Podcasts about lord god almighty

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

When the storms of life hit, as they do, right, what we do is that instinctively we grab a life vest, we look for a lifeline here on earth, a worldly solution if you will … instead of turning to the One who can calm the storm. So, you have to ask yourself then, who exactly is the Lord of our lives?   Just Like the Rest Over these last few weeks we have been looking at what it means to get our feet back on solid ground in life. You know, when we are going through storms we are bobbing around like a tiny little boat floundering on an angry sea and sometimes we don't know which way to head – which way is up, which way is down. All we want to do is put our feet back on solid ground. And it turns out that you don't always find that solid ground exactly where you expect to find it. And we have been exploring this whole idea of getting our feet on solid ground through the story of a humble woman called Hannah who honoured God and turned to Him in the midst of her storm - and at completely the other end of the scale, a priest called Eli and his sons Hophni and Phinehas. They were evil guys and they got their just rewards and the nation of Israel who struggled with their God. If you've got a Bible, grab it and open it up. Over these last three weeks we have been looking at the first seven chapters of the Book of First Samuel. Now First Samuel appears about a third of the way through the Old Testament. We are going to finish off that series today with the crux of what this is all about. We are going to have a look at the decision that ultimately determines whether our feet are on solid ground or not. It's a decision between the obvious and the not so obvious. What is it that you and I can decide to do that will absolutely ensure that no matter what comes our way, our feet are on solid ground? Now the pivot of this whole story – the contrast of Hannah on the one hand and Hophni and Phinehas and their dad, Eli, on the other – happens, if you remember the verse – if you have been with us over these last few weeks – in First Samuel chapter 2, verse 30, where God says: Those who honour Me, I will honour but those who despise Me will be treated with contempt. We are going to pick up that story today. The priests are dead, they've got their just rewards, Hannah's son – she couldn't have a son remember, but she now has a son, he is grown up – Samuel is the judge and the prophet and the leader over all Israel. Now that's a really important concept – they didn't have a King. All the other nations had a King but Israel did not because Israel's system of government was a theocracy – that meant that God was their King. And God appointed judges and prophets to declare His Word over the people of Israel. So He administered justice – this was Samuel – he was a prophet who declared the will of God and God was the King to the people. Now that was unique among the nations and as we saw over the last few weeks, when they honoured God; when they obeyed Him, that nations' feet were on solid ground. Now the story takes an interesting twist. We are going to pick it up in chapter 8 of the Book of First Samuel. Here's how it goes: When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. The name of his first born son was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah and they were judges in Beer-sheba. Yet his sons didn't follow in his ways but turned aside after gain – they took bribes and perverted justice. Then all the elders of Israel came together and they came to Samuel at Ramah and they said to Samuel "You are old and your sons don't follow in your ways, appoint for us then, a King to govern over us like the other nations." But this displeased Samuel when they said "Give us a King to govern us. So Samuel prayed to the Lord and the Lord said to Samuel "Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being King over them. Just as they have done to Me from the day I brought them up out of Egypt to this day, forsaking Me, serving other gods so also they are doing to you. Now then, listen to their voice – only you shall solemnly warn them and show the ways of the King who shall reign over them." So Samuel reported all the words of God to the people who were asking him for a King. He said these will be the ways of the King who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horse men and to run before his chariots and he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties and some will plough his ground and reap his harvest and to make his implements of war and to make his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his courtiers. He will take one tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give them to his officers and his courtiers. He will take your male and female slaves and the best of your cattle and donkeys and put them to his work. He will take one tenth of your flocks and you shall be his slaves and in that day you will cry out because of your King whom you have chosen for yourselves but the Lord will not answer you in that day. But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel. They said "No, we are determined to have a King over us so that we may also be like the other nations and that our King may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles." Isn't that interesting? All this time you go right back to the slavery, when Israel was in slavery in Egypt and God released them through some major miracles and through the parting of the Red Sea and then into the Promised Land and they captured the Land, battle after battle. All this time it was a simple, simple principle that God honours those who honour Him. And God did and God won the battles for them and God delivered them. And now they reject their King, their God who is able and willing to bless them and to protect them. Why? Well, actually, first they blame Samuel's sons and no doubt there is something in that, but actually you find out the reason towards the end of that verse. Look again at the passage we have just read: verses 19 and 20 of chapter 8: But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel. They said "No, we are determined to have a King over us so that we also may be like other nations and that our King may govern us and go to battle and fight our battles for us." They wanted to be like all the other nations. Now, let's think about that. Israel is unique – God is their King, He promised them the Promised Land, He has the power to make it happen. Whenever they honour Him He does make it happen and yet they want to reject Him – why? So that they can be like all the other nations! Is that stupid or what? None of the other nations have an invincible god as their king so why do they want to be like the other nations? Because in the heat of the battle they want a king they can see – a king of flesh and blood! Their enemies have a king at the head of their army so they want one too and they are prepared to give up the perfect power of the King of Kings for a poor substitute so that they can have a king that they can see! How often do we do that? How often do we put our faith in things that we can see – in our investment portfolio to provide wealth is fine until the economy goes belly up, in our career, which is fine until our health fails, in other people, which is fine until they desert us or fail us? See when we hit a storm you know what we want to do? We want to reach out and put a life preserver on instead of go to the One who can stop the storm. We want something we can see and touch and feel, instead of putting our faith in the One whom we can't see. A favourite Scripture you hear people quote is Second Corinthians chapter 5, verse 7 that says "We walk by faith and not by sight" and that's great until the storm hits, when we will definitely go for something that we can see and touch and feel, ahead of someone we can only see by faith – we'll pick that anytime. And that's the point – when we step off solid ground onto a stormy ocean.   What's the Problem? Yea, just like Israel, we want to be just like everyone else some days; just normal, everyday people who put our faith in things that we can touch and feel. It is something the Apostle Paul rejected – have a listen – Second Corinthians chapter 5, beginning at verse 1. He says: We know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, if indeed, when we have taken it off, we will not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan under our burden because we wish not to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing, is God, who has given us His Spirit as a guarantee so we are always confident, even though we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. See, here Paul is talking about the struggle between the temporal and the eternal – between what we can see and what we can't see. And Paul is saying "Look, I have got a body; I've got a tent but one day that is going to pass away and my faith isn't in the "here and now" – my faith is in God – I walk by faith not by sight." It's about where he puts his confidence. Now, let me tell you how easy it is to appoint an earthly King, like what Israel was trying to do and to reject the King of Kings – even when we are out and about doing God's work. This ministry that I am involved in, Christianityworks, it has been going for fifty years out of Australia and yet when I took over four years ago, there were hardly any people supporting the ministry. It had almost no income, it was going broke, there were no programmes going to air. And four years ago – it's still pretty fresh – I remember the panic attacks over finances – you see the money dwindling away and wondering when we are going to go broke – not if but when. You see, what I was doing: I wanted a big bank balance – something that would provide security that I could see and I had to turn away from that. I had to put my trust in God alone and these days, sometimes, let me tell you, things are still very, very tight. And whilst I do my part in all of that, as a good steward of the money that supporters entrust to the ministry, over and over and over and over again, let me tell you, as we have done our best just to simply honour God in all that we do here in the ministry of Christianityworks, He has honoured us. It's as simple as that! Now, let's get back to the story and find out where the real problem was here with Israel and the Kingship of God. Well, Israel got its very first King like all the other nations and God, through the prophet Samuel, appointed Saul. Let's have a look at it in the first couple of verses of chapter 9 of the Book of First Samuel: There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish son Abiel son of Zeror son Becorath son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth. He had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he – he stood head and shoulders above everyone else. So the prophet hears from God and God says "Saul is the King. If they want a King they are going to get Saul". And initially at least, after he is anointed, Saul has success because even though God was rejected by His people in favour of Saul, God is a God of grace and He continued to honour them and bless them even though He warned them of how the King would turn out. We saw that earlier. See, sometimes when we reject the Kingship of God in our lives and choose something else – career or wealth or whatever it is – initially we have some success but as we will see later, Saul ended up in abject failure. In fact, Saul (if you want to read it in First Samuel chapter 31) committed suicide in the middle of battle. It's easy for you and me to say "Well, what's the problem here? It's probably not a bad thing that they had a King to lead the nation. What's the problem? I do have to invest and plan for my retirement, sure, but do we do it under the Kingship of God?" When God is calling us to give a substantial amount of our money to let's say the poor, do we do that? Or do we sock it away for our retirement? Who or what do we put our trust in, who or what do we submit to? Listen again to what Samuel said to Israel – First Samuel chapter 10, beginning at verse 17: Samuel summoned the people to the Lord at Mizpah and he said to them "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, "I brought you up out of Egypt – I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you. But today, you have rejected your God, the God who saves you from all your calamities and all your distresses and you have said "No! but set a King over us." That's the problem – they rejected their God; they rejected the great Unseen for a King who was far inferior to God but whom they could see. See, despite all that they knew – they knew that God had brought them out of Egypt; they knew that He had rescued them from the Egyptians; they knew that He had rescued them from all their oppressors. God said "I did all that. Couldn't you see that I was your King? Couldn't you see that I am worthy of your trust? Couldn't you see that with Me you have your feet on solid ground? Couldn't you see that?" No, they couldn't see and no, some days we can't see it either. We are blinded by the dazzle of what this world has to offer. It never ceases to amaze me, you know, in times of economic prosperity, people behave as though there is no tomorrow. They put their faith in the money they are earning, their stock portfolio that is growing and the house that's mortgaged up to the hilt and the new car and all that stuff. But then, when the economy eventually takes a dive - as mind you, it always does – they cry out and scream at the price of petrol and the high interest rates and the risk of losing their home. Can I tell you something? You can't live a life of peace if you are putting your trust in an inferior king. You can't have security when you put your faith in those things that will fail. You can't! I can't! It just doesn't work.   Choose your King I want to take us right back now to the beginning of this series – to the first chapter of First Samuel. It's the story of a simple woman called Hannah - she was one of Elkanah's two wives. The other wife Peninnah had children, Hannah had none. And if you have ever been in that situation where you can't have kids or you know someone in that situation, you know how incredibly painful that is and to make it worse the other wife Peninnah, would give Hannah a hard time over this. Pretty tough! There is a real storm that was going on year after year after year – this pain of being childless. Now Hannah had a lot of choices in that space. She could have been angry, she could have lashed out or she could have withdrawn. Her husband didn't help her much so what does Hannah do? First Samuel chapter 1, verse 9: Once they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the Lord's temple. In the bitterness of her soul, Hannah wept and prayed to the Lord and she made a vow. She said "Lord God Almighty, if You will only look upon Your servant's misery and remember me and do not forget Your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life and no razor will ever be used on his head. And as she kept praying to the Lord, Eli the priest, looked at her mouth – Hannah was praying in her heart – her lips were moving but her voice couldn't be heard. Now, Eli thought she was drunk and said to her "How long will you keep on getting drunk. Get rid of your wine." She said "Not so, my lord, I'm a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. (Isn't that beautiful?) Don't take your servant for a wicked woman. I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief." And Eli answered "Well, go in peace and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked for." She said "May your servant find favour in your eyes." Then she went away and she ate something and her face was no longer downcast. Now it turns out – see, Hannah was a "nobody", not like the priest – she wasn't a man in the social structure – she wasn't a priest, she was a "nobody". She just goes and pours out her heart to God amidst the bitterness of her soul. Turns out God honours those who honour Him, as she does have a son, she calls him Samuel. She gives him back to Eli; she gives him over to God as soon as he is weaned and he comes and serves as a priest in the temple, under Eli, whom she discovers later, is a bad dude. This priest is supposed to be a go-between between God and His people, yet he and his sons have no respect for God and His people at all, so Samuel is put there by faith by her. Now we have heard the story: Samuel grows up, he becomes a mighty man of God. Do you know why that happened? Because Hannah honoured God! And God says "I will honour those who honour Me but those who despise Me, will be treated with contempt". And that's what Eli and his sons Hophni and Phinehas found out when they died because they did not honour God. And then we saw how, because of them, Israel ends up rejecting God. And you know how that ends up? In defeat! Saul ends up committing suicide – you can look at it in chapter 31, the last chapter of the Book of First Samuel. Israel rejected God as its King and God said "Well ok, I am going to warn you – you're rejecting Me. I am going to give you a King but this is not going to go well for you." And because they wanted a King that they could see, they rejected God anyway, they chose Saul and it ended up not well for them. The Philistines defeated them, Saul died. The one who is honoured by God is the one who honoured Him! How did she do that? In her misery and her pain; in the bitterness of her soul – she didn't act up, she didn't complain, she didn't grumble – she put her trust simply in God. She poured her soul out to Him, God honoured her. Eli didn't, his sons didn't! At the end of the day, Saul didn't, Israel certainly didn't – the one who did was Hannah and God honoured her because she honoured Him. I want to lay a challenge before each one of us today through this story. We all go through times, you know, when we would like to have our feet on solid ground and yet we are all over the place and things don't seem to be working out and everyone is coming up against us. I want to lay a challenge before each one of us today – you and me – we have to choose our King – it's either God or it is something else we trust in. You can't have both – you can't serve two kings, you can't serve two masters. It's either going to be God, the great unseen reality; the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords or its going to be something we see – a life preserver that we can grab onto. Problem is, life preservers might stop us from sinking for a while but they can't stop the storm. Only God can stop the storm! There are people listening today and your life seems to be one endless storm. Maybe you are absolutely sick to death of being tossed around by angry waves; maybe you are in that boat today. Well, it is time to put your feet back on solid ground. It is time to say "You know something? I may be a nobody like Hannah, it may be that I am not an Eli, I'm not a Samuel, I'm not a David, I'm not some big person – I'm some little unknown person like Hannah, that may will be the case. And yet in this whole story she is the only one who received God's blessing because she is the only one who honoured God. She received her son Samuel who had such a mighty influence over the history of her nation." And Hannah was onto something! Maybe today is time to say "I choose my King". Either we are going to choose God or we are going to reject Him and choose something that we can feel or touch. I can choose a "Saul" in my life – you can choose a 'Saul' in your life and it may give us a sense of security for a little while. You know, when that boat is bobbing round the ocean, you grab for the life preserver – that's a pretty good thing. Probably a pretty good feeling but the life preserver doesn't get us out of the storm. It just keeps us floating there for a bit longer. Only One – the only One – that can get us out of the storm; the only One that can put our feet back on solid ground is our King, God. You want your feet on solid ground? This whole story that we have been looking at over the last four weeks in the first nine or ten chapters of First Samuel – this story is about the Kingship of God. And the story tells us very clearly – you want to put your feet on solid ground? Go honour God – go choose Him as your King – go submit to Him as your King! Let me ask you something – which one is going to work, the King of Kings or Saul? Which one is going to put your feet back on solid ground? Which King will you choose in your life?

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not Perish but might have eternal life.-Jn 3:16 Opening: #567 Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty! Readings: #1086 Psalm: Daniel 3: Glory and praise for ever (Gelineau) Presentation: #790 The Summons Closing: #615 Holy God, We Praise Thy Name All music reproduced and streamed with permission from ONE LICENSE, license #A-723939. Organist: Bill Brinzer Celebrant: Father Benedict Today's readings (via USCCB): bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading For more information, visit our parish website at MaryQueenofPeacePGH.org.

Sunday, 31 May 2026   saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.' Matthew 20:12   “Saying that ‘These, the last, one hour they made, and equal, them, to us, you made those who were bearing the burden of the day and the blaze.'” (CG)   In the previous verse, it was noted that those who went to the vineyard to work early grumbled after they had received the same pay as those who came later. That continues with the words, “Saying that ‘These, the last, one hour they made.'”   This is what it said in verses 6 & 7. The housemaster found these men idle in the market around the eleventh hour. They were hired and went into the field. Despite that minimal workday of just one hour. As for the others, they continue, saying, “and equal, them, to us, you made.”   A new word is seen, isos, similar. It conveys the idea of as much as, equal, like, etc. It is believed to be from eidó, seeing that becomes knowing. As such, one can know when things are equal. It is the root of our modern words, such as isometric, isosceles, etc. Each refers to equivalencies.   These men perceive that there is equality of pay, even though there was not equality of work involved. As such, they find an unfair disparity exists between those who were hired later and “those who were bearing the burden of the day and the blaze.”   Here is another new word, the noun kausón, blaze. It is derived from the verb kausoo, blazing, as in fervent heat. This is what it is like in Israel. With the clear skies, the sun blazes right down on the land. Working outside, even in a moderate task, is hot and can be enervating. By the end of a twelve-hour day, even the toughest person will normally be wiped out.   These men had been in the vineyard. Whatever their task was, it would have been filled with heated labor. By mid-morning, it would be very hot. That would continue right until late afternoon. If there is any relief, it will begin just about the time the last workers were coming to assist, when the western ocean breeze begins to sweep across the land, cooling it down.   This all depends on where in the land a person is situated, but the evening is when that process would begin if in the right location. Other than that, and depending on the time of year, the heat can be extreme.   Life application: Having the same pay for the same job, regardless of output, is not unheard of. If someone hires people to get a job done without regard to the time or personal success in the matter, he will give his instructions at the outset. For example, “We have a lost child. The search will be difficult, and the terrain is unforgiving. If you get hurt, there will be no one coming to help you. Our concern is finding that child.   Anyone who is willing to go out there will be given $5000.00. However, you are committed until the child is found. If you take the money, you are in this until the end.”   After the first people are hired, more show up throughout the day. Each person who goes out gets the same pay. In fact, the last person who agreed did so learned that when he walked out the door, the child was found. They called it in only moments after the agreement was made. Is it unfair that the last person didn't even have to start the search? Not at all. The condition was based on outcome alone.   If a man has a vineyard and his intent is to have the harvest completed before the Sabbath, he will motivate people to get out and work based on the completion of the harvest, not necessarily on what any individual does.   God has a plan. It is being worked out in dispensations. Each dispensation has its own structure and targeted purpose, but all dispensations are working toward a final, greater result. As such, it cannot be unfair if someone is born under the law and someone is born in the age of grace.   Further, in any dispensation, there are things that must occur. For example, there needs to be people to initiate the process of the dispensation of grace. Martyrs are expected throughout the dispensation. Also, there must be one last person who is saved before the rapture occurs.   We cannot find fault in where we were placed, either in time or location. The needs of the plan and the final outcome of what God has laid out are what matter. When we are having a bad patch, maybe the nation we are in is at war, and many people are suffering from the effects of it, we cannot blame God for our woes.   Life, in whatever situation a person finds himself, is a product of the overall plan that God has set forth. It is not about us as it occurs. Let us consider things from God's perspective. He has promised us a good end. His word says nothing about a guaranteed good time before we get to that end. In fact, it assures us that troubles can be expected –   “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” Philippians 1:29   “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” 1 Peter 4:12, 13   Lord God Almighty, we are assured of eternal glory because of our faith in Christ Jesus. Until that day, help us to endure whatever trials we may face. We are Yours, and we know that You will always do right for those who belong to You. Even in our times of suffering and affliction, we know You are with us. Thank You for this reassurance. Amen.  

Welcome to Episode #211 of the Way of the Bible podcast. This is our third of eight episodes in our Twenty-Seventh mini-series entitled Response to Sermon on the Mount. In our last episode, we discussed The Rock, Jesus mentioned in Matthew 7:24 upon which Jesus mentions in verse 25, the foundation had been laid. That Rock, being specifically Lord God Almighty of the Old Testament, and the foundation being Jesus Christ as identified by Paul in 1 Cor. 3:10-11. The house being built upon the foundation is according to Paul a temple of God and to Peter a spiritual house of God. Let's remind ourselves of these passages. Matthew 7:24-25 – “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16 – According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. …16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?1 Peter 2:4-5 – As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.On today's episode, we're going to look at the significance of what we discovered as it relates to the house not falling as the rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew, beating against the house we're building. Let's first look to before the beginning of this current terrestrial existence we are now experiencing. I'm speaking of before the flood in Noah's days. Genesis 6:5-7 – The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.”I think it would be reasonable to say that at that time, man was in full-out rebellion against God. Inflamed with the lusts and desires of the flesh, man was drunk with unsatiated madness, questing to fulfill his yearnings and passions. We know nothing of this type of life beyond what is written in the Bible, as the antediluvian world was totally destroyed by the flood. The surface of the earth dramatically changed, and the ancestry of all mankind is tied to Noah's three sons and their descendants. We could spend a whole lot of time here, but we won't beyond mentioning Genesis 6:8 - But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. The critical item we want to pick up about Noah is plainly stated in two short verses. Genesis 6:9 – These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. Genesis 7:1 – Then the LORD said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation.The teaching of Righteousness is presented throughout the Scripture. It is not something petty or unimportant, but is critical for learning if one wishes to become mature in their faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and the knowledge of God. What we know of here at this point is that Noah was righteous before God in the generation in which he lived. 

This weekend we will celebrate the festival of the Holy Trinity, and study the nature of the only true God. Our readings and hymns will all highlight the unique work of the different persons of the Triune God. Our closing hymn will be a summary of what we reflect on in our worship service. Written by Reginald Heber, this hymn is a majestic declaration of and tribute to the work of our Triune God.  The two main Bible passages that serve as a foundation for the words of this hymn are: Revelation 4:6,8-11 - Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.... The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10  the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11  “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.” And Isaiah 6:3 - And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” Heber was a gifted writer, and was especially gifted in poetry. While his hymns are not as Scripturally rooted as many early Christian or Lutheran hymns, they are very beautifully written.  The tune Nicaea was written specifically for this hymn, and given the name because it was at the Council of Nicaea that the Christian Church staunchly defended and proclaimed the doctrine of the Trinity against the Arian heresy.  Triune God, bless our worship of You in our worship this weekend, and with all we say and do throughout our lives!

Prepare to experience a definitive, archived exposition centered entirely on the supreme majesty of Christ, as Senior Pastor Charles Barksdale, M.B.E. delivers a rigorous investigation into the heavenly throne room of Revelation 4:12. Utilizing strict historical-grammatical hermeneutics and precise biblical homiletics, this message strips away all human tradition to anchor your soul in the profound first-century historical and apocalyptic background of John's vision on the Isle of Patmos. By unpacking the deep biblical background of this passage, this exposition systematically unfolds twelve monumental theologies—rooted in Christology, the sovereign character of God, and eschatology—to reveal the exact theological weight behind the eternal cry of the four living creatures: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come." This uncompromised, text-driven bible study lesson exalts the absolute holiness, eternal nature, and redemptive worthiness of Jesus Christ, calling believers into a life of deep reverence and true biblical worship. Click play to anchor your faith in raw scriptural truth, and share this broadcast with three family members or friends.

