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Send us a textGood morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)Youtube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comActs 17 Paul continues his second missionary journey with stops in Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens. In Thessalonica, Paul reasons with the Jews in the synagogue, explaining that Jesus is the Messiah who fulfilled the scriptures. While some believe, others incite a riot, forcing Paul and Silas to flee to Berea. The Bereans are praised for their eagerness to examine the scriptures daily to verify Paul's teachings. Many believe, but opposition arises again, prompting Paul to leave. In Athens, Paul is stirred by the city's idolatry and engages with philosophers in the Areopagus. He proclaims the one true God, emphasizing His power to create all things and His call for everyone to repent of their sins. He informs them that God will judge the world, providing proof by raising Jesus from the dead. The centerpiece of the gospel is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Nearly every sermon in Acts highlights the evidence for and significance of this momentous event. In Thessalonica, Paul uses the resurrection to demonstrate that Jesus is the Christ. In Athens, the philosophers are challenged by Paul, who is “preaching Jesus and the resurrection.” Paul concludes his sermon to the Athenians by declaring Jesus as the final Judge, a truth established by God raising Him from the dead. God created us to seek Him, and He offered and raised His Son so that we can find Him. Some sneer at this, while others delay their response. However, true believers in the resurrection accept it and join the cause.  Dear Father, thank You for raising Your crucified Son from the dead. Thank You for the evidence of His resurrection and for the incredible, eternal assurances that accompany His victory over sin and death. Lord God, we believe. We believe You made all things and created us to seek and find You. We also believe that Your Son's death and resurrection are the only path to reach You, forgiven by His blood and granted the promise of eternal life in His name. We know Jesus will judge the world. Lead us to repent and prepare for our Savior's return.   Thought Questions: -       Why do you believe that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead? Are you prepared to elaborate in order to teach others about Jesus? -       The Berean listeners are commended for examining scripture to confirm Paul's words. Why should you do that when you hear teaching? -       Do you believe that God created you and that in Him you “live and move and exist”? How does this belief shape your daily life and choices?

Fraction to the Father for The Resurrection & Pentecost@ St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church - Maadi, Egypt ~ May 30, 2025

Are you pouring time and energy into daily social media posts, yet your calendar is still wide open? You're not alone—and this episode is exactly what you need. In today's Bold Moves Friday, Judy Weber exposes the root cause of why your consistent posting isn't translating into premium clients. Spoiler alert: it's not your strategy—it's your messaging focus. If you're a faith-fueled, high-achieving woman running a 6- or 7-figure business, you'll discover the game-changing shift from content creator to authority—and why that one decision will position you as the answer to prayer for your ideal clients. ✨ Inside this episode: → The costly difference between visibility and authority → Why most posts attract attention but not action → What premium buyers really want (and how to speak to them) → How to become the go-to expert without posting every day

This Effective Prayer Brings Miracles Into Your Life | 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 Daily Effective Prayer™ SUPPORT THE MINISTRY: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/connectYouTubeX / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook Daily Effective Prayer™

Revelation 18:1-24   After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated from his glory. 2 And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all the nations have fallen because of the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich from the excessive wealth of her luxury.” 4 I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive any of her plagues; 5 for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her offenses. 6 Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her. 7 To the extent that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, to the same extent give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning.' 8 For this reason in one day her plagues will come, plague and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong. 9 “And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of sexual immorality and lived luxuriously with her, will weep and mourn over her when they see the smoke of her burning, 10 standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.' 11 “And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargo any more— 12 cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; every kind of citron wood, every article of ivory, and every article made from very valuable wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13 cinnamon, spice, incense, perfume, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, and cargo of horses, carriages, slaves, and human lives. 14 The fruit you long for has left you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and people will no longer find them. 15 The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, 16 saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls; 17 for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!' And every shipmaster and every passenger and sailor, and all who make their living by the sea, stood at a distance, 18 and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What city is like the great city?' 19 And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich from her prosperity, for in one hour she has been laid waste!' 20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her.” 21 Then a strong angel picked up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will never be found again. 22 And the sound of harpists, musicians, flute players, and trumpeters will never be heard in you again; and no craftsman of any craft will ever be found in you again; and the sound of a mill will never be heard in you again; 23 and the light of a lamp will never shine in you again; and the voice of the groom and bride will never be heard in you again; for your merchants were the powerful people of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your witchcraft. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.”     BIBLE READING GUIDE - FREE EBOOK - Get the free eBook, Bible in Life, to help you learn how to read and apply the Bible well: https://www.listenerscommentary.com     GIVE -  The Listener's Commentary is a listener supported Bible teaching ministry made possible by the generosity of people like you. Thank you! Give here:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com/give     STUDY HUB - Want more than the audio? Join the study hub to access articles, maps, charts, pictures, and links to other resources to help you study the Bible for yourself. https://www.listenerscommentary.com/members-sign-up   MORE TEACHING - For more resources and Bible teaching from John visit https://www.johnwhittaker.net

It's Wednesday, May 28th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Somalian Muslim man trusts Christ and is kicked out of home A young Muslim man in Somalia was kicked out of his home recently after converting to Christianity.  The 20-year-old struggled with substance abuse and had not been home to see his Muslim parents for months. That's when an underground pastor shared the Gospel with him. The young man came to Christ and gained freedom from drug use. After going home, however, his parents drove him away because of his new faith. The young convert told Morning Star News, “Now that I have loved [Jesus], I do not have a family standing with me. I do no not know what to do. I need prayers.” Please pray for this brother in Christ in Somalia, Africa. The country is ranked second on the Open Doors' World Watch List of most difficult places to be a Christian.  In Matthew 19:29, Jesus said, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.” French Muslim youth vandalizing Catholic churches and assaulting Catholics The European Conservative reports there have been a string of attacks on churches in France recently which have received little attention from the mainstream media. In one case, Islamic youths insulted a Catholic priest and threatened to set the church building on fire earlier this month. Days earlier, another group disrupted a parish meeting in the same area. Muslim attacks on Catholics have included vandalism, physical assault, and kidnapping. Supremes split decision result: OK religious charter school unfunded In the United States, the Supreme Court delivered a split decision last Thursday in a case involving religious education. Previously, Oklahoma's charter school board had approved funding for St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. It would have been the country's first publicly-funded religious charter school.  However, Oklahoma's Supreme Court blocked the school. And the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 4-4 in the case, leaving the lower court ruling in place.  For some reason, conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused herself from the case.  Defense Secretary Hegseth: "“King Jesus, we come humbly before You." U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth led a prayer meeting at the Pentagon last Wednesday. Listen to his opening prayer. HEGSETH: “If you would bow your head in prayer. “King Jesus, we come humbly before You, seeking Your face, seeking Your grace, in humble obedience to your law and to Your Word. We come as sinners, saved only by that grace, seeking Your providence in our lives and in our nation. “Lord God, we ask for the wisdom to see what is right, and in each and every day, in each and every circumstance, the courage to do what is right in obedience to Your will. “It is in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that we pray. And all God's people said, Amen. Thank you.” The voluntary 30-minute prayer meeting was called “Secretary of Defense Christian Prayer & Worship Service.” Hegseth said it may become a monthly event.  Colossians 4:2 says, “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.” Planned Parenthood to close 8 abortion mills in Iowa and Minnesota Last Friday, Planned Parenthood North Central States announced it will close eight locations across Iowa and Minnesota over the next year. Planned Parenthood blamed the closures on states passing anti-abortion laws as well as a freeze on federal funding for abortion. The closures will also involve laying off 66 staff members. CDC no longer recommends COVID-19 shot for pregnant women & kids The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will no longer recommend COVID-19 shots for pregnant women and healthy children. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made the announcement yesterday. KENNEDY: “Hi everybody. I'm Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, your HHS Secretary.  And I'm here with NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty MaKary. “I couldn't be more pleased to announce that, as of today, the COVID vaccine for healthy children and healthy pregnant women has been removed from the CDC-recommended immunization schedule. Last year, the Biden administration urged healthy children to get yet another COVID shot, despite the lack of any clinical data to support the repeat booster strategy in children! BHATTACHARYA: “That ends today. It's common sense and it's good science.” MAKARY: “There's no evidence healthy kids need it today. And most countries have stopped recommending it for children.” KENNEDY: “We're now one step closer to realizing President Trump's promise to make America healthy again.” Lawmakers want to launch “Natural Family Month” Republican lawmakers in Ohio are considering a bill to celebrate families. The measure would designate the weeks from Mother's Day to Father's Day as “Natural Family Month.” The timeframe goes from the second Sunday in May to the third Sunday in June. This contrasts with Homosexual/Transgender Pride Month when many celebrate sexually perverted lifestyles in June. 1,500-year-old Christian graves in Israel discovered And finally, archaeologists recently uncovered 1,500-year-old Christian graves in Israel's Negev Desert. The graves reflect Christian burial practices. Inside, archaeologists found rare ebony figurines depicting individuals with African features. Researchers wrote, “It is possible that the deceased were of ‘Ethiopian' origin, and that they, or their ancestors, converted to Christianity and moved to the Negev.” The figurines were made out of ebony wood sourced from India or Sri Lanka and likely carved in Africa before being brought to the Negev.  Researchers believe it is the first time they have discovered such artifacts in the region of Israel and Jordan.  Close And that's The Worldview on this Wednesday, May 28th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

