Podcasts about lord himself

Send us Fan MailVideo podcast here:In his recent interview, Jacob Hansen never once quotes from or references the Book of Mormon. It's no wonder—doing so would have forced him to confront the clear differences between what the Book of Mormon actually teaches and what the modern LDS Church teaches today.Instead of relying on the Book of Mormon, he turns to later teachings from Joseph Smith and other church traditions that came after the book was published. This pattern is common among the LDS Church, the RLDS/Community of Christ, and many other Mormon offshoots: they often set aside their original book of scripture in favor of later developments.In this episode, we look at what the Book of Mormon actually says about who Jesus is.We believe the Book of Mormon is the word of God. Its message is centered on Jesus Christ. Far from contradicting the Bible, it beautifully complements and clarifies it. The Book of Mormon powerfully reinforces the core doctrines of mercy, justice, repentance, salvation, and eternal life so they cannot be misunderstood.Above all, it testifies of the atonement of Jesus Christ. It presents Jesus as God Himself who took on flesh, came to earth, and died for our sins. It is a sacred record of the descendants of Joseph—specifically the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh—preserved for our day.The Bible was originally written in Hebrew and Greek before being translated into English. Because of this, many different English versions exist—each the result of careful work by scholars, linguists, and translators. In contrast, the Book of Mormon was translated only once, by the gift and power of God, using divinely prepared instruments. The Lord Himself guided the process, removing human interpretation and choosing words that precisely convey the meaning He wants us to understand.This is an extraordinary gift that helps us clearly know what we need for our salvation and for building a personal relationship with our Creator.purchase RCE Book of Mormon https://bomf.org/shop/ Restored Gospel  - Scripture Search and Study Resources Contact us:restoredgospelpodcast@gmail.comMusic by Michael Barrett

When Ancient Kingdoms Fell but God's Covenant Endured: A Spiritual Wake Up Call From the Old Testament 2 Kings 16–25 | The Apostle D. Todd HarrisonThese chapters declare one unshakable truth: Even when ancient kings and leaders failed, the Kingdom of God remained unstoppable.I testify that the same covenant power that preserved a remnant in Jerusalem is preserving His remnant today through His restored Church. The same God who raised King Josiah is raising His faithful Saints in these Latter-days. The same Holy Spirit that warned the Kingdom of Judah and the ancient Church is calling us to purity, obedience, and uncompromised faith.If we will humble ourselves, rediscover His Word, and walk in covenant loyalty, God will restore, revive, and realign us with His divine purpose—no matter what is happening in the world around us.With apostolic authority directly from Jesus Christ, I charge you to stand firm. Tear down the false idols in your life. Rebuild your spiritual altars. Return fully to the Lord.If you do these things, God will remain faithful to you—just as He always has.I testify that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that He is ALIVE!In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.The Apostle D. Todd HarrisonDirect Apostle of Jesus ChristCalled directly by the Lord Himself—just as Paul was on the Damascus Road (Galatians 1:1; Acts 26:13–20)“Not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.” — Galatians 1:1Set apart by the Lord according to the ancient pattern Now in the Seventh Year of Global Apostolic Ministry to All Nations

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

Send us your feedback — we're listeningIsaiah 41:10 — Do Not Fear, I Am With You Live from London, England — where faith meets the world in daily prayer and global hope Perth • Christchurch • Singapore • Nashville • Rio de Janeiro COURAGE • STRENGTH • GOD'S PRESENCE Good morning, and welcome to DailyPrayer.uk. I'm Reverend Ben Cooper. Thank you for joining me as we begin another day together. Wherever you are in the world, let's pause, open God's Word and place this day into His hands. There are mornings when the weight of responsibility seems to arrive before we have even taken our first step. Our minds begin planning, our hearts begin carrying concerns and the demands of life can feel larger than our strength. Yet God gently speaks into that place of uncertainty, reminding us that His presence is not waiting for us somewhere later in the day. He is already with us, ready to strengthen, uphold and encourage us before the day gathers pace. Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” What a powerful promise to receive this morning. Our confidence does not rest in our own ability but in the unwavering faithfulness of the Lord. When we feel weak, He becomes our strength. When we feel uncertain, He remains unchanging. When we wonder if we are enough, He reminds us that His grace is always sufficient. So today, let's gently remind ourselves that fear will not win, because Jesus Christ is holding us securely with His loving and mighty hand. Father, thank You for the gift of a new beginning. Thank You that before a single decision is made or a single conversation begins, You have already promised to be our strength and our help. Lord Jesus, bless every listener today. Bring healing to those who are unwell, courage to those facing uncertainty, peace to anxious hearts and fresh hope to everyone stepping into a new week. Help us to walk steadily, speak kindly and trust You completely in every circumstance. Holy Spirit, renew our minds, strengthen our faith and help us recognise Your quiet presence in both the ordinary and the unexpected moments of today. Across the world, from Perth to Christchurch, from Singapore to Nashville and Rio de Janeiro, may every listener move into this day with confidence, knowing that the Lord Himself is holding them with everlasting love. Jesús, fortalece mi corazón para este nuevo día. Jesus, fortalece o meu coração para este novo dia. Jesus, palakasin Mo ang puso ko para sa bagong araw na ito. Amen. Isaiah 41 prayer, Christian morning prayer, God is with you, strength and courage, daily devotional prayer, hope in Christ, encouragement, trust in God Christian morning prayer for strength, Isaiah 41:10 devotional, God is with you today, finding courage through Jesus Christ. Continue Your Journey If today's prayer has encouraged your heart, continue your journey through the DailyPrayer.uk prayer library. Discover hundreds of five-minute prayers for hope, healing, courage, peace and restful sleep, helping you continue walking with Jesus every day.Support the showDaily Prayer with Reverend Ben Cooper now reaches 185 countries and 3,012 cities worldwide through the Global Blend Radio network.This is a listener-funded global ministry. If these daily prayers strengthen your faith or help you through difficult seasons, would you consider becoming a monthly prayer partner for just £3 per month?Your support enables us to continue recording, hosting, and broadcasting daily biblical encouragement across the nations — keeping this ministry free and accessible to everyone who needs it.You can support today at GlobalBlendRadio.comTogether, we can keep prayer moving across the world.To submit a prayer request or connect with our global prayer community, visit DailyPrayer.ukBuy me a Coffee 

Send us Fan MailEph 4:2b with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Verses 2 and 3 depict attitudes, not techniques or methods. In world, and even in evangelical circles, people are more interested in techniques than in attitudes. They buy books written by people who appear successful, and who tell them how to be successful, too. The Bible has little to say about techniques and methods. It has much to say about obedience and about the attitudes which are conducive to godly conduct.Believers' attitudes are important. These attitudes which Paul calls for in verses 2 and 3 are necessary because they are the attitudes of our Lord Himself (see Philippians 2:5-8). If we are to reflect Jesus Christ to the world in which we live, then we must manifest His attitudes. Furthermore, these attitudes are those which promote Christian harmony and unity.Humility is listed first because of Paul's emphasis on unity (pride promotes disunity; humility promotes unity) and to counteract their past pride, so as to facilitate obedience to and dependence on God. Christ was the supreme example of humility (Phil. 2:6–8).            Seven elements of unity follow that unite believers in the church. Believers should remember them when tempted to break unity. Again all three members of the Trinity are in view and play a part in this process.Our heart has many pacemaker cells that keep the heart beating in rhythm.  When it gets out of sync, it can cause many problems, even making the heart burst apart.  It can cause the same thing in the body of Christ when we are not unified, we have many problems and even break apart instead of being one as Jesus said we were to be in John 17:21 "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?              John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today.               “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  -John 8:32            Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten.               hisloveministries.podbean.com #HLMSocial hisloveministries.nethttps://www.instagram.com/hisloveministries1/?hl=en His Love Ministries on Itunes Don't go for all the gusto you can get, go for all the God (Jesus Christ) you can get. The gusto will get you, Jesus can save you. https://www.facebook.com/His-Love-Ministries-246606668725869/?tn-str=k*F            The world is trying to solve earthly problems that can only be solved with heavenly solutionsMarty McKenzie - His Love Ministries - The Least of These Podcast- www.hisloveministries.net

The Apostle D. Todd Harrison: The God Who Sees, Provides, and Delivers—2 Kings 2–7 for Our DayAs one who really does know, I testify that the God of Elijah and Elisha lives today. I have been blessed to have seen His hand in the lives of His people. I have watched Him open doors no man could open, multiply strength when hope seemed gone, and surround His children with protection that only heaven can provide.I bear witness that the mantle of the Lord is real. I have been both greatly blessed and greatly burdened by it for many years now. Yet, the Lord has continued to personally teach me that when we step forward in faith, the God who parted the Jordan will part our obstacles. The God who filled empty vessels will fill our empty hearts. The God who opened the eyes of Elisha's servant will open our eyes to the armies of light standing with us.As a witness of Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead, I testify that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He sees you. He provides for you. He delivers you. And He will continue to manifest His power in your life as you walk the covenant path with steadfast faith.I leave the Lord's blessing upon you this day. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.The Apostle D. Todd HarrisonDirect Apostle of Jesus Christ Called directly by the Lord Himself—just as Paul was on the Damascus Road (Galatians 1:1; Acts 26:13–20)“Not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.” — Galatians 1:1Set apart by the Lord according to the ancient pattern Now in the Seventh Year of Global Apostolic Ministry to All Nations

"Build your life on Jesus." Where does that phrase come from? In the closing words of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells a parable about two builders and reveals that the wise builder is the one who hears His words and obeys them. Though storms come and the final judgment awaits, the life built on Christ will stand because its foundation is the Lord Himself. Join us as we discover what it means to build our lives on Jesus—the only foundation that secures our future for eternity.

At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day. Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD thy God promised him. (Deuteronomy 10:8-9) ~~~~ This sermon was preached at Bells Yew Green Chapel. ~~~~ ***To have a Levites portion is to: -*** *1/ Be a separated people unto the Lord. 2/ Not lands, Not material things, but spiritual. 3/ To have the Lord as our inheritance. 4/ To be a scattered people. 5/ To be a people to serve the Lord.* **Sermon Summary:** The sermon explores the spiritual significance of the tribe of Levi, whose inheritance was the Lord Himself rather than earthly land. Drawing from Deuteronomy 10 and 1 Peter 2, it illustrates how believers are called to be a separated and scattered people, prioritizing eternal heavenly treasures over material wealth. The preacher emphasizes that God's chosen portion for His people involves spiritual blessings and service, requiring contentment with their current circumstances and trust in divine providence. This perspective encourages the congregation to view themselves as pilgrims on earth, finding their true rest and identity in Christ alone.

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Saturday morning, the 11th of July, 2026, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Book of Deuteronomy 19:7: ”Therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall separate three cities for yourself.” Now what happened here, the Lord in His mercy said, when the Israelites went into a new country, three cities were to be separated so that people who had made an honest mistake can go and hide from those who want to avenge the mistake that he has made.Then we go to the Book of Romans 6:23:”For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” You know folks, I want to say to you that our Lord is such a gracious God. If you read on in that scripture just before Deuteronomy 19:7, you will see that the Lord explains that if a man, for example, is cutting down a tree with his friend and the head of the axe comes off the shaft and hits his friend on the head and kills him, it's an accident. They make these three cities available for people to go and hide so that they are not avenged, and the Lord Himself has made a way through Jesus Christ for you and me to have our sins forgiven. That's why He says, ”The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Jesus died on the cross of Calvary so that you and I can live. Yes, the God of the second chance - we made a mistake, He has forgiven us and He's given us an opportunity to continue to live!You know I looked up that beautiful scripture, Luke 7:47: ”He who has been forgiven much, loves Me the most but to whom little is for forgiven, loves Me little.” And I want to tell you something now, we can make mistakes, I've made many myself, but if we come to the Lord with a repentant heart and ask forgiveness, He will make a way for us where there seems to be no way.I don't know how many testimonies I've heard from men who have been restored by the Lord Jesus Christ after making a mistake. What about Zacchaeus, the tax collector? He was an evil man, stealing money from his own people, but Jesus came to his house, had lunch with him and said, ”Your sins are forgiven.” Zacchaeus was so overwhelmed, and the Lord said, ”Salvation has come to this house today.” Not only for Zacchaeus but all his friends, the other tax collectors as well.Today, know one thing, that if you are genuinely repentant, God will give you another opportunity.Jesus bless you and goodbye.