My friend Shana Reif suffered from Cystic Fibrosis, a genetic disease that primarily affects the lungs and other organs. It causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the airways, leading to repeated infections, inflammation, and progressive lung damage. In many cases, the disease can advance until the lungs can no longer do what God created them to dobring oxygen into the body and sustain life. Cystic Fibrosis is a horrible and incurable disease, and it was the disease Shana endured all her life. When she was born, her parents were told she would not live much past her twentieth birthday. But Shana lived to be thirty-two. I came to know Shana in high school, not long after I became a follower of Jesus. After high school, we became very close friends. She edited my Bible college papers, and I visited her often during her many hospital stays. I also visited her at home as she recovered from the latest infection. By 2003, her lungs had been so damaged by chronic infections that she was placed on the waiting list for new lungs. She received a double lung transplant in 2004, but even then, her suffering did not fully end. Her body remained fragile. Her fight continued. But Shana loved Jesus. Though she struggled deeply with her disease, she held onto the hope of the gospel. One of the last emails I received from her was signed with words from her favorite hymn: Great is Thy faithfulness. In 2007, Shana died from complications after a procedure to reopen a constricted airway. When someone you love suffers like that, the question How long? is not theoretical. How long will disease ravage bodies? How long will death take those we love? How long will Gods people suffer in a world still broken by sin? How long before Christ makes all things new? Revelation 6:911 brings us to that question. But here, the cry comes specifically from those who have been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they maintained. The Martyrs: The Cost of Their Witness (v. 9) There are three cycles of judgment in Revelation: the seals, the trumpets, and the bowls. These cycles do not unfold in strict linear successionseals, then trumpets, then bowlsbut recapitulate the same period of history with increasing intensity, like birth pains. For our purposes, I simply want you to notice one pattern that helps us understand what is happening in this passage. In each cyclethe seals, trumpets, and bowlsthe first four judgments affect the world in broad, visible ways, but the fifth shifts the focus. The fifth seal shows the saints crying out for justice (Rev. 6:911). The fifth trumpet shows judgment beginning to fall on the enemies of Godthose who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads (Rev. 9:112; especially 9:4). The fifth bowl shows judgment reaching the very throne of the beast, whose kingdom wages war against all who refuse to worship him (Rev. 16:1011; cf. Rev. 13:78, 15). This is why the first four seals show us the horsemen riding across the earth. But when the fifth seal is opened, the focus shifts from what is happening on earth to what heaven sees when Gods people suffer because of the word of God and the testimony they maintain. These martyrs are not beneath the altar because they were victims of history. They are there because they belonged to the Lamb and remained faithful to the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Their witness cost them their lives. John is showing us what Jesus had already told His disciples: If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me (Matt. 16:24; NASB). The fifth seal reminds us that following Jesus is not merely a call to believe certain truths about Him; it is a call to bear faithful witness to those truths, even when obedience is costly. Polycarp is said to have been a disciple of the apostle John and later became the bishop of Smyrna. Smyrna, you may remember, was one of the seven churches Jesus addressed in Revelation. Jesus told that suffering church, Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life (Rev. 2:10). Years later, Polycarp was arrested and ordered to deny Christ. When pressed to renounce Jesus, he replied, Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Saviour? Polycarps witness cost him his life, but heaven did not see his death as Rome did. Rome saw a criminal to be silenced. Heaven saw a faithful witness beneath the altar. And we do not have to go back to Polycarp to see this kind of witness. You may remember the twenty-one Coptic Christians who were taken by ISIS in Libya and led onto a beach in orange jumpsuits. They were ordinary men who refused to renounce their faith in Jesus. Their blood was shed on earth, but Revelation 6 reminds us that heaven did not miss a drop. The world saw men being led to execution. Heaven saw faithful witnesses beneath the altar. Since 2015, conservative estimates suggest that more than 50,000 Christians have been killed for faith-related reasons around the world. According to Open Doors 2026 World Watch List, North Korea remains the most dangerous country in the world to be a Christian, while Nigeria is the deadliest, accounting for 3,490 of the 4,849 Christians killed for their faith during the latest reporting period. The seals describe the birth pains that mark this present age. The first four seals show us a world marked by conquest, war, famine, and death. But when the fifth seal is opened, we are shown what heaven sees when Gods people suffer because of the word of God and the testimony they maintain. The Altar: The Cry Before God (v. 10) Notice that John not only tells us that these faithful Christ-followers suffered and died for their faith, but also tells us where he saw these Christians. They are under the altar. This is a crucial detail that you can only understand if you know something about the Old Testament tabernacle that God told Moses to build. Scripture tells us that the earthly tabernacle was a copy and shadow of the one in heaven (Heb. 8:4-5; Exod. 25-31; 35-40). So when John sees an altar in heaven, he is not seeing something new, but the heavenly reality to which Israels worship had always pointed. Within the tabernacle, there were two primary altars. The bronze altar stood in the courtyard, where sacrifices were offered. The altar of incense stood near the Most Holy Place, close to the ark of the covenant, which represented the throne of God. Both altars help us understand what John sees. The blood of the sacrifice was poured at the altars base, and the incense rising before the Lord symbolized the prayers of Gods people ascending into His presence. So when John sees the souls of the martyrs beneath the altar, he sees their lives as precious before God and their prayers as heard before His throne. In the earthly tabernacle, a veil stood between the priests and God's immediate presence. But in heaven, no curtain hides His throne from His redeemed people. The martyrs are not far from God. They are beneath the altar, before the throne, and in the presence of the Lord God Almighty. Now, picture what is happening before Johns eyes. Those who suffered the ultimate cost for following Jesus are not behind the altar, nor are they on top of the altar. These saints are under the altar, which tells us that they are closest to the throne. Also, the martyrs are not passive, but are actively pleading for vindication in Gods heavenly court. There is no magical language here, for their cries are raw and honest. There is no anger hurled before God, but cries of vindication in light of their understanding of who God is! Notice what these dear saints include in their prayer: O Sovereign Lord, holy and true... Now lets stop there for a moment. The ESV translates the word well asSovereign Lord.The Greek word used here is not the most common term for Lord,kyrios, butdespotēs, and this is the only time it appears in the entire book of Revelation. The word these martyred saints use conveys absolute ownership, supreme authority, and sovereign mastery. We get our English worddespotfrom this word, but whiledespotusually carries a negative meaning in English, that is not the case whendespotēs is used of God in the New Testament. When used of God, it emphasizes His complete authority over creation, His servants, history, judgment, and justice. This matters because these Christians are not merely crying out to God as sufferers, asking whether He cares. They are crying out to the One they know to be the Sovereign Master over all things. They are appealing to the One who has the authority to judge, avenge, vindicate, and bring history to its appointed end. They are not crying out in doubt. They are crying out in faith. They know He is able. They know He is holy. They know He is true. And they know that the Sovereign Lord will do what is right. Notice what the saints attribute to God next. Not only is He the Sovereign Master, but He is holy. These saints who have suffered much understand that their God is utterly set apart from all evil, corruption, compromise, and injustice. He is not like the kingdoms and the kings of this world. He is not indifferent to injustice and the bloodshed at the hands of the wicked. He is not morally conflicted. He is pure in all His judgments, righteous in all His ways, and completely opposed to everything wicked. He is holy and these saints know it! God is not only holy; He is also true. When these saints plead their case before the throne of God, they do so knowing that He is faithful to all He has promised. He does not forget. He does not make empty threats or hollow promises. What He has spoken, He will do (Num. 23:19; Josh. 21:45; Isa. 55:1011; Titus 1:2; Heb. 10:23). So when these martyrs cry, How long? they are not questioning Gods goodness, nor are they doubting that He will keep His word. They are asking when the God who is holy and true will act in perfect faithfulness to His word and to those He has promised never to forsake (Deut. 31:6; Heb. 13:5; Rev). The breaking of the fifth seal and the prayer of these suffering saints teach us an important truth about how we can and should pray. They pray from their understanding of who God truly is. This is the kind of thing we read about in Daniel 11:32: ...the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. These saints know their God, and so they cry out, O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth? This prayer is not a contradiction of Jesus command to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matt. 5:44). It is a plea to the holy and true God to judge evil, vindicate His people, and set the world right. Their cry is rooted in the justice of God, knowing that His Word teaches that vengeance belongs to Him and not to His people (Deut. 32:35; Rom. 12:19). The martyrs beneath the altar are asking God to do what only God has the right and authority to do. The Throne: The Completion of Gods Purpose (v. 11) Now, notice what happens next. God responds, meaning He heard their prayer. But He does not respond as we might initially expect. The God who is sovereign, holy, and true responds by giving these Christians white robes as a sign of honor, purity, and vindication. These robes signify the righteousness that is theirs because of Jesus. When we see this great multitude again in Revelation 7, we are told, They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 7:14). These martyred saints represent every faithful witness who has been slain for the word of God and the testimony they upheldfrom the earliest martyrs of the church to our brothers and sisters suffering for Christ today. They are not treated as victims of random violence but as saints who belong to Christ and whose witness is precious before God. God responds by giving them white robes and telling them to do the thing we all hate: wait. Verse 11 says they were told to rest a little longer. That word, rest, matters. God is not dismissing their cry. He is not ignoring their suffering. He is calling them to rest in His presence, assured that perfect justice will come in His appointed time and in His sovereign way. Why must they wait? Because other Christians will suffer as they did, and they must wait until their number is complete. This means Gods justice is not delayed because He is indifferent. It is delayed because His purpose is not yet complete. There are still more witnesses to be gathered, more saints to be strengthened, and more glory to be given to Christ through the faithful endurance of His people. Gods answer to their prayer was to wait a little while longer. Conclusion My friend Shana frequently asked the same question you may have asked more than you can count: How long O Sovereign Lord, holy and true... It is the plea of the suffering. Shana was not a martyr, she was not killed by persecutors because of the word of God. She died on the operating table due to complications at the hands of surgeons who were trying to ease her suffering. Let me tell you what Shana did know. She knew what it meant to suffer in a world that is still waiting for Christ to make all things new. She knew what it meant to groan. She knew what it meant to wait. She knew what it meant to hope. I know that God used her life to encourage and strengthen the faith of others. Revelation 6:9-11 teaches us that we need not pretend the pain we experience is small. We need not pretend injustice does not matter. We need not pretend that death is natural. We can cry How long and do so in faith, not despair. We can cry it to the Sovereign Lord, who is holy and true. The Lamb who opens the fifth seal, is the Lamb who sees the suffering of His people. He honors the witness of His redeemed. He gives those who follow Him rest. The Lamb who died for you, is the Lord who will bring His purpose to completion for His glory and for your good! So, my dear brothers and sisters, we wait. But we do not wait as people forgotten by the One who sits upon the throne. We wait as those who belong to the Lamb. We wait as those whose lives are precious before the One on the throne. And we wait with confidence that the One who is sovereign, holy, and true will do exactly what He has promised. We can trust Him to do what is good and right because that is who He is.

Elder Mike Walter - Isaiah 6:3 & Revelation 4:8

Have you ever wondered what sits at the centre of it all? In Revelation, we're given a glimpse of heaven—where everything revolves around the throne of God and worship overflows. This Sunday, we explore how Jesus completes the story—not just the story of the world, but our stories too. When He is at the centre, everything begins to make sense: our purpose, our identity, our hope. If you are new to Community Church, WELCOME! We would love to get to know you. Please fill in the following form and we look forward to connecting with you: https://bit.ly/cc-new-connect You can find all timely and relevant links from this service on https://bit.ly/cc-links You can also find out more about us at https://communitychurch.hk/ ================ This Week's Scripture: // Revelation 4:1-11 (NIV) // The Throne in Heaven After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,' who was, and is, and is to come.” Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were and have their being.”

Rev. Dr. Jeremy Vaccaro | Modern Service | Revelation 11:15-1915 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:“The kingdom of the world has become    the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,    and he will reign for ever and ever.”16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,    the One who is and who was,because you have taken your great power    and have begun to reign.18 The nations were angry,    and your wrath has come.The time has come for judging the dead,    and for rewarding your servants the prophetsand your people who revere your name,    both great and small—and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”19 Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.

Revelation 15 is one of the clearest places in the Bible where the Holy Spirit deliberately connects Israel's first great national deliverance with her final deliverance in the time of Jacob's trouble. In Exodus 15, Moses and the children of Israel sang after the LORD overthrew Pharaoh and his armies in the Red sea; in Revelation 15, those who got the victory over the Beast, his image, his mark, and the number of his name sing “the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb.” That is not Church Age language, and it is not vague devotional poetry. It is Jewish, prophetic, dispensational truth.“And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.” Revelation 15:3 (KJB)On this episode of Rightly Dividing, Pharaoh was a type of Antichrist, Egypt was a type of the world system, and the Red sea deliverance was a picture of God bringing His people through judgment while destroying the enemy that sought to enslave them. What began with Moses in Exodus will be brought to its full prophetic conclusion under Jesus Christ, the Lamb, in Revelation. The victory in Revelation 15 is not measured by earthly survival, but by faithfulness to God in the face of the Beast's global worship system. These Tribulation saints refuse the mark, refuse the image, refuse the Beast's name and number, and though many of them are killed, heaven records them as victorious. That is Bible victory. The world says victory is keeping your place in the system, protecting your buying and selling, and bowing just enough to survive. God says victory is refusing the Antichrist and standing true to the Lamb. Just as Israel stood on the other side of the Red sea and sang after Pharaoh's defeat, these overcomers stand on the sea of glass mingled with fire and sing before the final vials of wrath are poured out. The same LORD who judged Egypt will judge the kingdom of the Beast, and the same God who gave Moses a song of deliverance will give Israel's final remnant a song of triumph before the coming Kingdom.

In this powerful episode of Inside the Vault with Ash Cash, former NFL linebacker turned actor, author, and speaker Stevie Baggs Jr pulls back the veil on self mastery, manifestation, masculinity, money, language, and consciousness.From the field to film sets, Stevie didn't just reinvent himself — he evolved.This isn't just a conversation about football or Hollywood.This is a masterclass on:

Todaywe are focusing on verse 2 of Psalm 15, where David is answering the questionhe asked in verse 1: “LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwellin Your holy hill?” In other words, who is able to experience and enjoycontinuous intimate communion and fellowship with the LORD God Almighty? Thenhe answers the question in verse 2: “He who walks uprightly, and worksrighteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart.” First,we are walking uprightly, and we are working righteousness. We are doing rightthings. We are thinking about right things. Then David says something sopowerful, and I believe it is literally key to our walk in the Christian life: “Andspeaks the truth in his heart.” To experience true fellowship with theLORD, it is essential that we not only thinks about truth, and not only hastruth in our heart, but that we speaks the truth. We walk and live in thattruth. Thatis why in Second, and Third John—those books where John is writing tobelievers—he says that one of his greatest joys is to hear that his childrenwalk in the truth. Now what does this mean: “speaks the truth in his heart”? Asa matter of fact, in Psalm 51, where David is repenting of his terrible sin ofadultery and murder, he says this in verse 6: “Behold, You desire truth inthe inward parts.” Godwants us to think about the truth, talk about the truth, listen to the truth,and let the truth guide our decisions. You see, I am convinced the battle ofthe ages is the lie versus the truth—the lie versus the truth. I have oftenthought that when people come and say, “Pastor Mike, what should I do aboutthis?” or “I'm having a problem and I don't know how to handle this,” one of mymain objectives as I sit there, listen to them, and begin to share counsel issimply this: I need to tell them the truth—the truth that comes from the Wordof God. The reason they are confused or in trouble is because they have been listeningto, and “speaking” the lie in their mind and heart. RememberGod's Word is Truth. Jesus said in John 17:17: “Sanctify them through Thytruth. Thy word is truth.” Not only that, remember Pilate asked thequestion in John chapter 18:38: “What is truth?” Interestingly, justbefore Pilate asked that question, Jesus had said: “For this cause I wasborn, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witnessto the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Then Pilateasked the question, “What is truth?”—while Truth Himself was standingright in front of him, and he was missing it. Myfriend, Jesus is truth. John 14:6 says: “I am the way, the truth, and thelife. No man comes to the Father but by Me.” On the other hand, the devilis a liar. In John 8:44, Jesus said: “You are of your father the devil, andthe lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, andabode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie,he speaks of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it.” Inthe very beginning, Satan lied to Eve. We are either believing the lies of theevil one as we make choices and decisions in life, or we are listening to thetruth of God's Word. That is why we must let mercy and truth come into ourhearts. Proverbs 3:3 tells us: “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bindthem around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, our hearts.” Becauseas we listen to the truth, speak the truth in our hearts, and make ourdecisions based on truth rather than the lies of the evil one, my friend, itmakes all the difference in the world in our daily walk. That is why John wouldsay to those precious disciples in Second and Third John: “I rejoicedgreatly that I found thy children walking in truth.” We walk uprightly. We workrighteousness. And we speak the truth in our hearts—in our innermost being. Welet that truth live within us. Are you letting that truth live in you today? Itrust you are. 

Have we got good news for you! In this collection of short stories, Jesus is Jehovah Jireh—the Lord God Almighty, Our Provider! “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬. Jesus is also our Healer—and at the sound of Jesus' name, sickness has to leave and healing takes over! ““Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus' name has healed him before your very eyes.” Acts ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬ And last but not least, you don't have to be afraid because, ““For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.” Psalms‬ ‭91‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ #kids, #biblelessonsforkids, #storiesforchristiankids, #jesusisourprovider, #jesusisourhealer, #healing, #provision,#heshallgivehisangelschargeoveryou, #protection, #fishbytesforkids, #fishbitesforkids, #roncarriewebb, #fishbytes4kids

About the same time the book of Revelation was written, a Jewish historian named Josephus, who was not a Christian, wrote about Jesus. Though the wording of the full passage has been debated, the basic testimony is striking: Jesus was known as a wise man, a worker of remarkable deeds, a teacher, one who gained followers, was crucified under Pilate, and whose followers did not disappear: Around this time there lived Jesus, a wise manif it is right to call him merely a man. He performed remarkable works and was a teacher of people who gladly received the truth. He attracted many Jews and many Gentiles. He was the Christ. When Pilate, at the urging of our leading men, condemned him to the cross, those who had loved him from the beginning did not abandon him. For he appeared to them alive again on the third day, just as the divine prophets had foretold this and many other wonderful things about him. And the tribe of Christians, named after him, has not disappeared to this day. It is possible to know many true things about Jesus and still miss the weight of His worth. Josephus could describe Him as a wise man, a worker of remarkable deeds, a teacher, and one condemned to the cross. But Revelation 5 pulls back the curtain of heaven and shows us what all creation will one day confess: Jesus is not merely remarkable. He is worthy. The following is a list of twelve windows into the glory of the Lamb and why it is that He is worthy. Jesus is worthy because He is Judahs Lion (v. 5) Judah was a deeply flawed man who sold his younger brother Joseph into slavery, deceived his father, abandoned his daughter-in-law, and hid behind hypocrisy. But God changed Judahs heart, and by Genesis 44, Judah was willing to sacrifice himself to save Benjamin, the youngest son who was dearly loved by their father. Later, Jacob blessed Judah with a promise that the promised serpent-stomping King would come through him: Judah is a lions cub... The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the rulers staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to Him; and to Him shall be the obedience of the peoples (Gen. 49:910). That promise finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Jesus is more than Judahs descendant; He is Judahs promised Lionthe true and better Judah who offered Himself as the sinless Substitute for His people. He is the One to whom the scepter belongs, the One before whom the obedience of the peoples will one day be gathered. He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and He has conquered sin, death, and the dragon. Jesus is worthy because He is Gods Lamb (v. 6) We cannot have the Lion as our friend unless we first have Him as our Lamb, for Scripture declares, without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins (Heb. 9:22; see Lev. 17:11). This theme runs throughout the Bible. In Genesis 22, Isaac carried the wood for the sacrifice and asked, Where is the lamb for a burnt offering? Abraham answered, God will provide for Himself a lamb (Gen. 22:78). In Exodus 12, Israel was sheltered from wrath by the blood of the spotless lamb, and in Isaiah 53, the suffering Servant is portrayed as the Lamb pierced, crushed, and slaughtered for the iniquities of guilty sinners. So when John the Baptist cried out, Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), he summed up the promises and the point of the Old Testament. Jesus is the Lamb God provided, the Passover Lamb whose blood shelters His people from judgment, the sacrificial Lamb whose blood makes atonement, and the suffering Lamb who bears our sins. Apart from the blood of the Lamb, the Lion is not our comfort but our Judge. But for those covered by His blood, there is no condemnation. Those of us who have the Lamb know that the Lion is not against us but for us. Jesus is worthy because He can take the scroll (v. 7) He alone has the right to receive and enact Gods plan to judge evil, redeem His people, and restore creation. The scroll contains the sovereign plan of the Lord God Almightythe One who says in Isaiah 46: I am God, and there is no other declaring the end from the beginning saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose (Isa. 46:910). The scroll is in the right hand of this God, and when no one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth was found worthy to open it or even look into it, John wept bitterly. If the scroll remains sealed, Gods promises remain unfulfilled, sin and death are not finally defeated, the saints are not vindicated, and creation is not restored. But the Lion who is the Lamb came forth because He alone is worthy to open the scroll. He took it from the right hand of the Father. This was not theft but triumph. This was not presumption but due to the worthiness of the Preeminent Lamb. Jesus alone has the right to open the scroll because He alone has conquered by His blood. The destiny of creation is in the nail-scarred hand of the Lamb who is the Kinsman-Redeemer. Jesus is worthy because He is the unconquerable King (v. 6) When John turns to see the Lion worthy to open the scroll, he sees a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain. The One who knew no sin and became sin for us bears every scar from the cross as a reminder that His sacrifice was once for all: the righteous for the unrighteous (1 Pet. 3:18)! The Lamb stands because death could not keep Him. The Lamb stands because the grave could not hold Him! The Lamb stands even though He was rejected by men, condemned by rulers, mocked by the religious leaders, and nailed to the cross... He stands at the center of heavens throne room, victorious. His wounds testify to His triumph.The Lamb who was slain is worthy because He is the King who cannot be conquered. Jesus is worthy because He is the Omniscient King (v. 6) The unconquerable King is seen with seven horns and seven eyes. As you may recall, in Scripture, horns symbolize strength, power, and sovereign authority, while eyes symbolize sight, wisdom, and knowledge. The number seven points to fullness and perfection, which means the Lamb who was slain is not weak but all-powerful, not limited but limitless, not unaware but all-seeing.He shares the wisdom and sovereignty of the Ancient of Days.Nothing escapes His sight. No enemy can hide from Him. No suffering saint is forgotten by Him. No act of faithfulness goes unnoticed by Him. The Lion, who is the Lamb, sees all and reigns over all by the fullness of the Spirit sent into all the earth. Jesus is worthy because He is the King whose reign is as extensive as His holiness, goodness, justice, love, grace, and mercy. Jesus is worthy because He is creations Lord (vv. 7-8) The living creatures and elders fall before Him because the Lamb is creations Lord through Whom all of creation exists. The four living creatures represent the created order, and the twenty-four elders represent the redeemed people of God. The worship that belongs to the Lord God Almighty is directed to Jesus not only because of what He has done, but also because of who He is. All things were created through Him and for Him (Col. 1:16), and now all creation bows before Him as One who is equal with the Father. The Lamb who was slain is worthy because He is the Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, and rightful Lord over all things. Jesus is worthy because He was slain as the sinners ransom (v. 9) The blood of the Lamb is the price of our redemption. The new song of heaven celebrates this: Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation... The Lion of Judah is the willing Lamb who stands before those He came to save; He is the Kinsman-Redeemer that creation needs. The price was not the religious deeds of fallible man, but the life of the second Adam, who lived the life we could not live and died the death we deserved. We were once enslaved by sin and stood condemned before God as guilty sinners, but Jesus gave His life to ransom us and set us free for God. Jesus is worthy because He was slain in our place, bore the judgment we deserved, paid the debt we could not pay, and purchased us by His precious blood. Jesus is worthy because He redeemed a people for mission (vv. 9-10) Jesus did not ransom, redeem, and save sinners from condemnation merely so they could occupy space in His kingdom; He redeemed them for His kingdom purposes. We are not only forgiven of our sins; we are restored to the purpose for which humanity exists. Jesus saved us to send us into the world as His ambassadors and the Fathers priests. We are priests before God, and we live under the reign of Christ as citizens of His kingdom. This is why Peter says, But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Pet. 2:9). Jesus is worthy not only because He rescued us from the wrath of God we deserved, but also because He restored us to what we were created to be. Jesus is worthy because He is the song of the angels (vv. 11-12) After the song of the four living creatures and the new song of the twenty-four elders, John turns his attention to what he hears around the throne. What he hears is an innumerable host of angels resounding with praise: Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! The angels erupt in praise after those who represent redeemed humanity conclude theirs. Why? Because the second person of the Trinity took upon Himself human flesh, was born of a virgin, and came to redeem a lost, rebellious, and cursed race (Phil. 2:1-11). This is something angels find baffling, for Peter tells us that our salvation is something angels long to look into (1 Pet. 1:12). What the angels offer in worship is a sevenfold declaration of what belongs only to Yahweh. To give this kind of worship to anyone else would not merely be inappropriate; it would be idolatrous. You cannot see it clearly in English, but in the Greek there is one definite article governing the entire sevenfold list attributed to the Lamb. The point is simple: Jesus is worthy to receivethepower,thewealth,thewisdom,themight,thehonor,theglory, andtheblessing that belong to the One true God. In his commentary on Revelation, Richard Phillips captures the wonder of this angelic worship well: Like that of the glorified church, the angels worship responds to Christs atoning death on the cross. Their testimony therefore shows that what once seemed like defeat for Jesus has been revealed as total victory. The cross was seen as weakness but was actually power; the cross displayed poverty but gained true riches; the cross was foolishness to the world but wisdom from God; the cross represented shame but earned the highest honor for Christ; the cross was a place of deep disgrace, yet revealed the very glory of Gods grace; and the cross stood for the curse of sin but achieved eternal blessing for those on whose behalf Jesus died. The One who was slain is now declared worthy by countless heavenly beings. Jesus is worthy because all of heaven knows what earth so often forgets: the Lamb who was slain is worthy of the glory that belongs to God alonebecause He is God. Jesus is worthy because He is creations celebration (v. 13) The worship does not end with the millions of angels, the twenty-four elders, or the four living creatures. John hears more. He hears every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, declaring in worship: To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever! What John witnesses is not universal admiration, but the worship of every creature directed to God and to the Lamb. The One who was rejected and despised by men is celebrated by creation. The One who was crucified and crushed outside the city is praised throughout the universe. Jesus is worthy because He is the Lamb before whom every creature will one day bow in worship. Jesus is worthy because He deserves everything (vv. 12-13) Jesus is worthy to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing that belong to the Lord God Almighty. Every creature appropriately joins the heavenly worship by declaring, To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever! Heaven holds nothing back, and creation attributes to the Lamb what rightfully belongs to Yahweh alone. All power belongs to Him because He reigns. All wealth belongs to Him because all things are His. All wisdom belongs to Him because His ways are perfect. All might belongs to Him because He has conquered. All honor belongs to Him because He is exalted. All glory belongs to Him because He is God. All blessing belongs to Him because all praise is His due. Jesus is worthy because He embodies, in infinite measure, all that is good, glorious, powerful, beautiful, and praiseworthy. Jesus is worthy because He is the Amen of the Father (vv. 13-14) Jesus did not need to earn the praise He receives from the four living creatures, the twenty-four elders, the angels, and all creation; He is worthy because of who He is. In the same way the Father is unchanging, Jesus is unchanging, for Scripture testifies, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Heb. 13:8). In response to the worship and praise Jesus receives as the One worthy to take and open the scroll, the four living creatures respond, Amen!a word that means, Truly, Let it be so, This is true. But do not misunderstand what they are doing. They are not only saying Amen to Jesus as the One who is worthy; they are saying Amen because He Himself is the Amen of God the Father. Jesus is the faithful and true witness, the One in whom every promise of God finds its fulfillment. As Paul writes, For all the promises of God find their Yes in Him. That is why it is through Him that we utter our Amen to God for His glory (2 Cor. 1:20). Revelation 5 begins with the question, Who is worthy? But after the Lion who is the Lamb takes the scroll, it ends with heaven, earth, and every creature confessing through worship that He alone is worthy. There is nothing left to say but Amen, and nothing left to do but fall down and worship. Conclusion Jesus is worthy before the angels sing that He is.Jesus is worthy before creation celebrates that He is.Jesus is worthy before the elders fall down because of who He is.Jesus is worthy before you and I respond to all that He is! Jesus is worthy. Our worship does not make Him worthy.Our worship simply agrees with what is already true. The question is not whether Jesus is worthyheaven has already declared it, and creation will one day echo that truth. There will come a time when every knee will bow, every tongue will confess, and all creation will acknowledge what has always been true (Isa. 45:23; Phil. 2:9-10): the Lamb who was slain is worthy. The question I leave with you today is whether your heart, your obedience, your faith, your suffering, your worship, and every other part of your life will respond with Amen to the Lamb who is worthy. So, do not wait until every creature sings to join the song of heaven. Sing now. Trust Him now. Follow Him now and may Psalm 119:37 be your hearts cry: Turn my eyes away from worthless things; revive me with Your word (Ps. 119:37; BSB).

Drugs, sex, partying and money led to an arrest for armed trafficking. Sam was looking at 30 years until the Lord God Almighty spoke to him through the noise.

