their words and actions. Those who did not return are included in verse 18 with the wicked. Those who did return are included with the righteous. The two words used to describe the righteous are those who fear and serve the Lord. Fear in verse 16, which we already discussed, and the word serve, here in verse 18. Let me put it this way: At the heart of serving the Lord is a heart that fears the Lord with reverence and awe. Those two distinguishing marks cannot be separated. There is no fearing the Lord without serving him. …AND, no one truly serves the Lord without fearing him. When someone comes to fear the Lord, they will desire to honor him in their lives. Let me put this in some New Testament terms. ·      True faith in Christ will result in the fruits of righteousness. ·      Or as James put it, faith without works is dead. Our works, meaning our obedience to God's Word, testifies to our faith in him. Works do not lead to faith, faith leads to works.·      Or as the Apostle Paul put it in Romans 6 “Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” To use theological terms. We are justified in Christ. We receive Jesus' righteousness by faith in him which leads to sanctification in our lives. More and more through God's Spirit, we die to sin and live to righteousness. So, fearing and serving the Lord IS faith and works which IS trusting and obeying God. It describes the righteous. The wicked do not fear the Lord nor honor him. They do not hear his Word. They do not return to him. Rather, they have rejected the Lord by dishonoring him in all his ways… including, of course, they ways that Malachi had prophesied. They questioned God… and to bring this back around, they justified their sin. As they said up in verse 14, “it is vain to serve God.” In closing, we all struggle with sin, but let me ask: As you search your heart, do you fear the Lord by faith in Christ? Are you seeking, by God's Spirit, to hear God's Word, see your sin, and respond by serving and honoring him? If you are, then on that day, God in Christ will spare you as a father spares a son. If that does not describe your life, then God is saying to you, “return to me.” No longer justify your sin but fear me and honor me. Come to me by faith in Christ. And when you do, the Lord says, you will be my treasured possession. On that day, may we all be described as the righteous. Not because of our righteousness, but because of the righteousness of Christ. A righteousness that we receive by faith AND which we demonstrate by serving and honoring him.

In our Protestant tradition, we often grow uneasy when Mary receives significant attention. But could it be that, in our reaction to Roman Catholic veneration, we have “thrown the baby out with the bathwater”? Mary's story draws us deeply into the richness of the Old Testament while simultaneously awakening us to the awe and wonder of the Christmas story in our present time. Exodus 25:10-22 (ESV)“They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and outside shall you overlay it, and you shall make on it a molding of gold around it. You shall cast four rings of gold for it and put them on its four feet, two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it. You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark by them. The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it. And you shall put into the ark the testimony that I shall give you.“You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you. There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.Luke 1:26-38 (ESV)n the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Preacher: Kathy Maskell Isaiah 9:2-7 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. 4 For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. 5 Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. Luke 1:26-38 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdom will never end." 34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail." 38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May your word to me be fulfilled." Then the angel left her. 

DISCONNECTION FROM OUR LORD GOD | WS#475 | November 30, 2025 | Victory Church#VictoryChurch #OdessaTX