The Nazi Holocaust of the Jews stands as one of the most horrifying events in human history, a time when Satanic hatred was organized, mechanized and carried out through a political system that marked, isolated, transported and murdered the Jewish people by the millions. The world looked upon the smoke of Auschwitz, Treblinka, Sobibor, Dachau and the other killing centers and said “never again,” but the Bible says something very different. The Bible says, “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be,” and the same hatred that rose up under Pharaoh, Haman, Herod and Hitler will rise again under Antichrist. The Holocaust was not the end of antisemitic persecution; it was a warning shot of what fallen man and Satanic government are capable of doing when God removes restraint. And it's fixing to come again.“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” Matthew 24:21 (KJB)On this episode of the Prophecy News Podcast, if the Holocaust was one of the darkest valleys of human history, then the coming great Tribulation will be the darkest valley of all time. Hitler's Reich targeted the Jews in Europe; Antichrist's Beast system will target the Jews on a global scale. Hitler used trains, camps, numbers, propaganda and death decrees; Antichrist will use worship, technology, economics, global government and the mark of the Beast. This is why the Bible calls that coming period “the time of Jacob's trouble.” It is not called the time of the Church's trouble, because the Church is not Jacob. Jacob is Israel. Jeremiah says, “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.” Jeremiah 30:7 (KJB). That verse matches perfectly with the words of Jesus in Matthew 24. The Jewish people will once again become the target of the Devil's final rage, and the nations of the world will once again turn against Israel. The Holocaust showed us what one demonized empire could do to the Jews; the time of Jacob's trouble will show what a demonized world under Antichrist will do when Satan knows his time is short. The same spirit that built the death camps is the same spirit that here in 2026 chants for Israel's destruction, funds terror, fires missiles and prepares the nations for the final satanic campaign against the Jews. The uniforms change, the slogans change, the technology changes, but the hatred remains the same. There is no new thing under the sun. The difference is that the Holocaust ended with the defeat of Nazi Germany, but the great Tribulation ends with the visible, bodily return of Jesus Christ at the Second Advent. Hitler was stopped by armies; Antichrist will be destroyed by the Lord Himself. The Holocaust left survivors to testify; the time of Jacob's trouble will leave a purified remnant of Israel who will look upon Him whom they have pierced and finally receive their Messiah. That is why Christians should care about the Holocaust, and that is why Christians should pay attention to the war with Iran. The headlines are moving in the same direction prophecy has always pointed: Israel surrounded, the nations raging, false peace rising, and Jacob's trouble waiting just beyond the horizon. Today we look at the Nazi Holocaust to see the Spirit of Prophecy carrying us headlong into the headlines!

In Part 50 of our study through the Book of Jeremiah, Jacob Prasch examines Chapters 42–43 and the tragic decision of Judah's remnant to reject the word of the Lord and flee to Egypt. After asking Jeremiah to seek God's direction, the people promise obedience — yet when God tells them to remain in the land and trust Him, they accuse Jeremiah of lying and follow worldly security instead.This teaching explores the spiritual symbolism of Egypt as a picture of the world, Babylon as a prophetic foreshadowing of end-times systems, and the danger of trusting political, religious, or worldly leaders over the Lord Himself. Jacob also examines themes of apostasy, deception in the last days, false teachers, compromise in the church, and the growing temptation for believers to seek refuge in worldly systems rather than in Christ.Topics include:Jeremiah Chapters 42–43 explainedThe remnant of Judah and the flight to EgyptTrusting God versus trusting worldly systemsEgypt as a biblical symbol of the worldBabylon and end-times prophetic parallelsFalse leadership and deception in the last daysThe danger of compromise in the churchTesting, spiritual discernment, and perseveranceWhy believers must keep their eyes on Jesus alone“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help…” — Isaiah 31:1#Jeremiah #BibleStudy #JacobPrasch #Prophecy #EndTimes #Moriel #Babylon #Egypt #ChristianTeaching #BibleProphecy

SummaryRobert Bolden shares insights from his daily Bible reading and reflections on trusting in the Lord, loving your neighbor, and living a life guided by the Spirit. This episode offers practical wisdom for spiritual growth and living with purpose.KeywordsBible, Trust in God, Loving Your Neighbor, Spiritual Growth, Christian Living, Faith, Mercy, Judgment, Holy Spirit, Daily DevotionKey topicsTrust in the Lord forever and the significance of eternityThe importance of loving your neighbor as yourselfThe role of mercy and judgment in lifeFollowing the Holy Spirit and living with purposeThe sanctification process and spiritual growthTakeawaysTrust in the Lord is a decision, not just a feeling.God is the eternal rock, a solid foundation for life.Loving yourself is rooted in understanding God's love for you.Mercy triumphs over judgment, reflecting God's nature.Following the Spirit simplifies life and guides actionsSound bites"Trust in the Lord forever.""The Lord Himself is the rock eternal.""Mercy triumphs over judgment."Chapters00:00 Introduction to Coffee in Christ01:08 Trust in the Lord Forever04:09 The Power of Love and Self-Acceptance07:01 Judgment and Mercy10:59 Freedom Through the SpiritReady to become part of the community? https://lifetransformed.podia.com/message us and we will give you free access.Merchhttps://www.bonfire.com/store/lifetransformed/Schedule a serve call ⁠https://www.picktime.com/LifeTransformed⁠Instagram ⁠https://www.instagram.com/bbolden18?igsh=cnlvdjQ5eGJwZTM%3D&utm_source=qr⁠https://www.instagram.com/bbolden18?igsh=cnlvdjQ5eGJwZTM%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6sszulCUrjodEyThd-rBw⁠Podcasts Join me live from Odd's Cafe here in Asheville…  message me for the exact time.  ⁠https://www.oddscafe.com/⁠Email: robertbolden@thisworldfreedom.com

The Son of God raises the dead with His voice only!This reminds us of these comforting words from 1Thess.4:16 which says,“The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord!” Jesus' coming for us will be loud for us who have ears to hear the voice of the Son of God. Our bodies will be changed and we meet the Lord in the air.This blessed hope comes with the shout of our savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.Dr. Mitchell takes us into Luke 7:16-30 on the Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast.

Read OnlineJesus said to his Apostles: “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” Matthew 10:7–8And they were off! After choosing Twelve of His disciples and naming them Apostles—that is, those who are sent—Jesus sends them out, two by two, into the towns and villages of Israel, places where He Himself would later come. They go before Him, preparing hearts to receive the fullness of the Gospel when the Lord Himself arrives.At this stage, their mission is directed solely “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6). They are not to go into pagan or Samaritan regions—not yet. Only after the Passion, Resurrection, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost will they go to the ends of the earth, empowered to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). This first mission, therefore, is a foretaste—a seed of the universal mission that will blossom in the early Church and continue through missionary efforts today.In this twofold sending—first to Israel, then to all nations—we glimpse the pattern of the spiritual life: God first works inwardly, forming and healing the soul, and then sends it outward in love. Our evangelization must arise from an interior communion with Christ, deepened by grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Just as the Apostles could not be sent to the world until Pentecost, neither can we bear lasting fruit unless we, too, are first transformed by His Spirit.Consider this twofold process in your life. The Apostles' first mission can be likened to our calling to witness to the faith within our homes—to spouses, children, relatives, and close friends. But just as the Twelve had to be formed by Christ before proclaiming His Kingdom, we, too, must be formed in the school of grace. The Apostles were first called, taught, shown signs and wonders, drawn to deeper faith, and only then prepared for this first mission.Likewise, before we can effectively evangelize even within our families, our own conversion must be sincere. For example, parents hand on the faith to their children not merely by teaching doctrine, but by living a faith that is visibly alive. Daily prayer, faithful attendance at Mass, and a genuine love for Christ in the home form the atmosphere in which grace can flourish. This must flow from an interior transformation—similar to the Apostles, who left everything to follow Jesus and were gradually conformed to His mind and heart.That the Apostles were sufficiently prepared to proclaim the Kingdom is evident in Jesus' words as He sends them forth. To “cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons,” and to give freely what they themselves had received, reveals that they had already been entrusted with much. Their transformation was not yet complete, but it was real. And Christ, knowing their weaknesses, still entrusted them with His power—because their hearts were open and receptive to grace.So it is with us. Unless we allow Christ to heal, instruct, and sanctify us—unless we live in daily communion with Him—we will struggle to pass on the faith, even to those closest to us. Evangelization does not begin with strategies or words, but with lives deeply conformed to Christ. Only then will we be able to proclaim, with credibility and power, that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Reflect today on this first mission upon which Jesus sent His Apostles. See in their example your own calling: to be formed interiorly by grace so that you become a living witness to the Kingdom of God within you. Begin with those closest to you and, from there, remain attentive to the ways the Holy Spirit leads you to bring the Gospel even farther. As with the Apostles, trust that your response to grace will bear fruit in ways fully known only to God.My Lord and King, You desire that Your Kingdom be proclaimed to the ends of the earth. Please first establish Your Kingdom in my soul, conforming me to Your reign. From there, please use me as an instrument of Your grace for those closest to me and to all to whom You wish to send me. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Jesus blesses the Apostolic College by Lawrence OP, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.Source: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

An undivided heart begins with wholehearted surrender to God. Based on Psalm 86:11, this devotional explores the tension every believer experiences between pursuing God and being drawn toward the distractions and desires of the world. While our hearts are naturally prone to wander, God's faithfulness continually calls us back, inviting us to rely on His Spirit rather than our own strength. God doesn't abandon us when our affections become divided. Like the Good Shepherd who searches for the wandering sheep, He lovingly pursues us, reveals the areas where we've drifted, and offers grace to restore us. Through prayer, repentance, and daily dependence on Him, we can ask the Lord to transform our hearts so that our love for Him becomes our greatest desire. His invitation remains simple and powerful: seek Him, and He will meet you. Highlights: Our hearts naturally struggle between surrendering to God and pursuing worldly desires. God lovingly reveals areas where we've drifted and calls us back through His grace. An undivided heart is cultivated through dependence on God's Spirit, not personal effort. Jesus faithfully pursues those who have wandered and welcomes them back with compassion. Prayer and surrender allow God to shape our hearts into wholehearted devotion. Join the Conversation Are there areas of your life where you feel your heart has become divided? What would it look like to fully surrender those areas to God today? Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/ Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: An Undivided HeartBy Megan J. Conner Bible Reading:“Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” Ps. 86:11 (NIV) How many of us can relate to this scripture? I don’t know about you, but sadly, I have wrestled with divided affections more times than I can count. In the deepest places of my heart, I long for the Lord. Truly, I ache for Him in a way that defies comprehension. Like the Chief Musician in Psalm 42, my soul pants and thirsts for the living God as deer pants for the water brooks. And yet… these innate yearnings can be so easily superseded by the things of this world and the cravings of my flesh. With such a strong inward draw towards my Creator, how is it possible to wander and depart from the One whom I so desperately desire? The Bible tells us, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9, NKJV). We are all aware that the Bible contains hard truths, but this one cuts straight to the core. To many, this bold statement may sound harsh, even offensive. However, that does not negate its truth. Our hearts lie to us. Our emotions betray us. There is an age-old battle that rages within every single one of us. A conflict that has plagued humanity since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. This great war boils down to one single word – choice. A choice between God and self, our own desires and His, selfishness and selflessness, prideful independence and dependent surrender. When these comparisons are listed side by side, it seems completely irrational that we would choose selfishness over selflessness, our will over God’s. And yet that is the struggle each one of us faces day in and day out. Our human nature is so flawed, so imperfect, that we actually need God’s help to even choose Him. Our hearts are so divided, and our bent toward sin so strong, that without the aid of His Spirit, all of us would remain on paths of self-destruction. But God in His goodness does not leave us there. He proactively pursues each one of us because of His great love for us. The Lord Himself searches our hearts and tests our minds (Jer. 17:10) so that we may recognize our deviations. For it is His kindness that leads us to repentance (Rom. 2:4). Like the Shepherd that left the ninety-nine to find the single sheep who had wandered, so the Lord passionately pursues each and every one of us. Once we have been returned to the fold, our Heavenly Father instructs us how to remain tethered to Him. He withholds no good gift from His children. All we have to do is ask. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened,” (Matt. 7:7-8, NIV). It’s that simple. If you are wrestling with divided affections today, may I encourage you to call upon the Lord? Just like the psalmist of old, let us declare together our heartfelt plea… “Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me.” (Ps. 86:11-13, NIV). Intersecting Faith & Life: Where is your heart today? Do you feel rooted and grounded in Christ, or are you wandering, lost, or disconnected? Perhaps you are somewhere in the middle, where it literally feels like you have one foot on each side of the dividing line that separates surrender and self-reliance. Wherever you find yourself today, take some time to examine your heart. I know how hard it is for many of us to sit in silence and patiently wait for that still small voice of God’s Spirit within each of us. But I pray that you will push past the discomfort of being still and truly allow the Lord to reveal the state of your heart. He longs to heal any division found there so that you may truly rest in His love and presence. Further Reading:Psalm 86Matthew 18:12-14 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

(This podcast was previously published on August 17, 2021)   Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...   It rained on the earth 40 days and 40 nights and all flesh died except for Noah and those in the ark with him.   After the flood, God dried the land from the waters and brought Noah and all living creatures out of the ark, and God made a covenant with Noah.   Genesis 8   20 And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.   21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in HIS heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.   22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.   Genesis 9   12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between ME and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:   13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.   (God's bow:  the rainbow)   14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:   15 And I will remember MY covenant, which is between ME and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.  