For more information about Driftwood Church and online giving, please visit www.driftwoodchurch.com Sermon Notes: Revelation 11:15-19 ESV Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever." [16] And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, [17] saying, "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. [18] The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth." [19] Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

Have we got good news for you!  In this collection of short stories, Jesus is Jehovah Jireh—the Lord God Almighty, Our Provider!  “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”  Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬.   Jesus is also our Healer—and at the sound of Jesus' name, sickness has to leave and healing takes over!  ““Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus' name has healed him before your very eyes.” Acts ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬And last but not least, you don't have to be afraid because, ““For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.”  Psalms‬ ‭91‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬#kids, #biblelessonsforkids, #storiesforchristiankids, #jesusisourprovider, #jesusisourhealer, #healing, #provision,#heshallgivehisangelschargeoveryou, #protection, #fishbytesforkids, #fishbitesforkids, #roncarriewebb, #fishbytes4kids

The cannibals! You will be eaten by cannibals! That was the warningJohn G. Patonreceived when he announced his call to take the gospel to the New Hebrides. An older man in his churchknown simply as Mr. Dicksontried to dissuade him. From a human standpoint, the concern was understandable. Patons ministry in Glasgow was thriving. Hundreds gathered each week, lives were being changed, and the work was fruitful. Why would anyone leave such a place? The New Hebrides were known as one of the most dangerous mission fields in the world. Just nineteen years earlier, in 1839, missionariesJohn WilliamsandJames Harrishad landed there and were killed within hours. Their deaths were still fresh in the minds of many, and the opposition Paton faced came not from enemies of the gospel, but from concerned Christian friends. Reflecting on this moment, Paton later wrote, The opposition was so strong from nearly all that I was sorely tempted to question whether I was carrying out the Divine will This also caused me much anxiety, and drove me close to God in prayer. Paton replied to Dicksons warning: Mr. Dickson, you are advanced in years now, and your own prospect is soon to be laid in the grave, there to be eaten by worms; I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving and honoring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by Cannibals or by worms; and in the Great Day my Resurrection body will rise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer. The danger was real, the opposition was understandable, and the cost was highbut Paton was convinced that Christ was worthy, even there. When Paton arrived in the New Hebrides in 1858, the cost became immediate. Within weeks of landing on the island of Tanna, his wife, Mary, and their newborn son both died of fever. Paton buried them with his own hands and even slept on their grave to protect it. It would have been understandable for him to leave. Yet he did not abandon his calling. For over forty years, he labored among those islands, convinced that Christ was worthy and that even the hardest soil was not beyond the reach of Gods saving power. Patons story did not end with his life. It helped fuel a missionary movement. The gospel did not stop in the New Hebrides; it continued to spread across the Pacific, eventually reaching places likePapua New Guinea, where the cost remained high and the danger real. Even today, the fruit of that gospel work remains. Why would a man risk everything for such a mission? Paton went because he believed Christ was worthy of whatever sacrifice it would cost to bring the gospel to those who had never heardeven at the risk of his own life. Revelation 5:610 shows us why. The Lion is a Lamb (v. 6) Remember what the scroll represents. In Revelation 5:14, Johns attention turns to a scroll in the right hand of Goda scroll that contains His sovereign plan to judge evil, redeem His people, and restore all creation from the curse of sin. It is held securely by the One who rules history with perfect authority. Within it lies the full scope of redemptive history: Gods judgments, the vindication of suffering saints, the defeat of sin and death, and the final restoration of all thingsincluding the new heaven and new earth. It holds both justice and hopethe outpouring of Gods wrath on evil and the fulfillment of His promises to save, dwell with, and rejoice over His people forever. But as a mighty angel asks, Who is worthy to open the scroll?, a crisis unfolds. No one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth is found worthy, and John begins to weep. And rightly sobecause if the scroll remains sealed, Gods promises go unfulfilled, sin goes undefeated, and redemption never reaches its goal. At that moment, everything hangs in the balance. Then a voice breaks the silence: Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered (v. 5). The answer is not found in human strength or angelic power, but in a personthe promised King, the fulfillment of every promise of God, the One who alone has the right to redeem. And it is this Lionthis conquering Kingthat John turns to see. Yet when he turns, he is confronted with something utterly unexpected. Between the throne and the four living creatures stands a Lamb as though it had been slain. The promised Lion reveals Himself as the sacrificial Lamb of God. Victory has not come through crushing Gods enemies but through the crushing of the Son of God, who willingly and obediently went to the cross like a lamb that is led to the slaughter (Isa. 53:7), bearing the iniquities of sinners. What John sees is not a contradiction but the key to everything. The Lion has conqueredbut He has conquered as a Lamb. He stands triumphant, bearing the marks of the cross. John understood what this meant, and we must understand it as well:the One who is worthy is the One who has given Himself for you. However, John not only sees a Lambhe sees a Lamb with seven horns and seven eyes. In Scripture, horns symbolize power and kingship, and seven signifies divine completeness. This Lamb possesses perfect, sovereign authority. His seven eyes represent complete divine wisdom and perception, corresponding to the sevenfold Spirit of God sent out into all the earth. Nothing escapes His sight, and no judgment exceeds His wisdom. These are not random detailsthey are a testimony. The One who stands at the center of the throne is not merely a symbol of sacrifice but the One of whom Jeremiah spoke: Yahweh our Righteousness (Jer. 23:6). He is the Lion of Judah, the Lamb who was slain, and the sovereign Lord over all. Yet this is not all that John sees and experiences. The Lion who is a Lamb is also the Redeemer. The Lamb is the Redeemer (vv. 7-8) This Lamb is worthy not only because of who He is but also because of what He has done. The Lamb is the Redeemer. In the Old Testament, a kinsman-redeemer was a family member who could step in when everything had been lost. But not just anyone could serve as a redeemerhe had to be a close relative by blood, possess the resources necessary to redeem, and be willing to do so. That is why Boaz could redeem Ruth, yet Boaz was only a shadow of a greater Redeemer to come. Naomi had lost everythingher husband, her sons, and her security. The land that belonged to her family was in danger of being lost forever. But Boaz, as a relative, stepped in. He had the means and was willing. By marrying Ruth, he redeemed the land, restored the family, and provided an heir. What was lost was restored, and what was empty was made full. But what humanity needed most was not merely the restoration of what was lostwe needed the reversal of the curse, reconciliation with the God we sinned against, and the renewal of all things. When Adam sinned, all was ruinedsin entered the world, death followed, and creation fell under the curse of his rebellion. What was needed was a true and better Redeemerone who could stand in the place of fallen humanity and restore what had been lost. This is what makes Jesus worthy to open the scroll. He became one of us so that He could be the Kinsman-Redeemer we need. He has the power to redeem because He is fully God. His willingness to redeem was demonstrated in that He embraced the cross, bearing our sin and becoming our curse. That is why, in Revelation 5, He steps forward and takes the scrollbecause He alone meets every requirement.He alone is the Kinsman-Redeemer. Through His incarnation, Jesus shares in our humanity. Through His divine Sonship, He possesses infinite authority as One equal with the Father. Through His willing sacrifice, He demonstrates beyond question His desire to redeem.The wounds of the Lamb are the proof of His willingnessand the scroll in His hand is the declaration of His worthiness. Now, do not miss what happens in verse 8! Upon taking the scroll, the four living creatureswhose appearance represents the created orderfall before the Lamb in worship. The same creatures who, in the previous chapter, declared of the One on the throne, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come (4:8) now fall before the Lamb to worship Him! And if that were not enough, the twenty-four eldersrepresenting the people of God in both the Old and New Testamentsalso fall before the Lamb in worship. How do we know they worship Him? Because they serve Himoffering songs to Him and presenting the prayers of His people before Him. They fall before the Lamb because He is the One who stands as our High Priest. For all of Scripture testifies, Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb. 4:14-16) Do not miss the significance of this moment. InExodus20, God commands: You shall not make for yourself an idol You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God (Exod. 20:45; BSB). Worship belongs to God alone. All of Scripture is clearno created thing is worthy of worship. Yet in Revelation5, all creationrepresented by the living creaturesfalls before the Lamb. The elders fall before the Lamb. Heaven itself erupts in worship directed to the Lamb. What does this mean? It means the Lamb is not merely part of creationHe is the reason creation exists. The Lamb whom heaven worships is the One Scripture testifies to: For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authoritiesall things were created through Him and for Him (Col. 1:16). The Lamb is not a created beingHe is the Creator. And the worship given to Him is the worship that belongs to God alone! The Redeemer is Worthy (vv. 9-10) The moment the Lamb takes the scroll, heaven erupts in worship. Instantly, the four living creatures fall down in awe before the Lamb. The twenty-four elderswho had already surrendered their crowns before the thronenow bow in reverence, presenting the prayers of the saints as a fragrant offering to the Lamb. A new song breaks forthnot a song of anticipation, but of accomplishment: Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth. (vv. 9-10) This is not a song of anticipation, but one of accomplishment! The Lamb is worthy because He was slain so that a people undeserving of the mercy of God could be ransomed for God. The Berean Standard Bible translates this verse this way: Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. The Lamb is worthy because He alone can restore to redeemed humanity all that was lost through Adam, serving as the true and greater Adam who brings full restoration and hope to those He has saved. Dear brothers and sisters, our worthy Redeemer did not stop there. Sinners are not merely rescuedthey are restored. We are not only forgivenwe are brought near. You are not only savedyou are given purpose, identity, and a future. All who are redeemed by the Lamb have been made a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth. In this moment, all of heaven is united in awe. The question that brought John to tears finds its answernot in an explanation, but in the person of Jesus. The scroll will be opened, history will unfold as God intends, and redemption will reach its glorious fulfillment. Jesus Christthe Lion of Judah and the slain Lambis worthy to redeem, restore, and reign forever. The question of heaven was asked: Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?And the answer is clear: Jesus is worthy because He was slain. Jesus is worthy because He has redeemed. Jesus is worthy because He reigns. So how do you turn your eyes from worthless things (Ps. 119:37)? You turn from what is worthless to the One who is worthynot only of the worship of heaven, but of all of you. He is worthy of your attention. He is worthy of your obedience. He is worthy of your trust. Some of you are clinging to things that cannot save, cannot redeem, and will not last. But there is One who was slain, who has redeemed, and who now reigns. He alone is worthy. So turn to Him. Trust Him. Worship Him. Follow Him. One day every knee will bow before Himso bow before Him now, while you still have time. Today is the day of salvation.

We live in a world ever-increasingly negative. Problems everywhere, pain and suffering, sorrow and uncertainty. It is a world replete with wars. Inflation rages. There are plagues and sickness everywhere. There is mistrust between nations and individuals, and in some quarters, a tragic feeling of hopelessness, where nothing will get better or change. Crime is on the increase. Law and order declines. Drugs are destroying the lives of so many of our people, especially our young. Justice is often corrupted, the rule of law compromised and prejudiced. So, why bother? Throw up your hands, give up, live in fear and worry, and accept the new negative reality. WRONG! DEAD WRONG! You can not be a Christian and live life this way, believe this way, or worry this way. The Lord of Glory came to make life POSITIVE, and the Holy Spirit, when called upon, instills the sense of the positive in the newborn child of the Lord. If you are truly Christian, saved, born again, then your spirit is infused with the positive. If you believe in Jesus Christ, then accept Him at His Word: HE HAS COME SO YOUR JOY MIGHT BE FULL! Full of joy, my fellow Christians. Not negative, not worry, not hopelessness, but joy, unspeakable joy, as the Scriptures say. Why not experience this, ask for this, be involved in this very day which the Lord has made, why not? So, be happy. The words of the song ring so true: HAPPY AM I JESUS LOVES ME HE TOOK MY SINS AND HE MADE ME FREE If that is so, if that has happened to you, don't worry, be happy. Experience the joy of the relationship with Him, NOW AND TODAY! Do not waste this day which the Lord has made for you, DO NOT! LAUGH TODAY! Never go a day without laughing, without experiencing the comical side of life. It is a tonic for the soul. It cleanses emotionally, and it emphasizes the positive. LAUGH OUT LOUD TODAY! HAVE FUN TODAY! Do something you really enjoy, which is fun for you, no matter who else agrees. You very much deserve it, fellow Christian. It is what your Lord would want. It is what Salvation is all about, not just forgiveness, as important as that is, but Salvation opens up all new avenues for living, for believing, for enjoyment, for fun. If you don't engage in these positive, joyful things, you challenge the Lord, and, by your conduct, you deny Him and His promises, and the other half of Salvation is lacking in your life: HE HAS COME SO YOUR JOY MIGHT BE FULL! FULL! Perhaps this means the better portion, joy, of this very day. Can you live a happy, joyful, fun-filled life on this very day which the Lord has made, will you? Are you not tired of the negative in this world? Why would you waste the day the Lord has made for you, why? CELEBRATE YOUR FAITH TODAY! Millions, perhaps even billions, have no faith, believe nothing, live life in the negative. You, Christian, have the most precious thing any human being can have: FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR. Enjoy your faith, be happy about your faith, celebrate your faith today in every positive way you can, and enjoy the hope you have in JESUS CHRIST, the finest thing you can have in this life, and even more importantly, the life to come. BE GLAD AND REJOICE THIS VERY DAY! LOVE TODAY! What the world needs now is love, says the old song. YOU HAVE IT! The love of your Lord is yours as a Believer, and you should celebrate this love, luxuriate in it, talk about it, and thank God for it. There is no greater love than that of a man/woman who lays down his/her life for a friend, for another, and He did that FOR YOU! SO, ENJOY IT TODAY! Relive the salvation experience today, re-experience the love of Calvary, and be happy and joyful. Let nothing in this negative world take you away from the celebration of love today, NOTHING! PRAISE GOD TODAY! This God of everything and everyone made you, and all things, and He is not only worthy of our praise, it is our privilege to PRAISE HIM. Do that today and feel the positive surge through your arteries and veins. Experience the positive. Relish the first fruits of praise. It is so good to give praise to God from whom all blessings flow. WORSHIP TODAY! Worship the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit today. Think about the Holy God, with all due respect, adoration, wonder, and awe. Thid kind of worship is elevating, carries you to the Throne where angels live. Our God is worthy of our worship and adoration. Do it today. Perhaps most importantly, GIVE THANKS TODAY! Give thanks to God for EVERYTHING, and especially His unspeakable gift in Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior. Give thanks to Him for the many blessings which you receive and enjoy every day, and so often merely take for granted. THANK GOD FOR EVERYTHING! Never forget the admonition of the great Apostle Paul who told us as Believers: IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS! Your Lord wants you to live an abundant life today, TODAY! You are alive, you can enjoy, do, give thanks, and perform acts of kindness, mercy, and goodness. Do all these things and you will have the kind of day which the Lord God Almighty has ordained for you and promised you. He came, He told us, so we may have life more abundant. We have this life now, so now we need to live it TODAY! Forgetting those things which are behind, not worrying about things to come, for you do not know what is to come, but living to the fullest, enjoying life to the fullest TODAY. This is the command of the Lord, the privilege, the opportunity, life abundant and positive which is yours today. MAKE THIS SPECIAL DAY THE LORD HAS MADE FOR YOU THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE

Peace and Safety in Judgment (1) (audio) David Eells – 4/29/26 Discerning Shepherds and Apostles Ellen Cary - 09/10/2008 (David's notes in red) Prophetic Word The seven-year cycle is over (A prophecy of the coming end of the seven years of plenty?). I have called, and you have not answered. I have warned over and over, but you have refused to hear. You shepherds who sit in your high towers have told my sheep that I didn't cause the towers to fall, that I didn't bring Katrina for destruction, that the floods and fires aren't at the hand of My judgment, teaching them that all power is not Mine, so they learn to not heed My warnings, they learn to not hearken to My voice because they believe your lies; and for this you false shepherds will pay a high price. I call you false, for you have turned from My divine plan for your life. You've allowed the enemy to entice you with the pleasures of this world, the riches and loftiness of sitting in high places. You have exalted your throne above Mine in making the choices you have to please men, to tickle their ears and tell them what they want to hear, rather than telling them the truth. Few there are who are listening to My voice and calling My church to repent of their wicked ways, for they have gone the way of the world; their lives are compromised and not set apart for Me, to live in the holiness I've commanded. See now, you false prophets who speak lies of peace and safety, you shall all be brought down by My Elijahs I'm about to release upon the land. (Man-child ministry) They will smite you with the sword of the spirit that will come forth from their mouths, and it shall be wielded with precision and accuracy. You who have given yourselves a title of apostle, know ye not it is only the Lord God Almighty who decides who I call as an apostle, or any of my ministry gifts to my body for their edification and growth to build my church. You gather together in your convocations to discuss your lofty plans of dominating my earth, but you know not of what you speak, for this world will never be dominated by your flesh. It is only by My Spirit that My Kingdom is established on the earth because it is established in the hearts of those I choose. My true apostles are in the fields of the world, in the dark places, establishing My Kingdom, for I have sent them. I alone, and no man, for I called and I instructed and I gave the order to go, and they have obeyed My voice to not only listen to obey My call, but to be chosen to follow My orders. They are nameless and they are faceless only to you, for I know their names and I know their faces. I know their hearts, and I know their minds, for they seek only My will, not to build their mighty kingdoms, as you have done, and for this they shall be rewarded greatly. For they are true warriors and true soldiers of the cross who have died to their own plans and purpose and allowed Me to send them out for My glory only, nothing to exalt themselves, but only Me. For they recognize they are but dust willing to be blown by the wind of My Spirit to wherever I will them to go. These shall have great reward in My house, for they have laid down their lives for the sheep, some even to death, never even thinking they are great or doing anything for recognition in My body, but only having a heart to follow after Me and being obedient to My word. Yes, the time has come for all false ones to be exposed, for you want to be leaders but you lead My sheep into the darkness, and for this the blood of many will be on your hands. The hour has come for your judgment, America, the great America, whom I have blessed to such measure that all the world envies you. But shortly, in an hour you think not, you shall fall, and the whole earth will groan, and the nations will lament and rejoice at the same time, for your greatness shall be over.   False Grace Won't Save from the Curse Lisa Cuevas - 03/29/2010 (David's notes in red) In a dream, I was being chased in a car. I do not know who was chasing me. But I stopped the car I was driving, and I saw a well-known man of God preaching. I got out of the car and walked toward him. He was preaching on a platform. There were many people listening to him. I noticed a white brick wall in back of him, a few feet behind him. I noticed that this white brick wall was bent over at the right side, like a piece of paper held up from the bottom, and how it folds at a corner. It was peculiar. (A white wall represents the Word that sanctifies and separates from the world but something is wrong with the way it is put together; the mortar..) I decided to tell the man of God that there was something wrong with the white wall behind him. (It doesn't measure up to the “sum of thy words.”) He stopped preaching to listen to me. He stood back up and turned to look at the wall behind him. He said that there was nothing wrong with the wall. I was surprised that he did not see it. I thought that it might hurt someone if it fell, yet he did not see anything wrong with it. He began to preach again. I walked away, discouraged. As I was going back to my car, I noticed his assistant, and I thought that if I told him that, maybe he could see it. With renewed hope, I told him about the wall. He looked up toward the wall, and he saw it. He immediately told the preacher. The preacher stopped again to look. They stood side by side to look at it, and he finally saw it. I was glad they saw it, but as I walked away, I wondered why, when I mentioned the wall, the man of God did not see it, but when his assistant saw it, and he heard it from him, he saw and believed. As my eyes opened, the Lord said, “Ezekiel 13:10-13”. I had never seen this scripture before when I had this dream. Being chased in a car represents the coming time of persecution. The wall, which is built by the truth of the Word, represents sanctification, meaning separation from the world. It is this separation that keeps the storms of life and curses of the enemy out. The untempered mortar is the teaching of false grace, peace, and safety, as in verse 16 below. The denominational ministers only have respect for their own and won't listen to those who are without, but when some of them see that their flimsy wall is failing to keep the curse out, due to their teachings, they will repent. Eze.13:10 Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there is no peace; and when one buildeth up a wall, behold, they daub it with untempered [mortar]: 11 say unto them that daub it with untempered [mortar], that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it. 12 Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it? 13 Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my wrath; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in wrath to consume it. Those who do not repent will be destroyed with their leavened teachings when the curse overwhelms them. 14 So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered [mortar], and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be uncovered; and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the Lord. 15 Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered [mortar]; and I will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it; 16 [to wit], the prophets of Israel that prophesy concerning (apostate) Jerusalem, and that see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord. (This Jerusalem is not the Bride but the apostate leadership of God's people.)   Earth to Go Through Living Hell Mary Linderman - 08/22/2011 (David's notes in red) There are no words to describe the place where the souls of those who chose to live their brief life on this planet without God must abide at the end of all things. As I was praying and meditating on the Word of God, a vision came to my mind. I was remembering the words of Mary Baxter, who described her own hellish vision, and I asked God for more information about this horrible end to all sin and sinners. For a brief moment, I was physically and mentally overwhelmed by a horrible and deep darkness and an infinite loneliness so profound and all-encompassing that being tortured eternally in a searing flame would have been a blessed relief. I saw the planet from above suspended over a yawning, deep, and horrible place. I saw the surface of the earth roasting in a fiery cauldron of seething flame like the sun, but it was alive at the same time. It was alive with people, animals, trees and fish. Yes, even the ocean was an orange wave of hot lava. They all answered to God. This was not hell but the underlying manifestation of all life before the reformation of the new Earth and the new Jerusalem. I knew that this was not a passing or capricious thought but a mental picture that I would never forget. This yawning pit is the eventual death, perhaps the second death, of all things that are fallen from grace. I am deeply grateful to my Lord Jesus for saving me from this eventuality. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow. This represents the living hell that the wicked of Earth shall feel during the tribulations to come, as a warning of the greater hell that awaits those who do not repent.   Call the Party Off! The Storm is Here! Ixchel Costa - 09/05/2007 (David's notes in red) I had a dream that I was at a large, very beautiful house. It was a party with lots of people. They were enjoying themselves, eating, drinking and having a good time. I was standing in the kitchen, just observing all that was going on. There was a huge backyard with a huge pool. It looked like a resort. There were people everywhere, in the house, outside in the backyard, in the pool swimming, sitting on the edges around the pool, some standing around in the backyard, and some in the kitchen. Then all of a sudden, I looked out the window to the backyard, and I saw the big palm trees begin to blow. The wind came out of nowhere and began to blow. As I was watching this, I knew that it was here -- the storm that God had warned us about. As it grew in intensity, the people were shocked and stunned. I ran outside and began to yell, “It's coming!!! It's coming!!! It's coming!!!” Then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, it seemed, water began to come toward us from everywhere like huge tidal waves and everyone panicked and tried to run for safety. Then I woke up. Mat.24:37 as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and given in marriage, UNTIL the DAY that Noah entered into the ark, 39 and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the son of man be…. 42 Watch therefore: for you know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in which watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. (48) but if the evil servant shall say in his heart, my Lord delayeth His coming; 49 and begin to eat and drink with the drunken; 50 the Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for Him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. I believe this “storm” is both in the natural and in the spiritual realms. The storm and tidal waves from all directions represent many different kinds of judgments coming to wake up the elect by destroying the wicked and restoring the fear of the Lord.   The Five Angels of the Continents Dr. Samuel Doctorian 8/16/1998   Received on the Isle of Patmos This message was transcribed by Ruthanne Garlock from a tape we received in Singapore on August 30th, 1998, from Wee Tiong How. He had just returned from the Isle of Patmos, where he attended a prayer retreat with a small group of Singaporeans, and where Samuel Doctorian related this experience to them. We do not personally know Dr. Doctorian (a naturalized American), but his ministry is well spoken of by many of our friends in Singapore. “I was here alone in a house on the Isle of Patmos for several weeks to pray and seek the Lord. I found a little chapel - St. Nicolas's Chapel - where no one ever goes. I went there and poured out my heart before God. I found a rock on the side of a hill where I would go to sit and pray, meditate, and read the Bible. I ate very little during those days. Several times I went to the cave of John where he saw the great Revelation. While meditating for one month in this solitary place, I thought, “I wonder if the Lord will ever send a tenth angel?” I'd seen angels nine times before - in England, in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in Amman, Jordan, in Jerusalem, and an angel that delivered a woman from being hanged in Upper Egypt; I saw the ninth angel in Beirut in the midst of war. The angel physically awakened me at 3:00 in the morning and told me to get out of the country immediately. I am grateful to the Lord until today - I don't know what might have happened to me if the angel had not come. Heaven will tell that one day. So I wondered whether I would see an angel for the tenth time. There were times when I was praying when I felt such a presence, I asked, “Lord, I wonder if an angel is coming now? “ But it was not so. One night, I even dreamt about an angel. He told me to fly in my dream, and I did - but that was only a dream. I wanted to see a real angel, as I had seen nine times before. On June 20 at 3:50 am, here in Patmos, suddenly my room was full of light, and there were no lights around here. It is a house all by itself at the end of the road near a monastery. Lo and behold, when I was wide-awake, I saw five beautiful angels. I saw their faces -perfect and human-like, but full of light. I saw their eyes, their hair, their hands. On my right side were two angels, and when I looked to the left, I saw three other angels with wings. They had beautiful white robes falling to the floor -something I can't describe with human words. I wondered why five angels had come, but I was trembling and shaking. I wanted to cry, but I could not. Just before I saw these angels in the Spirit, I had seen myself in a great meeting of multitudes, and I was preaching in English. An interpreter was on my left with dark hair and wearing a gray suit, but I can't remember what language he was speaking. I was prophesying this message: “My church, you preach love, you teach love, but you need to practice love - to show love. There is a need of unity in my body. There are many divisions among you. My spirit will not move and work where there is no unity. There is carnality in my church; too much uncleanness in my church. I desire, and I want a holy people. I died to make you holy”. While I was prophesying in the spirit, I was trembling. My eyes opened, and I was looking at the great multitude. And suddenly, in the midst of the prophecy, these mighty angels appeared. I went back from the pulpit and thought I was going to fall down. I am now wide-awake, but this is all happening in the spirit. Some power helped me not to fall down, and I wondered what was happening. Then suddenly the first angel on my right side said, “We are five angels from the five continents. We are here to give you messages from the five continents of the world”. The moment I heard that, I also heard the multitude crying out, “Ohhh, Ohhh, Ohhh.” I believe that multitude saw the angels also. Somehow, the Lord showed me that in the days to come, in many parts of the world, God is going to reveal Himself through ministering angels. It's going to happen publicly; it's going to happen in churches - thousands of people seeing angels at the same time. They will be ministering to the Body in these last days. Then came this message from the angels: “What you see and hear, tell it to the nations”. So it's not something to keep to myself. Whether they accept it or don't accept it, I have to tell it to the nations. David's note: These judgments appear to be from his time through the tribulation, continuing through the Day of the Lord. FIRST ANGEL: The first angel said, “I have a message for all of Asia”. When he said that, in a split few seconds, I could see all of China, India, the Asian countries like Vietnam, Laos - I've never been to those countries. I saw the Philippines, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. And then the angel showed me all of Papua New Guinea, Irian Jaya, and down to Australia and New Zealand. “I am the angel of Asia”, he said. And in his hand, I saw a tremendous trumpet that he is going to blow all over Asia. Whatever the angel said, it's going to happen with the trumpet of the Lord all over Asia. Millions are going to hear the mighty voice of the Lord. Then the angel said, “There shall be disaster, starvation - many will die from hunger. Strong winds will look like they have never happened before. A great part shall be shaken and destroyed. Earthquakes will take place all over Asia, and the sea will cover the earth. I saw this on June 20. Today is August 16. A few weeks ago, I heard the news of villages completely wiped out and washed into the sea in Papua New Guinea. Thousands of lives in great jeopardy. That happened a few weeks ago, and the angel told me it is going to happen all over Asia. “The earth will fall into the sea”, I heard the angel say, “part of Australia will be shaken. Australia will be divided, and a great part will go under the ocean.” This was frightening - I wondered whether I was hearing right. But the angel said, “Millions will die in China and in India. Nation will be against nation, brother against brother. Asians will fight each other. Nuclear weapons shall be used, killing millions”. Twice I heard the words, “Catastrophic! Catastrophic!” Then the angel said, “Financial crisis will come to Asia. I will shake the world.” I was trembling while the angel was speaking. Then he looked at me and smiled and said, “There shall be the greatest spiritual awakening - bondage will be broken. Barriers will be removed. And all over Asia - China - India - people will turn to Christ. In Australia, there shall be tremendous revival.” I heard the angel of Asia say, “It is the last harvest”. Then, as if the Lord were speaking, he said, “I shall prepare My church for the return of Christ.” I was happy with such good news after the message of judgment. All the time the five angels were in my room, I could feel their presence - it was tremendous. SECOND ANGEL: Then I saw that the second angel had a sickle in his hand, such as is used in harvesting. The second angel said, “Harvest time has come in Israel and the countries all the way to Iran”. I saw those countries in a few split seconds. “All of Turkey and those [inaudible;] countries that have refused me and refused my message of love shall hate each other and kill one another”. I saw the angel raise the sickle and come down on all the Middle East countries. I saw Iran, Persia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, all of Georgia, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, all of Asia Minor - full of blood. I saw blood all over these countries. And I saw fire; Nuclear weapons were used in many of those countries. Smoke is rising from everywhere. Sudden destruction - men destroying one another. I heard these words, “Israel, Oh Israel, the great judgment has come”. The angel said, “The chosen, the church, the remnant, shall be purified. The Spirit of God shall prepare the children of God”. I saw fires rising to heaven. The angel said, “This is the final judgment. My church shall be purified, protected, and ready for the final day. Men will die from thirst. Water shall be scarce all over the Middle East. Rivers shall dry up, and men will fight for water in those countries”. The angel showed me that the United Nations shall be broken in pieces because of the crisis in the Middle East. There shall be no more United Nations. The angel with the sickle shall reap the harvest. THIRD ANGEL: Then one of the angels with wings showed me Europe from one end to the other - from the north all the way down to Spain and Portugal. In his hand, he had a scale of measurement. I saw him fly over Europe, and I heard the words, “I am grieved. I am grieved. Unrighteousness, uncleanness, ungodliness - all over Europe. The sin has risen to heaven. The Holy Spirit is grieved”. I saw the rivers of Europe flooding and covering millions of houses. Millions drown. After seeing this, I read the news a few weeks ago. Czechoslovakia had the worst flooding ever. I also heard that the big river in China is in tremendous danger of thousands of houses being destroyed by flooding. I didn't know all this news until after I had seen the vision and heard what the angels told me. Suddenly, I heard earthquakes all over Europe. “Countries that have had no earthquakes shall be shaken”, said the angel. And suddenly, in my spirit, I saw the Eiffel Tower in Paris crumbling, falling down. A great part of Germany destroyed. The great city of London - destruction everywhere. I saw floods all over Scandinavia. I looked to the south and saw Spain and Portugal passing through hunger and great destruction. Many will die from hunger all over Spain and Portugal. I was disturbed by all this news, and I said, “Lord, what about your children?” The angel said, “I shall prepare them. They shall be looking for the appearing of the Lord. Many will cry to me in those days, and I will save them. I shall perform mighty miracles for them and show them My power”. So in the midst of great destruction, there will be the grace of God in those countries. I was happy that God has His protection over His children. FOURTH ANGEL: Now we go to Africa. I saw the fourth angel with wings fly over Africa, and I could see from Cape Town in the south all the way to the north of Cairo - I saw all the countries there, more than fifty of them. The angel of Africa had a sword in his hand - a tremendous, sharp sword. Suddenly, I heard him say, “Innocent blood has been shed. Divisions amongst the people, generations far from the Lord - they have killed one another, thousands of people. I have seen my faithful children in Africa, and I shall reward all the faithful in the continent of Africa. I shall bless them abundantly. I shall control the weather - scorching and burning of the sun in some parts. Great rivers shall dry up, and millions will die from starvation. In other parts, flooding. Foundations shall be shaken. My sword shall judge the unrighteous and the bloodthirsty. So many earthquakes shall happen that rivers shall flow in different directions in the continent, flooding many villages”. I saw great pieces falling from the sky over different parts of Africa. “There shall be trembling of the earth like has not been seen since the creation. None shall escape the sword of the Lord.” I saw the River Nile drying up. It is the god of Egypt. Fishes dead and stinking all over Egypt. A great part of the middle of Africa will be covered with water, and millions dying. “Lord!” I said, “It is all bad news. All destruction. Any good news?” The Lord said, “The final day has come. Judgment day is here. My love has been refused now, and the end has come”. I was shaking and trembling. I thought I cannot bear it. FIFTH ANGEL: Then I saw the last angel flying over North and South America - all the way from the North Pole down to Argentina. From the East of the U.S.A. to California. I saw in his hand a bowl. The angel said he would pour out over these countries the judgments that were in the bowl. Then I heard the angel say, “No justice anymore. No righteousness. No holiness. Idolatry. Materialism. Drunkenness. Bondage of sin. Shedding of innocent blood - millions of babies being killed before they are born. Families are broken. An adulterous generation. Sodom and Gomorrah are here. The days of Noah are here. False preachers. False prophets. Refusal of my love. Many of them have the imitation of religion, but denying the real power.” When I heard all that, I begged the angel, “Can you not wait for a little while? Don't pour it. Give a chance for repentance”. The angel said, “Many times God has spared and has spoken, but they have not listened. His patience has come to an end. Beware, the time has come. They have loved money and pleasure more than they have loved Me”. As the angel began to pour from the bowl in his hand, I saw tremendous icebergs melting. When that happened, I saw floods all over Canada and North America - all the rivers flooded; destruction everywhere. I heard the world market collapsing with mighty earthquakes, and New York skyscrapers were tumbling - millions dying. I saw ships in the ocean sinking. I heard explosions all over the north country. I saw the angel pouring over Mexico and two oceans joining together: the Atlantic and the Pacific. A great part of northern Brazil is covered with water, the Amazon River turning into a great sea. Forests are destroyed and flooded. Major cities in Brazil were destroyed; earthquakes in many places. As the angel poured, great destruction took place in Chile and Argentina as never before. The whole world was shaking. Then I heard the angel say, “This will happen in a very short time”. I said, “Can't you postpone? Don't pour these things out all over the globe”. And suddenly I saw the five angels standing around the globe lifting up their hands and their wings towards heaven and saying, “All glory to the Lord of Heaven and Earth. Now the time has come, and He will glorify His Son. The earth shall be burned and destroyed. All things shall pass away. The new Heaven and New Earth shall come. God shall destroy the works of the devil forever. I shall show My power - how I will protect My children in the midst of all this destruction. Be ready for that day, for the Lord has come.” My room was full of light from the brightness of the angels. Then suddenly they ascended up to heaven. As I looked up, I saw the angels go in five directions. I know they have already started their duties. For more than an hour, I could not move. I was wide awake, trembling from time to time. I said, “Lord, shall I leave Patmos now?” He said, “No, I brought you here for a purpose”. I said, “The message from the angels all over the world is not good news. It is judgment, punishment, destruction, devastation. What will people say about me? I've always been a preacher of love, peace and good news.” The angel said, “It is our message. You are the instrument, the channel. What a privilege that God has chosen you to give this message to the nations.” I said, “Lord, Thy will be done”. To God be the glory. Scripture References: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 “13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words”. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 “1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do”. Hebrews 12:22-29 “22 But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire”. 2 Peter 3:1-13 “1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior: 3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing (wishing) that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness”.  Remember in all this judgment God will perform the Psa 91 Passover for the Saints. Psa 91:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand; But it shall not come nigh thee.  Even as some are martyred they should remember that ”the sting (or pain) of death is sin”(1Cor15:56). And Jesus bore our curse. Gal 3:13  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 