Saturday, 29 November 2025   And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. Matthew 14:26   “And the disciples, having seen Him walking upon the sea, they were agitated, saying that it is a phantasm. And from fear, they croaked” (CG).   In the previous verse, it was noted that Jesus walked on the sea to get to the disciples who were in the boat. Continuing that thought, Matthew next records, “And the disciples, having seen Him walking upon the sea, they were agitated.”   The words here clearly indicate that the words in the previous verse, which said that Jesus was “walking upon the sea,” were not a way of saying that He was walking along the shore. It meant that He was walking on the water across the sea.   The disciples are in the boat being hurled about by wind and waves. Even if they could see a person walking on the shore, their reaction would have been that there was a person simply walking upon the shore. Instead, their reaction is stated by Matthew. He notes that they were “saying that it is a phantasm.”   This is a new word, phantasma, a phantasm, specter, etc. The word is derived from phantazó, to make apparent or to appear. As such, it is specifically an appearing or a showing. It had been universally understood since the creation of the world that a human could not walk on water. Rather, when a person encounters water, he sinks into it.   Therefore, the logic is that whatever was walking towards them could not be a human. Of this, Bengel says, “We often take Christ for another rather than for Christ.” That is an unsound analogy for what is happening here. Being something absolutely unheard of, anyone at that point would miss what was happening.   Only in looking back on the event could we dare to think we would consider what occurred any differently. A natural assumption would be that whatever they were seeing was anything but Jesus. As such, it says, “And from fear, they croaked.”   People try to explain things that they cannot mentally process in various ways. They may claim they saw an angel, a vision of Mary, a UFO, or the boogeyman. If the unknown is close enough to us or heading in our direction, the natural reaction is one of fear and even crying out in fear.   Because of their own Scriptures, a story from their past that would have been remembered by any child would have been the account of the raising of the spirit of Samuel in 1 Samuel 28. When that occurred, it said –   “Then the woman said, ‘Whom shall I bring up for you?' And he said, ‘Bring up Samuel for me.'” 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, ‘Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!' 13 And the king said to her, ‘Do not be afraid. What did you see?' And the woman said to Saul, ‘I saw a spirit ascending out of the earth.'” 1 Samuel 28:11-13   Knowing from their own Scriptures that such things were possible, there is no reason to look down on their reaction here. However, the difference between what they think they are seeing and what they are actually seeing will be made evident to them.   Life application: Just because the Bible acknowledges that there are things such as the raising of Samuel's spirit recorded there, it doesn't mean that it is something we should be focusing on. That account describes what occurred, but it prescribes nothing.   We are admonished to keep our eyes on Jesus, not get involved in the world of the supernatural. There is nothing in the epistles that instructs us, for example, on casting out demons. Even if Jesus and the disciples did this, no further instruction is given to us concerning the matter.   And yet, some ministries focus a great deal of their attention on the realm of the supernatural. Others, like the Roman Catholic church, have set up rites and rituals to supposedly cast out evil spirits.   Such approaches to these things are unbiblical and have no bearing on reality. If someone is demon-possessed, tell that person about Jesus. A demon cannot possess what belongs to Jesus. If that person receives Christ, the demon must depart. This is why the epistles don't address such things. The gospel is our tool for converting lives. Anything else is a waste of time, energy, and spiritual direction.   Lord God, help us to have the desire to tell others about the saving message of Jesus. Without it, all is futile in the human soul. But when it is received by faith, it can and will change even the greatest sinner and heal the greatest spiritual wounds. May we remember this and be willing to share this good news. Amen.

God's Timing Is Always Perfect (JUST TRUST HIM) | Blessed Morning Prayer To Start Your Day With GodSUBSCRIBE 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™

RE-RUN HAPPY THANKSGIVING- Yes this is a Thanksgiving episode from 2020, but you get the idea! We Hope you and your family have a Wonderful Thanksgiving!Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! We get together and have 2 funny skits, Crazy news, and discuss Psalms 106 & 107. God's people gets themselves in trouble but then call upon the Lord God to rescue them, and then they give thanks! For Believers in Jesus Christ, everyday should be Thanksgiving! Give thanks for everything, especially for our salvation in Jesus Christ! Check out all of our episodes at https://sites.google.com/view/lets-get-jacked-up-on-christ/home like us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LetsGetJackedUp/ Listen to us every Thursdays live at 8:30pm PT on FringeRadioNetwork.com and FringePanda.com Jeff Allen Cliphttps://youtu.be/WZ0ywiq98yI