David's hope did not come because his circumstances suddenly improved or because his prayers had already been answered. Instead, his confidence was anchored in the unchanging character of God. Even when David felt abandoned, surrounded by enemies, and overwhelmed by hopelessness, he chose to believe that God is good. Remembering God's faithfulness gave him the strength to declare, "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord" (Psalm 27:14). David wasn't telling us to wait for a breakthrough, healing, promotion, or even answers, he was calling us to wait for the Lord Himself. The Hebrew word qavah describes this kind of waiting as an expectant trust, like strands of rope woven tightly together, illustrating an active, intimate dependence on God rather than passive endurance. Throughout Psalm 27, David demonstrates that true waiting is not simply hoping circumstances will change, but remaining closely connected to God, remembering who He is, and allowing confidence to rest in His goodness rather than in what He may do.

Guest pastor Adam Bailie joins us this week as he preaches from Psalm 134 on how blessing God isn't something we figure out on our own. The Lord Himself directs how His people bless Him. 

Experience Psalm 4 from the King James Version with calming ocean waves in this peaceful Psalms and Tides episode for rest, reflection, prayer, and sleep.Psalm 4 is a peaceful evening prayer, moving from distress to confidence, from troubled thoughts to stillness before God. David calls upon the Lord as the God of his righteousness, remembers that the Lord hears him, and invites the heart to be quiet: “Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.”In this episode of Psalms and Tides, the steady rhythm of the sea provides a calm setting for Scripture, prayer, reflection, and sleep. Psalm 4 speaks especially to the restless mind at day's end, reminding us that true safety does not come from outward circumstances, but from the Lord Himself.As you listen, may the words of this Psalm help you release the burdens of the day and rest in its closing promise: “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.”Psalm 4, King James Version.Highlighted versesPsalm 4:1 — “Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness…”Psalm 4:3 — “But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.”Psalm 4:4 — “Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.”Psalm 4:8 — “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.”

ਸੋਰਠਿ ਮਹਲਾ ੩ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਤੁਧੁ ਨੋ ਸਦਾ ਸਾਲਾਹੀ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਜਿਚਰੁ ਘਟ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਹੈ ਸਾਸਾ ॥ ਇਕੁ ਪਲੁ ਖਿਨੁ ਵਿਸਰਹਿ ਤੂ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਜਾਣਉ ਬਰਸ ਪਚਾਸਾ ॥ ਹਮ ਮੂੜ ਮੁਗਧ ਸਦਾ ਸੇ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਪ੍ਰਗਾਸਾ ॥੧॥ ਹਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਤੁਮ ਆਪੇ ਦੇਹੁ ਬੁਝਾਈ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਤੁਧੁ ਵਿਟਹੁ ਵਾਰਿਆ ਸਦ ਹੀ ਤੇਰੇ ਨਾਮ ਵਿਟਹੁ ਬਲਿ ਜਾਈ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਹਮ ਸਬਦਿ ਮੁਏ ਸਬਦਿ ਮਾਰਿ ਜੀਵਾਲੇ ਭਾਈ ਸਬਦੇ ਹੀ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਪਾਈ ॥ ਸਬਦੇ ਮਨੁ ਤਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਹੋਆ ਹਰਿ ਵਸਿਆ ਮਨਿ ਆਈ ॥ ਸਬਦੁ ਗੁਰ ਦਾਤਾ ਜਿਤੁ ਮਨੁ ਰਾਤਾ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਉ ਰਹਿਆ ਸਮਾਈ ॥੨॥ ਸਬਦੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਹਿ ਸੇ ਅੰਨੇ ਬੋਲੇ ਸੇ ਕਿਤੁ ਆਏ ਸੰਸਾਰਾ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਰਸੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਆ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਜਨਮੁ ਗਵਾਇਆ ਜੰਮਹਿ ਵਾਰੋ ਵਾਰਾ ॥ ਬਿਸਟਾ ਕੇ ਕੀੜੇ ਬਿਸਟਾ ਮਾਹਿ ਸਮਾਣੇ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਮੁਗਧ ਗੁਬਾਰਾ ॥੩॥ ਆਪੇ ਕਰਿ ਵੇਖੈ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਲਾਏ ਭਾਈ ਤਿਸੁ ਬਿਨੁ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਕੋਈ ॥ ਜੋ ਧੁਰਿ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਸੁ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਮੇਟੈ ਭਾਈ ਕਰਤਾ ਕਰੇ ਸੁ ਹੋਈ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਸਿਆ ਮਨ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਭਾਈ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਦੂਜਾ ਕੋਈ ॥੪॥੪॥ਅਰਥ: ਹੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਜੀ! ਤੂੰ ਆਪ ਹੀ (ਆਪਣਾ ਨਾਮ ਜਪਣ ਦੀ ਮੈਨੂੰ) ਸਮਝ ਬਖ਼ਸ਼। ਹੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ! ਮੈਂ ਤੈਥੋਂ ਸਦਾ ਸਦਕੇ ਜਾਵਾਂ, ਮੈਂ ਤੇਰੇ ਨਾਮ ਤੋਂ ਕੁਰਬਾਨ ਜਾਵਾਂ।ਰਹਾਉ।ਹੇ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਜੀ! ਮੇਹਰ ਕਰ) ਜਿਤਨਾ ਚਿਰ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਰੀਰ ਵਿਚ ਜਿੰਦ ਹੈ, ਮੈਂ ਸਦਾ ਤੇਰੀ ਸਿਫ਼ਤਿ-ਸਾਲਾਹ ਕਰਦਾ ਰਹਾਂ। ਹੇ ਮਾਲਕ-ਪ੍ਰਭੂ! ਜਦੋਂ ਤੂੰ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਇਕ ਪਲ-ਭਰ ਇਕ ਛਿਨ-ਭਰ ਵਿੱਸਰਦਾ ਹੈਂ, ਮੈਂ ਪੰਜਾਹ ਸਾਲ ਬੀਤ ਗਏ ਸਮਝਦਾ ਹਾਂ। ਹੇ ਭਾਈ! ਅਸੀ ਸਦਾ ਤੋਂ ਮੂਰਖ ਅੰਞਾਣ ਤੁਰੇ ਆ ਰਹੇ ਸਾਂ, ਗੁਰੂ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਦੀ ਬਰਕਤਿ ਨਾਲ (ਸਾਡੇ ਅੰਦਰ ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਦਾ) ਚਾਨਣ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ।੧।ਹੇ ਭਾਈ! ਅਸੀ (ਜੀਵ) ਗੁਰੂ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਦੀ ਰਾਹੀਂ (ਵਿਕਾਰਾਂ ਵਲੋਂ) ਮਰ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਾਂ, ਸ਼ਬਦ ਦੀ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਹੀ (ਵਿਕਾਰਾਂ ਵਲੋਂ) ਮਾਰ ਕੇ (ਗੁਰੂ) ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਦੇਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਗੁਰੂ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਵਿਚ ਜੁੜਿਆਂ ਹੀ ਵਿਕਾਰਾਂ ਵਲੋਂ ਖ਼ਲਾਸੀ ਹਾਸਲ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ। ਗੁਰੂ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਦੀ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਹੀ ਮਨ ਪਵਿਤ੍ਰ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਸਰੀਰ ਪਵਿਤ੍ਰ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਅਤੇ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਮਨ ਵਿਚ ਆ ਵੱਸਦਾ ਹੈ। ਹੇ ਭਾਈ! ਗੁਰੂ ਦਾ ਸ਼ਬਦ (ਹੀ ਨਾਮ ਦੀ ਦਾਤਿ) ਦੇਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਹੈ, ਜਦੋਂ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਵਿਚ ਮਨ ਰੰਗਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਵਿਚ ਲੀਨ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।੨।ਹੇ ਭਾਈ! ਜੇਹੜੇ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਗੁਰੂ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਨਾਲ ਸਾਂਝ ਨਹੀਂ ਪਾਂਦੇ ਉਹ (ਮਾਇਆ ਦੇ ਮੋਹ ਵਿਚ ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਵਲੋਂ) ਅੰਨ੍ਹੇ ਬੋਲੇ ਹੋਏ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ, ਸੰਸਾਰ ਵਿਚ ਆ ਕੇ ਉਹ ਕੁਝ ਨਹੀਂ ਖੱਟਦੇ। ਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਦੇ ਨਾਮ ਦਾ ਸੁਆਦ ਨਹੀਂ ਆਉਂਦਾ, ਉਹ ਆਪਣਾ ਜੀਵਨ ਵਿਅਰਥ ਗਵਾ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ, ਉਹ ਮੁੜ ਮੁੜ ਜੰਮਦੇ ਮਰਦੇ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਜਿਵੇਂ ਗੰਦ ਦੇ ਕੀੜੇ ਗੰਦ ਵਿਚ ਹੀ ਟਿਕੇ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ, ਤਿਵੇਂ ਆਪਣੇ ਮਨ ਦੇ ਪਿੱਛੇ ਤੁਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਮੂਰਖ ਮਨੁੱਖ (ਅਗਿਆਨਤਾ ਦੇ) ਹਨੇਰੇ ਵਿਚ ਹੀ (ਮਸਤ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ) ।੩।ਪਰ, ਹੇ ਭਾਈ! ਜੀਵਾਂ ਦੇ ਭੀ ਕੀਹ ਵੱਸ?) ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਆਪ ਹੀ (ਜੀਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ) ਪੈਦਾ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਸੰਭਾਲ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਆਪ ਹੀ (ਜੀਵਨ ਦੇ ਸਹੀ) ਰਸਤੇ ਪਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਉਸ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਤੋਂ ਬਿਨਾ ਹੋਰ ਕੋਈ ਨਹੀਂ (ਜੋ ਜੀਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਰਾਹ ਦੱਸ ਸਕੇ) । ਹੇ ਭਾਈ! ਕਰਤਾਰ ਜੋ ਕੁਝ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ ਉਹੀ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਧੁਰ ਦਰਗਾਹ ਤੋਂ (ਜੀਵਾਂ ਦੇ ਮੱਥੇ ਤੇ ਲੇਖ) ਲਿਖ ਦੇਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਕੋਈ (ਹੋਰ) ਮਿਟਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਸਕਦਾ। ਹੇ ਨਾਨਕ! ਆਖ-) ਹੇ ਭਾਈ! ਉਸ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਦੀ ਮੇਹਰ ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਉਸ ਦਾ) ਨਾਮ (ਮਨੁੱਖ ਦੇ) ਮਨ ਵਿਚ ਵੱਸ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ, ਕੋਈ ਹੋਰ ਇਹ ਦਾਤਿ ਦੇਣ ਜੋਗਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ।੪।੪।SORAT'H, THIRD MEHL:Dear Beloved Lord, I praise You continually, as long as there is the breath within my body. If I were to forget You, for a moment, even for an instant, O Lord Master, it would be like fifty years for me. I was always such a fool and an idiot, O Siblings of Destiny, but now, through the Word of the Guru's Shabad, my mind is enlightened. || 1 || Dear Lord, You Yourself bestow understanding. Dear Lord, I am forever a sacrifice to You; I am dedicated and devoted to Your Name. || Pause || I have died in the Word of the Shabad, and through the Shabad, I am dead while yet alive, O Siblings of Destiny; through the Shabad, I have been liberated. Through the Shabad, my mind and body have been purified, and the Lord has come to dwell within my mind. The Guru is the Giver of the Shabad; my mind is imbued with it, and I remain absorbed in the Lord. || 2 || Those who do not know the Shabad are blind and deaf; why did they even bother to come into the world? They do not obtain the subtle essence of the Lord's elixir; they waste away their lives, and are reincarnated over and over again. The blind, idiotic, self-willed manmukhs are like maggots in manure, and in manure they rot away. || 3 || The Lord Himself creates us, watches over us, and places us on the Path, O Siblings of Destiny; there is no one other than Him. No one can erase that which is pre-ordained, O Siblings of Destiny; whatever the Creator wills, comes to pass. O Nanak, the Naam, the Name of the Lord, abides deep within the mind; O Siblings of Destiny, there is no other at all. || 4 || 4 ||