In 2016, I was gifted a second-generation Apple Watch. Since then, Ive worn a smartwatch almost exclusivelyuntil recently. I still wear my Apple Watch, but I now also wear a mechanical watchone that needs neither a battery nor a charging cable. It runs on a finely engineered system of gears, springs, and a self-winding rotor that winds as I move my wrist. When I wear it, Im wearing a timepiece with hundreds of tiny components working in harmonyvisible through the caseback, moving like a heartbeat. There is an older and grander clock in our worldtheStrasbourg Cathedral Astronomical Clock, located inside the Cathdrale Notre-Dame in France. The clock you see today is more than 180 years old, yet it stands in a long tradition of timekeeping at that very location stretching back centuries. It does far more than tell time; it tracks the calendar, calculates leap years and the date of Easter, and reflects the movements of the heavens. Though it may appear complexalmost chaoticevery gear turns exactly when it is supposed to. Nothing is random. Everything functions according to a precise, intentional design. If this is true of a man-made clock, how much more is it true of history itself? Scripture shows that history is not random but ordereddesigned and directed by the One who sits on the throne. This is what we saw in Revelation 4. John was given a glimpse of heavens throne room, and what he saw was not chaos but the Lord who orders all of creation according to His will. What John saw was a God sovereign over all things, faithful to His promises, and worthy of all worship. What John experienced was a creation that is oriented toward the Lord God Almighty (Rev. 4:8). But as the vision continues into Revelation 5, something shifts. The throne remains, and the One seated upon it has not changed. Yet now our attention turns to the scroll that is in His right handand to a tension that brings all of heaven to a standstill. Before we consider the scroll, we must understand why it is in His right hand. The One Who Holds the Scroll (v. 1a) If creation is ordered by a sovereign God, history cannot be random or out of control. The fact that the scroll is in the right hand of the Lord God Almighty is not incidentalit is significant. In the song of Moses (Exod. 15), we are given a glimpse into what the right hand of God represents: Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power; Your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy (v. 6; NASB). The right hand is the hand of strength, authority, and power. It is the hand by which God acts. What is held in the right hand of God is not uncertain or fragileit is secure. He holds it because He is sovereign, all-powerful, and unstoppable. This is why we know that all that exists, does so as a creation ordered, directed, and sustained by the sovereign hand of the God who has been, who is, and who will be on the throne. This is the God of whom the prophet Isaiah writes: ...remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose, calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it. (Isa. 46:9-11) When the apostle Paul addressed the philosophers in Athens, he spoke of this same God:The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth gives to all mankind life and breath and everything having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place for In him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:2428). All of history is moving in one direction. There are no do-overs, no rewinds, and no pause buttons for the trajectory of history or where it is headed. History is a current you cannot stop, and its force carries everything forward. In that stream, our lives are a flasha moment that is here and then gone (Jas. 4:13-17). And yet, if we are honest, most of our lives are lived with little consideration for this Godthe One who created all things and who is sovereign over it all. He is not bound by time, because He created it. He has determined the appointed times and boundaries not only of mankind, but of all creation. He has no needs, and yet He is the One who gives to all mankind life and breath and everything (Acts 17:25). This is the One who sits upon the throne. A verse from the Bible appeared on one of my social media feeds, and I want to share it with you: Turn my eyes away from worthless things; revive me with Your word (Ps. 119:37). The Hebrew word for worthless (שָׁוְא,āwe) refers to what is empty, vain, futile, and ultimately inconsequential. If there is no God, and if the Bible is not true, then the worthless things are all that we have. If the Bible is trueand the God revealed in its pages is realthen the words of C. T. Studd are not just poetic; they are a call to action: Only one life, yes only one,Soon will its fleeting hours be done;Then, in that day my Lord to meet,And stand before His judgment seat; Only one life, twill soon be past,Only whats done for Christ will last. Only one life, the still small voice,Gently pleads for a better choice;Bidding me selfish aims to leave,And to Gods holy will to cleave; Only one life, twill soon be past,Only whats done for Christ will last. The Significance of the Scroll (v. 1b) So what is the scroll? Theologians and scholars have offered different ideas and suggestions based on what they have read in the book of Daniel and elsewhere. The key to understanding the scroll is to pay attention to what happens when each of its seals is broken. We must pay careful attention to what happens when its seals are broken. As each seal is broken, the process of judgment, redemption, and restoration begins. This is not simply information to be shared; it is a purposeful plan set into action. The most direct Old Testament parallel is found in Ezekiel 2:910, listen to what the prophet Ezekiel said about a scroll he saw: And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe. What the prophet saw was a scroll written on both sides, filled with words of lamentation, mourning, and woe. You will see this when we get to Revelation 6, but for now what you need to know is that as the seals on the scroll are broken, sorrow, judgment, and woe are released throughout the earth. So, let me tell you what the scroll represents. It represents Gods righteous judgments, but it is more than that. The presence of all seven seals symbolizes perfect fullness and absolute inviolability. What does that mean? It means no one will be able to crack the code to hack the scroll, because it is secure. But that is not all. Within the scroll are the seven trumpets and the seven bowls of the wrath of Godthrough which the full and just judgment of God is poured out on all who are not covered by the blood of the Lamb. Yet the scroll is not only about judgment. Within it is the vindication of suffering saints, the removal of the curse of sin, the death of death itself, the new heaven and the new earth, and the physical presence of the Kingdom of God dwelling with His people. Within this scroll is the fulfillment of what the prophetIsaiahpromised: So the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee (Isa. 51:11; BSB). And within it is the day when God Himself will rejoice over His people, asZephaniahdeclares: The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing (Zeph. 3:17). Listen: the scroll is not merely a record of eventsit is the will and testament of God, revealing His sovereign plan to judge evil, redeem His people, and restore creation. The scroll contains the full scope of Gods redemptive plan and is held securely in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. He who holds the scroll in His right hand is the Father, who declares, My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish (Isa. 46:10; BSB). The seven seals signify that His plan is complete, perfect, and unstoppablebut there will be no wiping away of tears, no fleeing of sorrow and sighing, nor the Fathers rejoicing and singing over the redeemed if it is not opened! Only One Can Open the Scroll (vv. 2-5) After seeing the scroll in the right hand of the Father, John then sees a mighty (ischyros) angel who proclaims with a loud voice: Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals? The wordischyrosis used only three times in Revelation to describe an angel, meaning strong or mighty. Each time it appears, it marks a decisive moment in the unfolding of Gods purposeswhether announcing what is to come or signaling final judgment. But in Revelation 5, the mighty angel does not acthe proclaims. With a voice that thunders throughout heaven, he asks the question on which everything depends: Who is worthy? This is not a question of strength or ability, but of worthiness. The question is not arbitraryit is necessary. If the scroll is the deed of creation and contains the Fathers plan and purpose to judge evil, redeem sinful humanity, and restore a cursed creation, it cannot be opened by just anyone. What is required is not merely strength but worthinessOne with the right to act on behalf of Adams fallen race. There must be One who can stand in the place of those who lost everything when Adam and Eve rebelled. What is needed is a true and better Adamsomeone who fully embodies humanity and possesses everything necessary to redeem: power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing. This One must be both fully human and fully God. All of redemption hinges on the opening of the scroll. The scroll cannot be opened by even the strongest and holiest of angels, it can only be opened by One who has the right to redeemthe one who can stand in the place of the guilty and restore what has been lost. And so the question resounds through all creation: Who is worthy? In that moment, from Johns perspective, we are told that no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it (v. 3). So John weeps loudly, or, as the Berean Standard Bible translates Johns response, I began to weep bitterly... John responds this way because he understands the theological implications: if the scroll remains sealed, Gods promises are not fulfilled, the serpent is not crushed, the nations are not blessed, death is not defeated, and the kingdom does not come. The only inheritance left is weeping and gnashing of teeth. It is in this moment that history itself comes to a standstill. All of creation holds its breath. John is overcome with great sorrow as his tears embody the anguish of hope delayeduntil the voice of one of the twenty-four elders breaks through the silence of heaven: Weep no more; behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals (v. 5) Who is this Lion? He is the One promised long ago: He is the Lion from the tribe of Judah who would come to rule as King (Gen. 49:910). He is the Root of Jesse foretold byIsaiah(Isa. 11:1, 10), the righteous Branch promised through David (Jer. 23:56), and the King whose reign will never end (2 Sam. 7:1213; Luke 1:3233). He is the First and the Last (Isa. 44:6; Rev. 1:17), the Origin of creation (John 1:3; Col. 1:16), and He is the Alpha and the Omega (Rev. 22:13). The prophetJeremiahcalls Him Yahweh our Righteousness (Jer. 23:6). Every covenant, every promise, and every hope finds its fulfillment in Him. He has overcome (Rev. 5:5). So consider who it is who sits on the throneand consider the One who has conquered sin and death to open the scroll. If this is who He is, then the Psalmists prayer must become your prayer: Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in Your ways (Ps. 119:37). Why fix your eyes on what is worthlessyour legacy, your wealth, your reputationwhen there is One worthy to receive all power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing? Do not settle for what cannot last. Turn to the One who alone is worthy. In the words of C.T. Studds closing verses from his poem: Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn; Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne; Only one life, twill soon be past, Only whats done for Christ will last. Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say,Thy will be done; And when at last Ill hear the call, I know Ill say twas worth it all; Only one life,twill soon be past, Only whats done for Christ will last

We live in a day when worship is often treated casuallybut Scripture makes it clear that God does not take worship lightly. And yet, many of us rarely stop to consider what is actually taking place in heaven right now what true worship really looks like before the throne of God. Last week, we were given a glimpse into that throne room, where everything centers on the One who sits upon the thronesurrounded by splendor, power, and unshakable sovereignty. But as Johns vision continues, our attention now shifts from the throne itself to the worship that surrounds it. After the Lord delivered Israel from the clutches of Pharaoh by parting the Red Sea, Moses and the people sang a song of praise. At the center of that song is this question: Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders? (Exod. 15:11). It is here that we are reminded why we existnot for ourselves, but for God, whose holiness sets Him apart from all else. Scripture repeatedly shows us what happens when that holiness is not regarded. Nadab and Abihu approached God in worship on their own termsand they were consumed (Lev. 10:12). Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the arkand he was struck down (2 Sam. 6:67). These are not isolated incidents. They are warnings. Worship that disregards the holiness of God is not merely deficientit is dangerous. For as the Lord has said, You shall be holy, for I am holy (Lev. 11:44; cf. 1 Pet. 1:16). And it is precisely this holinessthe holiness that cannot be ignored, redefined, or approached on our termsthat fills the throne room of heaven in Revelation 4, where unceasing worship rises before the One who is holy, holy, holy. The worship we see in Revelation 4 is not casual, and it is not optionalit is the only right response to who God is. So if Revelation 4 shows us what true worship looks like in heaven, then the question we must ask is this:Why is God so worthy of that kind of worship? We Worship the LORD Because There is No One Like Him (v. 6a) Revelation 4 shows us that the experience of Gods presence is not rooted in what we feel, nor is it produced by the latest worship songit is grounded in the truth of who God has revealed Himself to be in His Word. Do you remember what I said about the sea of glass before the throne of God? The sea represents chaos and opposition to Gods purposes, and it is from the sea that the beast comes. Yet here, before the throne, the sea is stilled, reminding us that what threatens creation elsewhere is powerless in His presence. In the presence of the One on the throne is where the redeemed find shalom (peace). What John sees in Revelation 4 is not only a display of powerit is a revelation of who God is. He is the Lord Almighty who rules over all things. He is a covenant-keeping God who keeps His promises. And He is a worship-worthy God before whom all of heaven bows down. And what is heavens response? Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power He is worthynot because of what He gives, but because of who He is. There is only one other place in Revelation where the sea of glass is referenced, and it appears in Revelation 15the fourth of the seven heavenly throne-room scenes in Johns apocalypse. There, John describes the same sea of glass, but with an added detail: And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fireand also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands (v. 2). At the Red Sea, Gods presence stood between His people and their enemiesbringing light to one and judgment to the other (Exod. 14:1920). In Revelation, that same reality is intensified as the sea itself is mingled with fire (Rev. 15:2)symbolically pointing us back to Exodus 14, where God prevented Egypt from pursuing Israel (Exod. 14:2425). After allowing Pharaoh and his army to begin crossing the parted sea, He then consumed the enemies of God by bringing the waters of the Red Sea upon them (Exod. 14:2628). This connection is not incidental. The redeemed stand beside the sea with harps in their hands and sing what John calls the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb (v. 3). Just as Israel stood on the far side of the Red Sea and sang of their deliverance, so now the people of God stand victorious and sing once moreonly this time, their deliverance is final. And just as the plagues of Egypt preceded Israels redemption, so here the song is sung on the threshold of judgment, just before the seven bowls of wrath are poured outjudgments that unmistakably echo the plagues that fell upon Egypt. For now, lets focus on a single verse from the song Israel sang after crossing the Red Sea: Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders? (Exod. 15:11). In Revelation 15:34, a similar song is taken up and directed to the Lamb: Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed. What began as a song of deliverance at the Red Sea becomes, in Revelation, a song of final redemption before the throneand at the center of both songs is the same unchanging truth: there is no one like Him. We Worship the LORD Because He is the Creator of All (vv. 6b-7) We are now introduced to four living creatures whose praise echoes that of the seraphim inIsaiah6, who declare of the One on the throne: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory (Isa. 6:3). Like the seraphim, these creatures have six wings, but unlike them, they are described as being full of eyes in front and behind. These eyes symbolize unceasing awarenessnothing escapes their sight as they live in continual service before their Creator. At the same time, each creature is distinct, representing a different realm of creation and reflecting the goodness of the One who made all things. There are four creatures because they represent the fullness of creation, yet each highlights a distinct category of created life. The creature like a lion represents the wild animalsstrength, majesty, and power. The creature like an ox represents domesticated animalsservice, endurance, and strength under authority. The creature with the face of a man represents humanityintelligence, reason, and the image of God. The creature like an eagle in flight represents the birds of the airswiftness and dominion in the skies. Together, these four living creatures represent the strongest, wisest, most powerful, and most majestic forms of created lifeand all of them are oriented toward the worship of their Creator. Some scholars have also noted a possible connection between these four living creatures and the way Israel was arranged in the wilderness. InNumbers2, the twelve tribes were divided into four groups and positioned around the tabernacle, with the presence of God at the center. Later Jewish tradition suggests that each group bore a distinct imagesuch as a lion, an ox, a man, and an eagleimages that closely resemble the creatures described here. If this connection is valid, it adds another layer of meaning: the living creatures would not only represent the fullness of creation, but also reflect the people of God gathered in ordered worship around His presence. In that sense, they may point to humanity as it was always meant to bea community centered on God and devoted entirely to His glory. Whether these creatures are the cherubim described elsewhere in Scripture or a distinct class of heavenly beings, the point remains clear: they represent all of created life, and they perform the very function that all of creation was designed to fulfillwhich is worship. And like the seraphim, they never cease to say: Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come! (v. 8). We Worship the LORD Because He is Perfectly Holy (v. 8) The declaration of the four living creatures is not that He is lovethough He most certainly is. Nor do they declare that He is just, though everything around the throne testifies to His perfect justice. They do not highlight any of His other attributes. Instead, they declare the one attribute that lies at the very core of all that He isHis holiness. And they declare it to the highest degree. He is not merely holy, nor even holy, holy. Noour God is: Holy, holy, holy! This is the only attribute of God raised to the third degree in all of Scripture. But what does it mean that God is holy? To be holy is to be set apart and separate from all that is sinful, impure, or morally imperfect. As it relates to God, there is nothing like Him in all of creation, and there is nothing in Him that is flawed, corrupt, or deficient. Gods holiness is the beauty of all that He is. Stephen Charnock rightly said, Holiness is the beauty of all Gods attributes. Brothers and sisters, it is Gods holiness that makes Him gloriousit is what makes His justice just, His mercy merciful, and His power pure. This is why the worship of God is both serious and dangerous. As Michael Horton argues in his bookIn the Face of God, the danger is not in drawing near to Godthe danger is in doing so on our own terms. Nadab and Abihu approached God on their own termsand they were consumed (Lev. 10:13). Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark, assuming his hand was cleaner than the dirtand he was struck down (2 Sam. 6:67). Ananias and Sapphira were more concerned with their image than Gods gloryand they too fell dead (Acts 5:111). Why? Because the holiness of God cannot be approached casually, on our own terms, or treated as common. And, just in case you are tempted to think that these examples are extreme and ought not be taken too seriously, consider the way Jesus taught us to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Jesus did not say to recite this prayer (though that is okay), but to pray like this. We are to begin with something like: Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name. That first petition is not one request among manyit is the foundation of them all, just as holiness is for the character of the Lord God Almighty! Every other request modeled for us in our Lords prayer flows from it and serves it: Your kingdom come for the hallowing of your name. Your will be done for the hallowing of your name. Give us this day our daily bread for the hallowing of your name. Forgive us as we forgive others for the hallowing of your name. Lead us not into temptation for the hallowing of your name. Deliver us from evil... for the hallowing of your name. Do you see it? We exist for the renown of Gods holy name in every area and part of our lives because He is holy, holy, holy! This is exactly what we see in Revelation 4. Heaven is not centered on man but on God. He is the Creator, and we are the creature. He reigns from heaven, and we are on earth. He is eternally sufficient, and we are utterly dependent upon Him. All that we dohow we live, how we pray, how we worshipis to be shaped and motivated by one great purpose: that Gods name would be hallowed! As His Word reminds us, For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen (Rom. 11:36). Only when God becomes the center of your universe will you begin to see your life rightly. And only then will you experience the kind of joy and satisfaction you were created for. At the center of that reality is the question sung in victorious celebration by Moses and the rest of Israel: Who is like you O Lord... majestic in holiness? (Exod. 15:11) We Worship the LORD Because He Alone is Worthy (vv. 9-11) Notice the response of the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders. They fall down before Him who is seated on the throne. Their posture shows us the proper response to Gods holinessnot pride, but surrender. The twenty-four elders lay down their crowns because they recognize that whatever authority, honor, or reward they possess ultimately belongs to the One on the throne. In response to the declaration that our unchanging God is Holy, holy, holy, the elders proclaim: Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. Everything that exists does so because God wills it. That means your life is not random, nor did it come by chance. You were created by Him and for Himand the only right response is to lay down whatever you are holding onto and give Him the glory He deserves. Listenif you approach God on your terms, you will never experience Him as you were created to. Your way of worship will always lead you to your idols and away from the living God. But when you see Him for who He truly isholy, holy, holyyou will do what heaven does: you will bow, you will surrender, and you will worship. Heaven is not confused about who it is that sits on the throne. Heaven is not distracted by lesser glories. Heaven is not divided by that which does not last. All of heaven is fixed on one reality that outweighs everything else infinitely more: God is holy, and He is worthy of it all! One day, you will join this scene that we are given in Revelation 4. One day, you will stand before the One who sits on the throne. The only question is this: Will you bow before Him now in worship, or will you bow before Him then in judgment? If you really want to experience God, if you really want to live your life for that which will last and which matters, then be determined in your heart to do this: Turn from lesser things by giving God what heaven already declaresglory, honor, and all that you are. Why? Because there is no one like Him. Because He is the Creator. Because He is holy. And because He alone is worthy.