The Easter season is about new life. Jesus rises from the dead and in so doing resets the horizon on what is possible for each and every one of us. We see in the risen Lord God's own invitation, an invitation that calls us beyond ourselves, beyond what even dreamed was possible. Ignatian spirituality offers us time-tested tools to embark on this journey. Ignatius himself was not only a soldier-turned-saint; he was a strategic thinker, an administrator of a global company. He knew that what he offered for the spiritual life had to be both scaled up to meet needs across the world while being relevant to the unique needs and experiences of each and every person. So, how do we respond to the call of this Easter season? How do we embark on our own journey of renewal and deepening faith? Let's look to the Ignatian tradition. Today's guest is author Lisa Kelly. She is a wife and mother of four, the co-director of the nonprofit La Storta: Center for Spirituality and Leadership and the author of the new book, “The Spiritual Path: Embarking on the Journey of a Lifetime.” Lisa has written at the intersection of strategic planning, organizational development, leadership training and Ignatian spirituality for years, so she comes to us with deep wisdom on how to set faith-based goals that result in meaningful, mission-oriented action. And she challenges us to reassess what success looks like in our lives. This is a really fun conversation—and super informative. Lisa helps us think in new ways about our own lives, and helps us ferret out some unhealthy spiritualities of desolation in which we may unknowingly be trapped. Lisa is also an Ignatian Associate—an organization of lay Catholics who are grounded in Ignatian spirituality and make promises in that tradition. We begin our conversation there, talking about why the Ignatian Associates have been so important to Lisa's own spiritual path. Get her book: https://store.loyolapress.com/the-spiritual-path Learn about the Ignatian Associates: https://ignatianassociates.org/ Learn about her nonprofit, La Storta: https://www.lastorta.org/

Do you ever find yourself avoiding the very things that could move your business forward? Things like following up, going live, sending emails, or pitching your services? You're not lazy. You're not broken. But there is a reason — and today we're digging into it. In this powerful episode, Judy uncovers the deeper truth behind procrastination and avoidance, and how your current identity may be holding you back from stepping into your God-ordained next level. You'll walk away with: Clarity on why some tasks feel so hard — and how to shift that A faith-fueled perspective on discomfort and resistance Real strategies to embrace “messy action” and build consistency Encouragement to surrender the old you and step into your CEO identity Plus, Judy shares the “pearl process” — a beautiful biblical analogy that will forever change the way you view pressure, pain, and the path to growth.

Be Blessed When You Say "Yes" To What God Says | 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 Daily Effective Prayer™ SUPPORT THE MINISTRY: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/connectYouTubeX / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook Daily Effective Prayer™

The Bible begins in a garden but ends in a city—a recurring theme that highlights how cities, and the people within them, matter deeply to God. The City of God, in contrast to cities that have strayed from the Creator's design, offers eternal presence, rest, and welcome. There is a future hope where suffering, distance, and division are no more. But that hope isn't reserved only for the afterlife; it is a present reality that shapes how we live, endure, and love today—because God's presence dwells within us and among our cities. When we place our hope in Christ, we are reassured by His Spirit, spurred to victory through merciful rest, and welcomed by the radical grace that defines the City of God, where His promises endure and persist as our lasting hope. --- Scripture: Revelation 21:9-22:5 (NRSVUE) Vision of the New Jerusalem 9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And in the spirit[a] he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It has the glory of God and a radiance like a very rare jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It has a great, high wall with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates are inscribed the names that are the names[b] of the twelve tribes of the Israelites: 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 The angel[c] who talked to me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. 16 The city has four equal sides, its length the same as its width, and he measured the city with his rod, twelve thousand stadia; its length and width and height are equal. 17 He also measured its wall, one hundred forty-four cubits by human measurement, which the angel was using. 18 The wall is built of jasper, while the city is pure gold, clear as glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city are adorned with every jewel; the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates are twelve pearls, each of the gates is a single pearl, and the street of the city is pure gold, transparent as glass. 22 I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 Its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. The River of Life 22 Then the angel[d] showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life[e] with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; 4 they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.  

1.  The Reliability of God's WordThe first question in the Bible was about the reliability of God's word.“Now the serpent was craftier than any of the wild animals the Lord God poihad made.  He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?” – Gen. 3:1Let's look at the reliability of God's word.Consistency-         66 Books-         Written over 1,500 years-         Over 45 authors-         Written on three different continents-         Three different languagesArcheological Proof-Dead Sea Scroll found in 1947, which include the book of Isiah- Herod's Palace, Ceserea Merritina 2023, Roman cells where Paul imprisoned- Discovery of the City of DavidNelson Glueck “It may be stated categorically that no archeological discovery has contradicted a Biblical reference”.Manuscript ReliabilityWhat you look for-  Number of manuscripts and how close we can get to the source.  For example:Writer        Date Written       Earliest Copy     No. Years No. of CopiesPlato.        427-347 BC          900 AD                  1,200        210Caesar      100-44 BC           900 AD                   1,000        251Homer      900 BC                  400 BC                    500           1,757New Test. 50-100 AD           130 AD                    40             5,795   For more information on Manuscript Reliability or Ancient Languages:Wesley Huff: www.apologeticscanada.com2.  The Power of God's WordMatthew 4:1-11Jesus demonstrated the power of God's Word.  He used three words over and over when dealing with the devil in the wilderness and demonstrated exactly how powerful God's word is.  He told the devil, “It is written” and proceeded to quote scripture to fight off anything the devil threw at him.  God's word is powerful and should be read, studied and memorized to ready us for battle.2 Tim. 3:16-17

David longed to build the temple—but God said no.Still, he didn't pout—he prepared.He gathered materials, blessed leaders, and charged Solomon to stay faithful.“Be strong and courageous, and do the work… for the Lord God is with you.” (1 Chron. 28:20)And Psalm 127 reminds us of the bigger truth:“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.”This is a day to release control, take your place, and trust the Builder.