Delivered by Heidy from the Parish of Christ the King in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Amos 9: 11-15; Rs psalm 85: 9.11-12.13-14; Matthew 9: 14-17.PARTY STYLE ANDFASTING STYLE The theme for our meditation today is: Party Style and Fasting Style. Ayoung girl celebrated her seventeenth birthday with great joy. Most of theguests were her school friends, and each brought her a gift. Her family alsoprepared a special present because she was the eldest of three children. Thecelebration was held on the beach on a bright sunny day. She was grateful andvery happy on her special day. A celebration is meaningful because people come together. Family andfriends meet, talk, share stories, eat and drink, sing, and enjoy one another'scompany. A joyful celebration is very different from fasting. Each has its ownpurpose. The essential characteristic of fasting is the experience of absence,self-denial, and sacrifice. When there is a sense of loss or longing, peopleusually set aside eating, drinking, entertainment, and other forms ofcelebration. There is no atmosphere of music, dancing, or festivity. Fastingexpresses our desire to seek the Lord more deeply. It reminds us that we longfor God's presence and wish to draw closer to Him through prayer,self-discipline, and spiritual renewal. This contrast is illustrated in today's Gospel. The disciples of Johnand many of the Jews did not recognize that Jesus, the Lord Himself, wasalready present among them. They thought of God as distant and believed thatfasting was the proper way to seek Him. In contrast, Jesus' apostles anddisciples rejoiced because the Bridegroom was with them. It was a time forcelebration, not for fasting. Jesus also taught that when He was taken awayfrom them, then it would be the proper time to fast. For us today, both fasting and celebration remain important. The Churchprovides regular occasions for fasting and for joyful feasts through theliturgical calendar. Many people also choose to fast as part of their personalspiritual discipline. Likewise, we celebrate feasts, both in large and smallgatherings, to give thanks for the gift of one another and for God's presencein our lives. The important lesson is that both celebration and fasting have theirown time and purpose. We should do each in the right way and respect those whoare celebrating or fasting. At one time we may celebrate, and at another timewe may fast. So, let us not disturb one another, but support each other inliving our faith. Let us pray.In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.Amen.Lord Jesus Christ, help us follow Your teaching on fasting and everyspiritual practice. May Your Holy Spirit guide us always, so that we may do allthings with faith, hope, and love.Hail Mary, full of grace...In the name of the Father, and of the Son, andof the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Send us your feedback — we're listeningIsaiah 41:10 — Do Not Be Afraid, For I Am With You Live from our studios in London, England — where faith meets the world in daily prayer and global hope. Brisbane • Dunedin • Singapore • Charlotte • Medellín COURAGE • STRENGTH • GOD'S PRESENCE Good morning, and welcome to DailyPrayer.uk. I'm Reverend Ben Cooper. Come in for five minutes, let's open God's Word together, and let's pray. By now, many of us have stepped into the responsibilities of the day. Meetings have begun, families need our attention, decisions are waiting and some are already facing unexpected challenges. If today feels bigger than your own strength, pause for these few moments and allow God's presence to become greater than your pressure. Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” This promise is more than comforting words—it is the faithful voice of God speaking into ordinary lives. He does not promise that every difficulty will disappear, but He does promise that we will never face those difficulties alone. Let's hold firmly to this truth today: fear will not win, because the Lord Himself is our strength, our helper and our constant companion through every challenge. Father, thank You for Your unfailing presence. Thank You that when our own strength feels limited, Your strength never fails and Your faithfulness never changes. Lord Jesus, strengthen every listener today. Bring healing to those who are unwell, courage to those facing difficult conversations, peace to anxious hearts and renewed confidence to everyone carrying responsibilities that seem overwhelming. Help us to remember that You walk beside us in every moment. Holy Spirit, fill us with quiet courage, steady our hearts and help us respond with grace, wisdom and compassion wherever You lead us today. Across the world, from Brisbane to Dunedin, from Singapore to Charlotte and Medellín, may every listener move forward with confidence, upheld by the strong and loving hand of God. Jesús, fortalece mi corazón con Tu presencia. Jesus, fortalece o meu coração com a Tua presença. Jesus, palakasin Mo ang aking puso sa Iyong presensya. Amen. Isaiah 41 prayer, prayer for courage, Christian encouragement, God's presence, daily devotional prayer, trusting Jesus, strength for today, hope in Christ Christian prayer for courage today, trusting God through challenges, God's strength in difficult times, finding peace in Christ.Support the showDaily Prayer with Reverend Ben Cooper now reaches 185 countries and 3,012 cities worldwide through the Global Blend Radio network.This is a listener-funded global ministry. If these daily prayers strengthen your faith or help you through difficult seasons, would you consider becoming a monthly prayer partner for just £3 per month?Your support enables us to continue recording, hosting, and broadcasting daily biblical encouragement across the nations — keeping this ministry free and accessible to everyone who needs it.You can support today at GlobalBlendRadio.comTogether, we can keep prayer moving across the world.To submit a prayer request or connect with our global prayer community, visit DailyPrayer.ukBuy me a Coffee 

In Luke 5:27-39, Luke wrote concerning Levi, also known as Matthew, whom Jesus called to follow Him.He also writes that Jesus told another parable concerning wardrobe and wine, and concerning the old and the new which do not mix. First, Dr. Mitchell takes a look at the calling of a disciple named Levi. He called his tax-gathering friends together and made a feast for Jesus. Here is the first example of friendship evangelism. Then Luke writes how the rulers attack Jesus' disciples first, trying to get at Jesus. But notice how our Lord Himself addresses this opposition. Remember, Jesus said in Acts 9:4, “Saul, Saul why are you persecuting Me?” Saul, later called Paul, had been persecuting the Lord's church. Jesus takes it personally when His church is persecuted. Saul was then saved thru faith in Jesus as the Christ.Here is Dr. Mitchell on the Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast, Luke 5:27.

When we remember that God is watching over us, we can live with confidence instead of fear. His protection is not limited by what we can see—He is always present, guarding, guiding, and holding His children securely in His hands. Highlights: God’s protection reminds us that we are valuable and deeply cared for by Him Nothing happens outside of God’s awareness, even when circumstances feel uncertain Jesus promises that no one can take His children out of His hands Trusting God’s sovereignty brings peace when we face fear, injustice, or uncertainty We can find security knowing God watches over us and works for our good Join the Conversation Have you experienced a moment when God reminded you that you were safe in His care? How does knowing that God is always watching over and protecting you change the way you respond to fear or difficult circumstances? Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/ Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: We Are Safe with God By Alexis A. Goring Bible Reading:“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” - John 10:10 NIV Have you ever felt unsafe but not worried because you knew there were people and systems in place to protect you? Did knowing this help you feel safe? When I worked in retail for a major department store, part of my orientation day was an introduction to the asset protection team, who operated inside a hidden room in that store. They had TV monitors mounted on a long wall, as well as other technology they used daily to watch all the customers to make sure nobody would steal anything that belonged to the store and get away with it. According to a Google search aided by AI, “Asset Protection (AP) teams in department stores protect assets, employees, and customers by preventing theft, fraud, and inventory loss (shrink) through surveillance, investigations, and safety training. They work in uniforms or plain clothes (store detectives), monitoring CCTV, patrolling floors, and collaborating with law enforcement to maintain a safe environment.” My exposure to how stores protect their products didn’t end there. A few years after working in retail, I noticed that another popular store started putting their facial cleanser products beyond glass cases that cannot be unlocked without assistance from a sales associate. When I asked why, they said people had started stealing these products, so they put them under lock and key to prevent theft. As I thought about these two experiences recently, I realized that this is similar to how God protects us. We are His most valuable assets on Earth, and He has gone to great lengths to protect us. God sends His Angels from Heaven to protect us from the devil, whose sole purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy us. But we have hope and security in God. The Bible says in John 10:28 (NIRV), “I give them eternal life, and they will never die. No one will steal them out of my hand.” We are safe in His hands. This reminds me of a popular Christian faith-based song with lyrics that remind us how the Creator of the Universe holds the whole world in His Hands. We serve a big and mighty God who is sovereign and always in control. He’s very protective of us as His treasured possessions, and nobody—devil, demon, forces of evil, and people who want to hurt us—can remove God’s hand of protection over us. Our Lord and Savior (Jesus Christ) cannot be defeated, and He promises to cover us all the days of our lives (Matthew 28:20). Nothing that happens on Earth goes unnoticed by God. The Bible says in Proverbs 15:3 (NIRV), “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere. They watch those who are evil and those who are good.” Just like that department store had a hidden place within the store to keep watch silently without any customer being aware they are under surveillance, the Lord Himself and His Angels are keeping watch over all humankind. They stay hidden from us in most cases, but they are very present in our world. And sometimes, they reveal their presence when necessary (Hebrews 13:2). So next time you feel like someone who hurt you is getting away with it or a crime is going unpunished, remember that God will work everything together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28) and vengeance is His (Romans 12:17-19). Also, remember what the Bible says in Hebrews 4:13-15 (NIV), “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” When we remember Biblical truth and apply it to our lives, this can help us have a peace that passes all understanding because we know God is in control, we are safe with Him, and nobody can snatch us out of His hand that covers us every moment of our lives on Earth. So, when you are afraid, run to Jesus. And if you are tempted to sin, remember God is watching you too. Make Him proud and do the right thing. In closing, I’d like for you to listen to the following songs: Song of Reflection #1: “Mercy Said No” by Cece Winans. Listen to it HERE. Song of Reflection #2: “Testimony” by Terrian. Listen to it HERE. Song of Reflection #3: “Safe” by Alisa Turner. Listen to it HERE. Song of Reflection #4: “Every Moment” by ForeverJones. Listen to it HERE. Intersecting Faith & Life: How does it feel to know that you are safe with God? Further Reading:Deuteronomy 32:35Psalm 46:1-11Psalm 91:1-16Psalm 121:1-82 Thessalonians 3:3 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Send us Fan MailVideo Podcast In his interview, Jacob Hansen never once quotes from or references the Book of Mormon. It's no wonder—he would have had to confront the clear differences between what the Book of Mormon actually teaches and what the modern LDS Church teaches today.Rather than relying on the Book of Mormon, he turns to later teachings from Joseph Smith and other church traditions that came after it was published. This pattern is common: the LDS Church, the RLDS/Community of Christ, and many other Mormon offshoots often set aside their original book of scripture in favor of later developments.We believe the Book of Mormon is the word of God. Its message is centered on Jesus Christ. It does not contradict the Bible—in fact, it beautifully complements and clarifies it. The Book of Mormon powerfully reinforces the core doctrines of mercy, justice, repentance, salvation, and eternal life so they cannot be misunderstood.Above all, it testifies of the atonement of Jesus Christ. It presents Jesus as God Himself who took on flesh, came to earth, and died for our sins. It is a sacred record of the descendants of Joseph—specifically the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh—preserved for our day.The Bible was originally written in languages such as Hebrew and Greek before being translated into English. Because of this, many different English versions exist. Each translation is the result of careful work by scholars, linguists, and translators who select the words they believe best convey the original meaning. In contrast, the Book of Mormon was translated only once—by the gift and power of God. Using divinely prepared instruments. The Lord Himself guided the process, removing human interpretation and choosing words that precisely express the meaning He wants us to understand. Translated one time by the gift and power of God!!  This is an extraordinary gift that helps us clearly know what we need for our salvation and for building a personal relationship with our Creator. Restored Gospel  - Scripture Search and Study Resources Contact us:restoredgospelpodcast@gmail.comMusic by Michael Barrett

Lesson 15 - The End Draws NearMatthew 25:14—26:75. Matthew records many final moments in these last chapters. Final words about Christ's coming and final calls to faithfulness, a final act of loving devotion, the final Passover meal. He recounts the betrayal of one disciple, the public failure of another and the scattering of all the rest. And for the Lord Himself, there is the final surrender in Gethsemane, accepting the cup of suffering that would result in His death for all mankind. Everything has been made ready. The end truly is in sight.To learn more about Michele or to support this international ministry please visit https://intheword.com

The only hope of the believing remnant is the Lord Himself.

The only hope of the believing remnant is the Lord Himself.