Safely Hidden in Christ (1) (audio) David Eells, 4/12/26   Exhortation to Abide, from Abba Father  8/12/25, Sarah Jo-Jo  A servant is not greater than his Lord. (John 13 and John 15) My Word tells you not to fear, be anxious for nothing. (Deuteronomy 31, Joshua 1, Isaiah 41, Luke 12…) Fear not, for I am with you. Do not murmur in the wilderness (Phil 2, 1 Cor 10) but wait patiently for Me as you endure the perfecting of your faith. Believe in Me, and I told those who wait for Me that I will complete the good work that I began in them. I alone am Faithful and True (Revelation 19) I AM, there is no other. There is no other Saviour… so choose this day, this breath, whom you will trust and believe and follow. My Word is Truth and will never pass away. (1 Peter, Isaiah 40) Men are as grass and will pass away. Your own understanding and walking by sight is included in that which will pass away. Again, I tell you, choose whom you will trust and follow in this moment. I said murmur not, endure and trust Me, that I AM TRUTH. I do not lie. I will deliver you, so submit to My pruning as I train you in My righteousness. If you choose to fear and worry by what you see and hear in the flesh, then you are disobeying Me. I said do not fear. Do not worry. Choose this day whom you will obey and trust. Your choice is shown in fear of the Lord God Almighty, shown in your obedience to My Words, not passing My Word off as mere suggestions. I said DO NOT worry. DO NOT walk by sight but by My Spirit. And only by obeying and abiding in Me will you walk by My Spirit. If you choose your own way, how can you say that you are Mine? Harden not your heart at My Word. To whom will you go if you depart from My Truth, which is the only thing that will endure forever, My Word? Seek My Kingdom and righteousness first. Turn from your wicked ways. Embrace My ways of self-denial and Love. My servants are no greater than their Lord and His Example, Who gave His life for His friends. Love Me first…Read Deuteronomy 6, Matthew 22, Mark 12 Abide in Me, talk to Me as David did, and My Son, your Lord Jesus Christ; He went away into the secret places to abide with Me, to seek Me with all of His heart, to sup with Me… come to the secret places of the Most High and abide under the shadow of My wings…so that your flesh is denied and so that My Spirit will be in you, in order that my will is done through My servants on the earth. Apart from My Spirit abiding in you, apart from Me, you can do nothing. So seek Me, let Me prune away your lust of the flesh and to promote yourself. Let Me humble you that I may use you. Read Isaiah 66 1-2, 5-7 My Word says Jesus is your Lord, and also your Example. Hear Him, My Son in Whom I am well pleased. Hear with spiritual ears, hearts that deny self, flesh, your own understanding… walk not by sight (or hearing or the worlds carnal thinking). Every Word of God is your daily bread, Manna. I AM The Bread of Life. So walk by faith in these days, My children. I said DO NOT worry about provision… am I your Provider? Or are you your provider, as Egypt, or men? Do not murmur when your flesh suffers… Am I asleep? No, I neither slumber nor sleep, and I already know what you need before you ask. I know more about what your needs are and what your lack is more than you do (like the churches in Revelation did not see what I do), for I AM The Way, The Truth, The Life. Choose: Believe that My Ways are higher, and that every Word of Mine is Truth, despite what your friends choose. Despite the Achans in Joshua 7 who think that I don't see their unbelief… their double minded hearts… wanting to be Mine, claiming to those around them that they are Mine and yet not believing that I will give to each what I know they need… not as the world gives… not as the world commands to lust after and fleshly lust obeys, not what self wants, what walking by sight promotes. Achan didn't believe that trusting My Word was enough. He became his own provider. 1 John 2 I tell you to seek Me, and ask ME! I know what you need. Trust Me, even in your lack and sorrow. I am doing My work. Was not David young and small? Did he gain My Strength by what his eyes saw? Did he bow to the cajoles of others? In 1 Samuel 17 He trusted in Me, THE LIVING GOD…there is no other. Did David defeat the giant, the bear, and the lion, and survive Saul's persecution by his own understanding and cunning? No, look at David's heart cries toward Me in the Psalms. Who was David's strength, and in Whom did he tell his downcast soul to hope in? Matthew 16: Jesus, your Lord is the Son of The Living God. I Am the same. I am Living and active and My Word will perform that which I send it to do, and My Word is Truth that sanctifies those who desire My righteousness and reject self, and the world and embrace My entire Word as Truth, understand when My Spirit is in them, when they obey My commands to deny self, walk in love that is kind, not rude, does not promote self, thinks no evil. When sin is rejected, and you humble yourself before Me and ask ME, The Potter, to make you My vessel of honor for My glory. You come to Me and turn from wickedness, and I will form you and cleanse you. In this spiritual war, I AM your helmet, the God of your salvation. I AM TRUTH. I give you faith, and I AM your SHIELD. I AM YOUR ARMOR AS I WAS FOR DAVID. Abide in Me. Come away from all else and seek Me in the secret place. Be diligent in prayer and abide in Me…I, the Prince of Peace, will perfect My peace and love and faith in you… And I give not as the world gives. The world does not have the Living Water that is to fill you and flow out of you. Obey Me and walk by My Holy Spirit, that is shown in fruit such as LOVE… the self-denying kind that seeks others' profit above self (1 Corinthians 10) I have said that cursed are those who trust in man (Jeremiah 17) …and don't rely on Egypt… do not turn back and long for the world's ways as those in the wilderness did, as Lot's wife did, and as Job's wife became bitter because of her loss. Do not rely on your own self or lean on your own understanding. Commit your way to Me. I will lead you in My way. This is your choice. I AM the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Declare My wonderful works after My fire has refined you… walk according to My Spirit and Love. Those who are Mine will only defeat giants by My Spirit abiding in them, My Word on hearts and minds and mouths… Let new songs to Me be upon their lips, songs of praise to their God. Submit to Me… Those who do My Will are my family (Matthew 12). 2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing [or wishing] that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.   Hidden in the Secret Place J.K. - 02/14/2011 (David's notes in red) I saw David standing in front of me with blueprints held out. He was given blueprints showing a narrow tunnel guide. There seemed to be many people who could see these plans, but only a smaller number of people began shoveling the underground tunnel right away. Some people just stood around and wondered what we were doing. Others kind of helped out in their curiosity, half-heartedly digging, wondering about the underground tunnel plans. But others in the front were just digging as fast as they could and not looking back or worrying much about what was ahead or behind. (After being shown the Biblical plan of being hidden in Christ, those in front were making a way for the rest of the underground Church to abide in the “secret place of the Most High”. 1Co.2:7 but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, [even] the [wisdom] that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory. Col.2:3 in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden. Rev.2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna.) The odd thing was the tunnel stopped being built underground after a short ways and then somehow we were building the tunnel up and above the ground. We were still building the tunnel, but it was invisible, and we were building it with invisible material. There were even narrow steps inside the tunnel that we built and climbed. The tunnel was never very wide; we actually had to stay on our knees while building and working our way through it. (This path that is hidden from the beast will increasingly be hidden in plain sight as they minister to the world. Constant contact with God in prayer will be needed to stay in this hidden way.) Even though the tunnel was tight and a lot of work to build, we never got tired, and we had plenty of air to breathe, but we could look down and see the people who never entered the underground tunnel. We could hear them talking and reasoning why they didn't enter the tunnel. (Those who live only in the natural cannot understand the spiritual way of faith and power. It is a secret place even to them. The breath of air represents the Spirit of God who makes this way possible since breath and Spirit are the same word in scripture.) Some said they didn't want to get dirty. Others said that it wasn't a big deal; there was nothing to be concerned about, and that we were all crazy. They said, who knew where we were going and if it was even safe to enter. Others said they would stay up to fight, and God would give them the victory in war if they fought. Everyone basically agreed with the other person's reasoning and encouraged them not to enter the underground tunnel, shaking their heads at us, who had already gone in as fools in their eyes. (Those who are natural will fight with flesh and blood instead of principalities and powers, and they will lose the battle. The tunnel is for those who are hidden in Christ's security and protection. Because they are walking in Christ they are hidden. Col 3:3  For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4  When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory.  1Co.2:14 Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged.) The group that entered the tunnel was much smaller than the group that didn't enter the tunnel, and the group that went ahead building the tunnel was even smaller. (In the Church today, those who walk in the natural are many more than those who walk in the Spirit, and the leaders from among these are even fewer.) No one complained about having to build the tunnel ahead for everyone else. They actually enjoyed the labor and became energetic by doing the work. No one talked about how much work they did or how much work others didn't do. They were just overjoyed for the most part to have had the chance to dig. David never handed out tools or told anyone what they had to do; he just pointed out the plans, and everyone somehow knew where to begin, and we somehow all had different tools to dig with. There were never any orders flying around; everyone just talked very agreeably as we worked very hard alongside one another. (The Spiritual Church doesn't have to have bit and bridle; it is in their renewed mind and heart to hear and obey God's Word and voice.) We would stop and look down and could see a war break out right under us. (Overcoming the world to see things from a heavenly perspective and have dominion over it.) Even though no one could see us, we could see them, and we watched as the people who said they didn't want to enter the tunnel got mowed down with swords by a line of angry men in red robes and oversized frowns. (Red robes represent Esau, who was red, the father of Edom, meaning, red. They were judged for hating their chosen brethren with frowns. Rev.13:10 If any man [is] for captivity, into captivity he goeth: if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed.) They seemed to be killing with a very personal grudge and had no mercy at the crying. (This could represent two parables: spiritual and physical. The apostate enemies in our midst who make war with their brethren, like Judas, who walked in sin, which is represented as red. Isa.1:18 ... though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. “Edom” means “red” and was the name given to Esau when he sold his birthright as a son of Abraham. Gen.25:30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red [pottage]. For I am faint. Therefore was his name called Edom. 31 And Jacob said, Sell me first thy birthright. The spiritual seed of Esau are Edomites who have sold their birthright as Christians by walking after the flesh and persecuting their brothers. Heb.12:15 looking carefully lest [there be] any man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby the many be defiled; 16 lest [there be] any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat (flesh) sold his own birthright. These false Christians are enemies of the cross and are members of the beast army, by nature. The larger beast army is the second, more physical, meaning.) I discerned that even though the natural men in red robes couldn't see us, there were evil spirits in them that knew us and could see us, and would fire what looked like black arrows at us with no success and as they saw they couldn't penetrate us at all and their arrows would fall down before even touching us, which fueled their anger against those they could touch. (The lies of demons will have no effect on the people of faith. Eph.6:16 withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil [one].) It was a lopsided victory for the army in red. Stray bullets and shrapnel came our way, but the invisibility tunnel in the air that we were viewing everything from took all the impact and never got damaged. (No accidents or collateral damage can happen to those in the Secret Place. Psa.91:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand; [But] it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, And see the reward of the wicked. 9 For thou, O Jehovah, art my refuge! Thou hast made the Most High thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, Neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent. 11 For he will give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.) We were not very high up, just above everyone's head, just beyond their reach, and no one was afraid of getting hurt. We were just amazed at the number of people who never entered the tunnel after seeing the plans that were made for them to escape. (Their Babylonish training destroyed them from being able to see and hear the truth.) By the end of the battle, I turned around, thinking I would see a bunch of people in the tunnel, but the tunnel opened up and became very roomy, and I stood up and walked, but I saw there were only two women and a little baby. (At the beginning this represents a remnant of the Church with the Man-child that will be all who abide in the Word and Jesus, who were in the Secret Place.) That was so odd it actually shook me awake. I remembered the dream so clearly because of being awakened from it in this way.   Hidden and Taught in Christ Sandy Shaw - 07/20/2015 (David's notes in red) Dream #1 I found myself inside of what looked like an old apartment building. (The Church is many houses built together into a temple for the Lord.) I remember in the dream of being very tired (like the building and the old order Church). As I looked out in front of me, I saw five steps. (Steps of faith to grace, which is represented by the number 5.) And just as I began to step down onto the first step, I said, “Okay, Lord. The second part”. When I did step down onto the first step, I no longer felt tired. (Partial grace received to run the race.) I proceeded up the remainder of the steps, and the first door I needed to take was on the right. (Steps of faith bring us to a higher place in God and fullness of grace to go through the door, who is Christ; i.e., they left the sheepfold, as in John 10, following Christ. The Bride comes out of the mother church but according to Song of Soloman they seek to bring their beloved there. John, seeing the disciples following Jesus, said, “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom”.) The door was old, and there was evidence of a sign on the door, but the sign was no longer there, just the shadowy outline of where the sign had once been. (Jesus gave the sign that He was and is the door, but He is no longer here in person; His spirit and Word are manifest in those who go through the door.) I opened the door and the room was very dark. (The old order mother church is very much in darkness. The Bride has not been in this place for many years.) I turned on the light, and the light itself reminded me of one of the old-fashioned types of light fixtures that they would have had years ago, that you turned on by hand. (We turn on the power and light by faith for the mother church. the old-fashioned light is the original light of those who were in mother. We must start out where they are and slowly bring them higher and out.)  1Jn.2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him: 6 he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked... (He who loves his brother turns on the light so they can walk in the steps of Christ.) 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him... (We are called to be weak to the weak that we may gain some as Paul said.) 24 As for you, let that abide in you which ye heard from the beginning. If that which ye heard from the beginning abide in you, ye also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father. Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.) When I turned it on, I noticed that the walls were painted navy blue, and I did not see any windows. (No windows shows their lack of discernment. Navy blue is heavenly, but in a time of darkness.) On the right side of the room was a door. I went up to the door and opened it, and discovered it was a closet with three babies inside. These babies looked to be four or five months old. (All those in the mother churches are babies. Many innocent spiritual babies will be entrusted to the Bride, such as it was with Esther and the people of God.) The babies were dressed in heavy snowsuits of a grayish color. (These babies are coming in out of the cold of persecution and tribulation to be sheltered by the Bride for instruction and to be delivered of their beastly or grayish works.) I took the babies out of the closet, and there was a braided rug of variegated brown colors in the middle of the floor, so I laid the babies down onto this rug. (These babies may be resting in a time of brown-shirt Nazism -- those traitors who turn on their own people to deliver them to the beast.) I noticed that there were boxes all over the place. It looked like someone was moving in or moving out. (Some Christians start out in moms church but soon leave to get spiritual food.) I thought in this dream that it was summertime because I was dressed in a sundress. (A time of new life and blessing to the Bride.) I thought to myself, “Why are these babies dressed in snowsuits when I'm dressed in a sundress?” (They are dressed for the winter because tribulation comes. After the light is turned on the testing comes when the Woman goes into the wilderness tribulation following the Man-child. The first 3 1/2 years of the tribulation, they are relatively protected while in training, as it was under Jesus' ministry. Just as Jesus first raised up the Bride and sent them into the harvest, so it will be with the Man-child and Bride in our day. The old order woman is part of the harvest for they have not come completely into the Kingdom. Rev.12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that there they may nourish her a thousand two hundred and threescore days... 14 And there were given to the woman the two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness unto her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.) On the kitchen table was a shiny silver box with a white cotton bow. (A free gift.) I untied the bow and opened the box and discovered three white baby t-shirts and three pairs of white shorts. I took these clothes and put them on the babies. (The immature will be clothed in the pure works for the season. The innocent are covered and are expected to learn slowly.) After dressing the babies, I began feeling the walls because I felt something wasn't right about this room, and that's when I discovered a window that had been boarded up. (It is time for them to be given spiritual discernment for the light has been turned on. Pray for the old order church to be prepared for the wilderness.) I took out the screws that were on the left side of the boards that were covering up the window. You could not see out of this window very well, as it had a lattice blocking the view from the other side. (Lattice is easier to see out of; from the inside but it is harder to see in from the outside. The old order are hiding out in suspended animation but now the light is on.) However, as I was looking through the lattice, I could see falling ash. (Could this be volcanic ash that falls after the time of the earthquakes? We are expecting revival at that time.) As I was looking at the ash, I heard a conversation going on in the hallway. This is what I heard: “Man, you see that snow? It's really snowing hard! It's really coming down”. I closed the window back up and screwed the boards back into place. (Many are still in a state of denial, not seeing the evil time for what it is.) I still could hear voices and what sounded like a commotion out in the hall. I looked over to the right side of the room, and there was a blanket lying on the floor. I reached down and picked up the blanket, and I covered the babies who were lying on the rug. (The Bride will cover those “on the right,” the sheep, when the right wing and Christianity are being persecuted, having lost all rights under dictatorship and martial law.) I then began walking toward the door, and as I was walking, I began to pray. I asked the Lord for His protection and to please make it so I didn't have to lie. The room changed from a dark navy blue color to a light bright blue color, and the door opened before I could get there. (Those whose darkness has turned to light will be under the protection of the Lord.) Just then, a Chinese man walked into the room, wearing a heavy black coat. (These martial law people are in the winter of tribulation.) He had a very heavy accent, and his English was very broken. He said to me, “What you do? What you do?” I said to him, “I have done nothing”. (Truly, the Bride has done nothing wrong, except in the eyes of the government.) Then he said back to me, “We know you don't”. Just then, a Chinese soldier walked into the room, and these two Chinese men began talking to each other. Then, the first man turned around, and he asked, “How many children did you have?” I said, “I only have one son, and he is grown with a family of his own and does not live with me”. (A time of martial law when Christians are not in favor with the Beast, but those who are holy have favor with their Father who rules over the Beast.) The soldier then turned toward the hallway, and he spoke to someone outside of the room whom I could not see. He asked the man in the hallway, “Who gave you this information?” The man in the hallway, whom I could not see, said, “Sam and Joe”. Then the soldier said, “Bring them to me”, meaning Sam and Joe. They all left at this time and slammed the door as they left. They never at any time saw the babies. (Sam and Joe are factious traitors against the Christ in us, represented by the Bride and babies. Judas led the Beast to Jesus, but then he died by his own hands. The factious who have not repented will go into captivity. They are out of favor with the Father who rules the Beast. Anyone found lying to the martial law authorities may be killed.) I sat down in an Indian-type position on the floor with the babies, and I helped them hold their bottles, which were filled with clear water. (The milk of the water of the Word.) I said to myself in this dream, “I need to ask M. L. how to feed multiple babies”. I took one of the babies in my arms, and I said, “You don't have to worry. The Lord is our refuge, and He will provide for us. He is our deliverer”. (That's how to feed them with faith.) End of dream. Dream #2 I dreamed I was on a road that looked like a four-lane highway, which is close to me in real life. The outside lanes were filled with people walking, running, and riding bikes. I was in my wheelchair going with them. (The Bride will not go into captivity on the broad road with everyone else.) I went off the road through some trees and discovered a brook-type body of water. I wanted to put my foot down into this water. I was excited, and I thought the water was going to be cold, but it wasn't; it was just refreshing. (This represents the living waters of the Word from the throne of God through Jesus in the Man-child ministry.) I stood up out of my chair, and when I did, I had both of my feet! (A healing awaited for it has come through the living waters, as it will for many. Many will walk in the Word, too.) I started walking in this water. When I got to where the water was chest high, I stopped. I stopped because I thought I was going to swim in this water, but I needed to submerge myself and swim over to the other side. (These are the deep waters of the Word to swim in, as in the Ezekiel 47 revelation, where the living waters flowed from the house of God and brought healing wherever it went.) Then I heard three toddlers, and they were speaking on the side of the road, but I could not understand what they were saying. (In parallel to the first dream where the three babies were hidden safely in Christ.) I got out of the water and walked toward the road and the babies, and no one was paying any attention to them. (Because they are hidden, even beside the broad road.) I said to them, “Shh”, and picked them up and went back into the water. I waded in the water with the babies, and on the right side of this brook was a lady, and behind her was a cave. (She brought them to a hidden place of discipleship in the wilderness, the underground Church.) She was a beautiful older lady with long white hair past her hips. She was wearing a white flowing dress made out of scarf-like material. (Those of the Bride with wisdom and maturity to teach the babies.) The bottom of the dress appeared to have points like a scarf, and the dress had long, flowing sleeves. This woman looked at me and said, “You found them! Bring them to me. Now go and get the others”. (Some of the Bride will be evangelists to bring in the wayward, and some will be wise teachers to raise up the babies.) So, I went back into the water, and I waded a little way, and I saw B. off to the right of the brook, standing on the bank, and she had 12 women with her. (The Bride bringing in the elect of God, represented by the number 12. Only the chosen will escape captivity at this time. Later, others, after suffering under the crucifixion of the Beast, will be chosen to escape captivity, too. Rev.13:10 If any man is for captivity, into captivity he goeth: if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.) B. A. asked, “Are you ready to take us?” Rev.12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that there they may nourish her a thousand two hundred and threescore days. Then B. A. and the 12 women got into the water with me, and we walked in the water together until it was chest deep. I knew in this dream that we were headed for the cave. (Our heart must be bathed in the living waters, even before our mind is.) Why do we need to obey God's Word and be faithful servants? Several reasons: God has called us to do something very important for many Christians in these days, but first we must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him and His Word. If we do not obey the Lord, we will miss His will for ourselves and a multitude of other people, including our children, spiritual and physical. Hos.4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children. We have to believe and obey or there is no promise for our children to be saved. 1Co.7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. Pro.11:21 [Though] hand [join] in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished; But the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. Psa.102:28 The children of thy servants shall continue, And their seed shall be established before thee. Pro.20:7 A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him. Psa.112:2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: The generation of the upright shall be blessed. Gen.6:18 But with you will I establish my covenant; and you shall come into the ark, you, and your sons, and your wife, and your sons' wives with you. Gen.7:1 And the LORD said to Noah, Come you and all your house into the ark; for you have I seen righteous before me in this generation. Gen.13:15 For all the land which you see, to you will I give it, and to your seed for ever. Gen.19:12 And the men said to Lot, Have you here any besides? son in law, and your sons, and your daughters, and whatever you have in the city, bring them out of this place... 15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters that are here, lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. 16 But he lingered; and the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters, Jehovah being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. Deu.4:37 And because he loved your fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought you out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt; 2Ki.8:19 Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David his servant's sake, as he promised him to give him always a light, and to his children. Psa.37:26 He is ever merciful, and lends; and his seed is blessed. 112:2 His seed shall be mighty on earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. The seed, spiritual and physical, of the David/Man-child will be blessed. Psa.89:3 I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant: 4 Thy seed will I establish for ever, And build up thy throne to all generations... 29 His seed also will I make to endure for ever, And his throne as the days of heaven. 30 If his children forsake my law, And walk not in mine ordinances; 31 If they break my statutes, And keep not my commandments; 32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, And their iniquity with stripes. 33 But my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, Nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. See our free PDF book Saving Our Families By Faith   Man-child, Bride, Two Witnesses: Hidden in Christ Amos Scaggs - 02/13/2008 (David's notes in red) In a dream, I saw myself escorting a beautiful young woman to different places. She had been seen with me on many occasions. (I represent the first-fruits ministry. The young woman is the new Bride-to-be.) (“Amos” in Hebrew means “carried by God” and “Eagle”, which symbolizes the overcomer man-child. John the Baptist said of Jesus as the man-child who led the Bride of His day, “He that hath the bride is the Bridegroom”.) While doing so, I met my previous romance, which was over and done with many years ago. The older romance person commented on how beautiful the young woman was, but in a sarcastic manner, and went on her way, not wanting to stay around. (This is the apostate church as we know it today. She was very old and jealous and will say all kinds of harsh things about the new young bride emerging from her.) (Amos outgrew the fellowship of the apostate church years ago. She is old because the curse of 2000 years is heavy upon her.) I saw the older romance person later on, lined up in a slave labor group. She looked very old and ridiculed me for escorting the young woman around and being with her so much. She said it didn't look right, and other words were muttered. (The apostate church will go into bondage to the beast system and try to do whatever it takes to survive in the upcoming tribulation.) Next, I was also in the company of two friends who were taking me to a secret location. I hadn't really considered them close friends at first, but now they were closer to me than I thought they were. (These are the Two Witness company that will also assist in God's harvest.) (The Man-child company will raise up the Two Witness company in the first 3 !/2 years of the tribulation, as it was foreshadowed by Jesus and His corporate Two Witnesses. Then they will solo.) We found ourselves riding beside a number of railroad tracks, which were on the edge of a very large cliff, of which you couldn't see the bottom. It was terrifying to look over the edge. (These many railroad tracks represent multitudes on a traditional way that never changes paths and are in great danger of falling into the pit.) We were on the way over a hill to the secret location. (Those on the broad road are not able to go to the secret place of the Most High, which is abiding in Jesus Christ.) All of a sudden, the truck we were riding in left the tracks and took a backward turn down a hidden, narrow road leading to the secret location. I couldn't have made that turn in my truck even if I had known where it was. (You can't do this on your own accord or ability.) (This is the narrow road; the highway of holiness, the road to Zion, on which no unclean or beast can go. Isa.35:1 The wilderness (tribulation) and the dry land shall be glad; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose... 8 And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but is shall be for [the redeemed]: the wayfaring men (Hebrew meaning: Traveler on a well-traveled road; i.e., the broad road of the tracks), yea fools, shall not err [therein]. 9 No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast go up thereon; they shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk [there]: 10 and the ransomed of Jehovah shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads: they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. This secret place was hidden in a cliff in the mountain. There was only one way to enter the secret road that could not be seen until you arrived at its entrance. Then only the ones being escorted by the Witnesses could enter in, otherwise it could not be seen. (The Witnesses will cause many to leave the broad path to become disciples. The one narrow way to escape death is Jesus, the door, the life. Joh.14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me. Mat.7:14 For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it. This gate to the secret way cannot be seen by the worldly church and the beast who live in the way of darkness. Pro.4:19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: They know not at what they stumble. Job 38:19 Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And as for darkness, where is the place thereof.) After arriving at the location, we busied ourselves repairing things to prepare for our own and others' transportation and living quarters. (The Man-child, Two Witnesses and Bride are companies of people who will each, in turn, prepare to preserve the rest of the Church in the coming tribulation.) There were people arriving at the location who were bringing along things that couldn't survive in this place. One was a white pig with a pink ribbon tied around its neck, trying to eat off a bare concrete floor. There were some other animals that also could not survive the environment. (The pig and ribbon represent people arriving at the secret location with unclean habits that they cherish. Those habits cannot live in God's environment. A pig is an unclean animal like the fleshly; in society, it is dressed up so it can be accepted and justified in the sight of men, but all this will die in the wilderness tribulation.)   Protection from the Beast Eve Brast, 9/7/19 (David's notes in red) I dreamed that I was in a very large house with many rooms. (Representing the church worldwide?) There were many other people in the house. Suddenly, there was an awareness of an evil danger in the house. People started to panic and say things like, “It's coming!” And “We need to find a place to hide!” They began running past me, looking for places to hide. But the places they were choosing weren't adequate enough, but it was all they could find, and they trembled in the hiding places in despair, knowing they would, more than likely, be found and killed. I wasn't afraid, but I did feel an urgency to find a place of safety from this evil. I went into one of the bedrooms and saw a queen-sized bed with a white down comforter and a blonde colored wooden headboard and footboard that looked like the slats of a crib. (Just like Queen Esther found safety and comfort in the house of the King from the “beast” Haman, so the corporate Bride and Man-child will find safety from the Beast of our day.) I crawled underneath the bed, which enlarged itself for me, and began praying. Suddenly, a bunch of children who were somehow mine ran into the room and crawled under the bed with me. There was plenty of room under the bed for all of us. (The rest in the promises of God will hide us from the Beast. Psa 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of Jehovah, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in whom I trust. 3 For he will deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, And from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover thee with his pinions, And under his wings shalt thou take refuge: His truth is a shield and a buckler.) The door of the room was standing open, and I heard something roaring and coming down the hall. It stopped in the doorway of the room we were in and looked at me under the bed and let out a roar that sounded like a cross between a lion's roar (Satan is the roaring lion) and a dinosaur's roar (The T-Rex or dragon beast). It was a chimera creature. It was a blue lion, a red dragon, and a brownish-black wolf. (The wolf is the religious predator and deceivers among the children of God, like Judas, the son of perdition. As we have seen, the faction are members of the dragon body to try to devour the Man-child, and they kill many but fail to kill the Man-child and his true chuldren.) It had four legs and two arms like a centaur. The part that was the red dragon was the chest, neck, arms, and head with many sharp teeth. The part that was the blue lion was the four legs and most of the body, plus the head of the dragon, which had the lion's blue mane. The rear or rump was the brownish-black wolf, but with the lion's blue tail. (Satan uses the dragon and wolves among the sheep to attempt their destruction.) It narrowed its eyes at me with pure hatred and stomped into the room, lowering its head to look under the bed at my children and me. But the bed let down wooden railings with the same type of slats that the headboard and footboard had, all around the underneath of it, to protect us from the beast, and it knew it couldn't kill us because we were protected. So it screamed in anger and turned to go out of the room in search for the other people who were hiding in all the inadequate hiding places and had no protection. Rev.12:13-17, 13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast down to the earth, he persecuted the woman that brought forth the man child. 14 And there were given to the woman the two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness unto her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman water as a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream. 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon waxed wroth with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, that keep the commandments of God, and hold the testimony of Jesus. I knew in the dream that some of the people escaped the beast, even though they were in poor hiding places, because God had mercy on them. (Pray for mercy for these people) After the danger had passed, I went into a connecting room to the one my children and I had been hiding in. It was connected by two white double doors, and it had a king-sized bed with a white down comforter on it. I heard a couple of small parrots, a male and a female, talking to each other in the double doorway between the rooms. I looked at them in the doorway, and they were pastel colors: blue, green, yellow, and pink. (The same colors as the pastel plaid shirt that my dad wears in my dreams.) (Those who “parrot” the Word of the Father will find rest.) They flew over onto the king-sized bed, and then many more pairs of animals, male and female, came through the doors and got up onto the bed. (The animals of the ark, seeking an escape from the flood of destruction, find escape in the rest. Peter saw the animals that came down from heaven as the Gentile church.) I thought, “Wow! This is like Noah's Ark!” Luk.17:26-30, 26 And as it came to pass in the days of Noah, even so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise even as it came to pass in the days of Lot; they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all: 30 after the same manner shall it be in the day that the Son of man is revealed. End.   The Ark Leads to the Safety of Holiness Suani Guzman - 11/30/2008 (David's notes in red) In a dream, I was going to be part of a Christian cheerleading team that was going to do its routine in a pool. We all had to take a shower before we got in the pool. I went to a car and got a clean change of clothes and a bottle of baby shampoo. Later, I saw the car running on its own and went and put it in park and took the keys out of the ignition. The car was parked close to a corner. When I came back, the car was gone. It had left on its own. It turned right at the corner and went down the street. I ran down there with someone else and saw that it had gone through an opening on the ground into the basement of the building. We stood there looking at it, and that's when it came to me: “The ground in the basement was made holy by God, and the Ark of the Covenant that was in the car needed to be on holy ground.” That is when I woke up. This dream is saying that the Ark of God's presence will supernaturally lead His holy people underground, as a type of the safety of the secret place of the Most High, and they will not be steered there by man. The Ark led the children of Israel, not the other way around. Rom.8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. According to type, the Ark of the Covenant went underground when God's people were in danger of invasion and captivity by the Babylonian beast army. The Apocrypha says that Jeremiah hid the Ark in a cave in Mt. Nebo before the invasion, and that its location would not be revealed until God was ready. Ron Wyatt says he found the Ark in Jeremiah's Grotto, but that God told him it was not yet time to reveal it. In the Second Temple, the Ark of the Covenant was missing from the Holy of Holies for its entire 500 years. When the Roman General, Pompey, conquered Jerusalem around 63 B.C., he entered the Holy of Holies but came out saying that he could not understand what all the interest was about since it was only an empty room. His army was able to conquer Israel because God's presence was not in their Holy of Holies. Many Rabbis believe that the Ark was hidden in a cave under the Temple Mount in the heart of Israel during the time of King Josiah because of the prophesied coming Babylonian invasion. Jesus left their temple desolate, too, because God had chosen Him and His body as the new Temple. In fulfillment of this type, the Church is definitely threatened with a prophesied invasion and captivity by the Babylonian U.S. Great Eagle and going underground is next for the Ark. It is clear from scripture that God's people are the Temple and its court, and that individuals have different positions in the Temple, according to their maturity in the Lord and closeness to the Lord. Rev.11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and one said, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2 And the court which is without the temple leave without, and measure it not; for it hath been given unto the nations: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. Notice there are those in the Temple and those who worship in the altar area, due to their sacrificial life, who will be safe. But those in the outer court will be left out of the safe place and trampled under the foot of men as a crucifixion because, as Jesus said, they have lost their saltiness. That leaves us with the Ark of the Covenant in the safe place of the Holy of Holies. Who is it that is a container as the Ark for God's presence, the Manna of the Word, the tables of testimony, and Aaron's rod that budded as a sign of authority? In Jesus' day, He was God in a vessel of a Son of David Who had these qualities inside; He was the Ark of the Covenant who led the Bride through the wilderness. In these days, the Man-child is God manifested in a vessel of the spiritual sons of David with these qualities: He will be the Ark of the Covenant that will lead the Bride through the wilderness. The Man-child is the first-fruits to manifest “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Suani's car represents the body of the Bride that will be guided by the Ark to the foundation of the building, which is holiness. The basement is the foundation of the Temple that God is about to lay again through the corporate man-child ministry. Hag.2:23 In that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith Jehovah, and will make thee as a signet; for I have chosen thee, saith Jehovah of hosts. Notice Zerubbabel, meaning “born from Babylon”, will be a signet, which is a seal of authority, such as kings have. The first-fruits Man-child company will come with the authority of God to bring God's people out of bondage to the world and through the wilderness tribulation. The foundation of the Lord's house, not made with man's hands, will be laid again after a great falling away since the time of the Apostles. Hag.2:18 Consider, I pray you, from this day and backward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth [month], since the day that the foundation of Jehovah's temple was laid, consider it. It is through the shaking of the nations in the tribulation that God's “desired” people come out of them to become the temple of peace. Hag.2:7 and I will shake all nations; and the precious things (Hebrew: desired) of all nations shall come; and I will fill this house with glory, saith Jehovah of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith Jehovah of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, saith Jehovah of hosts; and in this place will I give peace, saith Jehovah of hosts. In the former rain, Jesus, the Man-child, was the foundation of the former glory house. 1Co.3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. So also in the latter rain, Jesus in Zerubbabel as a type of the Man-child and Ark of the Covenant will lay the foundation of the latter, greater glory house. Zec.4:9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that Jehovah of hosts hath sent me unto you.” Notice this verse is saying that it is the Lord who is coming in Zerubbabel to build the house of God. It will be founded on holiness, which is separation from the World and conformity to the Word. Back to Suani: I would like to say that God has been helping me a lot to walk in holiness. Things I used to brush off are not OK anymore. Isa.35:8 And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but is shall be for [the redeemed]: the wayfaring men, yea fools, shall not err [therein]. This is a new level of holiness. I have been corrected very quickly lately. Heb.12:5-6 My son, regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord, Nor faint when thou art reproved of him; 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened [us] as seemed good to them; but he for [our] profit, that [we] may be partakers of his holiness. Now thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions must be holy. I know this is impossible in the flesh, and I rely on the Holy Spirit continuously for help. He is interested in not only outward obedience but in inward surrender and trust. I think He is doing this to save us from judgments that are soon to come. 1Co.11:31 But if we discerned ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. Delayed obedience, as well as doing anything against my conscience, are also things He has brought to my attention. Rom.14:23 But he that doubteth is condemned if he eat, because [he eateth] not of faith; and whatsoever is not of faith is sin.   God's Hand Protects the First Fruits C. P. - 6/28/21 (David's notes in red) I dreamed my husband and I, together with some others whom I did not recognize, were standing on the white deck of a boat. (This represents the remnant first fruits who are in God's Ark of safety floating above the waters of the curse.) I saw a hand come out of heaven, and I heard the words from our Father say, “My hand covers my people.” (Psa.91:1-12 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of Jehovah, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in whom I trust. 3 For he will deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, And from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover thee with his pinions, And under his wings shalt thou take refuge: His truth is a shield and a buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, Nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 For the pestilence that walketh in darkness, Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand; But it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, And see the reward of the wicked. 9 For thou, O Jehovah, art my refuge! Thou hast made the Most High thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, Neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent. 11 For he will give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.) There was a tremor, or a push or jolt from somewhere. (Representing the tribulation shakings that are coming upon the world to get the attention of God's elect.) We fell overboard into the water below. (This represents being plunged into the tribulation in order to overcome the curses of this world.) God's hand literally came into the water with us and became a glass sheet between us and a giant sea creature. It was black and white like an Orca whale and had really sharp teeth. (This black and white sea creature represents the beast in the sea of this world's people. The beast is always looking to devour God's people like the dragon of Revelation 12. The black and white means it has also been dictating to this world what is true and false, and what is right and wrong.) Rev.12:13-17 And when the dragon saw that he was cast down to the earth, he persecuted the woman that brought forth the man-child. 14 And there were given to the woman the two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness unto her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman water as a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream. (The woman here is the Church, but within this larger body is the chosen bride.) 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon waxed wroth with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, that keep the commandments of God, and hold the testimony of Jesus.) Our skin was glossy or shiny. (Representing the Bride's lampros garments, which are the righteous acts of the saints according to Rev.19.) It was like God's hand had emitted some sort of repellent onto us so the sea creature could not devour us. There was no fear or confusion, and we breathed easily underwater. (Meaning, the waters of the curse cannot hinder their breath or spirit.) We were so small compared to this sea creature; we looked like shrimp. God's hand was over us the whole time. (Isa.43:1-5 But now thus saith Jehovah that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed thee; I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine. 2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 3 For I am Jehovah thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour; I have given Egypt as thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in thy stead. 4 Since thou hast been precious in my sight, and honorable, and I have loved thee; therefore will I give men in thy stead, and peoples instead of thy life. 5 Fear not; for I am with thee…) I asked the Lord for a word by faith at random and received Eze.18:19 Yet say ye, Wherefore doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. (They are not under the genetic curse of the Adamic nature passed down through their parents.) I asked Him for another Word, specifically about His hand, and received Hebrews 3:7, with my finger on Holy Spirit. (In context 7-9) 7 Wherefore, even as the Holy Spirit saith, To-day if ye shall hear his voice, 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, Like as in the day of the trial in the wilderness (tribulation), 9 Where your fathers tried me by proving me, And saw my works forty years (the number of tribulation).