Friday, 28 November 2025   Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. Matthew 14:25   “And the night's fourth guarding, Jesus, He departed unto them, walking upon the sea” (CG).   In the previous verse, it was noted that the boat the disciples were in was in the middle of the sea, being tossed by the waves. Next, Matthew records some of the most incredible words imaginable, beginning with, “And the night's fourth guarding.”   It is the same word, phulaké, found in Matthew 5:25, translated there as prison. It signifies a guarding. As someone is in prison, he is obviously being guarded. In this case, it refers to the divisions of the night. Ellicott explains the term –   “The Jews, since their conquest by Pompeius, had adopted the Roman division of the night into four watches, and this was accordingly between 3 A.M. and 6 A.M., in the dimness of the early dawn.”   Jesus had remained on the mountain praying for hours while the disciples struggled to stay afloat in the tempest that had arisen. Despite their efforts, they had only gone about halfway across the sea. It was during this time that “Jesus, He departed unto them.”   There is immediately a sense of curiosity in the words. It is very early in the morning hours, the narrative has already said that the disciples were straining in the sea to get to the other side, and yet, Matthew notes Jesus departing to them.   If the words finished there, one might think Jesus would walk on a path near the shore to meet them in the spot where they were headed. However, Matthew dismisses that option, saying, “walking upon the sea.”   The words here, combined with the words to come, along with the other gospel accounts, leave no option except that “walking on (upon) the water of the sea” is intended. It cannot mean “walking on the shore of the sea,” something seemingly possible from the immediate wording, as if the shore were being used as a way of explaining a walk on the sea.   However, they are in the midst of the sea (25 or 30 stadia) from shore. In a tempest, they would not see Jesus walking on the shore, nor could they have a conversation with Him, as will be the case. It cannot mean Jesus swam. The Greek word kolumbaó, to plunge into the water (and thus to swim), would have been used.   But more directly, only a lunatic would start swimming across a cold, 7-mile-wide lake in the middle of a raging tempest, particularly in fresh water, which is not as buoyant as salt water. Even the hardiest swimmer would likely perish from such an attempt. And, again, the surrounding narrative makes such suggestions impossible.   Rather, Jesus was giving a hint concerning His nature by doing what He is doing. The words of Job explain the matter –   “He stretching – heavens, to His separation, And walking upon elevations – sea.” Job 9:8 (CG)   To paraphrase Job's words, “Yehovah stretches out the heavens all by Himself, and He walks upon the waves of the sea.” Matthew, Mark, and John each testify to the accuracy of the account. The Lord God, Yehovah, walked upon the wavy Sea of Galilee in the early morning hours to attend to His disciples.   Life application: Over the millennia, there have been many skeptics who have tried to conjure up reasons why the text doesn't really say what it says concerning the account of Jesus walking upon the sea.   A few years ago, the ridiculous explanation was that the meeting of the winds as they rushed through the Arbel Pass with the waters of the Sea of Galilee formed blocks of ice that allowed Jesus to walk on the sea. Even a mentally challenged farm boy could find a dozen reasons why such a thought is ridiculous.   And yet, when it was proposed, it made the news around the world, as if someone had finally found a reason why the Bible should not be trusted concerning this miracle. Actually, however, for Jesus to surf on a block of ice, or to walk on various blocks of ice until He reached the disciples, would be more of a miracle than anything any person had ever seen in human history.   It would just be another form of a miracle. But the wording in the gospels doesn't allow for such idiocy. Rather, the disciples truly believed what they saw. They jointly testified to the matter, and their testimony stands. As the judicial apologist Simon Greenleaf says –   “Every document, apparently ancient, coming from the proper repository or custody, and bearing on its face no evident marks of forgery, the law presumes to be genuine, and devolves on the opposing party the burden of proving it to be otherwise.”   The burden of the proof is up to those who dismiss the words of Scripture. To this date, after two thousand years of trying, no such proof has come forward.   Have faith in the word. Have faith in Jesus, who is Yehovah incarnate. The word of God testifies to this fact.   O God, You can do all things. The fact that You walked upon the waters of the Sea of Galilee should come as no surprise because of this. We know Your word is truth. What it proclaims is sound and reasonable when we consider who Jesus is. May we have faith in what it says, holding fast to the record as it has been given. Amen.  

Thanksgiving Eve Service, November 26, 2025 You are great LORD GOD, because there is none like you. from 2 Samuel 7:18-22Scripture Reading: Philippians 4:4-9.Gospel: Luke 19:1-10.Sermon Text: 2 Samuel 7:18-22. An Attitude of Thanksfulness.Pastor Nate Kassulke