Exploring the Connection Between Matthew 20, the Book of Proverbs, and Isaiah 20 For Bible in Ten – By DH – 23rd June 2026 Yesterday we completed Matthew 20.    W. Bullinger associates the number 20 with expectancy. It is one short of 21, which is three times seven, a number suggestive of divine completion in spiritual perfection. Therefore, 20 carries the thought of waiting, looking forward, standing just short of completion, and expecting what God alone can bring to pass. As we will see, Matthew 20, Isaiah 20, and Proverbs, the twentieth book of the Bible, each harmonise around the same spiritual note of expectancy. Matthew 20 opens with workers waiting for their reward. Some have borne the burden and heat of the day. Others came at the eleventh hour. All are dependent upon the goodness of the master. The issue is not merely labor, but expectation. What will the master give? How will he judge? Will his goodness offend those who think reward should be measured by comparison? The answer is grace. The last receive what the master has freely determined to give. The first are not wronged, but their hearts are exposed. Thus, Matthew 20 begins with expectancy and turns it into a revelation of grace. Man expects according to merit. God gives according to His goodness. Isaiah 20 gives a darker companion witness. There, Isaiah becomes a sign against Egypt and Cush. The nations that seemed strong, useful, and dependable are exposed. Human refuge is stripped bare. The expectation placed in worldly strength is shown to be empty. This is the other side of expectancy. If man waits upon Egypt, he will be ashamed. If man waits upon Cush, he will be disappointed. Similarly if man waits upon his own wisdom, labor, greatness, or position. But if man waits upon the Lord, he will not be put to shame. This is where the pattern begins to shine. Isaiah has 66 chapters, and the Bible has 66 books. Isaiah, in broad outline, seems to stand as a remarkable miniature witness to the whole Bible. Within that larger 66-fold witness, Isaiah 20 fits with the twentieth book, Proverbs.  That is not random noise. It is the sort of pattern that causes us to marvel at God's wonderful word. It is ordered, layered, and spiritually alive. The same God who numbers the stars and calls them all by name has arranged His word, inspiring human authors with a wisdom that continually exceeds mere human ability and spanning vast distances of human history. Proverbs, as the twentieth book, is typically fitting. If 20 speaks of expectancy, Proverbs teaches us how to wait rightly. It teaches the fear of the Lord. It teaches humility before honor. It warns against pride, envy, haste, self-trust, and the evil eye. It teaches that the Lord weighs the heart and that man must not lean on his own understanding. This is exactly the wisdom needed in Matthew 20. The vineyard workers need Proverbs. They must learn not to grumble against goodness. The disciples need Proverbs. They must learn that greatness is not grasped through ambition. The mother of Zebedee's sons needs Proverbs. She must learn that honor is not seized by request, but prepared by the Father. The blind men heed what Proverbs points toward: the fear of the Lord, humble dependence, and a cry for mercy. The book of Proverbs gives immediate access to God's view of these things. It tells us plainly that pride blinds, envy corrodes, humility precedes honor, and wisdom begins with reverence for God. Matthew 20 then shows these truths embodied in living form. And at the centre stands Christ. He is the One for whom all true expectancy waits. He is the wisdom of God. He is the Servant who does not come to be served, but to serve. He is the ransom for many. He is the One going up to Jerusalem, where peace will be secured not through worldly power, but through His suffering, death, and resurrection. In Isaiah 20, false hope is stripped. In Proverbs, true wisdom is taught. In Matthew 20, true hope and true wisdom meet in Jesus Christ. So by considering the chapter through the lens of the number 20 and its Biblical meaning , we can see once again that man is waiting. Creation is waiting. Israel is waiting. The nations are waiting. The disciples are waiting. The blind are waiting. But the question is: what are they waiting for? Some wait for Egypt. Some wait for reward. Some wait for status. Some wait for human greatness. Some wait for their own works to justify them. But the faithful wait for the Lord. The two blind men at the end of Matthew 20 show the right response. They do not come boasting. They do not argue wages. They do not ask for thrones. They cry, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us.” That is expectancy purified. That is wisdom in action. That is the opposite of trusting Egypt. That is the heart looking to the only One who can open blind eyes. And He does. The Lord stops. The Lord calls. The Lord asks. The Lord touches. The Lord restores sight. Then they follow Him. This is the glory of the pattern. The number 20 brings us to expectancy, but Christ brings expectancy to fulfillment. Proverbs teaches us to fear the Lord. Isaiah warns us not to trust in man. Matthew reveals the Lord Himself, walking the road to Jerusalem to accomplish what no man, nation, ruler, disciple, worker, or wise man could ever accomplish. Life application: We are always waiting for something. We wait for reward, vindication, provision, healing, direction, peace, and completion. The question is whether our expectancy is placed in the Lord or in something that will be stripped away. Isaiah 20 warns us that false confidence will be exposed. Proverbs teaches us that wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord. Matthew 20 shows us that the grace of God is found in Christ, the Servant-King, who gives His life as a ransom for many. Let us therefore wait rightly. Let us not grumble against grace. Let us not grasp after status. Let us not trust in Egypt. Let us not lean on our own understanding. Let us cry out with the blind men, “Lord, have mercy,” and follow the One who opens our eyes. Lord God, how wonderful is Your word. Its patterns are beyond us, its wisdom is pure, and its testimony always leads us to Christ. Thank You for showing us that our expectation must not be in man, merit, power, or position, but in You alone. Open our eyes, humble our hearts, and teach us to rejoice in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.  

ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ ਰਾਗੁ ਸੂਹੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਸੇਖ ਫਰੀਦ ਜੀ ਕੀ ॥ ਤਪਿ ਤਪਿ ਲੁਹਿ ਲੁਹਿ ਹਾਥ ਮਰੋਰਉ ॥ ਬਾਵਲਿ ਹੋਈ ਸੋ ਸਹੁ ਲੋਰਉ ॥ ਤੈ ਸਹਿ ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਕੀਆ ਰੋਸੁ ॥ ਮੁਝੁ ਅਵਗਨ ਸਹ ਨਾਹੀ ਦੋਸੁ ॥੧॥ ਤੈ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਕੀ ਮੈ ਸਾਰ ਨ ਜਾਨੀ ॥ ਜੋਬਨੁ ਖੋਇ ਪਾਛੈ ਪਛੁਤਾਨੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਕਾਲੀ ਕੋਇਲ ਤੂ ਕਿਤ ਗੁਨ ਕਾਲੀ ॥ ਅਪਨੇ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮ ਕੇ ਹਉ ਬਿਰਹੈ ਜਾਲੀ ॥ ਪਿਰਹਿ ਬਿਹੂਨ ਕਤਹਿ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਏ ॥ ਜਾ ਹੋਇ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾਲੁ ਤਾ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਮਿਲਾਏ ॥੨॥ ਵਿਧਣ ਖੂਹੀ ਮੁੰਧ ਇਕੇਲੀ ॥ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਸਾਥੀ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਬੇਲੀ ॥ ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਪ੍ਰਭਿ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਮੇਲੀ ॥ ਜਾ ਫਿਰਿ ਦੇਖਾ ਤਾ ਮੇਰਾ ਅਲਹੁ ਬੇਲੀ ॥੩॥ ਵਾਟ ਹਮਾਰੀ ਖਰੀ ਉਡੀਣੀ ॥ ਖੰਨਿਅਹੁ ਤਿਖੀ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਪਿਈਣੀ ॥ ਉਸੁ ਊਪਰਿ ਹੈ ਮਾਰਗੁ ਮੇਰਾ ॥ ਸੇਖ ਫਰੀਦਾ ਪੰਥੁ ਸਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਾਰਿ ਸਵੇਰਾ ॥੪॥੧॥ ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਮਾਲਿਕ! ਮੈਂ ਤੇਰੀ ਕਦਰ ਨਾ ਜਾਤੀ, ਜੁਆਨੀ ਦਾ ਵੇਲਾ ਗਵਾ ਕੇ ਹੁਣ ਪਿਛੋਂ ਮੈਂ ਝੁਰ ਰਹੀ ਹਾਂ।ਰਹਾਉ। ਬੜੀ ਦੁਖੀ ਹੋ ਕੇ, ਬੜੀ ਤੜਫ ਕੇ ਮੈਂ ਹੁਣ ਹੱਥ ਮਲ ਰਹੀ ਹਾਂ, ਤੇ ਝੱਲੀ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਹੁਣ ਮੈਂ ਉਸ ਖਸਮ ਨੂੰ ਲੱਭਦੀ ਫਿਰਦੀ ਹਾਂ। ਹੇ ਖਸਮ-ਪ੍ਰਭੂ! ਤੇਰਾ ਕੋਈ ਦੋਸ (ਮੇਰੀ ਇਸ ਭੈੜੀ ਹਾਲਤ ਬਾਰੇ) ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ, ਮੇਰੇ ਵਿਚ ਹੀ ਔਗੁਣ ਸਨ, ਤਾਹੀਏਂ ਤੂੰ ਆਪਣੇ ਮਨ ਵਿਚ ਮੇਰੇ ਨਾਲ ਰੋਸਾ ਕੀਤਾ।੧। (ਹੁਣ ਮੈਂ ਕੋਇਲ ਨੂੰ ਪੁੱਛਦੀ ਫਿਰਦੀ ਹਾਂ-) ਹੇ ਕਾਲੀ ਕੋਇਲ! ਭਲਾ, ਮੈਂ ਤਾਂ ਆਪਣੇ ਕਰਮਾਂ ਦੀ ਮਾਰੀ ਦੁਖੀ ਹਾਂ ਹੀ) ਤੂੰ ਭੀ ਕਿਉਂ ਕਾਲੀ (ਹੋ ਗਈ) ਹੈਂ? (ਕੋਇਲ ਭੀ ਇਹੀ ਉੱਤਰ ਦੇਂਦੀ ਹੈ) ਮੈਨੂੰ ਮੇਰੇ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮ ਦੇ ਵਿਛੋੜੇ ਨੇ ਸਾੜ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ। (ਠੀਕ ਹੈ) ਖਸਮ ਤੋਂ ਵਿੱਛੁੜ ਕੇ ਕਿਥੇ ਕੋਈ ਸੁਖ ਪਾ ਸਕਦੀ ਹੈ? (ਪਰ ਜੀਵ-ਇਸਤ੍ਰੀ ਦੇ ਵੱਸ ਦੀ ਗੱਲ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ) ਜਦੋਂ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਆਪ ਮਿਹਰਬਾਨ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਆਪ ਹੀ ਮਿਲਾ ਲੈਂਦਾ ਹੈ। (ਇਸ ਜਗਤ-ਰੂਪ) ਡਰਾਉਣੀ ਖੂਹੀ ਵਿਚ ਮੈਂ ਜੀਵ-ਇਸਤ੍ਰੀ ਇਕੱਲੀ (ਡਿੱਗੀ ਪਈ ਸਾਂ, ਇਥੇ) ਕੋਈ ਮੇਰਾ ਸਾਥੀ ਨਹੀਂ (ਮੇਰੇ ਦੁੱਖਾਂ ਵਿਚ) ਕੋਈ ਮੇਰਾ ਮਦਦਗਾਰ ਨਹੀਂ। ਹੁਣ ਜਦੋਂ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਨੇ ਮੇਹਰ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਸਤਸੰਗ ਵਿਚ ਮਿਲਾਇਆ ਹੈ, (ਸਤਸੰਗ ਵਿਚ ਆ ਕੇ) ਜਦੋਂ ਮੈਂ ਵੇਖਦੀ ਹਾਂ ਤਾਂ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਮੇਰਾ ਰੱਬ ਬੇਲੀ ਦਿੱਸ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ।੩। ਹੇ ਭਾਈ! ਅਸਾਡਾ ਇਹ ਜੀਵਨ-ਪੰਧ ਬੜਾ ਭਿਆਨਕ ਹੈ, ਖੰਡੇ ਨਾਲੋਂ ਤਿੱਖਾ ਹੈ, ਬੜੀ ਤੇਜ਼ ਧਾਰ ਵਾਲਾ ਹੈ; ਇਸ ਦੇ ਉਤੋਂ ਦੀ ਅਸਾਂ ਲੰਘਣਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਵਾਸਤੇ, ਹੇ ਫਰੀਦ! ਸਵੇਰੇ ਸਵੇਰੇ ਰਸਤਾ ਸੰਭਾਲ।੪।੧। O my lord! I didn't appreciate you, I lost the time of youth and now I am falling behind. Stay. I am now wringing my hands in great pain, in great agony, and now I am wandering around looking for that person. O Lord of Khasam! You have no fault (about this bad condition of mine), I only had flaws, so you were angry with me in your heart. (Now I keep asking the cuckoo-) O black cuckoo! Well, I am suffering because of my deeds) Why are you also black (turned)? (Cuckoo also gives the same answer) I have been burned by the separation of my beloved. (Okay) Where can one find happiness after being freed from khasam? (But it is not a matter of the power of the living-woman) When the Lord Himself is merciful, He reconciles Himself. 2. In this world-form) fearsome pit I the creature alone (fell, here) No one is my companion (in my sorrows) No one is my helper. Now that the Lord has graciously joined me in the Satsang, (coming to the Satsang) when I look, I am seeing my God Belly. 3. Hey brother! Asada, this part of life is very terrible, it is sharper than a sword, it has a very sharp edge; We have to pass through it. Therefore, O Farid! Save the way early in the morning. 4.1.