Wednesday, 8 April 2026   But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. Matthew 18:25   “And he, having naught to pay, the lord, he commanded him sold, and his wife, and the children, and all, as much as he has - and repayment.” (CG)   In the previous verse, one of the king's servants was found to have owed him myriads of talents. Because of this, it next says, “And he, having naught to pay, the lord, he commanded him sold.”   This would be understood from the Law of Moses, such as –   “And if one of your brethren who dwells by you becomes poor, and sells himself to you, you shall not compel him to serve as a slave.” Leviticus 25:39   The provisions in Israel for bondservants such as this were carefully laid out in Leviticus 25:39-55. It is probable that other countries within the Roman Empire had their own such laws. Slavery was common throughout the Roman system as well. It was an accepted part of life. As for the man, not only was he to be sold, but it continues with, “and his wife, and the children.”   An example of this is found in 2 Kings 4 –   “A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, ‘Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.'” 2 Kings 4:1   Family members were not exempt from the financial failings of the head of the house. One such provision of note concerning how family was dealt with for slaves is found in Exodus 21 –   “Now these are the judgments which you shall set before them: 2 If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years; and in the seventh he shall go out free and pay nothing. 3 If he comes in by himself, he shall go out by himself; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master has given him a wife, and she has borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself.” Exodus 21:1-4 As for this individual referred to in the parable, not only is he sold along with his family, but more, “and all, as much as he has - and repayment.”   Due to the extreme amount of debt, everything he possessed was to be confiscated and sold off. In his impossible situation, he would be a man without anything except the hope of service to whoever became his master.   As noted above, if this hypothetical person being referred to was a Hebrew under the Law of Moses' provisions, he would be released in the year of release, which occurred every seventh year. An example of the abuse of this practice is found in Jeremiah 34.   If this person were sold to be property of Gentiles, he would probably never be freed.   Life application: The Bible assumed the condition of slavery was an axiom of humanity. It treats the subject in a neutral manner and as something that was expected to happen. The various reasons for its coming about are detailed with the understanding that the practice was acceptable. At the same time, provisions for the proper treatment of slaves were detailed. Today, most countries and cultures do not have slavery, but there are still expectations for people to pay their bills and work in order to tend to their needs and the needs of those dependent on them. Not acting according to set guidelines for personal responsibility is to be considered inappropriate. For those who fail to tend to their needs, their own miseries are normally a self-inflicted wound. As Paul says, “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10).   If you are a properly functioning human and you don't want society to leave you in poverty, it is up to you to work, pay your bills, and deal honestly with others. In doing this, you will normally fare well.   Lord God Almighty, help us to be responsible people who will work hard and be effective in the things we do so that we will not be a burden on others. May our lives be directed to glorifying You in all ways. Amen.  

Revelation 11:15–19The Seventh Trumpet[15] Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” [16] And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, [17] saying,“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,who is and who was,for you have taken your great powerand begun to reign.[18] The nations raged,but your wrath came,and the time for the dead to be judged,and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,and those who fear your name,both small and great,and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”[19] Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail. (ESV)

When you're little, your parents seem immortal. They're not. Sooner or later, most of us get the kind of call that I got, and maybe you've gotten - a parent is gone. In my case, the hospital called to say my Mom had been admitted due to a medical emergency, but her body gave out and she was gone. No matter what the circumstances, the death of someone you love is always a shock, even if you knew maybe it was coming. When you're the only living child and your other parent is already gone, there's this numbing list of arrangements that you suddenly have to make. Thankfully, that wasn't the case with my Mom. Mercifully, funeral arrangements had been made and paid for years in advance. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Most Important Arrangements You Will Ever Make." It was a real blessing to have funeral arrangements made in advance, believe me. But my mother had made much more important pre-arrangements for the day she died, and those arrangements were the greatest blessing of all. Years ago, my Mom had made a choice that guaranteed she would be in heaven for all eternity. These are the most important arrangements you will ever make - or fail to make. God knows we're so busy living that we don't give much thought to dying. In fact, we generally try to avoid thinking about death as much as possible. Until we're looking in the casket at someone we've just lost. It's hard to look face-to-face at death like that and not think, "Where will I be when it's me there?" This isn't about being morbid. It's about being ready. If I know I'm prepared for something that's coming up, I don't have to keep thinking about it. It's settled. There's nothing more critical for you to settle than your eternal destination. Avoiding those arrangements carries a price too high to pay. That's why the Bible says in Amos 4:12-13, our word for today from the Word of God, "Prepare to meet your God...He who forms the mountains, creates the wind...and treads the high places of the earth - the Lord God Almighty is His name." It is this awesome God who will decide when you and I will take our last breath; when eternity will begin for each and every one of us. The Bible says that you and I actually have an appointment with our Creator - the time when the old-timers used to say you "meet your Maker." God's Book says, "Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). A divine appointment, the nearness of which we cannot know, and judgment for every wrong thing we have ever done. When you face God, it's too late then to make your arrangements. That's got to be done here and now. So many people think they'll get to heaven by being good. They're wrong - they're eternally wrong. The Bible clearly explains: "It is by grace (that's undeserved love) that you have been saved, through faith - and this...is the gift of God - not by works" (Ephesians 2:8-9). All our good can't possibly cancel our sin because sin has this eternal death penalty, and a death penalty cannot be paid by somebody doing good. Somebody's got to die, and someone did. Jesus did - so you don't have to. Your only hope is grabbing Him like a drowning person would grab a rescuer. If you've never done that, you are not (in the Bible's words) "prepared to meet your God." But you can be, beginning today. You can actually know from this moment on that you are going to heaven when you die, because the sin that would keep you out of heaven has been forever forgiven by the One who died for that sin. Your spiritual rescue begins the moment you say, "Jesus, I'm putting my total trust in You and what You did on the cross for me. I'm Yours." Our website is basically there to help you be sure you belong to Jesus. Let me give you that web address. It's ANewStory.com. There is no greater peace, there's no greater security, than to know your arrangements for eternity have all been made. This very day you can prepare to meet your God.

When you're little, your parents seem immortal. They're not. Sooner or later, most of us get the kind of call that I got, and maybe you've gotten - a parent is gone. In my case, the hospital called to say my Mom had been admitted due to a medical emergency, but her body gave out and she was gone. No matter what the circumstances, the death of someone you love is always a shock, even if you knew maybe it was coming. When you're the only living child and your other parent is already gone, there's this numbing list of arrangements that you suddenly have to make. Thankfully, that wasn't the case with my Mom. Mercifully, funeral arrangements had been made and paid for years in advance. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Most Important Arrangements You Will Ever Make." It was a real blessing to have funeral arrangements made in advance, believe me. But my mother had made much more important pre-arrangements for the day she died, and those arrangements were the greatest blessing of all. Years ago, my Mom had made a choice that guaranteed she would be in heaven for all eternity. These are the most important arrangements you will ever make - or fail to make. God knows we're so busy living that we don't give much thought to dying. In fact, we generally try to avoid thinking about death as much as possible. Until we're looking in the casket at someone we've just lost. It's hard to look face-to-face at death like that and not think, "Where will I be when it's me there?" This isn't about being morbid. It's about being ready. If I know I'm prepared for something that's coming up, I don't have to keep thinking about it. It's settled. There's nothing more critical for you to settle than your eternal destination. Avoiding those arrangements carries a price too high to pay. That's why the Bible says in Amos 4:12-13, our word for today from the Word of God, "Prepare to meet your God...He who forms the mountains, creates the wind...and treads the high places of the earth - the Lord God Almighty is His name." It is this awesome God who will decide when you and I will take our last breath; when eternity will begin for each and every one of us. The Bible says that you and I actually have an appointment with our Creator - the time when the old-timers used to say you "meet your Maker." God's Book says, "Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). A divine appointment, the nearness of which we cannot know, and judgment for every wrong thing we have ever done. When you face God, it's too late then to make your arrangements. That's got to be done here and now. So many people think they'll get to heaven by being good. They're wrong - they're eternally wrong. The Bible clearly explains: "It is by grace (that's undeserved love) that you have been saved, through faith - and this...is the gift of God - not by works" (Ephesians 2:8-9). All our good can't possibly cancel our sin because sin has this eternal death penalty, and a death penalty cannot be paid by somebody doing good. Somebody's got to die, and someone did. Jesus did - so you don't have to. Your only hope is grabbing Him like a drowning person would grab a rescuer. If you've never done that, you are not (in the Bible's words) "prepared to meet your God." But you can be, beginning today. You can actually know from this moment on that you are going to heaven when you die, because the sin that would keep you out of heaven has been forever forgiven by the One who died for that sin. Your spiritual rescue begins the moment you say, "Jesus, I'm putting my total trust in You and what You did on the cross for me. I'm Yours." Our website is basically there to help you be sure you belong to Jesus. Let me give you that web address. It's ANewStory.com. There is no greater peace, there's no greater security, than to know your arrangements for eternity have all been made. This very day you can prepare to meet your God.

1 Kings 19Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your           life like that of one of them.”Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,      while he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have       had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of             God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.     The Lord Appears to Elijah     And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put             your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”     Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After             the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13When Elijah heard it, he pulled his       cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.     Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and                     put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.      Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

www.tswrightspeaks.comwww.jesussaid.tvwww.godcenteredconcept.comIn this episode of TS Wright Speaks, we explore one of the most awe-inspiring passages in Scripture—Revelation chapter 4, where the apostle John is given a glimpse into the throne room of heaven.John describes the throne of God surrounded by a radiant rainbow, flashes of lightning, twenty-four elders seated on thrones, and four living creatures who continually proclaim:“Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.”But this chapter is not just about heavenly imagery. It reveals something much deeper—the nature of true worship.In this teaching, we examine:What John saw when the door to heaven openedThe meaning of the throne, the elders, and the living creaturesWhy the elders cast their crowns before GodWhat it means to worship God as CreatorThe difference between conversion and discipleshipWhy real worship involves surrendering every part of our lives to GodRevelation 4 reminds us that everything we have—our abilities, our voice, our body, and our life—ultimately belongs to the One who created all things. True worship is not just what we do in church; it is how we live every moment before the Creator.Join us as we unpack this powerful passage and consider the question every believer must answer:Are we merely converts, or are we true disciples of Christ?As Scripture declares:“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.” Episode Show NotesScripture CoveredRevelation 4Isaiah 11:2–3Luke 14:26–33Key ThemesThe throne room of heavenGod as Creator of all thingsHeavenly worshipThe crowns of the eldersTrue discipleship vs. conversionLiving a life of total surrender to GodKey TakeawayTrue worship is not limited to church services. It is the daily act of laying everything we are and everything we have before the Creator who gave it to us.Call To ActionIf this teaching encouraged you:Follow TS Wright SpeaksShare this episode with someone studying the Book of RevelationEpisode Keywords (SEO / Podcast Search)Revelation 4 Revelation Bible study Throne room of God Worship in heaven 24 elders revelation Four living creatures bible Christian discipleship Biblical prophecy Book of Revelation teaching Bible prophecy podcast Christian theology podcast TS Wright Speaks Bible teaching podcast End times bible study Christian discipleship teaching

Sunday, 15 March 2026   At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Matthew 18:1   “In that hour, they came, the disciples to Jesus, saying, ‘Who then, he is, greatest in the kingdom of the heavens'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus's word finished Chapter 17 as He told Peter to go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish he caught, opening its mouth, and taking out a stater that would be in its mouth. With that, Peter was to pay the temple tax for Jesus and himself. Chapter 18 begins with, “In that hour.”   Mark and Luke do not mention the account concerning Peter and the payment of the temple tax. Instead, they go into Jesus' words about Him being betrayed and killed (Matthew 17:22, 23) directly into the account now stated. Peter, being the one approached by the tax collectors, may have simply been drawn out of the flow of the narrative, or Matthew may have put that account in there categorically to ensure typology was maintained.   Either way, each account describes this scene a little bit differently, but all agree on the overall tenor of what occurs. Placing the three accounts together, a full picture of how the matter arose is easily seen. This matter is, according to Matthew, that “they came, the disciples to Jesus, saying, ‘Who then, he is, greatest in the kingdom of the heavens?'”   To introduce this account, Mark says, “Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, ‘What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?'” Luke records, “Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest.”   The substance of the matter is that of being great in their hoped-for Messianic kingdom. The disciples argued over who the greatest of them would be. Thus, there is a mark of selfishness and a desire to be recognized above the others. This is a part of the human condition, and few, if any, are exempt from it.   Life application: For the most part, those who appear exempt from feelings of grandeur and self-importance are simply aware of the fact that they don't have a way of becoming great, or they lack what is needed in whatever they think “being great” means. It's not that they don't want it, it's that they aren't able to attain it.   This may not be universal, but it generally becomes evident when someone who had no shot at becoming “great” suddenly has greatness thrust upon him. It is a very rare soul who will handle his elevation responsibly and with humility.   But such an attitude is contrary to what is biblically expected of all, much less leaders. Paul says –   “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3, 4   After saying that, he pens the example of Christ, the One to be emulated –   “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11   Therefore, even if this is not in our nature, we are asked to work on it, until it becomes our nature. The King of the Universe was willing to unite with humanity and take on the lowliest form of man, serving others. This is what God esteems in us. It is akin to the example that Jesus will set forth to His disciples in the verses ahead in Matthew.   Let us have this mind in us, to the glory of God who called us unto Himself.   Lord God Almighty, may we be willing to set aside our pride, lustful desires, and the earthly temptations that we are constantly bombarded with to pursue a life of humility and honoring others. Above all, may our actions be done to glorify You. You alone are truly worthy of all praise, glory, and honor. Amen.

One of the oldest and most beloved of our Christian hymns is "Holy, Holy, Holy!  Lord God Almighty." The words were written by Reginald Heber, who was born in 1783. When we say that God is holy, what does that mean? This may sound like a dull, uninteresting subject, but today we are going to look at what God's holiness means to us in our everyday lives. For more information on the Campground, insider tips and FAQ's, listen to our General Ocean Lakes Podcast, Campground Conversations. 

Title: "What Do Angels Do?" - Hebrews 1:14; Psalm 103:20-21; Revelation 5:11-12 Series: Unseen - The Truth About Angels (Week 2) Last week we answered the question: What ARE angels? We discovered that angels are created beings—not eternal, not former humans. Dead people don't become angels. We saw that angels have a hierarchy—archangels, cherubim, seraphim—and that angels are powerful and terrifying, not cute cherubs. This week we asked a different question: What DO angels do? Not their nature, but their function. What role do angels play in God's plan? How do they spend their time? What are they doing right now? Scripture reveals three primary activities of angels: they worship, they serve as messengers, and they fight as warriors. First, angels worship. This is their primary function. This is what they were created to do. Revelation 4:8 describes living creatures who "day and night they never cease to say, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!'" Angels worship continuously, without breaks, without vacations, without off days. Unending worship. Revelation 5:11-12 gives us an even fuller picture: "Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, 'Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!'" Innumerable angels—countless multitudes—all worshiping the Lamb. Angels don't worship because they have to. They worship because they see God clearly. We struggle with worship sometimes because our vision is clouded by sin, by self, by the world. But angels see God as He is—His holiness, His glory, His majesty, His beauty. And the natural response is worship. They can't help it. When you see God clearly, worship is the only reasonable response. Angels refuse to be worshiped themselves. In Revelation 22:8-9, when John falls down to worship an angel, the angel says, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God." Angels know their place. They're servants, fellow worshipers. But they're not worthy of worship. Only God is. If angels—who are greater than us in power and glory—spend eternity worshiping God, what should we be doing? Worship isn't optional. Worship isn't just something we do on Sunday morning. Worship is our purpose. It's what we were created for. And one day, we'll join the angels in unceasing worship around God's throne. Second, angels are servants and messengers. Hebrews 1:14 says, "Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?" Angels don't just worship in heaven. They're sent on missions. They deliver messages. They serve God's purposes. They minister to believers. Acts 12 shows this powerfully. Peter is in prison, facing execution. King Herod plans to kill him after Passover. The church is praying earnestly for Peter. Then an angel appears in the prison cell—light shining, chains falling off. The angel gives Peter specific instructions: Get up. Get dressed. Put on your sandals. Wrap your cloak. Follow me. The angel leads Peter past the guards, through the iron gate, out into the street. Mission accomplished—the angel leaves. Notice what the angel did: The angel served God's purposes (God wanted Peter rescued, the angel carried out the mission). The angel served Peter (woke him, freed him, led him out, protected him). The angel delivered a message through action (God has intervened; you're free; go). Throughout Scripture, we see this pattern: Gabriel appears to Zechariah to announce John the Baptist's birth. Gabriel appears to Mary to announce Jesus' conception. An angel guides Joseph to flee to Egypt and later return. Angels announce Jesus' birth to shepherds. An angel directs Philip to the Ethiopian eunuch who comes to faith. An angel appears to Cornelius, opening the door for the gospel to go to the Gentiles. An angel appears to Paul during a storm, assuring him everyone will survive. Angels don't serve themselves. They serve God. Psalm 103:20 says, "Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word!" They obey. They do His word. They listen to His voice and carry out His commands. And yes, they serve believers—but only as God directs. We don't command angels. We can't order them around. We don't pray to angels or ask them for help. We pray to God, and He commands His angels concerning us. God is working behind the scenes in ways we can't see. Angels are active—delivering messages, opening doors, protecting, guiding. We may never see them, but they're there. When we pray, God may answer through angelic ministry. The church prayed for Peter. God sent an angel. Keep praying. God is at work. Third, angels are warriors. Angels are engaged in warfare—spiritual warfare, cosmic battles, fights we can't see. Second Kings 6 provides the most dramatic example. The king of Syria sends an army to capture Elisha. Elisha's servant wakes up, sees the Syrian army surrounding the city, and panics: "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" Then Elisha says something profound: "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." Elisha prays, "O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see." And the LORD opened the servant's eyes, "and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." An angelic army. Surrounding Elisha. Ready to fight. The Syrian army didn't stand a chance. Elisha knew what his servant didn't: There's more happening than what we can see. The servant saw the Syrian army and was afraid. But when God opened his eyes, he saw the angelic army—far greater, far more powerful. This is the unseen reality. Angels are warriors, fighting battles we can't see. Daniel 10 gives us another glimpse of spiritual warfare. Daniel prays and fasts for 21 days. Then an angel appears and says, "Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me." The angel was delayed for 21 days by the prince of Persia—a demonic power, a fallen angel ruling over Persia. There was a battle. A spiritual battle between the angel bringing God's message and the demon trying to stop him. Michael the archangel had to come and help. This reveals something crucial: There are spiritual battles happening that we can't see. Ephesians 6:12 says, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." We're in a war. But the real battle isn't against other people. It's against spiritual forces of evil. And angels are fighting on our behalf. Revelation 12:7-9 describes war in heaven: "Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him." Angelic warfare. Michael and his angels versus the dragon and his angels. We are more protected than we realize. When Elisha's servant saw the angelic army, his fear turned to faith. If God opened our eyes right now, we'd see angels at work. Our prayers matter in spiritual warfare. Daniel prayed for 21 days while angels fought. Don't give up. Keep praying. Battles are being won in the unseen realm. The outcome is certain. Satan and his angels were thrown down. They're defeated. Michael and God's angels win. The war is already won—we're just waiting for the final victory. The message concluded with three applications: First, worship like angels worship. They never cease. We should be consistent. Make worship a lifestyle, not just an event. Declare God's holiness. Proclaim the Lamb's worthiness. Join the angels in their eternal song. Second, trust that God is working. You can't see the angels, but they're there. Serving. Ministering. Carrying out God's will. When you pray, angels may be dispatched. When you face opposition, angels may be fighting. Trust that God is at work. Third, don't live in fear. Elisha told his servant, "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." That's still true. Greater is He who is in you. Angels are fighting for you. The battle is already won. Angels worship God continuously. Angels serve God's purposes faithfully. Angels fight for God's people courageously. And we are part of the story they're writing. Live in light of the unseen reality all around you. Key Scriptures: Psalm 103:20-21; Hebrews 1:14; Revelation 4:8-11; 5:11-12; 22:8-9; Luke 1-2; Matthew 1-2; Acts 8:26; 10; 12:6-11; 27:23; 2 Kings 6:16-17; Daniel 10:12-13; Ephesians 6:12; Revelation 12:7-9; 1 John 4:4