The Healer Hasn't Forgotten You—KEEP BELIEVING | Blessed Morning Prayer To Start Your Day With GodSUBSCRIBE 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, 26 November 2025   And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. Matthew 14:23   “And having dismissed the crowds, He ascended to the mountain, off alone, to pray. And evening, having arrived, He was there solo” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus compelled the disciples to get in the boat and cross to the other side while He dismissed the crowds. Next, Matthew records, “And having dismissed the crowds.”   It isn't known how Jesus did this, meaning with a word of encouragement and then prayer, but that is likely. John 6 notes that some wanted to make Him king by force. His redirecting them back to the Lord God as their true King, and through prayer, demonstrating that He was on a spiritual mission, may have quelled that among them.   Mark 6 notes that He sent them away. The day was long, and the walk to return would add to it. Therefore, some may even have slept under the stars, waiting till the next day to return home. Having an evening outside with a bonfire would be a nice cap to the wonderful day spent in the open with Jesus. If so, this would be an added reason for the next words, “He ascended to the mountain, off alone to pray.”   Whether He was removing Himself from all of the crowds as they departed, or if some were laying out mats to sleep on, there were still people there. This necessitated Him to ascend the mountain. Or it may be that ascending the mountain was keeping in accord with the traditions of meeting God on the high places that were instilled in the people's thinking, and a point which permeates the Hebrew Scriptures.   This would be in line with the transfiguration, which occurred on a mountain as well. Whatever other reason may be involved, Jesus went up in order to find solace and to pray. Matthew next records, “And evening, having arrived.”   This would be the second evening of what is known as “between the evenings,” explained in Matthew 14:15. This would be the evening of the light when the day transitions into night. At this time, it says, “He was there solo.”   Nobody had followed Him up the mountain, disturbing His time of prayer alone. These words of Matthew had to come from somewhere, so either an eyewitness saw that Jesus went up alone, or that Jesus had specifically told him this was the case.   Life application: Things were obviously done differently when Jesus walked among the people of Israel. There were no cars, cellphones, or TVs. People's lives would have been run at a completely different pace than what we are used to.   However, the days for Jesus were long and certainly tiring. What did He do at the end of His long day? He spent more energy ascending the nearby mountain, and He engaged with His Father in prayer. Although there is nothing prescriptive in this, it is an ideal that we can strive to attain.   Taking some time alone, away from the innumerable distractions we face, and spending time with the Lord will never be wasted time. Your mind can relax from the nag of calls, messages, text reminders, etc. Well, that is if you leave your phone behind when you decide to spend time with the Lord and pray.   If you are not used to this, it can be difficult to adjust. Being connected to the world through digital devices has become a standard part of our existence. And more, it has become an addiction for many. Take time to actively consider what value it is in your life. Is answering another text as important as spending time with the Lord through prayer or through His word?   Do your best to set your priorities straight and be willing to put everything else aside from time to time. At set times, try to refocus on filling the spiritual chasm in your life, replacing it with the goodness of God. You will find your time doing so a blessing you could not have imagined.   Glorious God, there are so many things that constantly distract us, pulling our attention away from what is truly important. If we stop and evaluate the time we spend doing things that are wholly unproductive, and then compare it to the time we spend with You, what would the balances reveal? Help us, Lord, to have our spiritual priorities right, focusing on You and fellowshipping with You each day. Amen.

The Book of Genesis series. Sermon by Gary Alloway. Genesis 2:4-25 - "Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."