ਸੋਰਠਿ ਮਹਲਾ ੩ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਤੁਧੁ ਨੋ ਸਦਾ ਸਾਲਾਹੀ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਜਿਚਰੁ ਘਟ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਹੈ ਸਾਸਾ ॥ ਇਕੁ ਪਲੁ ਖਿਨੁ ਵਿਸਰਹਿ ਤੂ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਜਾਣਉ ਬਰਸ ਪਚਾਸਾ ॥ ਹਮ ਮੂੜ ਮੁਗਧ ਸਦਾ ਸੇ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਪ੍ਰਗਾਸਾ ॥੧॥ ਹਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਤੁਮ ਆਪੇ ਦੇਹੁ ਬੁਝਾਈ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਤੁਧੁ ਵਿਟਹੁ ਵਾਰਿਆ ਸਦ ਹੀ ਤੇਰੇ ਨਾਮ ਵਿਟਹੁ ਬਲਿ ਜਾਈ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਹਮ ਸਬਦਿ ਮੁਏ ਸਬਦਿ ਮਾਰਿ ਜੀਵਾਲੇ ਭਾਈ ਸਬਦੇ ਹੀ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਪਾਈ ॥ ਸਬਦੇ ਮਨੁ ਤਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਹੋਆ ਹਰਿ ਵਸਿਆ ਮਨਿ ਆਈ ॥ ਸਬਦੁ ਗੁਰ ਦਾਤਾ ਜਿਤੁ ਮਨੁ ਰਾਤਾ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਉ ਰਹਿਆ ਸਮਾਈ ॥੨॥ ਸਬਦੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਹਿ ਸੇ ਅੰਨੇ ਬੋਲੇ ਸੇ ਕਿਤੁ ਆਏ ਸੰਸਾਰਾ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਰਸੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਆ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਜਨਮੁ ਗਵਾਇਆ ਜੰਮਹਿ ਵਾਰੋ ਵਾਰਾ ॥ ਬਿਸਟਾ ਕੇ ਕੀੜੇ ਬਿਸਟਾ ਮਾਹਿ ਸਮਾਣੇ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਮੁਗਧ ਗੁਬਾਰਾ ॥੩॥ ਆਪੇ ਕਰਿ ਵੇਖੈ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਲਾਏ ਭਾਈ ਤਿਸੁ ਬਿਨੁ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਕੋਈ ॥ ਜੋ ਧੁਰਿ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਸੁ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਮੇਟੈ ਭਾਈ ਕਰਤਾ ਕਰੇ ਸੁ ਹੋਈ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਸਿਆ ਮਨ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਭਾਈ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਦੂਜਾ ਕੋਈ ॥੪॥੪॥ਅਰਥ: ਹੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਜੀ! ਤੂੰ ਆਪ ਹੀ (ਆਪਣਾ ਨਾਮ ਜਪਣ ਦੀ ਮੈਨੂੰ) ਸਮਝ ਬਖ਼ਸ਼। ਹੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ! ਮੈਂ ਤੈਥੋਂ ਸਦਾ ਸਦਕੇ ਜਾਵਾਂ, ਮੈਂ ਤੇਰੇ ਨਾਮ ਤੋਂ ਕੁਰਬਾਨ ਜਾਵਾਂ।ਰਹਾਉ।ਹੇ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਜੀ! ਮੇਹਰ ਕਰ) ਜਿਤਨਾ ਚਿਰ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਰੀਰ ਵਿਚ ਜਿੰਦ ਹੈ, ਮੈਂ ਸਦਾ ਤੇਰੀ ਸਿਫ਼ਤਿ-ਸਾਲਾਹ ਕਰਦਾ ਰਹਾਂ। ਹੇ ਮਾਲਕ-ਪ੍ਰਭੂ! ਜਦੋਂ ਤੂੰ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਇਕ ਪਲ-ਭਰ ਇਕ ਛਿਨ-ਭਰ ਵਿੱਸਰਦਾ ਹੈਂ, ਮੈਂ ਪੰਜਾਹ ਸਾਲ ਬੀਤ ਗਏ ਸਮਝਦਾ ਹਾਂ। ਹੇ ਭਾਈ! ਅਸੀ ਸਦਾ ਤੋਂ ਮੂਰਖ ਅੰਞਾਣ ਤੁਰੇ ਆ ਰਹੇ ਸਾਂ, ਗੁਰੂ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਦੀ ਬਰਕਤਿ ਨਾਲ (ਸਾਡੇ ਅੰਦਰ ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਦਾ) ਚਾਨਣ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ।੧।ਹੇ ਭਾਈ! ਅਸੀ (ਜੀਵ) ਗੁਰੂ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਦੀ ਰਾਹੀਂ (ਵਿਕਾਰਾਂ ਵਲੋਂ) ਮਰ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਾਂ, ਸ਼ਬਦ ਦੀ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਹੀ (ਵਿਕਾਰਾਂ ਵਲੋਂ) ਮਾਰ ਕੇ (ਗੁਰੂ) ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਦੇਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਗੁਰੂ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਵਿਚ ਜੁੜਿਆਂ ਹੀ ਵਿਕਾਰਾਂ ਵਲੋਂ ਖ਼ਲਾਸੀ ਹਾਸਲ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ। ਗੁਰੂ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਦੀ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਹੀ ਮਨ ਪਵਿਤ੍ਰ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਸਰੀਰ ਪਵਿਤ੍ਰ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਅਤੇ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਮਨ ਵਿਚ ਆ ਵੱਸਦਾ ਹੈ। ਹੇ ਭਾਈ! ਗੁਰੂ ਦਾ ਸ਼ਬਦ (ਹੀ ਨਾਮ ਦੀ ਦਾਤਿ) ਦੇਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਹੈ, ਜਦੋਂ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਵਿਚ ਮਨ ਰੰਗਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਵਿਚ ਲੀਨ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।੨।ਹੇ ਭਾਈ! ਜੇਹੜੇ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਗੁਰੂ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਨਾਲ ਸਾਂਝ ਨਹੀਂ ਪਾਂਦੇ ਉਹ (ਮਾਇਆ ਦੇ ਮੋਹ ਵਿਚ ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਵਲੋਂ) ਅੰਨ੍ਹੇ ਬੋਲੇ ਹੋਏ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ, ਸੰਸਾਰ ਵਿਚ ਆ ਕੇ ਉਹ ਕੁਝ ਨਹੀਂ ਖੱਟਦੇ। ਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਦੇ ਨਾਮ ਦਾ ਸੁਆਦ ਨਹੀਂ ਆਉਂਦਾ, ਉਹ ਆਪਣਾ ਜੀਵਨ ਵਿਅਰਥ ਗਵਾ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ, ਉਹ ਮੁੜ ਮੁੜ ਜੰਮਦੇ ਮਰਦੇ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਜਿਵੇਂ ਗੰਦ ਦੇ ਕੀੜੇ ਗੰਦ ਵਿਚ ਹੀ ਟਿਕੇ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ, ਤਿਵੇਂ ਆਪਣੇ ਮਨ ਦੇ ਪਿੱਛੇ ਤੁਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਮੂਰਖ ਮਨੁੱਖ (ਅਗਿਆਨਤਾ ਦੇ) ਹਨੇਰੇ ਵਿਚ ਹੀ (ਮਸਤ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ) ।੩।ਪਰ, ਹੇ ਭਾਈ! ਜੀਵਾਂ ਦੇ ਭੀ ਕੀਹ ਵੱਸ?) ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਆਪ ਹੀ (ਜੀਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ) ਪੈਦਾ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਸੰਭਾਲ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਆਪ ਹੀ (ਜੀਵਨ ਦੇ ਸਹੀ) ਰਸਤੇ ਪਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਉਸ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਤੋਂ ਬਿਨਾ ਹੋਰ ਕੋਈ ਨਹੀਂ (ਜੋ ਜੀਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਰਾਹ ਦੱਸ ਸਕੇ) । ਹੇ ਭਾਈ! ਕਰਤਾਰ ਜੋ ਕੁਝ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ ਉਹੀ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਧੁਰ ਦਰਗਾਹ ਤੋਂ (ਜੀਵਾਂ ਦੇ ਮੱਥੇ ਤੇ ਲੇਖ) ਲਿਖ ਦੇਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਕੋਈ (ਹੋਰ) ਮਿਟਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਸਕਦਾ। ਹੇ ਨਾਨਕ! ਆਖ-) ਹੇ ਭਾਈ! ਉਸ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਦੀ ਮੇਹਰ ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਉਸ ਦਾ) ਨਾਮ (ਮਨੁੱਖ ਦੇ) ਮਨ ਵਿਚ ਵੱਸ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ, ਕੋਈ ਹੋਰ ਇਹ ਦਾਤਿ ਦੇਣ ਜੋਗਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ।੪।੪।SORAT'H, THIRD MEHL:Dear Beloved Lord, I praise You continually, as long as there is the breath within my body. If I were to forget You, for a moment, even for an instant, O Lord Master, it would be like fifty years for me. I was always such a fool and an idiot, O Siblings of Destiny, but now, through the Word of the Guru's Shabad, my mind is enlightened. || 1 || Dear Lord, You Yourself bestow understanding. Dear Lord, I am forever a sacrifice to You; I am dedicated and devoted to Your Name. || Pause || I have died in the Word of the Shabad, and through the Shabad, I am dead while yet alive, O Siblings of Destiny; through the Shabad, I have been liberated. Through the Shabad, my mind and body have been purified, and the Lord has come to dwell within my mind. The Guru is the Giver of the Shabad; my mind is imbued with it, and I remain absorbed in the Lord. || 2 || Those who do not know the Shabad are blind and deaf; why did they even bother to come into the world? They do not obtain the subtle essence of the Lord's elixir; they waste away their lives, and are reincarnated over and over again. The blind, idiotic, self-willed manmukhs are like maggots in manure, and in manure they rot away. || 3 || The Lord Himself creates us, watches over us, and places us on the Path, O Siblings of Destiny; there is no one other than Him. No one can erase that which is pre-ordained, O Siblings of Destiny; whatever the Creator wills, comes to pass. O Nanak, the Naam, the Name of the Lord, abides deep within the mind; O Siblings of Destiny, there is no other at all. || 4 || 4 ||

https://square.link/u/UHRU92rp - Donate HereToday's bonus reading takes us to Psalm 121, one of the Songs of Ascent sung on the journey toward worship. The psalm begins with one voice lifting his eyes to the hills and asking, “Where does my help come from?” Then comes the answer: our help does not come from the hills, the circumstances, or anything around us—our help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.Psalm 121 reminds us that God does not slumber, does not abandon, and does not fail to keep His people. He is our Keeper, our shade, our protector, and our help in every season. So today, read this psalm slowly and let the truth rise over your circumstances: lift your eyes higher than the hills, and remember that the Lord Himself is your help.