Isaiah 10:20–27 (Listen) The Remnant of Israel Will Return 20 In that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no more lean on him who struck them, but will lean on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. 21 A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. 22 For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness. 23 For the Lord GOD of hosts will make a full end, as decreed, in the midst of all the earth. 24 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD of hosts: “O my people, who dwell in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrians when they strike with the rod and lift up their staff against you as the Egyptians did. 25 For in a very little while my fury will come to an end, and my anger will be directed to their destruction. 26 And the LORD of hosts will wield against them a whip, as when he struck Midian at the rock of Oreb. And his staff will be over the sea, and he will lift it as he did in Egypt. 27 And in that day his burden will depart from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck; and the yoke will be broken because of the fat.”1 Footnotes [1] 10:27 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain (ESV)Isaiah 10:33–34 (Listen) 33   Behold, the Lord GOD of hosts    will lop the boughs with terrifying power;  the great in height will be hewn down,    and the lofty will be brought low.34   He will cut down the thickets of the forest with an axe,    and Lebanon will fall by the Majestic One. (ESV)Isaiah 11:1–11 (Listen) The Righteous Reign of the Branch 11:1   There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,    and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.2   And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,    the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,    the Spirit of counsel and might,    the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.3   And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.  He shall not judge by what his eyes see,    or decide disputes by what his ears hear,4   but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,    and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;  and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,    and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.5   Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,    and faithfulness the belt of his loins. 6   The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,    and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,  and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;    and a little child shall lead them.7   The cow and the bear shall graze;    their young shall lie down together;    and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.8   The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,    and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.9   They shall not hurt or destroy    in all my holy mountain;  for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD    as the waters cover the sea. 10 In that day the root ...

Monday, 26 May 2025   But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; Matthew 10:19   “And when they should deliver you, not you should be disquieted how or what you should say. It will be given for you in that hour what you should say” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus informed the apostles that they would be brought before officials as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. He now continues with, “And when they should deliver you.”   This is referring to the act of taking these apostles to the forum where the leaders just mentioned sat, be it in a proconsul office or a speech to kings and others, such as occurred with Paul in Acts when he addressed Festus, Agrippa, and others. They would be taken before these men and asked to state their words concerning Jesus. At such a time, Jesus says, “not you should be disquieted how or what you should say.”   Jesus uses the same word, merimnaó, that He used 6 times in Chapter 6 to alleviate the concerns of the disciples, and by extension, the others who attended the Sermon on the Mount concerning various issues. The word gives the sense of being over-anxious.   The apostles, as they went forth, were not to be in such a state because, as Jesus next says, “It will be given for you in that hour what you should say.”   The meaning is that until that point, they may be curious about what they will say as a witness, but that curiosity shouldn't concern them. Rather at that very hour, when they are brought forward to speak, they will be given words suitable to the situation. The next verse will explain why Jesus says this to them.   Life application: Of the words of this verse, Cambridge says –   “Curiously enough this has been quoted as if it justified want of preparation for sermons or addresses to a Christian congregation.”   The words “curiously enough” indicate that the commentator understood that such a thought is nonsense. And yet, these words of Jesus are cited quite often by people as they claim they will be inspired by the Spirit to speak.   There is nothing to suggest that this is the case, and a proper understanding and application of context will tell the student of the Bible that such is not the case. This is especially to be considered true because a large majority of Christians don't know the Bible very well. They may not know sound doctrine at all.   If this is so, why would the Spirit of the Father work through people with opposing viewpoints on theology to make their case through leaders today? Rather, we have the Bible. It is our responsibility to learn it and then tell what we know as best we can to those who ask. This is why Peter says –   “And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. ‘And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.' 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” 1 Peter 3:13-17   Peter did not tell his hearers that they would be given words at a particular time concerning what to say. And Peter knew better than most that proper doctrine counts. His epistle came after his rebuke from Paul for not holding to sound doctrine, as is recorded in Galatians 2.   We are given brains to use. If we fail to use them in studying theology, we will not know proper theology. God is not going to bail us out when we stand before others, having failed to do our best to learn what His word says. Jesus' words are given in a particular context for a particular reason. Let us remember this and keep things in their proper context!   Lord God, it is true that Your word is big and complicated. It requires a lot of time and difficult thinking to get its almost infinite number of nuances. And so, please be with us as we study and prepare ourselves to present our defense for the hope that is in us. Guide our minds now to prepare so that we will be prepared when needed. Amen.  

Reading IActs 15:1-2, 22-29Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers,“Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice,you cannot be saved.”Because there arose no little dissension and debateby Paul and Barnabas with them,it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the othersshould go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and eldersabout this question.The apostles and elders, in agreement with the whole church,decided to choose representativesand to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas,and Silas, leaders among the brothers.This is the letter delivered by them:“The apostles and the elders, your brothers,to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Ciliciaof Gentile origin: greetings.Since we have heard that some of our numberwho went out without any mandate from ushave upset you with their teachingsand disturbed your peace of mind,we have with one accord decided to choose representativesand to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.So we are sending Judas and Silaswho will also convey this same message by word of mouth:‘It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of usnot to place on you any burden beyond these necessities,namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols,from blood, from meats of strangled animals,and from unlawful marriage.If you keep free of these,you will be doing what is right.  Farewell.'”Reading IIRevelation 21:10-14, 22-23The angel took me in spirit to a great, high mountainand showed me the holy city Jerusalemcoming down out of heaven from God.It gleamed with the splendor of God.Its radiance was like that of a precious stone,like jasper, clear as crystal.It had a massive, high wall,with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationedand on which names were inscribed,the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites.There were three gates facing east,three north, three south, and three west.The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation,on which were inscribed the twelve namesof the twelve apostles of the Lamb.I saw no temple in the cityfor its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb.The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it,for the glory of God gave it light,and its lamp was the Lamb.GospelJohn 14:23-29Jesus said to his disciples:“Whoever loves me will keep my word,and my Father will love him,and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;yet the word you hear is not minebut that of the Father who sent me.“I have told you this while I am with you.The Advocate, the Holy Spirit,whom the Father will send in my name,will teach you everythingand remind you of all that I told you.Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.Not as the world gives do I give it to you.Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.You heard me tell you,‘I am going away and I will come back to you.'If you loved me,you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;for the Father is greater than I.And now I have told you this before it happens,so that when it happens you may believe.”