Tuesday, 25 November 2025   Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. Matthew 14:22   “And immediately, Jesus, He compelled His disciples to in-step into the boat and precede Him to the beyond until which He dismissed the crowds” (CG).   The previous verse noted that those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Now that the meal was over, it next says, “And immediately, Jesus, He compelled His disciples to in-step into the boat.”   A new word, anagkazó, to necessitate, compel, or constrain, is seen here. It is derived from the noun anagké, constraint, distress, etc. There is a sense of urgency in the word, as if the disciples were hesitant to enter the boat without Him. Matthew doesn't give the reason for the constraint they were placed under. However, the same narrative in John 6 says –   “Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, ‘This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.' 15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.” John 6:14, 15   If this was the impetus in the mind of Matthew as he penned his gospel, one can see how the matter may have continued if the disciples had stayed. The people came to make Jesus king by force. How would things have turned out if the disciples had stayed?   Would they have sided with the masses and caused Jesus additional stress in shunning their advances? Would they have defended the Lord when He declined the advances, thus causing a brawl to break out? Whatever the reason, it appears that Matthew was remembering the day while not explaining the circumstances and noting the event with this new word. Because of Jesus' instructions, it next says, “and precede Him to the beyond.”   In other words, they were to cross the Sea of Galilee, returning to the side they had left that morning. Thus, they would be leaving Him without a means of crossing. Despite this, He constrained them to go. He would stay behind, “until which He dismissed the crowds.”   Whatever the state of the crowds or the mindset of the disciples, it is evident that Jesus wanted to dismiss them personally and to also be alone in prayer. Hence, they were instructed to leave alone and head across.   Life application: It is certain that the disciples could have refused to get into the boat and do as instructed, but they were obedient to Jesus as their Master. The word of God, the Bible, is a word from the Lord that also constrains us. It tells us to do things that we may not want to do. Maybe that is why so many people stop reading it or never read it.   They hear what the word expects, maybe in a sermon or from a friend, and don't want to have to face its demands. So they live life without engaging with the word. But if we want to be obedient to our Master, we need to do what He expects of us. That is what the word is for.   It isn't easy to stand up in a church and head for the door when something inappropriate is taught, but no one should sit under a preacher who is instructing contrary to the word. It is better to leave such a church than to accommodate the bad doctrine. Such an attitude places the church above the Lord. That cannot stand.   Let us remember this point. What the Lord says is like our government's constitution. We get upset at politicians who ignore the law as if it doesn't apply to them. How much more should we be upset at pastors, preachers, and teachers who ignore the highest authority of all?   This doesn't mean we should get up and walk out every time we hear something amiss. People are prone to mistakes. However, when something is obviously purposeful that fails to align with the word, it is time to depart. Just recently, the Anglican Church split because those in the UK selected a woman as the Archbishop of Canterbury. It is the highest position in the church.   The African Anglicans noted that this was unacceptable. Further, her stance on abortion and gay rights made her selection a slap in the face of all who desire to hold to the word. The problem, however, rests as much with the African Anglicans. They failed to say anything years ago when unacceptable people began to be ordained.   The selection of this woman to be the Archbishop was merely an obvious step in the rush to total apostasy. The Africans, for years, failed to uphold the word by dividing from the UK, only taking action when it became intolerable to them, not to God, whose word had already been violated numerous times. Let us not let things get to such a point. Instead, let us exalt the word and thus honor the Lord at all times.   Lord God, give us the desire to be obedient to Your word as well as have the intestinal fortitude to stand firmly on it. It can be difficult for us to stand against the masses, but with You on our side, it really is no problem. Help us to remember this and adhere to what You have stated. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.

God's Favor Is Chasing You Down—GET READY FOR OPEN DOORS | Blessed Morning Prayer To Start Your DaySUBSCRIBE 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™

Have you ever watched a movie, or a show that dealt with satanic abuse or mind control, and thought that you're grateful it wasn't real? It seems too horrific, and too traumatic to possibly be something that takes place in our world. Tragically, it absolutely does, and you would be surprised to know how closely you might come in contact with it with people you meet. There are people all over the world who are suffering even as you read this, at the hands of someone who appears as a normal and sane person.You, someone you know, or love could be hiding, and suppressing immense damage done to them as a child. They may or may not even remember the details, but they know that something is indeed not right. Listen in today as Tiffany Jo Baker spends time talking with Kelly Hawley, founder of Warrior Bride Ministries. They will discuss the different forms of mind control and abuse that are prevalent in our world today, and how God can heal and restore from them as well.Listen in for:How prevalent mind control really isWho might be the most susceptible When disassociation could occurWhy a person needs healing from mind control Favorite Quotes:“The whole goal (of mind control), ultimately or part of it, is to keep them away from Yeshua, that He can never redeem them.” - Kelly Hawley“Dissociation is something that the Lord put in our design to deal with the more natural trauma that would happen in this life, but the enemy has manipulated it.” - Kelly HawleyFavorite Scripture:"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 brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound." - Isaiah 61:1To learn more about Kelly Hawley and all they have going on at Warrior Bride Ministries, be sure to visit https://warriorbrideministries.com/*Want timely words, resources and episodes delivered right to your inbox to help you fuel and fulfill your faith journey? Simply subscribe today to never miss an episode at https://www.tiffanyjobaker.com/subscribe (don't worry, you won't get spam or excessive emails)*If you're looking for perfectly polished people or podcast, this isn't for you. We're real people, with real good information, and a really great God.Don't miss the next Tiffany Jo Baker Podcast episode as we continue to help you GET FREE, LIVE FULL & THANK GOD! You can watch on YouTube and https://www.tiffanyjobaker.com/tiffany-jo-baker-podcast or listen in on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player. Ratings and reviews are like high-fives and “go-girl's” on podcast Helping you refresh and refocus so you can do all the things you are called and created to do, my 31 Day Devotional “Soul-Care for Go-Getters” is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and my website shop here. ( https://www.tiffanyjobaker.com/go-getters-devo )As a 3x Surrogate, Speaker, Soul-Care and Success Coach and Spirit-led Strategist, I uplift the soul and success of women like you who are walking out your WHY, so you can birth your God-given dreams at home, online, and in the real world. Find me, @TiffanyJoBaker, on Instagram , Facebook and https://www.tiffanyjobaker.com. I would love to connect with you there!