“It is not possible to measure the complete glories of the Supreme Lord, who is unlimited. Even the Lord Himself in His incarnation as Ananta, or Shesha, cannot describe His own glories. Although Ananta has many thousands of faces and has been glorifying the Lord for many, many years, He could not find the limit of the glories of the Lord. Thus it is not possible to estimate the complete potencies and glories of the Supreme Lord.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 4.30.41 Purport)

In this episode, we explore a most personal and intimate moment in the book of Isaiah, Isaiah 8:11-18. Unlike many prophetic passages that focus primarily on public proclamation, this section reads almost like a private journal entry or poetic diary of God speaking directly and personally to Isaiah about Isaiah himself.Isaiah tells us that “the Lord spoke to me with a strong hand upon me,” revealing the weight, gravity, and deeply personal nature of this encounter. In the middle of political chaos, fear, and spiritual compromise during the reign of Ahaz, God does not merely give Isaiah information — He gives him a personal encounter to guide his relationship with the Lord.This passage becomes even more powerful when we remember the historical setting. The temple in Jerusalem - the very place where Isaiah once encountered the holiness and glory of God in Isaiah 6 - had become corrupted by pagan worship and foreign altars under Ahaz's leadership. The sacred space that once represented God's presence among His people had been overtaken.So where could Isaiah go now? Where could a faithful prophet find refuge when the nation, leadership, and religious system were collapsing around him?God's answer is deeply personal: “The Lord of hosts, Him you shall regard as holy....He will be as a sanctuary/dwelling.” The Lord Himself would become Isaiah's sanctuary, refuge, dwelling place, and source of security.We explore how difficult this kind of trust truly is. External pressures, fear, isolation, rejection, and uncertainty make it incredibly hard to rest in God as our dwelling place. Yet even Isaiah — a prophet with a deeply formed life of obedience and intimacy with God — still needed this word spoken afresh into his situation.From there, we connect Isaiah's experience to Jesus in John 16:31–33. As Jesus forecasts to His disciples His coming abandonment, betrayal, and suffering, He models the same posture Isaiah was called to embrace. Though His disciples would scatter and leave Him alone, Jesus immediately turns to the Father as His refuge: “Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me," and then turns to the Father in prayer.In both Isaiah and Jesus, we discover a profound biblical pattern: when earthly structures fail, when people abandon us, and when familiar places of safety collapse, God invites His people to find their home, refuge, strength, and intimacy in Him alone.Key Passages: Isaiah 8:11–18John 16:31–33Explainer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Video⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on how to use ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.biblehub.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.blueletterbible.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave us a question or comment at our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website podcast page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

First Fruits Escape Judgments (1) (audio) David Eells - 6/10/26 Friends, time is running out to be in the first-fruits and to escape the judgments that are soon coming upon the unrighteous and apostates. Please listen closely to these prophetic warnings from some who have been in the wilderness for many years.   Jesus is Coming Unexpectedly Tubby Miniard (David's notes in red) I had a dream about a preacher I met many years ago in Baton Rouge. (He met me there) He asked me, “Do you want to see Jesus?” I said, “Yes”. I became very excited. I looked to the left, then to the right. On the right, I saw a door. It was open. I watched the door, expecting Jesus to walk through it. The man tapped my shoulder. I looked at him. He asked, “Do you want to see Jesus?” I said, “Yes”, and returned to staring at the door, expecting Jesus to walk through it. He tapped my shoulder again, and I looked at him. Again, he asked, “Do you want to see Jesus?” I got angry. This was the third time he had asked me this. I said, “Yes, I need to see Jesus. I need to talk to Him”. He said, “Okay. Look at me”. We were facing each other. He put his hand at the top of his forehead. Then he pulled off his face. There was Jesus! This was not what I expected. I thought Jesus would walk through the door I was looking at. (This is not to brag on me for sure but because of my name I represent here the David man-child ministries who will be the first fruits. Jesus, came as a man in the flesh calling himself the Son of Man, Who was the manifested Son of God in the Spirit, said, “If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father.” Can His disciples come into His image and pass on His likeness? This is why His disciples were called Christians. He said, “He that receiveth you receiveth Me”. Paul called this “Christ in you, the hope of glory”.) His eyes were two large diamonds. Light came from His eyes. They sparkled brightly. (Those who can pass on this image have very valuable, clear sight. They have eyes for the Light only.) His face and hair were red. They were flaming fire. I was amazed. I was speechless. I just stared at Him, His face flaming like a fire. As I stared at His face, my eyes began to turn into diamonds and my face began to flame. It was awesome. 2Co.3:18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.) When He saw this, He smiled and said, “Now you get it”. He turned and walked toward the open door and I watched as He walked through it. A woman stepped up and stood in the threshold of the door. She called to me and said, “You need to hurry”. I noticed that the door was slowly closing by itself. (The door to be in the first-fruits Man-child is closing.) I kind of knew that when it closed, it could not be opened from my side. I began to run toward the door as fast as I could. (The door is Jesus. Run, saints, to the “prize of the high calling of God in Christ”.) I woke up before I could reach it. But the door was still open. Heb.12:14 Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord. (There is more to this text concerning those who will not make it through the door; continuing in verse 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 [some who knew of this opportunity are now defiling many]; 16 lest [there be] any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat [which represents walking after flesh] sold his own birthright [to be a first born son of Abraham]. 17 For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected [Greek: adokimos; “reprobated”]; for he found no place for a change of mind [in his father,] (who then refused to give him the first fruit blessing) though he sought it diligently with tears. Oh, friends, heed the warnings. They can't change their mind, meaning they cannot repent.) I don't complain about the mean people anymore. I just try to stay out of their way. They can have it all. I want Jesus. Psa.27:8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Jehovah, will I seek. Scripture study for the dream This is the heir of promise: Rom.8:17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him. Gal.4:1-7 But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all; 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed of the father. 3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world: 4 but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. Heb.1:2 hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds; The fully-grown man: Eph.4:13 till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: The perfect: 1Co.13:10-11 but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things. Luk.6:40 The disciple is not above his teacher: but every one when he is perfected shall be as his teacher. The Man-child; the rapture Hos.9:11 As for Ephraim (Jacob called Ephraim “a multitude of nations” -- Genesis 48:19), their glory (which is Christ; Luk.2:32 A light for revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of thy people Israel. Col.1:27 …the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:) They will overcome the lure of the world like a bird.…(Psa.68:13 It is as the wings of a dove covered with silver, And her pinions with yellow gold. Mat.24:28 Wheresoever the carcase is (I.e.,dead to self), there will the eagles be gathered together. Psa.84:3-4 Yea, the sparrow hath found her a house, And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, Even thine altars, O Jehovah of hosts, My King, and my God. Psa 84:4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: Proverbs 23:5 …certainly make themselves wings, Like an eagle that flieth toward heaven.) From the birth, from the womb, from conception (Rev.12:5 And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne. Isa.66:7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man-child. Mic.5:3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she who travaileth hath brought forth: then the residue of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.) Hos.9:12 Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left… (False teachers cannot bring forth first fruits. All fully-grown men and women become one in Christ [Galatians 3:28,29] and shall escape) – Jer.31:9 They shall come with weeping; and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by rivers of waters, in a straight way wherein they shall not stumble; for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my first-born. God spoke to Moses face to face – Exo.33:11 And Jehovah spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend….; Deu.34:10 And there hath not arisen a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom Jehovah knew face to face. God will speak to the Man-child face to face -- 1Co.13:12 For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known. The door – Mat.25:10 And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast: and the door was shut. Luk.13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us; and he shall answer and say to you, I know you not whence ye are;   Salesman Preachers, Usurpers Tubby Miniard (David's notes in red) I dreamed that I was a forward observer at the front line. There were eight of us. We were in pairs, dug in, waiting for the enemy to attack. It was dark, and a dense fog fell over our line of defense. Suddenly, one forward observer yelled, “They're here!” We jumped from our places to meet them. There were so many that they poured in like a flood. (Who is the true Church fighting these days? The tares that are sown among the wheat. Satan's emissaries to defeat the Church from within.) We fought back-to-back for protection. It was very effective. We slaughtered them. None of us was hurt. We fought all night. As the dawn was breaking and the mist began to rise, our army arrived, and they very easily overwhelmed the enemy. The enemy left was already wounded and weak, so it was easy for them to take them out. Next, I was at my grandpa's house, where my mother lived. I asked her, “Do you need anything?” She said, “Yes, I need wood for the fire”. I said, “Okay”. I got wood and filled every room in the house. I told her, “This is enough wood, so your fire will never go out, and I have a good fire going in the fireplace”. She said, “You're a good son”. (Those who have fought Satan's army ahead of the front line of tribulation will be there to defend the woman Church from false usurpers during the tribulation. The good son will provide plenty of fuel to see to it that Mom's [the true Church's] fire will never go out. It says in Lev.6:12 And the fire upon the altar shall be kept burning thereon, it shall not go out; and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning: and he shall lay the burnt-offering in order upon it, and shall burn thereon the fat of the peace-offerings. 13 Fire shall be kept burning upon the altar continually; it shall not go out.) There was someone knocking at the door. She went outside, and I followed her. It was a salesman wearing a spotted suit. (These proud fakes that Satan is raising up will be known by the elect because of their slick attempts to sell themselves with their spotted garments of a rebellious, egotistical life. Jude 23 and some save, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Rev.19:8 And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright [and] pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 2Co.11:15 It is no great thing therefore if his [Satan's] ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works.) He was fat and the suit was too small (overcome by flesh). He looked funny. (Children who do not look like the Father because they are of another seed than the Word.) I stepped between them. I felt protective of her. I didn't trust him. He began to tell her of the great war and mighty victory our nation had won. (Our one spiritual nation of true Christianity?) He was bragging and boasting. (A sign of a usurper.) He wanted her to think he was a patriot. (They are untried with no accomplishments or authority.) He spoke as if he were there. I said, “You're lying. I was there. I'm a Forward Observer in front of the front line. They call us the eyes of the artillery. (Calling in strikes from the angels) There were eight of us. (The gematria of Jesus name - 888) We fought all night. When our people arrived, there wasn't much to do”. My Captain (Jesus) told me, “Don't come see me unless you win a star”. I won a star for valor in battle. I took it and gave it to my Captain (Jesus). He gave it back to me as a reward, a medal of honor. I held up a star. I had it on a necklace. A brilliant light shone from it. It was amazing to see. “And here is my sword”. I pulled out a sword covered with blood. Jer.48:10 Cursed be he that doeth the work of Jehovah negligently; and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood. When he saw the sword, he turned very pale and turned and ran away. (The usurpers are powerless before the Word of God.) I laughed. I told Mother, “You're safe now. He won't be back. Now that they know I'm here, they won't bother you anymore”. She said, “You're a good son”. I told her, “I have things I must do. If you need me, just call, and I will be here swiftly”. I got into a car and drove away, feeling very proud of my star and sword, and satisfied that Mother was okay. (The Man-child sons will defend the woman in the wilderness.)   Flood of Deception Cuts Off Escape Tubby Miniard (David's notes in red) I was running through a barren, very dry land. All the trees looked dead—no leaves, no grass, no flowers. Nothing was green. I noticed there were a lot of very dry thorn bushes. Isa.24:6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are found guilty: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left. I was calling to people, warning them of a flood that was soon approaching. (The Lord spoke to me about the flood. He said, “This flood is the son of perdition.”) (Perdition means destruction where they go. Representing Judases and their hidden evil lives, lack of fruit, and hatred of good, and fake Christianity.) They laughed at me and ran from me down paths hedged in by thorn bushes. Some of them were drinking wine. The women had silver cups to drink from. The men had wine bottles from which they drank. The bottles looked nasty and old. They were laughing as they ran. (They are spiritually drunken, speaking as fools, perverting reality, overcome with delusion.) I thought, How could anyone be happy in this barren, dry place? Suddenly, two men called to me. They were standing by the bridge. They said, “Time's up. (meaning for the righteous to be in the wilderness) Cross the bridge now”. I said, “Okay”. I ran across the bridge. As I was crossing, I saw a wall of water coming down the river. (He said, “The bridge is the cross of Christ, the altar of burnt offering.” [Those who believe in the cross of sacrificed flesh and bear theirs will escape. Heb.2:3 how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard. Rom.2:3 And reckonest thou this, O man, who judgest them that practise such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 2Pe.2:20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first.] The wicked will remove the cross, causing the continual sacrifice [of their old life] to cease.) (Then the fleshly beast will rule in the temple of God as an abomination that maketh one desolate of God.) As soon as my feet touched the bank, I turned around to watch. The flood hit the bridge hard, knocking it out and washing it away. I looked across the river and thought, Now they can never cross over. I felt bad for them, but this side was great. Everything was alive— trees, flowers, grass, birds singing; it was nice, blue skies. (what,no chemtrails?) There was a door there with nothing around it. I opened it and went in. There were lots of people there. Everyone was happy, laughing, singing, and bragging on Jesus. They rushed to greet me, saying, “We have been expecting you. We're so glad you're here”. I was happy I was home. I had this same dream a second time about six months later. (When a dream is doubled, it is certain to happen -- Genesis 41:32; Daniel 2:45.) In the second dream, when I crossed the bridge and looked back I noticed the women did not wear shoes. I thought, That doesn't look safe -- no shoes in this place. (Representing dirty walks; not sanctified from the earthly.)  I didn't grieve as before. I was angry and thought, “You had a bridge, but you refused to cross over. I warned you all, but you laughed and ran away. All of you deserve this. It's your fault you're stranded over there.” (Under the dominion of Satan's Beast and the curse. Please hear the Word and obey.)   Tribulations: Tests of Obedience Judy Gregerson - 04/02/2010 (David's notes in red) I was walking around with someone, and a great windstorm whipped up. (Walking with the Lord as the tribulation arises. Winds of false doctrine and tribulation are coming to test the saints to prove whether or not they are obeying the Word. We see here that after knowledge comes testing to see who has built on the Rock of obedience.) Mat.7:24 Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock: 25 and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon the rock. 26 And every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand: 27 and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof. ... Eph.4:14 that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error. I was around these huge, old trees, and branches started breaking off in the wind. This old growth was not strong; in fact, it looked rotten in these old trees. (The old churches, denominations, and ministries that refuse the new growth of the reformation message are being revealed as rotten and corrupt by the winds and storms of tribulation now whipping up in the world. Judgments in finances, politics, life, weather, earthquakes, wind, earth, and changes in the heavens, etc. Those one with the vine have regeneration. Joh.15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If these old churches were of God, they would bring forth His fruit as the nature, character and authority of Jesus. But even though they appear great in the eyes of man, inside they are rotten and dead.) And I kept walking and, finally, two or three small pieces of branches came flying at me. (People from the churches who come against us, especially their leaders, just as they persecuted Jesus and His disciples.) One piece about two feet long hit me, but I felt no pain and I wasn't hurt. But huge branches were falling all around on other things. (God's judgment on big apostate church leaders and ministries as they FALL in tribulations.) I was amazed by the old growth. I was looking up in these trees, and I knew that this old growth (Apostate Christians walking in old tradition and error) was all going to be blown off these trees and hurt a lot of things on the ground, but it couldn't hurt me, even when it came FLYING at me with great power. (The Christians living close to the world will suffer as they and their apostate leadership are broken off and exposed. The falling away of branches of Christianity will come against and persecute the elect. Act.8:1… And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church.)   World Covenant and End-Time Ministries Amos Scaggs - 3/4/2007 (David's notes in red) I saw a bust figure of two breasts covered up with an angora goat hide, and over that was another material used to secure everything in place. (I thought the breasts were bound up for a time when they would be used for feeding. An angora hide is set apart from all others, being considerably more expensive.) The angora hide without its flesh represents the old man who is dead and now a new person of great value. This angora hide now covers the two witnesses who share the milk of the Kingdom and are an extension of the Man-child ministry. The true milk of the Word is permitted to be restrained until God's anointing breaks the yoke to release it to the multitudes. According to scriptural type, this will be when the tribulation has come. But David and Moses, as types of the Man-child, fed and defended those few sheep in the wilderness before coming to their greater kingdom ministry to the multitudes of God's people. There was a poster graph scale with 10 men's faces on it. There were nine men in place on the chart and colored in with black. The tenth man's silhouette was in white at first glance. There was a disagreement or a struggle between two people over when to put the 10th man on the chart. Then the tenth man was put on the chart, and half of his face was colored in with black to satisfy the others. I thought the men represented a period of time before completion. Whatever that period of time is, it is very short. This could be the time when Jesus will start to feed his people, who also walk in darkness, through the Man-child. 10 men's faces represent the 10 kings of the world continental divisions of the beast kingdom. One-half face could be the time until the beast covenant is completed at the beginning of the tribulation, and the man-child/witnesses begin to feed the milk to the young church on a worldwide basis. (The half black face could represent that one kingdom is divided over its support of the beast. Satan is the deceiver of the whole world outside of Christ.)   It's Confirmed: It Is the End Times Brandon Corsi - 02/04/2011 (David's notes in red) I wanted to give a testimony of a couple of dreams the Lord gave me within the past year and a half concerning my belief that the end times are coming soon. The first dream came about a year and a half ago. I never waver in my belief in the Lord (not that I never waver in obedience), but I was really struggling with unbelief about some end-times prophecy I was hearing from people and seeing online, some even from UBM (I was just a casual listener then). Might I also add that I was not raised to be a Christian nor in church, and if anything, the beliefs I was taught were more agnostic than anything. My father, being a science-minded person who graduated with a degree in science, didn't push any beliefs on me, but being a young boy, I think I unknowingly adopted his beliefs and carried them with me longer than I knew or wanted to. That is, until the Lord changed my life. Anyway, I think I was still getting rid of the last of those remnants of the old Brandon. I began my real walk with the Lord a few years ago, so my faith in Jesus was as strong then as it is now. But I had trouble with the skepticism inside of me. Well, I took it to the Lord for the first time, asking Him before bed to please give me a dream to show me the truth that tribulation is coming very soon. Well, I got one. It was a year ago, and I didn't write it down, but in the dream, I remember I found a card with a number on it. So when I awoke, I decided to see what page in the Bible it was and, sure enough, it was page 753 in my Bible, which includes Revelation 11:1-2, which speaks about the tribulation (I'll explain the significance of that in a moment). He gave me what I wanted, so I was at peace for the time being. Four or five months later, I got some more unbelief on me, as I was hearing more and more specific and amazing prophecies about the rapidly approaching tribulation; by the way, all these things I had heard were from very credible sources, including UBM. Once again, I became troubled by the fact that I was skeptical about them. Honestly, all I wanted was to just believe. I wished I hadn't ever had doubts, but I did. So I went to the Lord again, although a little more reluctantly this time, for He already showed me once, and I didn't want to fall out of His favor. I asked Him, once again, to please give me one more confirmation that I can believe these things. And I had another very powerful dream, in which I was sitting in my bedroom as a child and got the urge to go look at a Bible that was on my sleeping mother's nightstand. I crept in there quietly to get it and saw she was sleeping, so I went over and got the Bible. In the dream, I didn't even know why I wanted to look at it -- I just did. I opened the front cover, and it read, “Revelation 11:1-2”. So in the dream I opened to this scripture, and it is in the exact scripture text which gives the time period for the tribulation: 42 months or 1260 days. Right before I woke up, I heard a voice speak to me, an unrecognizable male voice. It said, “Do not ask me this again”. I woke up very shaken but happy and filled with praise for the Lord for giving me this second confirmation. Might I also add that those are the only two times I have ever asked the Lord to show me proof that the end times are approaching, and He answered both times. I was already very satisfied with my answer, but I decided to go ahead and read Revelation 11:1-2. A double surprise! Not only did it mention specifically the time period of the tribulation, but it was on the same page -- 753 -- as the other dream had me go to! Praise God! 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 that there is an exhortation here for Brandon and you: The people who are in the temple and altar, meaning abiding in Christ and have their flesh on the altar of the fiery trial, will escape being trampled under the feet of the beast because they are not in the outer court and are close to the presence of God in the Holy of Holies. This is why the Lord gave this text to Brandon.) In closing, I hope and pray that any unbelief that may come upon me, God strikes it down. (This is part of leaving the flesh on the altar to burn up; we are to cast down fleshly imaginations that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God.) I am still working on improving my walk with God. I have made some bad choices in the past, but He is working very quickly in me lately, and I praise Him for that because now I know that time is short. I hope and pray that I might have a chance to become a disciple of Jesus Christ before time is up. God Bless.   Wilderness Just Ahead Deborah Horton's vision - 09/7/2005 As I lay back down for a little more sleep after getting my husband off to work, I closed my eyes, and before my head hit the pillow, here is what I saw. (I'm pretty sure I wasn't asleep because it was over when my head touched the pillow and I immediately sat back up.) I saw a large motor home that was towing a car with its two front wheels up on a trailer behind it. (Years later they ended up living in just such a vehicle and still do.) as it pulled in for gas at the Fast Stop convenience store, which in real life is at the entrance to our subdivision, on Highway 176 at the entrance ramp to I-26. My eyes were drawn to the license plate on the motor home, and I saw it very clearly. It was similar to the North Dakota plate, which has a landscape and bison silhouette on it, but the one on the motor home had the silhouette of a cow, in red, facing toward the right. As I sat back up, I exclaimed, “The red heifer!” The motor home was not a luxurious land yacht with all the bells and whistles; it's one that is frequently seen on the highway, so I went to my local dealer to find out what the model name is. The motor home was a Fleetwood. The car being towed was small, not a full-size model, but I don't know what make it was. I also wasn't shown any license plate on the car. With a great deal of help from several Godly friends, here is what has been deciphered: Deborah: From Deuteronomy, the red heifer in its entirety was sacrificed outside the camp, then the ashes were mixed with water and used to ritually purify the altar, other implements used to minister to the Lord, and the people who were to minister to the Lord or who had become ritually unclean. Without the red heifer, the Temple and worship were unacceptable. David: The motor home is a mobile tabernacle prepared to go into the wilderness. The fuel for the motor home is a derivative of oil, which represents the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The anointing of the Man-child comes at the beginning of the wilderness as it was with Jesus and Moses. Like Moses and Jesus carried Israel through the wilderness to the Promised Land, this motor home is carrying this car through the tribulation. The motor home is powered and steered by the Lord Himself. Like many immature Christians, the car in tow has no driver yet and it cannot steer for itself. The motor home, as the Man-child has to steer it. Like many weak Christians, the car's power is not being used. As it was in Jesus' time, so it will be in ours. The license with the red heifer symbolizes the legal, scriptural right, by virtue of a crucified life, to lead others through the wilderness on the highway of holiness. Like the red heifer, the corporate Man-child will have presented his body as a living sacrifice. His old life will be burned up on the altar of fiery trials. The ashes of this purified life will be mixed with water, which is the Word of God, making a fully mature son of God. The heifer is facing to the right, symbolizing East, or the direction of the coming of the sun or Son in his life. This life will then be the wisdom and direction used to purify the altar for the rest of the remnant to be sacrificed in the wilderness. There, they will learn to submit to their driver and be steered with power from God. Our way of life is coming to a fast stop at the edge of the coming wilderness. Deborah: The model of the motor home, Fleetwood, also confirms this. We find the words “flee”, “fleet”, and “wood” indicating wilderness. However, an RV is not an off-road vehicle. Pro.16:17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. Isa.11:16 And there shall be a highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt. Isa.35:1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose ... 8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called, The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. Deborah: I was asking the Lord why the motor home, representing the first fruits, was so large, and the car, representing the remnant, was so small in comparison. I got that the faith of the relatively few first-fruits was that much bigger than all the faith of the greater number of the remnant. David: It's true. I once ministered to a Presbyterian lady who got filled with the Spirit and then left her church. She had a dream of going to three houses and when she knocked, harlots answered each door. After that, at the next house, I answered the door. I asked her how many religions she had been in before coming to us. She said three. It was at this time that she received deliverance from the religions of men. Then she had a vision of me being a giant. I told her it was because I had outgrown the doctrine she was now receiving from me, a long time ago. In the same way, the first-fruits will be big. Jesus delivered, healed, and brought truth to more people than all the Pharisees put together. He was and still is big. R.S.: The crude oil that comes out of the ground needs tons of refining into gasoline or diesel before it's usable by the earthy, natural man. Man's soul is also in dire need of the refined life of the Spirit in order to become a vessel fit for His use. Isa.1:25 And I will turn my hand upon thee, and will thoroughly purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin. Zec.13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried; and they shall call on me, and I will hear them; I will say, It is my people; and they shall say, The Lord is my God. Dan.12:10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. Mal.3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in the day that I make up my jewels, and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son, that serveth him. Deborah: Also, the two highways which intersect: Highway 176 = (5) grace; and Interstate 26 = (8) new beginnings. I was encouraged by them that the remnant would be given the grace they need when the time comes to quickly flee to the new beginnings of the wilderness.