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Sunday, 25 May 2025   You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. Matthew 10:18   “And also upon governors and kings, you will be brought because of Me for a testimony to them and the Gentiles” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus told his apostles to beware of men because they would deliver them up to councils and scourge them in their synagogues. Continuing with this thought, He next says, “And also upon governors and kings, you will be brought.”   A new word is introduced here, agó, translated as “brought.” It is a primary verb signifying to lead, bring, drive, etc. In this case, it is future tense with a passive voice, thus “you will be brought.”   In the Bible, the word translated as governors includes positions such as proconsuls, procurators, etc. The title of king is one that is seen at times in the NT, such as Peter's being arrested under the authority of King Herod in Acts 12.   The words of Jesus here certainly would have applied to these apostles to some extent later in their ministries, but the majority of the interaction with such positions, as recorded in the Bible, was between Paul and such men. This is because Luke especially followed the life of Paul as he traveled among the Gentiles.   In fact, the name Paul was probably one taken on by him after his meeting with Sergius Paulus, as is recorded in Acts 13. After that encounter, he is never called Saul again, except when quoting past events. From that time forward, he was known as Paul. As for the reason for being brought before them, Jesus next says, “because of Me.”   This was their life calling. They were apostles of Jesus, and He was sending them forth bearing His name. It may be that even during this early period, they would appear before such positions, but there is nothing specifically recorded concerning it. Whenever it did happen, however, it was “for a testimony to them and the Gentiles.”   The stating of two different categories, “them and the Gentiles,” seems to indicate that the testimony was for the leaders to hear and then bring a positive influence for the gospel on those under them. As many of these would be Gentile leaders, this is where their influence would rest.   As such, what appears to be the case is that this is referring to something such as the trial of Paul in Acts 25, where Festus, Agrippa, and others held trial. The testimony concerning Jesus was to both Jews and Gentiles there, as it was in other situations Paul found himself in. But Paul, like the other apostles, knew in advance this would be the case –   “Then Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.' 15 But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake.'” Acts 9:13-16   The words tend to give weight to the thought that while Israel was rejecting the gospel, the Gentiles would begin to be receptive to it.   Life application: The words thus far are intended to show that Israel was given every opportunity to accept Jesus as their Messiah. The testimony to foreign positions of authority and foreigners was actually a part of this. Jesus spoke concerning the sign of Jonah, meaning his preaching.   Jonah said that in forty days, Nineveh was to be destroyed. In the Bible, the often-seen application of such a statement as this is a day for a year. In other words, when Jesus said that the sign of Jonah would be given to them, He was saying that they had forty years to acknowledge Him.   The witness to Gentiles was intended, even from the beginning, to get Israel to see this and turn to Him –   “For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.'” Romans 9:25-27   Paul wrote this during that forty-year period, and from other passages in the New Testament, it seems that it was believed that this blindness would quickly be replaced with sight, the kingdom would be ushered in, and Jesus' return would have taken place.   And yet, we are still waiting for this to take place two thousand years later. Jesus' plan is being worked out, and His church continues to be built. Israel was destroyed, they were exiled, having rejected Jesus, but they will be spiritually restored to usher in the promised millennial kingdom. Their regathering at this time is for this purpose.   They will go through the purification of the tribulation period along with the rest of the world, but they will be saved through it. God's promises will never fail. Let us trust in this and be confident that everything promised will come about as prophesied.   Lord God, there are times in the past when we have misunderstood Your word. Maybe that is still the case today. There may be a long haul before the return of Jesus comes about. All we can do is wait patiently and continue to faithfully proclaim Your word until then. However, it is our desire to see Him really soon! May You speed His coming. How we long to see Jesus. Amen.

Website: ESM.USPastor Mark BiltzDownload Notes:https://esm.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05.24.25-Congregational-Notes-3.pdf-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Torah Portion:פָּרָּ שַׁ ת בְּ הַׁ ר בְּ חֻקֹּתַׁ יBehar/Bechukotai“On the Mount/In His Statutes”Leviticus 25:1-26:2Jeremiah 32:6-27Luke 4:14-22Leviticus 25:1,2 The LORD said to Moses in Mount Sinai, Speakto the children of Israel, and tell them, When you come into the landwhich I give you, then the land shall keep a Sabbath to the LORD.Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof, theworld, and they that dwell therein.Ezekiel 34:15,16 I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to liedown, saith the Lord GOD. I will seek that which was lost, and bringagain that which was driven away, and will bind up that which wasbroken, and will strengthen that which was sick: But I will destroythe fat and the strong, I will feed them with judgment.

Saturday, 24 May 2025   But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. Matthew 10:17   “And you caution from the men. For they will deliver you to the councils, and in their synagogues they will flog you” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus told the apostles that they were being sent out as sheep in the midst of wolves. He now begins to explain who these wolves are, beginning with, “And you caution from the men.” He uses the same word and conveys the same idea as what He said about the false prophets in Matthew 7:15 –   “And you caution from the false prophets who – they come to you in clothes of sheep, and inwardly they are wolves – rapacious.”   Just as the false prophets were there to destroy those who carried the true message of Christ, there would be people resistant to their message in the towns and cities they would visit. Understanding this, He continues with, “For they will deliver you to the councils.”   The word here is the same first seen in Matthew 5:22 sunedrion, a sanhedrin or council. This is plural, and so it is not referring to the main Sanhedrin, but a lower set of councils or courts located in the provinces and probably connected to the synagogues. The word signifies a sitting together. Thus, it is a council of men gathered for a set purpose. He also says, “and in their synagogues.”   The word has also been seen already. It is a designation for a solemn Jewish religious assembly. Strong's says of this word, “by analogy, a Christian church.” Depending on what he is talking about, this may be incorrect. The word is used in the gospels and Acts, always when referring to a gathering of the Jews. It is only again mentioned in James 2:2 and Revelation 2:9 and 3:9. Each of those instances refers only to a Jewish gathering.   It may be a Christian meeting, but only in the sense of Jewish Christians, such as today's messianic Jews. It is not a term used in the Bible to describe a gathering of Gentiles. Finally, Jesus says of what will occur there, “they will flog you.”   This is a new word, mastigoó, to flog. It is referring to the law of Moses and what is allowed as punishment for transgressors –   “If there is a dispute between men, and they come to court, that the judges may judge them, and they justify the righteous and condemn the wicked, 2 then it shall be, if the wicked man deserves to be beaten, that the judge will cause him to lie down and be beaten in his presence, according to his guilt, with a certain number of blows. 3 Forty blows he may give him and no more, lest he should exceed this and beat him with many blows above these, and your brother be humiliated in your sight.” Deuteronomy 25:1-3   Jesus is warning His apostles that this is what they can expect when proclaiming the good news within the land of Israel at this time. Paul refers to this in his second letter to the Corinthians –   “From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.” 2 Corinthians 11:24   Life application: Notice the common denominator in the words of Jesus, the type of gatherings described, the words of Paul, and the context of “who and what” concerning what is stated. It is all about the apostles' evangelization of the Jews within the land of Israel at this time. Even if Jesus' words may extend beyond that, though, in the coming verses, the context here excludes Gentiles entirely.   In other words, these words cannot be later applied to the Gentile-led church or Gentiles in general. They only refer to what will come upon Jesus' Jewish apostles in their ministry to the people of Israel.   Paying attention to, as well as maintaining, proper context reveals this truth. Therefore, if you hear a sermon or teaching on these verses that are then applied to you personally or the church in general, you will know that the instructor has not properly considered the context.   A sermon or teaching on these verses should be for reference and instruction concerning the apostles' interaction with their people, Israel. Going beyond that will lead those instructed to a false understanding of what Jesus is instructing.   Lord God, it is true that any believer who is willing to proclaim the truth of Jesus may be persecuted for that proclamation, but help us not to use verses that are not intended for us concerning this to justify that it is so. Instead, help us to rightly divide and consider Your word. Amen.

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What God Has Planned For You Is Far Better Than You Can Imagine | 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 Daily Effective Prayer™ SUPPORT THE MINISTRY: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/connectYouTubeX / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook Daily Effective Prayer™

This is part 5 of a 7 part series. To watch the whole series go here.There is no institution in history that clearly fulfills the warnings of antichrist found in Daniel, John, Paul and the gospels of Matthew or Luke than the Roman Papacy. This power has a long and sordid history of persecuting God's people, waging war against God's word and blaspheming God on the highest level — all while disguising itself and its actions as the will of God. Today we will shine a bright light on this power so that you are not deceived when it resurrects to be marveled after. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.danceoflife.com/subscribe