Monday, 24 November 2025   Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Matthew 14:21   “And those eating, they were about five thousand men, besides women and children” (CG).   In the previous verse, it was noted that all the people present ate, were gorged, and they collected twelve baskets of pieces that were left over. Matthew next records, “And those eating, they were about five thousand men, besides women and children.”   Each gospel narrative notes the number of men. Matthew, however, adds in the “besides women and children” to ensure that the number is understood to be men, plus others. The addition of this note concerning women and children could potentially bring the number up to as many as fifteen to twenty thousand people.   There is no need to assume, as many scholars do, that there would not be as many women and children as normal because of the long trek or some other reason. People moved about on their feet. It was common and the expected norm that all would keep up on such treks.   During the three annual pilgrim feasts, the entire family would walk from wherever they were to Jerusalem. Such a walk around the Sea of Galilee would be a snap for such hardy annual travelers. The numbers would have been great who received the miraculously provided food from Jesus.   Life application: It is not uncommon for people to say that only the men were required to travel to Jerusalem on the pilgrim feasts. This is because it says in Exodus 23:17, “Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord God.”   With that, they stop their analysis and conclude that only the men went. However, later it says –   “You shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who is within your gates, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are among you, at the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide. 12 And you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.” Deuteronomy 16:11, 12   This is repeated in Deuteronomy 16:13-15. Then the matter is summed up, saying –   “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed. 17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you.” Deuteronomy 16:16, 17   In other words, the “all your males” is stated in the same manner that the gospels speak of the males in relation to the feeding of the five thousand. It is an all-inclusive statement concerning the family that is represented by the males.   When reading the Bible, be sure to be familiar with it by methodically checking on things. There is a lot of information that has to be learned, and it is a lifetime challenge, but the more you read and remember, the less likely you are to have errors in your understanding. Even scholars of the Bible make blunders by assuming things from a single verse that are later qualified. So be methodical and contemplative. If you are, you will be rewarded for your diligent efforts, for sure.   Lord God Almighty, how wonderful is Your word! You have filled it with wisdom, wonder, and treasure. May we be responsible and read it slowly, contemplatively, and prayerfully. May we carefully tend to this wondrous and sacred gift You have given to us. Amen.