Friday, 13 March 2026   Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.” Matthew 17:27   “And that not we should entrap them, having gone to the sea, you cast a hook, and the ‘having ascended first' fish, you lift, and having opened its mouth, you will find a stater. That, having taken, you give to them for Me and you.” (CG).   In the previous verse, Peter responded to Jesus that the kings of the earth take their customs and taxes from the unfamiliars. Jesus then responded that the sons are free. Despite this truth, He continues, saying, “And that not we should entrap them.”   The idea is that it would be inappropriate to cause those collecting the census to be tripped up by the claim that the sons are free from paying. It would lead to a difficult set of explanations and argumentations that would serve no purpose in the ongoing ministry as it marched to its completion.   Jesus' time to be revealed as the Messiah had not yet reached its fulfillment (Matthew 16:20). Therefore, any claims of exemption from paying the temple tax would be misunderstood and could later be used as a charge against Him. Understanding this, Jesus continues His words to Peter, saying, “having gone to the sea, you cast a hook.”   It is a word found only here in Scripture, agkistron, a hook. It is akin to agkalé, an arm (as curved or bent). Both are derived from agkos, a bend. Jesus feels Peter needs a little time to himself for relaxation. Well, maybe not. Jesus has a specific intent for Peter to go fishing, and so He continues, “and the ‘having ascended first' fish, you lift.”   Jesus doesn't say, “...if you catch a fish.” Rather, He confirms Peter will. Regardless of its size or kind, he isn't to toss it back. Rather, Jesus says, “and having opened its mouth, you will find a stater.”   It is another word found only this once in the Bible, statér, a stander (standard of value). HELPS Word studies says it is “a silver coin worth two didrachma and equivalent to four denarii (a tetradrachma, four drachmae) – the exact amount of the Temple-tax required for two people.”   In other words, what Jesus is doing is proving His authority over every possible contingency one could imagine. Peter is to go fishing, cast in a hook, he will catch a fish (a fifty/fifty proposition), when he pulls up the fish, regardless of its type, and out of all the fish he could possibly catch in the Sea of Galilee, and it occurring at that exact moment, there will be a coin in its mouth.   The probability of such an event extends to all the fish in human history that have been found with a coin in their mouths. When the coin is pulled out, it will be the exact coin needed to pay the tax for the two of them. That would open up the probability of every coin ever to have been in the area of the Sea of Galilee, along with the chances of it being the exact type of coin needed to pay for exactly two people.   Further, the fact that it is found in the fish's mouth, not swallowed, means that either the fish picked it up at the exact moment it also caught the hook, proving Jesus' omniscient knowledge, or Jesus created it in the fish's mouth while Peter was catching it, proving Jesus' omnipotence along with His omniscience.   The impossibility of Jesus' words, unless He has the ability to affect every single aspect of this event, is obvious. Understanding this, Jesus instructs Peter on what to do with the coin he is going to find, saying, “That, having taken, you give to them for Me and you.”   Jesus sees it as less inconvenient to do what would be utterly impossible for any human being who has ever existed to do than to argue about the temple tax with people who would then be offended at His claim. It is an utterly astonishing proposition to consider.   Life application: The wickedness of the liberal scholar's heart is exposed in the evaluation of recorded events like these in the Bible. So adamant are they that Jesus could not have done what is stated here, they have come up with several “explanations” of how this miracle was effected.   There is no point in giving them all. Each one fails to adhere to the simplicity and exacting nature of the description given in the account. One example will suffice: Jesus told Peter to go fishing. He gave him these instructions. Peter went out and caught a fish. Peter then sold the fish for a stater so that the temple tax could be paid.   Not only does that not match the account, but it also abuses it so heavily that there would be no point in including the story at all. Peter and the other disciples probably went fishing anytime they had a chance, maybe even when Jesus told them to, so that they could enjoy dinner.   There is no record of such a thing because it has no importance or connection to what is necessary to understand Jesus' ministry. Such people will receive their rewards for leading people astray with faulty analyses, such as this.   Be careful to take what is recorded in the Bible at face value. It is important to understand that we are to accept God's word by faith, even when it is not possible for us to do what is recorded there. It is a snap for God to do so if He wishes. Have faith in that.   Lord God Almighty, You can do all things, and we trust that just as You know every fish in the sea, so You are intimately aware of us. Such knowledge is beyond our minds' ability to grasp, but we can accept it by faith, knowing that You are in complete control of all things. Thank You for this surety. Amen. Matthew 17   17 And after six days, Jesus, He takes with – Peter, and James, and John his brother, and them, He uphefts into a high mountain off alone. 2And He metamorphosed before them, and it radiated, His face, like the sun, and His garments, it became whites, as the light. 3And you behold! They appeared to them Moses and Elijah, conversing with Him. 4And answering, Peter, he said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good – us to be here. If You desire, we will make here three tabernacles: You one, and Moses one, and Elijah one.”   5Yet he speaking, you behold! Cloud – lustrous, it overshadowed them. And you behold! Voice – from the cloud, saying, “This, He is, My Son, the Beloved in whom I approved! You hear – Him!” 6 And having heard, the disciples, they fell upon their face, and they feared exceedingly. 7And He came, Jesus. He touched them, and He said, “You rouse, and you fear not.” 8And having uplifted their eyes, they saw none, if not Jesus alone.   9And descending, they, from the mountain, Jesus, He enjoined them, saying, “You tell none the vision until that the Son of Man from dead, He arose.”   10And His disciples, they queried Him, saying, “Why therefore the scribes, they say that Elijah, it necessitates, to come first?”   11And Jesus answering, He said to them, “Elijah, indeed, he comes first, and he will reconstitute all. 12And I say to you that Elijah, he came already, and they knew him not, but they did in him as much as they desired. And thus the Son of Man, He is about to suffer under them.” 13Then the disciples, they comprehended that He spoke to them concerning John the Immerser.   14And they, having come unto the crowd, he approached Him – man, knee-falling to Him, and saying, 15“Lord, You compassionated my son, for he moon-strikes and he suffers badly, for frequently he falls into the fire and frequently into the water. 16And I presented him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.”   17And Jesus, answering, He said, “O! Generation disbelieving and having been mangled! I will be with you until when? I will uphold you until when? You carry him here to Me.” 18And Jesus, He admonished it, and the demon, it proceeded from him, and the boy, he was cured from that hour.   19Then, the disciples having come to Jesus off alone, they said, “Through what we – not we could eject it?”   20And Jesus, He said to them, “Through your faithlessness. For amen! I say to you, if you should have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘You depart hence thither,' and it will depart. And nothing, it will be impossible for you. 21And this kind it departs not if not in prayer and fasting.”   22And they, overturning in the Galilee, Jesus, He said to them, “The Son of Man, He is about to be surrendered into men's hands. 23and they will kill Him and the third day, He will rouse.” And they distressed exceedingly.   24And they, having come to Capernaum, they came, those taking the drachmas, to Peter, and they said, “Your Teacher, He completes not the drachmas?”   25“Yes,” he says.   And when he entered into the house, Jesus, He preanticipated him, saying, “What, you, it seems, Simon? The kings of the earth, from whom do they take tributes or census? From their sons or from unfamilars?”   26He says to Him, Peter, “From the unfamilars.”    Jesus, He says to him, “Hence, the sons, they are exempt. 27And that not we should entrap them, having gone to the sea, you cast a hook, and the ‘having ascended first' fish, you lift, and having opened its mouth, you will find a stater. That, having taken, you give to them for Me and you.”

He Is Series Day #4 El Shaddai (God Almighty) Genesis 17:1 “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless.” Today's name for God is El Shaddai. This means God Almighty. This verse is what God says to Abram right before He makes a covenant with Him and changes His name to Abraham. God promises Abraham that he will be the father of many nations and that his descendants will be too numerous to count. God made this covenant with Abraham 25 years before Abraham and his wife, Sarah, had a child together. I want to go into a bit of detail about this timeline because I have always heard that Abraham had to wait 25 years, but when I read further into Genesis Chapter 17, God tells Abraham that he will have the baby in one year. Here is a quick summary of the timeline. When Abram is 75 years old, God first calls him and tells him that he will be the father of nations. (Genesis 12:1-4) Then, after 15 years, Sarah gets tired of waiting and, honestly, probably starts to question whether the promise will come true. So, Sarah gives her handmaid to Abram, and they have a baby together. Abram is 86 when Ismael is born. (Gene 16:16) Then, 13 years later, God returns, and that is where this verse picks up. God changes their names to Abraham and Sarah and promises that Sarah will conceive within one year. At this point, Abraham is 99 years old. This is important to know because sometimes we think that if God is making a covenant with us and has a plan for our lives, then we will automatically see that plan come to pass. We start to doubt that God really has a plan for us when we don't see immediate signs. Or maybe we are ok waiting for a few weeks or a few months, but what if we needed to wait 25 years? I am not a fan of waiting. God and I talk about this all the time. I am continually asking why we can't go with my timeline rather than His. I am sure I am not the only one who asks Him this question. Do you ever feel tired of waiting? Do you ever wonder if it is really going to happen, since you have been waiting so long? I definitely know people who gave up hope that the thing they were praying for would happen. This is not unusual. It is hard to wait for God's time. Even Abraham and Sarah, who were chosen by God to be the parents of nations, got tired of waiting for God to give them a baby and took it into their own hands. Have you ever done this before? Have you ever gotten tired of waiting for the Lord to find you the right boyfriend/girlfriend and settled for the wrong one? Have you ever decided to do something, even though you were pretty sure it wasn't right, just because you wanted the dream to come true? When we force situations to fulfil God's promises, instead of letting God fill them in His perfect timing, things never work out well. I know waiting is hard. It is especially hard if you are waiting on something that you feel has a time limit. For instance, if you want to have a family and you feel your biological clock is ticking, it may be very hard to wait on the Lord. And I know it is easy to say that Sarah gave birth long after her childbearing days were over, but it's another thing to believe it can happen in this day and age. God will come through for you. It just requires a whole lot of patience to wait on Him. I have a friend who really wanted to be married and have a family. She was in her forties and feeling like it was never going to happen. However, she kept trying to hope that it would happen. She kept trying to believe God would come through and fulfill her deepest desires. This summer, she will have been married for two years to a man who is perfect for her. The two of them just make so much sense together. They even have the same sense of humor. It's so sweet to see them together! God will answer your prayers, too! Whenever I said this name for the Lord in this episode, a song instantly came into my head. It is a great song to demonstrate how Almight our God is! The song is titled Good God Almighty and it is sung by Crowder. I am going to share that song with you now.   [Verse 1] I can't count the times I've called Your name some broken night And You showed up and patched me up like You do every time I get amnesia, I forget that you keep coming around Yeah, ain't no way You'll ever let me down I love this verse because it reminds us that every time we call out to the Lord, He shows up. It also reminds us that we can cry out to him when we are broken; we don't have to wait until we fix ourselves before we do. I also love the imagery when the song says, you showed up and patched me up like you do every time. God is going to come and help you every time. Not sometimes, not occasionally, EVERYTIME! I also like how it shows us we are not alone when we forget that God is there, or when we forget to call out to Him. We forget that God won't ever let us down! [Chorus] Good God Almighty, I hope You'll find me Praising Your name, no matter what comes 'Cause I know where I'd be without Your mercy So I keep praising Your name at the top of my lungs If you have been listening to this podcast for a while, you know how much I love praise. So, you can see why I love this chorus. Crowder is saying that he hopes the Lord will find him praising His name no matter what comes his way. I pray this for each one of you. I pray, no matter what situation you are in, that the Lord will find you praising His name. Praise will change your situation so much faster than anything else will. I also love the line that says, “'Cause I know where I'd be without Your mercy.” Where would I be without God's mercy? Where would you be without God's mercy? [Post-Chorus] Tell me, is He good? (He's good) Tell me, is He God? (He's God) Hе is Good God Almighty [Verse 2] You say Your love goes on forevеr, that Your mercy never stops So why would I assume you'll be somebody that you're not? Like sun in the morning, I know You're gonna be there every day So what on Earth could make me be afraid? This verse is great because it reminds us that God is who He says He is. If He says His love is forever, and His mercy never stops, then why would we assume, or why do we worry that He will stop loving us or that He won't forgive us? I also love the reminder that just as the sun rises every single morning, so too will God be with us every single day! [Bridge] Praise Him in the morning, praise Him in the noon time Praise Him when the sun goes down Love Him in the morning, love Him in the noon time Love Him when the sun goes down This bridge is great because it reminds us how important it is to praise God all throughout the day. It is also important to love him all throughout the day. I don't know how much you praise the Lord, but if you praise Him more, you will notice a difference in your life. You will begin to notice that you are less negative and more open to those around you. You will see more good than bad when your focus is on praise. [Outro] Jesus in the morning, Jesus in the noon time Jesus when the sun goes down Jesus in the morning, Jesus in the noon time Jesus when the sun goes down And this ending couldn't be better. If we focus on God throughout our entire day, we will see how good El Shaddai really is. It is important to invite God into each part of your day. It doesn't have to take long. You don't have to spend 30 minutes praying in the morning, at noon, and when the sun goes down. But you could take a quick moment to pause and to invite the Lord into whatever you are doing. It will make things run smoother if you invite the Lord into it. The two main things to remember today. First, God is the Almighty one. His plan is better than your plan, and His timing is better than your timing! Second, sometimes God will give you a promise without a timeline. We don't know when God will decide it is time for that plan to be fulfilled. However, if we rush it and try to take it into our own hands, it never turns out the way we thought. It might still work out, but it won't be as amazing as the plan God had for us if we had just waited for it. Actually, there is one more thing: praise God while you wait. It will make the waiting time more bearable. Dear El Shaddai, I ask you to bless all those listening to this episode today. Lord, you are amazing. You are the Lord God Almighty, and I am so grateful for all you do for us. Lord, please help us to have the patience and hope to wait for your perfect timing. Give us the strength and wisdom we need to not take things into our own hands. We love you and we ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus's holy name, Amen! Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus. If you are enjoying this He Is series where we are learning more about who God is, please share it with a friend. I look forward to seeing you here tomorrow. Remember, Jesus loves you just as you are, and so do I! God is on your side and we are both rooting for you! Have a blessed day! Today's Word from the Lord was received in September 2025 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email CatholicCharismaticPrayerGroup@gmail.com. Today's Word from the Lord is, “Do not let circumstances frighten you. I am above all circumstances, all situations. Anything that can come at you does not come at you without my permission. So, trust me.” www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

Order of Service: - Prelude - Hymn 15 - Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty - Romans 8:31-39: What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Devotion - Prayer - Hymn 260 - Now Let Triumphant Faith Dispel - Blessing - Postlude Service Participants: Rev. Andrew Soule, Mt. Olive Lutheran, Mankato (Preacher), Laura Matzke (Organist)

Welcome to Troy Church's podcast series. Our Connection Card link:https://troychurch.breezechms.com/form/7e350cSermon NotesA Willingness Savior (Luke 5:12-16)An Authoritative Savior (Luke 5:17-26)Luke 4:18-19A Pursuing Savior (Luke 5:27-32)Worship Songs"You Hold it All Together" - Maverick City Music and UPPERROOM"God, You're So Good" - Kristian Stanfill and Passion"Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty"You can keep up with all things Troy Church right here on our channel, and also at our other social media and outreach opportunities:facebook.com/troychurch.tvinstagram/troychurchalwww.troychurch.tv

8 "Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty, the One who was and is and is to come... 11 You are worthy , O LORD our God, to receive glory and honor and power...".  God, You are worthy indeed! Let our hearts and voices ring out with praises to our LORD! 

Send a textThe devotion for today, Tuesday, March 03, 2026 was written by Dan Peeler and is narrated by Logan Johnson. Today's Words of Inspiration come from Revelation 19.6-8Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:“Hallelujah!    For our Lord God Almighty reigns.Let us rejoice and be glad    and give God glory!For the wedding of the Lamb has come,    and the bride has made herself ready.Fine linen, bright and clean,    was given her to wear.” Support the show

John 2:13-22 Please turn to John chapter 2. Our sermon text is John 2:13-22. Last week Jesus turned water into wine - well, not really last week, but 2000 years ago. You know what I mean. That miracle, or "sign," as the apostle John calls it, (1) revealed Jesus' glory; (2) signified Jesus' cleansing ministry; and (3)  was a foretaste of the blessing that will come at the end of the age. In our reading today, Jesus and his disciples went up to Jerusalem. By the way, travelling to Jerusalem was always travelling up. It didn't matter whether you were coming from the north, south, east, or west, Jerusalem was in the mountains and you would be ascending. Reading of John 2:13-22 Prayer Earlier this week, I scanned through the Old Testament and counted how many chapters focused on the temple. You know, I was curious. I counted 39 chapters spread across 10 Old Testament books. That includes chapters focused on the tabernacle - which was the precursor to the temple. So 39 chapters on the temple and tabernacle. Then I thought I would count the chapters which focused on priests and priestly activity. I counted at least 30 more. I lost my place, actually… and didn't want to start over. So at least 30 more. That's about 70 chapters which focus on the temple or temple activity. And these are not just chapters that only mention the temple or tabernacle or priests, no, these are chapters that describe the construction and the contents of the temple… like the lampstands, the altar, the incense, and the Ark of the Covenant and all the details about the ark. These chapters also describe the different courts and the holy place and the holy of holies… all with specific measurements. We're given details about the priestly vestments and all the different sacrifices and their purposes. The High Priest was to wear special garb with different kinds of gems. The day of atonement is described. We're given details about the priestly activities and roles. The temple was to host annual festivals, such as the Feast of Weeks and the Passover. There's a lot. Furthermore, every temple object and practice was a divinely designed shadow of a greater substance to come. They were all types. They each in some way signified aspects of salvation or worship or God's character including and especially his holiness. When the Israelites travelled to Jerusalem, they were travelling for some activity related to the temple. In some way, they would participate in temple activities that drew them closer to God - those activities would reveal his holiness and the forgiveness they needed from their sin…. and the salvation which God would bring. The temple was the center of their spiritual life. It was a sacred place where God was to be revered and worshiped and where his presence dwelt. That is why the destruction of the temple by the Babylonians was so traumatic. That had happened about 600 year earlier. It's why the rebuilding of the temple in Ezra's day was a great joy. Even despite the second temple's shortcomings, it restored sacrifices and worship. I've had the opportunity to visit Jerusalem twice. And both times, I was able to visit the western wall of the temple mount. Maybe you've heard of it. The temple mount was the massive foundation upon which the temple was built. The temple was destroyed again almost 2000 years ago, but the temple mount is largely intact. The western wall is the closest that a Jew, today, can get to where the original temple used to be. The area next to the western wall is usually packed with people - people praying and rocking back and forth and putting little notes in between the massive stones. You see, even though the temple is no longer there, the location is still sacred and a source of grief for many in the Jewish community. I bring all that up because as the narrative now moves to Jerusalem, we're brought right to the temple. We're brought right to the center of life and activity in Jerusalem. And notice that not only does the temple come into view here, but we're told in verse 13 that the annual Passover celebration was at hand. The Passover was one of the two main festivals that would bring pilgrims to Jerusalem. It celebrated God's deliverance of his people out of Egypt. The whole event took a week and involved meals and rituals. The most important thing was the sacrifice of animals on the temple altar. The normal sacrifice was a lamb, you know a young sheep. However, wealthy families could offer an ox and poor families could offer pigeons. For the Passover, the population of Jerusalem would swell by at least a few hundred thousand people. If you believe Josephus, the Jewish historian, he estimated even higher - he estimated 2.7 million additional people. That's likely an over estimate, but the point is that the city was packed, and especially the area surrounding the temple and temple mount. And since a significant portion of the Passover involved sacrificing animals, families needed to have animals to sacrifice. Some, of course, brought their own, but if you were travelling a long way, that would be difficult. Other families didn't raise animals. And so, the Passover week involved the buying and selling of animals. Thousands and thousands of oxen and lambs and pigeons. Archeologists have found nearby caves with hundreds of bird pens. The birds would be raised and then sold at the Passover. All the buying and selling was, of course, a business. The problem here was not that animals were being bought and sold. No, to some extent, that had to happen. Rather, the problem was that the buying and selling of animals and the currency exchanges were happening in the temple area. Specifically, it was happening in the Court of the Gentiles which was right next to the main temple building. Now, it didn't need to happen there. There was plenty of space in other parts of the city. But, as you can imagine, being right there was very convenient. Right there you could exchange your foreign currency, and then buy your animal, and then you could walk couple hundred steps to the temple altar where the priests would then make your sacrifice. And so, the merchants set up shop right there in the temple courts. The problem was that God had graciously given Israel the temple and its practices as signs of his grace. By abusing them, the people were forsaking God and breaking his covenant promises Let me highlight 4 ways in which all this offended God: 1. First, the worship of God had become transactional. The ceremonies and sacrifices had been established by God as a means to worship him. They were the avenue through which God was revealing his salvation and character. Yet the people had turned true worship into empty worship… into going-through-the-motions worship. Their sacrifices were not pleasing to God. 2. Second, the temple area was to be a sacred place. It was to be where God's glory dwelt. People were to come there to pray and to be instructed by the priests and to commune with the living God. But all of that was disrupted by the merchants and money changers. Think of the disruption that the animals made - thousands of them! And they were doing animal things - you know what I mean - making noise and making a mess. It distracted true worshippers from worshipping the Lord. 3. Third, it was all a racket. It was striking against the very holiness of God. In the other Gospel accounts, Jesus called the traders and money changers a den of robbers. Their fraud and price gouging demonstrated hearts far from God and his ways. If you were to pick one word that described the temple… it would be the word holy. Holy refers to God's set-apart-ness - his pure and utter righteousness. Inside the temple building was the holy place and at the heart of the temple was the holy of holies. All of the temple elements and practices in some way or another demonstrated the holiness of God. That is why this activity was defiling the temple. It was unholy. It was all disgraceful to God. The merchants' unholiness was a stark contrast to the holiness of God. 4. And the fourth problem was that no one was doing anything about all this. The Jewish leaders failed by letting this all happen in the first place…  and they didn't put an end to it as it spiraled out of control. Maybe they were even profiting off of it - that's likely but we don't know. And so, when Jesus arrived, he witnessed the utter desecration of the temple. And notice he called the temple "my father's house." That acknowledged both his identity as the Son of God, and it acknowledged the significance of the temple as where God dwelt. And in response, Jesus "cleansed the temple" as this event is often called. Jesus fashioned whips, as verse 15 says. And he drove the merchants and animals out. He poured out the coins of the money changers. He flipped over their tables. People and animals scattered out of the temple courts in utter chaos. In verse 16, he told those who sold pigeons, "Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade." It was a display of righteous anger. It demonstrated Jesus' authority and his holiness and his justice - attributes, you know, that he possessed as God the Son. And the disciples witnessed it all. They recalled the words of Psalm 69 - those are quoted there in verse 17, "Zeal for your house will consume me." In Psalm 69, King David laments that his zeal for God's house brought reproach on him from his enemies… his enemies dishonored God. That's what was happening here. Jesus had a holy zeal for God's house, but the merchants and money changers were bringing reproach on God. The reference to Psalm 69 revealed that a greater King greater than King David had come. In other words, Jesus' cleansing of the temple was a prophetic fulfillment of Psalm 69. A righteous King had arrived in Jerusalem. I want to make a brief comment here. Sometimes people will use this event as a justification for righteous anger. You know, like when we get mad at sin and evil. But I don't believe that this event is our permission slip for righteous anger. I am not saying that we shouldn't be angry at sin. We should hate sin - first, and foremost, we should hate our own sin and unrighteousness. And we should be angry at oppression and injustice. We should. According, of course, to God's definition of oppression and injustice and not the world's. Ephesians 4 says "be angry and do not sin." So, yes, it is possible to be angry at the right things, but let me say, it is very hard to be angry and not sin. What I am saying is that yes, we should emulate Jesus, however, we should also  recognize that we are not him. His righteous anger here is pure and holy and perfectly justified. Rather, what this event underscores for us is our need to honor the Lord in our worship. We are to come before him in humility with hearts drawn to him. You see, we're the ones in the temple area either buying the animals or worse, selling and exchanging, or even worse than that, allowing it all to happen like the failure of the Jewish leaders. But what does that look like today? Well, perhaps we are treating worship as merely a transactional activity. It's easy to slip into that mindset thinking that all we are called to do is go through the motions in worship. But no, God wants our hearts. We are to come before him in humility and praise his name. Or perhaps, as did the merchants, we are desecrating worship by treating it as a consumeristic man-centered activity and not a God-glorifying one. That's also a trap that we can fall in today. Much of our society revolves around our so-called needs and the things we want to do or buy. Worship can turn into that. Or perhaps, as did the Jewish leaders, we are allowing our worship to be hijacked by these temptations… again, by self-serving practices that focus on ourselves and not on God Almighty in the splendor of his holiness according to his Word. God wants our hearts and minds to be drawn into reverent God-honoring worship through his Spirit, according to his Word. I could say more, but in the interest of time, let's continue on. Because this narrative takes a surprising turn. Of course, when Jesus disrupted the Passover activity at the temple, the Jews took notice. By the way, when John uses the word "Jews" he is most often referring to the Pharisees or the Sadducees, you know, the Jewish leaders. Well, they came at him, and asked, verse 18 "What sign do you show us for doing these things?" There's our word from last week, "sign." In other words, they were asking, "show us by what authority you do such a thing." And Jesus shocked them when he said, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." They interpreted those words at face value. They had no sense that Jesus could have been indicating something deeper. To them, it was a ridiculous statement. And you see that in their response. "It has taken forty-six years," they said, "to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?" You see, 46 years prior, Herod the Great began a massive renovation project of the Temple Mount, and the Temple courts, and the Temple itself. Even though Herod had died two decades earlier, those renovations had continued. And they weren't even done. So, to them, it was absurd for Jesus to suggest that he could raise up a destroyed temple in three days. But he did. He wasn't referring to the temple structure, where they were standing. No, as John remarks there in verse 21, he was referring to the temple of his body. He was referring to his resurrection, when he would be raised up from the grave. When the disciples reflected back on Jesus' statement, as verse 22 highlights, they realized what he had been referring to. It was amazingly prophetic. Let's consider the original readers for a moment. It is very likely that John wrote this shortly after the Romans destroyed the temple in AD 70. There are good arguments for that which I agree with. That event was horrible. In Jesus' prophecy in Matthew 24, Jesus' called it the abomination of desolation. It was gruesome. Historical records confirm that. Many were killed including women and children. The temple was plundered; its massive stones were toppled; and it was all burned. This was all freshly painful for the original Jewish readers. They were likely without a temple. The very heart of Jewish life had been taken away from them. There was nothing left. No sacrifices. No annual festivals. No Holy of Holies for the High Priest to enter on Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement. Yet, a greater Temple had been raised up. Christ himself had been raised. What Jesus was saying to the Jews was that the Temple would no longer be needed. That is, the physical Temple's purpose would soon be coming to an end. It needed to be destroyed. After Jesus' sacrificial death was accomplished on the cross, and after he was raised from the grave, there was no more need for sacrifices or priests or holy things. Do you remember what immediately happened after Jesus died? The temple curtain was torn in two. The temple curtain was the massive ornate curtain that separated the priests from God's presence in the Holy of Holies. It was torn in two by God! There was no longer a need for sacrifices because the once-and-for-all sacrifice had definitively secured redemption for God's people. Jesus had fulfilled the temple's purpose. He was now the only Temple necessary. And the event that sealed the deal and that fulfilled the Temple's ministry of God's presence, was Jesus' resurrection. And not only his resurrection, but also his ascension. He now lives and reigns in heaven. And because of that, we can commune with him through prayer and through the Holy Spirit. To the original Jewish reader, this would have been a tremendous revelation. The center of Jewish life had shifted from the Temple in Jerusalem to the temple of Jesus Christ. Jesus has fulfilled the Temple's ministry. ·      His sacrifice is the one true and final sacrifice as an atonement for sin. ·      The temple represented the holiness of God, which Jesus perfectly fulfilled as the embodiment of holiness. ·      Jesus is the great High Priest who did and continues to intercede for us. ·      He is the one in whom God's presence fully dwells as God in the flesh. Jesus is the one who came and dwelt among us - as we discussed in chapter 1. ·      Related to that, the temple held the very glory of God. That glory has been fulfilled in Christ Jesus. His glory will shine for eternity. We read earlier in the service from Revelation 21, there will be no temple in new heavens and earth, for the temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb. The old Temple has passed. It has been destroyed, but God has raised up the new temple. Friends, you don't need to take a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. You don't need to visit the western temple mount wall. You don't need earthly priests. Sacrifices will not bring you to God. As the author of Hebrews put it, "it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin." Those things have passed away. The temple is no more. In fact, we should not hope for a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. To hope for a rebuilt temple would be to believe that Christ's sacrifice was insufficient. We should not desire that old shadow return… why? because the true substance has come. Jesus has come. The curtain was torn and the temple destroyed. Hoping for a rebuilt temple would be kind of like if you were planning a trip. And you bought a travel book. It had pictures and maps and information on where you are going - like maybe one of our great national parks. But you get there, and the whole time, you sit in your hotel room reading your travel guide. You miss out on the beauty and the wonder of the destination to which that guide was revealing. The temple's purpose was to reveal Christ. The fulfillment of the temple has come. Jesus has come. Through him is full access to God. Our hope should be in Christ and the New Jerusalem in eternity. Multiple times in the New Testament, God's people are called a temple of the living God. That is because when you are united to Christ by faith, God dwells in you. You have all the blessings of communing with God through the Holy Spirit when you are joined to him by faith. When that happens, your sin is atoned for. You can confess your sin in repentance, knowing you are forgiven. You can pray to the God of the universe for your burdens and pain and sickness. And, you can worship him with joy and hope. Are you a temple of the Living God? Do you believe this word? Did you notice that the word "believe" is used again? It's there in verse 22. Jesus' disciples "believed the Scripture", it says. It's a pattern. Last week, the disciples believed in Jesus. At the end of chapter 1, Nathaniel believed. And earlier in chapter 1, we're told that all who believe in his name, God gave the right to become children of God. If you don't yet believe, will you? Because, when you do, you will receive all the blessings and benefits formerly displayed in the temple of old, but now fully realized in Jesus Christ. You will have God's presence through his Spirit, forgiveness through his blood, and his holiness given to you. Come to the true temple.