Friday, 23 May 2025   “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Matthew 10:16   “You behold! I, I send you as sheep in wolves' midst. You become, therefore, sagacious as the serpents and simple as the doves” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus told the apostles what it would be like on judgment day for the cities that rejected their message. He now continues His words to them, saying, “You behold! I, I send you as sheep in wolves' midst.”   The pronoun is emphatic, “I, I send you.” Jesus is personally sending them, knowing in advance what they will face. The emphasis looks back on everything He had already faced, knowing that they too would receive like treatment. Thus, they shouldn't feel that what they were to experience was unique or unknown to Him.   As for the metaphors, they are self-explanatory to anyone who knows the difference between wolves and sheep. This wording was known to Israel from their writings, such as when the Lord, through Ezekiel, spoke of the leaders of Israel in their treatment of the people –   “Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain.” Ezekiel 22:27   This and other instances from Scripture told them that they should expect ill-treatment. They were like lambs. Their message was harmless and should be taken as inoffensive. And yet, when it was heard, they would face vile accusations, possibly be attacked, and so forth. Because this was expected, He next says, “You become, therefore, sagacious as the serpents.”   From the earliest account of man on earth, the serpent is portrayed as a cunning beast. It is the serpent that caused Adam to fall through his deceptive tongue. Barnes notes that the Egyptians used the serpent in their hieroglyphics as a symbol of wisdom. Thus, this was something understood beyond the borders of Israel as a common theme.   Jesus is telling them to be cunning like serpents, not in a negative way, but in the sense that they should be aware of the attacks that would come against them and respond accordingly in a sagacious manner to the situation at hand. Further, He says, “and simple as the doves.”   The adjective translated as simple, akeraios, is most literally translated as unmixed, being derived from the negative particle a and the verb kerannumi, to mix. Saying unmixed, however, may leave the reader not sure what is being referred to.   However, the word simple is from the Latin word simplus which then carried through old French. It signifies a medicine made from one constituent. Thus, it is unmixed or pure. This meaning continues in intent today.   As for the dove, they are just that, pure, untainted by other constituents that might corrupt them. They simply act as doves regardless of the world around them being fraught with terror or easy manipulation. In other words, they don't join in the terrorizing, nor do they cunningly try to manipulate their surroundings to obtain what they need.   As such, one can see the beauty of the symbolism of the dove representing the Holy Spirit. He meets His purpose within the Godhead without any form of terror or manipulation. Rather, He inspires, helps, edifies, and leads according to the love and wisdom of God, reassuring and comforting those who are His.   Life application: Today, there are nations that have carried the gospel message for eons. The nation itself has been identified with the Christian faith. There are those who are within such nations who are trying to retain their country within that same context. Therefore, they go out and preach the gospel in the streets, hand out tracts, appeal to the masses concerning what is right, etc.   It is true that some of these people are annoying to the point that nobody wants to listen to them. Some of them stand on street corners and condemn everybody to hell. That is not a very good selling point concerning one's message, but they do it anyway. Despite people like that, there are those who truly care about sharing the grace of God in Christ Jesus, they pass on a message that is inoffensive, pure, harmless, and good. And yet, there are wolves out there that literally attack them, steal their Bibles, publicly tear them apart, stomp on them, etc.   Some will come up and shout in the faces of these people as if what they are doing is harmful. And yet, it is the most loving thing they could do. They just want people to know Jesus. Some are converted, making their efforts worthwhile. Some will never be converted and continue to rage against Jesus. They must face the same judgment Jesus spoke of in the last verse. It will be more sufferable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for them on that day.   Despite this, it is right that we present the gospel, even if it receives serious animosity and blowback from those we speak to. Our words will serve their purpose if they are rightly spoken in accord with the words of Scripture. So be bold, cunning, and simple all at the same time. But be sure to speak!   Lord God, help us to be people of powerful pronouncement as we walk in Your presence. May our words convey to others the knowledge we possess concerning the riches and glory of the gospel so that others can be saved. Without us, who will speak? Help us to do so! Amen.

Revelation 16:1-21   16:1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.” 2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and a harmful and painful sore afflicted the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image. 3 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood like that of a dead man; and every living thing in the sea died. 4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters; and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “Righteous are You, the One who is and who was, O Holy One, because You judged these things; 6 for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.” 7 And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.” 8 And the fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given power to scorch people with fire. 9 And the people were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory. 10 And the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain, 11 and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pain and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds. 12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east. 13 And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; 14 for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the entire world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. 15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and people will not see his shame.”) 16 And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon. 17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “It is done.” 18 And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since mankind came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty. 19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered in the sight of God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath. 20 And every island fled, and no mountains were found. 21 And huge hailstones, weighing about a talent each, *came down from heaven upon people; and people blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because the hailstone plague *was extremely severe.     BIBLE READING GUIDE - FREE EBOOK - Get the free eBook, Bible in Life, to help you learn how to read and apply the Bible well: https://www.listenerscommentary.com     GIVE -  The Listener's Commentary is a listener supported Bible teaching ministry made possible by the generosity of people like you. Thank you! Give here:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com/give     STUDY HUB - Want more than the audio? Join the study hub to access articles, maps, charts, pictures, and links to other resources to help you study the Bible for yourself. https://www.listenerscommentary.com/members-sign-up   MORE TEACHING - For more resources and Bible teaching from John visit https://www.johnwhittaker.net

God Is Working On What You Cannot See | 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 Daily Effective Prayer™ SUPPORT THE MINISTRY: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/connectYouTubeX / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook Daily Effective Prayer™

Weariness Is A Weapon But God Wants to Move • Todd Coconato LIVE from Living Proof - Tyler, TX If you'd like to support the ministry, please visit: www.ToddCoconato.com/give Learn more at: www.PastorTodd.org    Ezekiel 37:4-5 (NKJV) “Again He said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, “O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: ‘Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.'” Amos 5:23-24 (NKJV) “Take away from Me the noise of your songs… But let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.” Galatians 6:4 (NKJV) “But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.” Revelation 12:10 (NKJV) “…the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.” Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV) “…forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize…” Matthew 7:5 (NKJV) “First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.” Acts 2:1-4 (NKJV) “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind… And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”  

Unlock the power of your message to transform your business and life! Join Judy as she dives deep with Tonya Stout —renowned messaging expert, award-winning songwriter, and co-founder of Conquerpreneur with her husband Kevin Stout. Discover how their faith-rooted Message Mastery Framework empowers high-impact entrepreneurs to communicate with clarity, confidence, and conviction. In this episode, we unpack: The spiritual battle of words and how to wield them for breakthrough The proven keys to crafting “one-line zingers” that captivate and convert The holy alignment of business, faith, and family Real-life testimonies of healing, hope, and bold impact If you're a Christian woman CEO ready to conquer your message and multiply your influence, this episode is your blueprint for divine communication mastery.

Next Steps: Are sales calls leaving you drained, discouraged—or just not closing?