Sunday, 23 November 2025   So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Matthew 14:20   “And they ate all, and they gorged, and they lifted the superabounding pieces – twelve handbaskets full” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus prayed over the bread and fish and gave them to the disciples. They, in turn, gave to the multitudes. Now, after the people were satisfied, it says, “And they ate all, and they gorged.”   It is an amazing sentiment. From five small loaves and two small fish, the entire multitude ate to the point of being gorged! The word, chortazó, to gorge, has only been seen one time so far –   “Blessed – those famishing and thirsting righteousness, For they – they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6   These multitudes had rushed around the Sea of Galilee while Jesus took the boat across, anxious to hear more from Him. This was in the morning, and they had stayed until later in the day, not focusing on food, but on the powerful words of Jesus.   Certainly, they were famishing and thirsting for righteousness. And by the time they were done, they had received His miracles, His healings, His words of righteousness, and a feast on which they gorged themselves to satisfaction! With the feeding complete, Matthew next records, “and they lifted the superabounding fragments.”   John 6:12 adds, “So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.'” The disciples were told to go around and gather up anything left over from the meal. The word klasma, a piece or fragment, is introduced here. It is derived from the verb klaó of the previous verse, which referred to Jesus breaking the bread after having blessed it.   Jesus had broken these small loaves and fishes. From there, they were handed out to the people, as much as they could eat. After that, there were broken leftovers scattered throughout the multitudes, which the disciples then went and collected. Having done this, it next says the result was “twelve handbaskets full.”   Another new word is seen, kophinos, a small basket. The derivation of the word is unknown, but Ellicott, citing Juvenal, “describes the Jews of Italy as travelling with ‘their cophinus and a wisp of hay,' by way of pillow, as their only luggage.” Thus, it was certainly a small basket used for carrying things as one traveled.   There were enough bread fragments lying around to fill twelve of these.   Life application: The account concerning the feeding of the multitudes is plain, clear, and sufficiently detailed to leave little room for speculation on what occurred. How it occurred, meaning how the bread was multiplied, is something we don't know. It happened, and it was miraculous.   Having said that, here are a couple of the ways people have tried to dismiss the miracle, as cited from Myers' New Testament Commentary –   “To explain away the miracle, as Paulus has done (who thinks that the hospitable example of Jesus may have induced the people to place at His disposal the provisions they had brought along with them; ... is inconsistent with the accounts of all the evangelists, and especially with that of the eye-witness John.”   “Schenkel thinks he sees his way to an explanation by supposing what is scarcely possible, viz. that Jesus fed the multitude with a rich supply of the bread of life from heaven, which caused them to forget their ordinary food, though at the same time He devoutly consecrated for their use the provisions which they had brought with them, or had managed to procure for the present emergency.”   These and other excuses they reference for how the miracle can be dismissed have no basis in any reality. There is nothing in the biblical account to justify a word of what they claim. In other words, simply to dismiss the miraculous nature of what it clearly and precisely recorded, these false scholars insert nonsense into what the Bible presents, making things up out of their own demented heads.   Be careful when reading commentaries. The intent of many of them is to attempt to sound smart and educated while tearing apart what Scripture clearly presents. There are times when translations miss the mark on properly presenting what is detailed in the manuscripts, but outside of translations by several cults, these are not usually intentional perversions of reality.   Hold fast to what the Bible says. Accept that God can do the miraculous and that when He does, it is to make a point for us to understand what He is doing in the stream of time to reveal His caring affection for His people as displayed in the sending of Jesus to bring us back to Himself.   Lord God, help us to be people of faith, not attempting to outsmart You and what is recorded in Your word. Give us wisdom to accept what it says about creation, the fall of man, the process of redemption, the presentation of miracles, and all other things recorded there, taking them at face value. You are God. Your word is truth. May we accept this, reveling in what is recorded there. Amen.  

Wisdom Is Yours—Ask and Receive (TRUST GOD'S GUIDANCE) | Blessed Morning Prayer To Start Your DaySUBSCRIBE 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™

“Then the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’” (Genesis 3:9 NLT) God is always present, everywhere, all the time. David celebrated—and explored the implications of—God’s constant presence in Psalm 139:7–12: “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you” (NLT). He personalized God’s presence just as the prophet Amos did. “Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?” (Amos 3:3 NLT). God said to Amos’ fellow prophet Zephaniah, “For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs” (Zephaniah 3:17 NLT). The point is that God is present with His people, and He wants His people to be present with Him. He wants us to keep appointments with Him, to meet with Him on a regular basis. He wants us to prioritize our relationship with Him. He wants us to make the necessary sacrifices to keep that relationship active and growing. I wonder how many times each day God wants to speak to us but can’t get a word in edgewise. I wonder if He might say, “I’ve wanted to talk to you for a long time, but you’re too busy. This morning I wanted to talk to you, but you didn’t have any time for Me. Instead, you read the newspaper, watched TV, and talked on the phone. You never opened My Word. You never prayed. At lunch I tried to say something, but your prayer was too fast. You have an appointment with Me. Why don’t you keep it?” The book of Genesis tells us that Adam had an appointment with God every day in the Garden of Eden. Adam would hear the voice of the Lord in the Garden in the cool of the evening. One day Adam missed that appointment because of sin. Genesis 3:9 says, “Then the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’” (NLT). I wonder if the Lord would say that to some of us each day: “Where are you? I’ve been looking for you. I want to speak to you. I want you to walk with Me, and I want to walk with you.” Just imagine, the Creator of the universe wants to spend time with you! Is there any appointment that’s worth keeping more than this one? Reflection question: How do you experience God’s presence in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God Is Restoring Your Hope and Joy—GET READY FOR A TURNAROUND | Blessed Morning Prayer For TodaySUBSCRIBE 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™

Spiritual Battles Are Won In Prayer—STAND STRONG IN GOD'S POWER | Blessed Morning Prayer Of The DaySUBSCRIBE 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™