Monday, 16 February 2026   and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. Matthew 17:2   “And He metamorphosed before them, and it radiated, His face, like the sun, and His garments, it became whites, as the light” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus took Peter, James, and John off alone up on a high mountain. Now, the narrative continues, saying, “And He metamorphosed before them.”   It is a new word, metamorphoó, to transform, change, transfigure, etc. It is from meta, a preposition denoting accompaniment, usually translated as “with,” and morpho, to fashion or form, a word found only in Galatians 4:19. Thus, this word signifies “changing form in keeping with inner reality” (HELPS Word Studies).   It is the word used twice by Paul concerning our transformation in Christ, in Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:18. Jesus changed His appearance and yet maintained His inner reality. Thus, this is a revelation of who He is that exists in accord with His being. The effect of this change was, “and it radiated, His face.”   The word signifies to radiate brilliancy or beam with light. The word is used by Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:6 –   “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone [lampó] in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”   Along with this, it says, “like the sun.”   If His face shone like the sun, then the brilliancy of Christ's divine nature is that of a light so strong it cannot be focused on directly without harming the eyes of the one beholding it. His glory can only be beheld in a glance that would be stunning and impossible to maintain a constant view of. And more, it next says, “and His garments, it became whites, as the light.”   The reason for changing the singular “white” to the plural “whites” is to abstract the concept, changing the intent from merely a color to the idea of purity and divinity. It is incorrect to say that the inner light shone outward and caused the clothes to become bright and shining.   Rather, an object lesson was given in the clothes themselves. The garments are a visible metaphor of Jesus' perfect purity and righteousness. What is seen here is a representation of His divine nature being presented to these apostles, but which has been thus far clothed within His human nature. It is the fulfillment of what He had just said to them as Chapter 16 ended –   “Amen! I say to you that they are some of those having stood here who not they should taste death until if they should see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” Matthew 16:28   This is not a stretch, as if, “But His kingdom hadn't yet come.” Rather, remember what He Himself said previously –   “And if in God's Spirit I, I eject the demons, then it preceded upon you, the ‘God's kingdom'” Matthew 12:28 (CG).   Likewise, in Luke 17, He says –   “Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, ‘The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, “See here!” or “See there!” For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.'” Luke 17:20, 21   Jesus was not telling the Pharisees that the kingdom of God was within them, meaning inside of them. He was telling them that it was in their midst. Jesus' deity is the kingdom of God. The transfiguration of Christ was given as a witness to these three men concerning this fact.   Life application: In the Old Testament, the Lord God (Yehovah Elohim) tabernacled with Israel in the wilderness. Everything about that prefigured Jesus Christ. In John 1:14, it says that the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us. John was connecting the event in the wilderness of Sinai to Jesus in His humanity.   The deity of Christ is not a negotiable or debatable concept in Scripture. Rather, it is the fundamental truth found in Scripture. God entered into His creation to redeem us from sin. To deny the deity of Jesus Christ is to deny the only gospel that can save the human soul.    Be sure to get Jesus right. To fail to do so is an eternal error that will never be remedied once your final breath has been taken.   Lord God Almighty, we may not fully understand all the Bible reveals about Jesus, but we do understand what the Bible is telling us about Him. You have come in the Person of Jesus. We take it on faith that this is true. Thank You that You have done what You have done for us, O God. Amen.  

Sunday, 15 February 2026   Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; Matthew 17:1   “And after six days, Jesus, He takes with – Peter, and James and John his brother, and them, He uphefts into a high mountain off alone” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus finished up Chapter 16, noting that there were some standing there with Him who would not taste death till they saw the Son of Man coming in His kingdom. Chapter 17 now begins, saying, “And after six days.” Mark says the same. Luke says, “about eight days.” Of this somewhat indeterminate time, “Jesus, He takes with – Peter, and James and John his brother.”   These selected men are, at times, referred to as the inner circle. This is because this is not the only time they are selected to come separately with Jesus. Rather, there are several such instances in the gospels. Of this group accompanying Jesus, it next says, “and them, He uphefts into a high mountain off alone.”   A new word is seen here, anapheró. It is derived from ana, up, and pheró, to bring, bear, or carry. The ten uses of the word combine to give a sense not found in any single English word. It refers to leading others up a mountain, being carried up into heaven, offering up sacrifices, carrying the sins of others, etc.   In each case, there is upward motion and the sense of bearing or leading a mass that has weight. A single word, that now exists as of the typing of this commentary, and which can describe all of these various thoughts understandably, is “upheft.” With a right click of the mouse, the red line under the word has disappeared, and it is now entered into the computer's dictionary.   As for the mountain Jesus uphefted the men to, there are various views. A later tradition identifies it as Mount Tabor. However, it is known that a fortress was on top of Tabor at the time. Further, its location is not conducive to the surrounding narrative as well.   A good candidate is Mount Hermon. It is the snowcapped mountain bordering Israel, Lebanon, and Syria. In typology, it is used in the Old Testament to symbolize heaven from which the Jordan (the Descender) then flows, picturing Jesus descending from heaven.    This seems like the likely mountain to accommodate what will next take place, but because it is not named, this remains speculation. This account, however, is a good contrast to what was said in Matthew 4 –   “Again, the traducer, he takes Him to a mountain – exceedingly high – and shows Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them.” Matthew 4:8   “And after six days, Jesus, He takes with – Peter, and James and John his brother, and them – He takes up into a high mountain off alone.” Matthew 17:1   Life application: It was noted above that Matthew and Mark say, “after six days,” while Luke says, “about eight days.” There is no contradiction in that. The word after means “after.” The word about means “about.” Seven is after six, and a general ending of seven is about eight. The indeterminate wording allows people to speak and write in their natural way without there being a contradiction.   Depending on the time reference of a person's statement, such things happen all the time. If one reckons the time after the day of an event, the timing would be –   Monday – Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday/Sunday.   If one reckons from the day of an event, it would be –   Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday/Sunday – Monday.   Thus, the first is six days after the first day, while the second is about eight days. We do the same type of reckoning all the time. If you arrive in Florida on a plane at 11:30 pm on 11 April, during a later conversation, you might still say you were in Florida on that day. If you left Wednesday morning at 5 am, you might say you were there that day also. Thus, you have been at the location three days, despite your total time there being about thirty-six hours.   When you are reading the Bible, be sure to consider such things. Luke uses a different perspective to say exactly the same thing as Matthew and Mark did. This is to be expected from a chronicler who is from outside of Israel as he sits and counts days. The timing provided by those inside Israel would be from their personal experience and how that aligns with culturally accepted norms.   When considering these things in their proper light, it is evident that no contradiction exists. Instead, the accounts are reliable and actually support the veracity of what is stated.   Lord God Almighty, You have given us a word which is challenging to our minds, and yet understandable when it is properly and carefully evaluated. Thank You that we will get out of Your word just what effort we put into it. Thank You for such a wonderful gift to guide and instruct us. Amen.  

After Moses approached a burning bush on Mount Horeb that was not consumed by the fire, the Lord God Almighty spoke to Moses and commanded him to return to Egypt. Today, we pick back up in the middle of that conversation, wherein Moses pushes back against God's command to go and speak to Pharaoh. He's concerned that he is ill-equipped for the task that he's been given, but the Lord assures Moses that He will be with Him and God gives his messenger signs to perform to prove that he truly is a representative of God. When Moses confronts Pharaoh, he becomes indignant and commands that Israel be given even more work. Moses turns to the Lord in desperate confusion, but the Lord assures Moses that He will act.Exodus 4 - 1:01 .Exodus 5 - 7:12 .Exodus 6 - 11:24 .Psalm 25 - 16:30 . :::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

Tuesday, 10 February 2026   Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Matthew 16:24   “Then Jesus, He said to His disciples, ‘If any, he desires to come after Me, let him disown himself, and he took his cross, and he follows Me'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus turned and said to Peter to get behind Him because Peter was an offense to Him. Peter was being mindful of the things of men rather than God. Matthew next records, “Then Jesus, He said to His disciples.”   Mark and Luke add more detail. Mark says, “When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also.” Luke apparently confirms this, saying, “Then He said to them all.” There is no contradiction. Matthew is focusing on the disciples. What Jesus says is, “If any, he desires to come after Me.”   Many translations say, “If any man will come after me...” Unless you are using the word to mean “desire,” which it doesn't always mean, the thought is insufficient. The word theló signifies a determined intent, such as want, desire, etc. To say, “If any man will,” might include those who do, but don't desire to do so.   Jesus is referring to those who voluntarily follow in His footsteps. Of them, He continues, “let him disown himself.”   It is a new word, aparneomai, to deny utterly or disown. It is an intensification of arneomai, to deny. There is a sense of an utter refusal to identify with the original source involved. In essence, “I once followed this path. It was my general walk of life. However, I am now following Jesus' path and utterly reject the one I once followed.”   There is a break from the old to take up the new. In this new path, He next says, “and he took his cross, and he follows Me.”   Notice how Jesus doesn't say, “And he takes up My cross and follows Me.” This is similar to Matthew 10:38 –   “And who not, he receives his cross, and he follows after Me, not he is worthy of Me” (CG).   In both instances, Jesus instructs His hearers to receive their cross, not His. This, then, is the beginning and fundamental error of ten thousand commentaries and sermons over the years. Does what Jesus just said square with these words –   “The allusion is, to Christ's bearing his own cross, and Simeon's carrying it after him, which afterwards came to pass.” John Gill, et. al.   It is true that Jesus has alluded to His suffering and death, but that is future. He is not asking them to pick up His cross at all. They have a cross to bear in following Him at this time. Whatever burden He bears, they should be willing to follow Him. They have no idea that He will die on a cross, and when it happened, they were utterly dejected and confused. In fact –   “Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, ‘Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?' 19 And He said to them, ‘What things?' So they said to Him, ‘The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.'” Luke 24:18-21   These disciples, indicative of all of them, failed to understand anything at all about Jesus' cross. When Jesus tells them to pick up their cross, He is telling them that whatever burdens they have on His path, even if it results in death, is a path they must choose. This is why Jesus rebuked Peter over His appeal concerning the things He would suffer.   In the new dispensation, the dispensation of grace, which began after Jesus' completed work, we are not instructed to take up our cross at all. That is failed sermon speak. What does Paul say? In Galatians 6, the answer is seen –   “For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.” Galatians 6:13-15   Jesus was on a trek to fulfill the law and die in fulfillment of it. Those who followed Him were to see this, understand that this was what had to take place (as He explicitly told them), and to take up their own cross, following Him.   With Jesus' work complete, we now accept peace with God through His cross.   Life application: The dispensational model is correct. God is working in certain ways at certain times to reveal and complete His plan of redemption. The problem is that even dispensationalist teachers and preachers fail to keep the boxes straight.   We do not have a cross to bear in the sense that people speak of when they evaluate Matthew 16:24. Rather, we have a cross to accept, revel in, and boast about, meaning the cross of Jesus Christ. Pay attention to what Jesus says in the context in which He says it.   Consider the full scope of what He is referring to, including the stunned reaction of those who saw Christ crucified and thought, “We had a failed hope.” Then consider the victory of what really transpired. Jesus Christ did redeem Israel. He also redeemed all of Adam's fallen seed who are willing to come to Him through His cross.   We don't have to give up this life to obtain it, except in the sense that we are converted to a new life in Christ positionally. We can continue as plumbers, executives, store clerks, or whatever other profession we find ourselves in. We can continue to live in our homes, remain married to our spouses, and so on.   Revel in the new life you have been given, even as you continue to live out your current life in the presence of God who sent His Son to redeem you unto Himself. Yes, revel in the cross of Jesus Christ our Lord.   Lord God Almighty, You are great and greatly to be praised. All glory, honor, and majesty belong to You, forever and ever. Thank You for Jesus Christ and His cross. May that always be our boast. To Your glory, amen.

Scripture Reading: Revelation 15:1-8 Before each of the series of divine judgments on the earth, during the tribulation time, John describes a heavenly scene.  The vision of heaven in chapters 4,5 precedes the judgments of the seven seals.  The heavenly scene in Revelation 8:2-5 precedes the judgments of the seven trumpets.  The bowl judgments will be described in chapter 16, but now, before those final judgments, there is another description of heaven. Beside a heavenly glass-like sea, "those who had conquered the beast" are gathered and they are singing a song (Rev 15:3,4).  It is called both "the song of Moses" and "the song of the Lamb."  In this glorious song, they laud the character of God in very specific terms. He is the Lord God Almighty ... He is just and true ... He is King ... He is holy.  The only proper response is to fear Him and glorify Him and worship Him.  The news, as has ever been the case, does not mention the majesty of God in its daily focus on the day's events.  Revelation describes the unfolding of a coming day when "the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day" (Isa 2:11).  Let us ever fear and glorify and worship Him.

Opening: #567 Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty! Psalm: Ps 146 Blessed are the poor in Spirit: The Kingdom of Heaven is theirs (Guimont) Presentation: #790 The Summons Closing: #742 The Church's One Foundation All music reproduced and streamed with permission from ONE LICENSE, license #A-723939. Organist: Sarah Sinkmars Celebrant: Father Sam and Deacon Bob McMullen Today's readings (via USCCB): bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading For more information, visit our parish website at MaryQueenofPeacePGH.org.

Revelation 11 ESV The Two Witnesses11 Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, 2 but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. 3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. 6 They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. 7 And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, 8 and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, 10 and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. 11 But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.14 The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come.The Seventh Trumpet15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying,“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,    who is and who was,for you have taken your great power    and begun to reign.18 The nations raged,    but your wrath came,    and the time for the dead to be judged,and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,    and those who fear your name,    both small and great,and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”19 Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail. For more information about Redeemer Church Lubbock visit our website at redeemerlubbock.org.

It's Friday, January 23rd, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Iran makes large sums of money off the backs of persecuted Christians Iran has an open secret. Persecuting Christians is a booming business in the Muslim-majority nation, and the country is earning large sums of money from arresting Christ followers, reports International Christian Concern. Fines and bail amounts imposed by Iranian courts have reached hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent years, financially crippling poor Christian families trying to keep their loved ones out of prison. For years, the Middle Eastern nation has targeted Christians for their faith in Christ through intimidation, physical abuse, and imprisonment. But what's often overlooked are the exorbitant bail amounts doled out to Christ followers simply to keep themselves out of jail. Joseph Shahbazian, leader of a Christian house church, was arrested in June 2020 for his Christian activities and given a bail amount of $163,000. After pleading with the court and handing over the deeds to his and his mother's apartments, the court accepted $109,000 on Shahbazian's behalf. Proverbs 22:22-23 says, "Do not rob the poor because he is poor, nor oppress the afflicted at the gate; For the LORD will plead their cause, and plunder the soul of those who plunder them." Shahbazian was released from prison in 2023 after serving a little more than a year in jail, but was rearrested in 2025 for his continued Christian activities and sentenced to an additional 10 years in jail. According to Open Doors, Iran is the sixth most difficult country worldwide for Christians. Trump ends all tax-funded research with aborted baby parts On January 22nd, the 53rd anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, President Donald Trump ended federal funding for research involving the use of aborted baby parts. It's a major victory for pro-life advocates that halts taxpayer support for such studies effective immediately, reports The Daily Wire. The National Institutes of Health announced the policy change on Thursday. The move prohibits the use of funds for research involving aborted baby parts obtained from elective abortions, while allowing ethical fetal tissue from sources such as miscarriages when donors consent. NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya said, “Someone who has had a miscarriage and wants to do a meaningful thing and they donate the tissue from the miscarriage to science, that's still allowed. The only ban is on, you have an abortion specifically to terminate the baby, and then the tissue then gets sold, that's what's being banned,” something he described as “morally abhorrent.” Rescue Resurrection protesters plead with Trump to ban abortion pill People from as far away as California and Georgia came to the nation's capital Thursday morning to plead with the Trump administration to ban the abortion kill pill, which is now easily available by mail and has led to a shocking increase of abortions following the Supreme Court's overturn of Roe v. Wade, reports LifeSiteNews.com. In the shadow of the U.S. Capitol dome, 20 people with Rescue Resurrection were arrested by United States Capitol Police outside the Health and Human Services headquarters as they sat down in the middle of the street. They were singing. RESCUE RESURRECTION: “Help us tell the nation we want a pro-life revolution. Help us tell the nation we want a pro-life revolution” POLICEMAN: “Everyone is now under arrest. You will be placed in handcuffs.” RESCUE RESURRECTION: “Ban the abortion pill!” POLICEMAN: “If you don't plan on being arrested, leave the street. If you don't plan on being arrested, you need to go onto the sidewalk.” Some of the members of Rescue Resurrection had been incarcerated under the F.A.C.E. Act by the Biden Justice Department and then pardoned by President Donald Trump. Elderly pro-life icon Joan Andrews Bell was kneeling before a group of police carried her off of the street and cuffed her. (Watch the video of the arrest through a special link in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com). Emily Berning, president of Let Them Live, said, “The chemical abortion pill has become the chemical coat hanger, and the bathroom has become the new back alley. The abortion pill is twenty-two times more dangerous than the FDA told the American people. When the truth is buried, women are the ones who bleed in silence. “And that is why we're standing here outside HHS. HHS is not a bystander in this. HHS has the authority to regulate and the power to act, [yet] they still have allowed a dangerous drug to remain on the market.” JD Vance & Second Lady announce they're expecting fourth child Second Lady Usha Vance announced she is pregnant and will deliver a boy  in late July, according to a Tuesday statement on social media. This will be the fourth child for Vice President J.D. Vance and Usha, and their third son. U.S. to gain “total access” to Greenland without payment On January 22nd, President Donald Trump said that the United States is negotiating an arrangement to secure full access to Greenland with no payment in return and unconstrained by any time limit, reports the Epoch Times. He appeared on Fox Business with Maria Bartiromo. Listen. BARTIROMO: “So, what are we talking about? An acquisition of Greenland? Are you going to pay for it?” TRUMP: “Essentially, it's total access. There's no end. There's no time limit. We're not doing, you know, the famous '99-year' deals that you hear about. Countries go on longer. I noticed the stock market went up pretty substantially after we announced it.” BARTIROMO: “The [Gross Domestic Product] of Greenland is like $3.3 billion, but people are valuing Greenland between $50 billion and almost a trillion [dollars]. So, what are you willing to pay for Greenland?” TRUMP: “Well, I'm not going to have to pay anything.” The president has described U.S control of the Arctic island as critical to both national and international security.  Indeed, Greenland will be an essential property to facilitate the much-anticipated Golden Dome, the U.S. missile defense system that will destroy enemy missiles before they launch or while they are in flight. It will be patterned after Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system. TRUMP: “We're going to have total access to Greenland. We're going to have all military access that we want. We're going to be able to put what we need on Greenland. We're talking about national security and international security. We are building the Golden Dome, and it'll be Israel times probably a hundred.” 7 Democrats voted with GOP to pass DHS/ICE spending bill Seven Democrats voted with Republicans on Thursday to pass a Department of Homeland Security spending bill, despite opposition from their own Democratic leadership, reports Fox News. The DHS bill will be bundled alongside three other spending bills, totaling a combined $1.2 trillion in federal spending. The entire package's passing is a significant step toward averting a government shutdown come January 30th. It passed in a 220-207 vote with the help of seven Democrats. Only one Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, voted in opposition.  According to TheHill.com, the seven Democrats who sided with Republicans were Reps. Henry Cuellar of Texas, Jared Golden of Maine, Marie Perez of Washington, Laura Gillen of New York, Don Davis of North Carolina, Tom Suozzi of New York and Vicente Gonzalez of Texas. Anniversary of hymnwriter deaths who wrote “Holy, holy, holy” and “Jesus Loves Me” And finally, we recognize the anniversary of the deaths of two Christian hymnwriters, both of whom died on January 22nd. John Dykes, who died on January 22, 1876, composed the music to the hymn "Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!"  sung here by Shane & Shane. SHANE AND SHANE: “Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! All Thy works shall praise Thy name, in Earth, and sky, and sea; Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty! God in three Persons, blessed Trinity.” Isaiah 6:3 says, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole Earth is full of His glory.” And on January 22, 1915, Anna Bartlett Warner, the author of "Jesus Loves Me", died.  Listen to the lesser known second verse with the chorus, sung by Nathan Drake of Reawaken Hymns. (Learn more about him here). DRAKE: “Jesus loves me He who died Heaven's gate to open wide. He will wash away my sin, Let His little child come in. (Refrain) “Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.” 1 John 4:19 says, "We love because [Christ] first loved us." Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, January 23rd, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

 GET JANET WILLIS'S BOOK: https://amzn.to/3YqWCSs Ezekiel's city and John's city:    • Ezekiel's City DESCRIBED as John's New Jer…   SUPPORT OUR FREE CONTENT: https://www.alankurschner.com/partner/ GET OUR BOOKS: https://amzn.to/43pbG6b GET OUR EMAIL UPDATES: http://eepurl.com/bCU7qT SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST:    / @bibleprophecyanswers   Why There Is No Temple in the New Jerusalem City This episode of Bible Prophecy Answers tackles a focused question many readers of Revelation ask: Why is there no temple inside the New Jerusalem? The host frames the discussion around Revelation 21:22, where John describes the climactic city of God's future kingdom and makes a startling observation—he “saw no temple” in the city. Rather than treating that detail as symbolic filler, the episode argues it is theologically intentional and prophetically consistent with the Old Testament, especially Ezekiel's end-times vision. From the start, the host notes that the series is exploring themes like new creationism, premillennialism, the New Heaven and New Earth, the millennium, and the New Jerusalem. The goal is not to avoid prophecy details but to interpret them carefully—“nothing more or nothing less”—because God includes details for a reason. Revelation 21:22: The Lord God and the Lamb Are the Temple The core text is Revelation 21:22, where John says the New Jerusalem contains no temple, “for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” That statement becomes the foundation for the episode's primary answer: Why no temple? Because a temple is not needed in the New Jerusalem. In the biblical storyline, a temple functions as a sacred space that mediates God's presence among His people. But in the New Jerusalem, God's presence is immediate and direct. The city does not require a separate structure to represent or localize God's dwelling, because God Himself—Father and Son—fulfills what the temple always pointed to. This interpretation highlights a major biblical theme: the movement from limited access to God's presence toward full access, culminating in the restored and permanent fellowship between God and humanity. Ezekiel's Vision Supports the “No Temple in the City” Detail A major argument in the transcript is that Ezekiel and John are not contradictory; instead, Ezekiel provides a background framework that helps explain John's description. Ezekiel separates the temple from the city The host emphasizes that Ezekiel distinguishes the temple from the city. In Ezekiel's prophetic tour, the angelic guide shows a structured sacred region that contains multiple elements in relationship—but not identical location. This matters because it supports the idea that even if a temple exists in Ezekiel's vision, it is not necessarily inside the city itself, which aligns with John seeing “no temple in it” (in the city). In other words, the “no temple” detail is not a problem to solve by dismissing Ezekiel or spiritualizing John. Instead, the episode proposes a straightforward reading: temple and city are distinct but near each other. The Holy Allotment: Ezekiel 45 and the End-Time Sacred Plateau One of the transcript's most important concepts is the Holy Allotment (referencing Ezekiel 45:1–7). Ezekiel describes a large square portion of land—notably described as being on a plateau—set apart as uniquely holy. Within this Holy Allotment, Ezekiel's vision includes both sacred and civic components. The city structure and its tribal gates Ezekiel describes a city-like structure with three gates on each side, named for the twelve tribes of Israel. This echoes the broader biblical theme of covenant identity and God's faithful restoration of His people. The host notes that the city aspect in Ezekiel often gets overshadowed by the heavy attention given to the temple measurements, but it should not—Ezekiel's city has a function, and that function ties into end-time governance and God's dwelli...