Revelation 15:1-8   15:1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished. 2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who were victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God. 3 And they *sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations! 4 Who will not fear You, Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy; For all the nations will come and worship before You, For Your righteous acts have been revealed.” 5 After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened, 6 and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and their chests wrapped with golden sashes. 7 And one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. 8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.     BIBLE READING GUIDE - FREE EBOOK - Get the free eBook, Bible in Life, to help you learn how to read and apply the Bible well: https://www.listenerscommentary.com     GIVE -  The Listener's Commentary is a listener supported Bible teaching ministry made possible by the generosity of people like you. Thank you! Give here:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com/give     STUDY HUB - Want more than the audio? Join the study hub to access articles, maps, charts, pictures, and links to other resources to help you study the Bible for yourself. https://www.listenerscommentary.com/members-sign-up   MORE TEACHING - For more resources and Bible teaching from John visit https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Tuesday, 20 May 2025   If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. Matthew 10:13   “And indeed, if the house, it should be worthy, it came – your peace – upon it. And if not it should be worthy, your peace, it returns to you” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus said, “And entering into the house, you greet it.” He now continues, saying, “And indeed, if the house, it should be worthy.”   The order at first seems off. How can they greet a worthy house that is found later to be unworthy? The meaning is found in the greeting as stated by the Jews mentioned in the previous commentary, Shalom lekha, “Peace to you.”   This was not something that was stated after the household was determined worthy. It is what any person in the Middle East would do upon entering any house, meeting any stranger on the way, or even walking into a restaurant where someone is immediately greeted. It is as common as someone in America coming to a house and saying “Good afternoon.”   For example, in Arabic nations, when greeting another, it is standard to say, As-salamu alaikum, “Peace be upon you.” It is essentially the same thought as the Hebrew just mentioned. In other words, Jesus is telling His disciples to walk into a house with the standard greeting for peace. It is at this time that “if the house, it should be worthy” applies. Only after that, He says, “it came – your peace – upon it.”   Here, the word eiréné, peace, is introduced. It signifies peace both literally and figuratively, such as quietness, rest, restoration, etc. The word is derived from eiró, to join. Thus, one can get the sense that a state of harmony has been enjoined.   The apostles are to send forth their peace, looking for it to be enjoined with the household. However, only after explaining their intent and purpose for being in town would that peace actually be realized or denied. If so, their peace would truly rest upon the house. On the other hand, “And if not it should be worthy, your peace, it returns to you.”   Another new word is seen here, epistrephó, to turn, return, convert, etc. It is derived from epi, upon, and strephó, to turn or return. Thus, it bears much the same meaning as strephó, but it is accentuated.   Jesus' meaning here is that the standard greeting for peace should always be extended, but it may not always apply. When it is extended and the house is one of peace towards their message, then their peace, meaning a state of harmony with the owners, will exist. However, if the opposite is true, those in the house have set themselves against the gospel, and there will be no peace between them. As such, they are to depart from that house.   Jesus will continue to explain just what this state of lacking harmony means for them in the coming verses.   Life application: The false teaching that Christians must forgive everybody all the time for all offenses against them has been so heavily pushed within the church that Christians face one of two general states in their existence for those who actually care about this particular doctrine.   The first is a group of neurotic people who stand frustrated at the fact that they are constantly abused by others with no foreseeable relief or remedy. Their state of salvation becomes one of works, ever attempting to merit what has already been given to them through accepting Jesus.   In other words, they are told they are saved by grace through faith in Christ. They accept this message and are saved. However, they are also told that if you don't forgive others, you will not be forgiven. Thus, there are contradictory thoughts tearing at the soul of the poor believer.   The only possible escape is to follow a path of works to continue to be saved, to merit God's favor, and to retain their salvation. It is an unhealthy, unbalanced, and unbiblical approach to one's walk with the Lord. It is an impossible dilemma that ruins their joy in Christ. The second state is a group of people who claim they forgive everyone, are at peace with all people, and are actually better than all other Christians because they are able to do what they know no one can actually do. The resulting arrogance in such people is, at times, astonishing.   The reason they can live in this state, knowing it is not true, is that they don't actually care about discovering the truth of how to resolve the dilemma. Instead, like anyone who has the upper hand over others, they feel they have the right to other's respect and adoration. They are the super Christians worthy of other's emulation. They hold the secret and thus have implicit control over those who are inferior in their walk with the Lord, or so they think.   The words of Jesus in these verses clearly demonstrate that there are times when people are at odds with one another and that no peace exists between the two. There is no forgiveness of the offense against the gospel to be obtained. That will be seen in the next two verses.   It is important for saved believers to know and remember that forgiveness in Scripture is never unconditional. If it were, it would mean the believer has a higher standard to meet than God has set forth in Christ. Jesus' sacrifice is offered to all. However, it is conditional upon belief in what the cross, burial, and resurrection mean.   Without belief, no person will be saved. Thus, there are conditions for forgiveness, even from God's position. To teach that all believers must forgive all people all the time without meeting certain standards is completely unbiblical, it is opposed to the gospel message, and it produces insecure or arrogant attitudes that are damaging to a sound walk with the Lord.   Lord God, help us to take all things in their proper context and to apply them appropriately. Taking verses out of the intended context can only damage our doctrine and a proper walk with You. So, keep reminding us to carefully consider and apply Your wonderful word to our lives. Amen.

Habakkuk 3:17-19 KJVAlthough the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: [18] Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. [19] The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

Be So Rooted In God That The Winds Of Life Cannot Move You | Blessed Morning Prayer To Start 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 Daily Effective Prayer™ SUPPORT THE MINISTRY: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/connectYouTubeX / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook Daily Effective Prayer™

There is a growing clash in our society today between biblical Christianity and secular culture. These worldviews stand in opposition to one another. Many in our secular world system will be very vocal and forceful in their views. As such, many believers will step back and not want to make waves or do not respond due to a lack of confidence that they can provide a solid defense of the faith. And yet we read in Scripture as found in I Peter 3:15, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." Perhaps you already know you need help in this area. If so, we have some good news as a powerful tool has recently been published to equip you in defending the faith. Joining Crosstalk to tell us about this new tool was Sarah Enterline. Sarah is an author, apologist, pastor's wife, mother, teacher and women's ministry leader. She has taught apologetics, biblical studies, philosophy, and history at both the secondary and college levels.Apologetics comes from the Greek word: apologia. Sarah said it's like a defense lawyer in an ancient courtroom presenting a defense, showing that their arguments are true. It can be applied to any discipline and in the case of biblical apologetics, it involves presenting a robust case, building evidence to show why the Bible and biblical Christianity are part of the one true faith.What are some of the obstacles that may cause Christians to not defend their faith? What are the 5 ways to show that God exists? What evidence exists of things and people mentioned in the Bible?

37:12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 37:13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, 37:14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.

Israel is at war with the Philistines, and when our last reading ended, we were informed that a garrison of Philistines had taken control of the pass at Michmash. Up until this point, the Israelites had no blacksmiths and had been taking their weapons and tools to the Philistines to have them sharpened. This meant that only Saul and his son Jonathan had weapons of war. Jonathan sneaks away from the camp with his armor bearer to find the Philistine garrison, and voices his trust in the Lord God on the way. The Lord not only grants Jonathan victory, he sets chaos in motion amongst the Philistines, who end up destroying each other. Later, Saul makes a rash oath that reveals how unfit he is to reign as king.1 Samuel 14 - 1:01 . Psalm 86 - 13:09 . Psalm 87 - 15:18 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

There is a growing clash in our society today between biblical Christianity and secular culture. These worldviews stand in opposition to one another. Many in our secular world system will be very vocal and forceful in their views. As such, many believers will step back and not want to make waves or do not respond due to a lack of confidence that they can provide a solid defense of the faith. And yet we read in Scripture as found in I Peter 3:15, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." Perhaps you already know you need help in this area. If so, we have some good news as a powerful tool has recently been published to equip you in defending the faith. Joining Crosstalk to tell us about this new tool was Sarah Enterline. Sarah is an author, apologist, pastor's wife, mother, teacher and women's ministry leader. She has taught apologetics, biblical studies, philosophy, and history at both the secondary and college levels. Apologetics comes from the Greek word: apologia. Sarah said it's like a defense lawyer in an ancient courtroom presenting a defense, showing that their arguments are true. It can be applied to any discipline and in the case of biblical apologetics, it involves presenting a robust case, building evidence to show why the Bible and biblical Christianity are part of the one true faith. What are some of the obstacles that may cause Christians to not defend their faith? What are the 5 ways to show that God exists? What evidence exists of things and people mentioned in the Bible?

Monday, 19 May 2025   And when you go into a household, greet it. Matthew 10:12   “And entering into the house, you greet it” (CG).   The previous verse noted that when a worthy house is found, the apostles were to stay there until they left. Jesus continues with, “And entering.”   Being a participle, the intent is “at the time you enter,” or “while you are entering.” He continues with “into the house.”   The KJV and NKJV say “a house.” This is incorrect. They were to go to houses until they found a worthy one. They were not required to react positively to those in an unworthy house. There is a reason for this, which will be seen in the next verses. For now, the verse finishes with the words, “you greet it.”   This would be the standard Jewish greeting of Shalom lekha, “Peace to you.” These are the Hebrew words Jesus would have used, as is recorded in John 19 –   “Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.' 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.'” John 19:19-21   Concerning such visits as the church later expanded, Vincent's Word Studies says –   “The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles," a tract discovered in 1873 in the library of the monastery of the Most Holy Sepulchre at Constantinople, by Bryennios, Metropolitan of Nicomedia, is assigned to the date of 120 a.d., and by some scholars is placed as early as 100 a.d. It is addressed to Gentile Christians, and is designed to give them practical instruction in the Christian life, according to the teachings of the twelve apostles and of the Lord himself. In the eleventh chapter we read as follows: "And every apostle who cometh to you, let him be received as the Lord; but he shall not remain except for one day; if, however, there be need, then the next day; but if he remain three days, he is a false prophet. But when the apostle departeth, let him take nothing except bread enough till he lodge again, but if he ask money, he is a false prophet." And again (ch. 8): "Likewise a true teacher, he also is worthy like the workman, of his support. Every first-fruit, then, of the products of wine-press and threshing-floor, of oxen and sheep, thou shalt take and give to the prophets, for they are your high-priests....If thou makest a baking of bread, take the first of it and give according to the commandment. In like manner, when thou openest a jar of wine or oil, take the first of it and give to the prophets; and of money and clothing, and every possession, take the first, as may seem right to thee, and give according to the commandment.”   Life application: Whether the tract noted by Vincent's Word Studies is accurate or not, it is an ancient witness to the fact that people were going around evangelizing. As noted in the previous commentary, people will occasionally come spreading a message or asking for assistance who might not have the best intent for the church. Therefore, wisdom in dealing with others is necessary.   And more, there is no longer a need for wondering if someone is a false prophet based on whether they remain for a certain amount of time or not. The Bible has been compiled and its instructions are set. To determine if someone is teaching falsities, all we need to do is refer to Scripture and find out what it says.   This shouldn't be something we need to do when someone shows up. Rather, it should be something we are doing daily. That way, we will know what the word says and where to find it. When we are presented with false teachings, all we will need to do is go to the Word to ensure we are remembering properly.   Once we have determined they are spreading a false message, we can kick them out to the street curb and tell them to beat it. There is no point trying to convince heretics, charlatans, or grifters that they should turn from their ways. They already know this. What they need is a dose of being evicted from the presence of the church.   That will be much more effective in hopefully waking them up from their ways than all the words we could utter. Sometimes, a tough example is what is needed to get people to change. Jesus overturned the tables at the temple for a reason. Let us not be timid in dealing with false teachers.   Lord God, please give us wisdom and fortitude to stand against false teachers. May we be bold in proclaiming what is true, and may we be intolerant of those who proclaim otherwise. May we not get into back-and-forth argumentation when decisive action is needed. Help us in this, O God. Amen.

“And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel.” (1 Kings 11:9) The Scriptures have an interesting commentary on Solomon’s life: “When... More...

Psalm 84:11–12For the LORD God is a sun and shield;the LORD bestows favor and honor.No good thing does he withholdfrom those who walk uprightly.O LORD of hosts,blessed is the one who trusts in you!Last week, we looked at the authors of Psalm 84—the sons of Korah. This week, we'll look at the Psalm itself. I went back and revisited some thoughts from an earlier episode, as well as adding new thoughts and commentary.  Paraphrasing F.B. Meyer: In our need, God becomes exactly what we lack—light in darkness, protection in battle, grace for the moment, and glory to come.I found “grace for the moment” by remembering that God doesn't withhold good. He gives us Himself. He gave us His beloved Son and sent His Holy Spirit to live in us.If you would like to support this podcast with a monthly or one-time donation, thank you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.sherriyoungward.com/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To find out about upcoming gatherings and new projects, please join my email list at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.sherriyoungward.com

Lasting peace comes only from fixing our minds and trust on the Lord God, Jesus Christ, who alone is strong and dependable. Receiving this peace is something we choose by leaning fully on Christ and relying completely on the Spirit.

Jonah 4 ESV Jonah's Anger and the Lord's Compassion4 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?”5 Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. 6 Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. 7 But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” 9 But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.” 10 And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?” For more information about Redeemer Church Lubbock visit our website at redeemerlubbock.org.

Sunday, 18 May 2025   “Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. Matthew 10:11   “And into what city or village you shall enter, you inquire who in her, he is worthy. And there you remain until if you shall depart.” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus continued His instructions to the twelve about what they should not take with them, noting that the toiler is worthy of his food. Next, He continues, saying, “And into what city or village you shall enter, you inquire who in her, he is worthy.”   In the Bible, both in Hebrew and Greek, cities and villages are feminine entities. As such, some translations faithfully translate the Hebrew in this manner. It is generally not so in the New Testament, but the thinking would have been this way among Jesus and the apostles. In both testaments, even until Revelation, this thought continues –   “The virgin, the daughter of Zion, Has despised you, laughed you to scorn; The daughter of Jerusalem Has shaken her head behind your back!” Isaiah 37:22 &   “And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.” Revelation 17:18   This same thought carries on in modern English in various ways, such as when referring to a sweet car by saying, “She is a beauty,” or speaking of a majestic ship, saying, “She is set to sail the seven seas.”   As for Jesus' words concerning being worthy, the hospitality of the Middle East was to welcome strangers into one's home. This even extended to enemies. When someone was in the home, a set of cultural rules would be adhered to by both parties. The apostles would be there to preach and teach, but the homeowner may say, “Please do not do that in or from this house.”   It is his house, and they are his rules. The apostles would be under no obligation to stay in such a house. It would be an insult to come to a village to preach and then be asked not to do so. Because of this, they would decline the invitation and seek another home to use as a base with an owner more favorable to their mission. Of such an abode, Jesus next says, “And there you remain until if you shall depart.”   Here is a new word, menó. Strong's says, “A primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy) -- abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain...” The agreement would be mutual, and it would allow the apostles to have a base until they had evangelized the whole town.   It would also make it convenient for those who wished to talk to know where to find them. Jesus will continue to explain this type of arrangement for the next few verses. Though it is something rather foreign to us today, this was a common and expected situation at the time.   Life application: As noted, it is less common today for people to arbitrarily open their doors to strangers, but there are times when people can help out in similar matters. Visiting missionaries are usually on a tight budget. Some churches have houses set up for them to stay in. If not, there may be some kind soul in the church who is willing to take them in.   If neither is the case, the least the church could do is to ask for help getting a place to rent during their stay. Some churches will have a person who is aware of missionary needs and may arrange these things.   Try to be inventive in how you can help in whatever way is possible to assist visitors or traveling missionaries. However, it is good to be circumspect as well. There are people who come into churches and ask for help, including money for a supposed need. They, however, often just go from church to church, ripping them off in this manner.   The best plan for such things is to have a policy where the church and the congregants do not give out cash. Until a person is known, it is unwise to hand money to someone just because they claim they have a need.   Wisdom in how to handle people usually comes through learning. Unfortunately, learning when not to give means there was a time when giving was taken advantage of. It is good to help, but getting ripped off by deceivers is as common as car wheels turning on a busy highway.   Lord God, help Your people to use wisdom and discernment when helping out those who say they have a need. Quite often, it is later discovered that the only need they had was to avoid working, and do so at other people's expense. May we be cheerful to help others, but wise in how we do so. Amen.

God Is Setting You Up For Something Greater | 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 Daily Effective Prayer SUPPORT THE MINISTRY: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/connectYouTubeX / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook Daily Effective Prayer™

“The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.” (Isaiah 50:4

The Office of the Keys is an aid to all believers in the battle against sin and provides consolation for those with a guilty conscience. The Roman Church taught that those who confessed all their sins to a confessor would find comfort. Enthusiasts looked within for a good conscience, apart from the Word of God. However, we know that God does not deal with us in any way other than through His spoken Word and Sacraments. By this same Word, the binding key is meant to call sinners to repentance in the promise of reconciliation in Christ. “Lord God, bring us to repentance by Your Holy Spirit and drive us back to Christ for His forgiveness through our pastor as from Christ Himself. Lord have mercy. Amen.” Rev. Paul Cain, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church and headmaster of Martin Luther Grammar School in Sheridan, WY, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study confession and excommunication. To learn more about Immanuel Lutheran, visit immanuelsheridan.blogspot.com/. Find your copy of the Book of Concord - Concordia Reader's Edition at cph.org or read online at bookofconcord.org. Study the Lutheran Confession of Faith found in the Book of Concord with lively discussions led by host Rev. Brady Finnern, President of the LCMS Minnesota North District, and guest LCMS pastors. Join us as these Christ-confessing Concordians read through and discuss our Lutheran doctrine in the Book of Concord in order to gain a deeper understanding of our Lutheran faith and practical application for our vocations. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org. 

Saturday, 17 May 2025   nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. Matthew 10:10   “nor wallet in the way, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staff. For the toiler, he is worthy of his food” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus began a list of things that the twelve were not to take when they went out to evangelize the cities of Israel. That list now continues, saying, “nor wallet in the way.”   Here, the péra, pouch, is introduced. It will be seen six times in total between Matthew, Mark, and Luke. It signifies a leather pouch for food. Strong's defines it as a wallet, but today we think of a wallet as something folded and carried in a pocket.   This would rather be a pouch that would carry food or money as a traveling bag. It is probably something similar to what David carried in his battle with Goliath –   “Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.” 1 Samuel 17:40   Continuing, Jesus next says, “nor two tunics.” The meaning is the same intent as that of Mark 6:8, where it says, “and not to put on two tunics.” Having a second tunic would mean they put both on. Instead, they were to wear the simplest attire without any extra for comfort, replacement, or fashion. Next, He says, “nor sandals.”   Seemingly contradictorily, Mark says that they were to wear sandals. The reconciliation between the two is to consider first the nature of the land. It would be close to impossible to walk in Israel without footwear. The land is hot, and the feet would burn. The stones on paths range from every type imaginable. Some would bruise the feet, some would slice them like razors, etc. And there are thorns of various types that are everywhere. They pierce, slice, and scratch.   Therefore, these words probably default to what was just said about “nor two tunics.” In other words, this is a second category where only one pair is to be taken. If they were to get ruined, they would be at the mercy of others to provide repair or replacement. Likewise, it next says, “nor staff.”   Again, Mark says, “He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff” (Mark 6:8). As such, this is a third category limiting them to a single staff. Having a second staff would be a help at times in various ways, but they had to make do with just one. Should they break or lose it, they would have to be provided by those whom they tended to.   Each of these points becomes obvious based on the next words, “For the toiler, he is worthy of his food.”   In this thought, Jesus is lumping each of these traveling necessities into one thought, that of food. It is the overarching need to be provided for from day to day. The others were needs that arose from time to time and would be considered a part of the “food” necessity that these men would have.   The same thought is seen in the words “Bread is the staff of life.” It is the principal need, as if a staff of support. The staff, however, is included in the phrase. It thus means, “Bread is the principal support.” In Matthew, the word “food” speaks of the whole of that which is necessary, which includes a tunic, sandals, and a staff. Anything extra of each goes beyond the basic needs.   Life application: As with other seeming “contradictions” found in Scripture, there is a reasonable explanation for Jesus' words. What seems at first contradictory is merely one person's way of explaining what was said as opposed to someone else truthfully telling the same account using different words to convey the substance of what is said.   Matthew focuses on the negative of the subcategories, “you shall not.” This is dependent on a main thought. In this case, two of something. Mark places that thought at the end. Therefore, his positive command becomes necessary –   Matthew: Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, 10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.   Mark: He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts— 9 but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics. Matthew's final words about the wages form an explanation to sum up the overall thought.   When you come to difficult passages, be sure to stop and consider the structure of them, the surrounding words that are provided, etc. In doing this, what seems at first contradictory is not. Rather, it is the natural way that different people will present the same thought, and it is as common as windows on a skyscraper.   Lord God, lots of people have spent an inordinate amount of time trying to tear apart Your word in order to confuse those who read it. Help us to think clearly and soberly about the difficulties presented in it. From there, give us wisdom in what is presented. Help us, though, not to rationalize away such things, but to logically explain why things are presented as they are! Help us in this, O God. Amen.  

Keep Your Eyes On God—Not The Storm (HE'S GOT YOU) | Blessed Morning Prayer To Start The 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 Daily Effective Prayer SUPPORT THE MINISTRY: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/connectYouTubeX / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook Daily Effective Prayer™

Send us a textGood morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)Youtube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comActs 4 Following the healing of the lame man and the proclaiming of the resurrection of Jesus, Peter and John are arrested by local Jewish leaders. Five thousand men had been converted to Christ, and the scribes and high priesthood are seeking to silence these teachers. Peter courageously announces that salvation is found in Christ alone and that he and others must continue to teach the gospel. Even under the threat of punishment, the apostles refuse to be silenced. Upon release, they pray with fellow believers, asking God for faith to speak the truth with boldness. God responds by shaking the walls and filling them with the Holy Spirit! This is followed by a time of unity, selflessness, and encouragement in the church. Barnabas becomes an example to all with his charity. Disciples of Christ are not just faithful when it is easy or accepted. Boldness and reliance on God are just as important in the face of opposition. We must lean on God, trust in Jesus, and ask for the help of the Holy Spirit. The goal is to stand firm and show people the victory and peace we have in Christ. A wonderful way to develop this strength is to gather with fellow believers, pray together, and sing of God's glory. Unity among God's people is one of God's ways of helping us be faithful in times of struggle. God's people share their faith, goods, and lives with one another. Be a Barnabas in the lives of fellow saints today.  Heavenly Father, thank You for the example of Peter and John, who stood firm in proclaiming the name of Jesus. There is salvation in no one else. Fill us with the same courage to share the gospel, even when we face opposition from others. Lord God, help us never to be ashamed of our Savior. Please grant each of us the wisdom to recognize that we need one another. We need worship, fellowship, and to be “sons of encouragement” like Barnabas among Your people. Who among Your people is in need today? Lead us to help and serve them lovingly.  Thought Questions: -       What are specific situations where you find it difficult to share your faith? How can Peter and John's example help you? -       If Christ is the ultimate authority for your life, how will that affect the way you obey and interact with modern authority figures? -       How are you cultivating more unity among God's people? In what specific ways can you be an encourager to someone today?

If you're ready to grow your business without the burnout, this episode is for you. Judy reveals her two-step Collab Strategy that has helped Christian women entrepreneurs create partnerships that lead to massive visibility, audience growth, and consistent revenue. This isn't about vague networking — it's a bold, results-driven approach to creating aligned partnerships that drive your business forward. You'll discover: How to position yourself as a must-have collab partner The “Collaboration Ladder” – your new roadmap to scale A mindset shift that makes pitching effortless and effective How to find and pitch high-value partners who share your audience Whether you're aiming for your first 6-figures or scaling past 7, this episode gives you the clarity and tools to start leveraging collaborations today.

4 Minutes To Start Your Day Trusting God | A Blessed Morning Prayer To Begin 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 Daily Effective Prayer SUPPORT THE MINISTRY: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/connectYouTubeX / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook Daily Effective Prayer™