This sermon explores Psalm 27 and addresses how believers should respond when facing fear, anxiety, and trouble. Jason Bradshaw emphasizes that David's response to fear wasn't to deny it or wish it away, but to remember who God is: our light, salvation, and stronghold. The message encourages Christians to move beyond merely understanding God theologically to experiencing Him personally. Rather than seeking external peace from circumstances, believers are called to find peace in God's presence, to linger with Him throughout the day, and to engage with Him honestly in prayer. The sermon concludes with the theme of actively waiting for Christ's return, which should strengthen and give courage for present struggles. The greatest blessing isn't necessarily deliverance from trouble, but communion with the Lord Himself.

Pastor Femi Paul led the church in fervent prayers for the church and our nation through a stirring exhortation titled Deliver Us From Evil! Anchored on Matthew 6:13, the final petition in the Lord's Prayer, we were reminded that the reality of evil is something believers must confront through prayer and dependence on God. Drawing from Jeremiah 8:15, Pastor highlighted the frustration of hoping for relief, breakthrough, and good fortune only to be met with trouble and terror instead. The message identified three dimensions from which evil may arise: evil from above through spiritual wickedness in heavenly places, evil from around through hostile and malicious forces, and evil from within through betrayals and opposition from unexpected quarters. Yet, in the midst of these realities, God remains our refuge, defender, and deliverer. Drawing from Psalm 50:15, Psalm 140, Psalm 125, and 2 Thessalonians 3, we were encouraged to call upon God in times of trouble with confidence, knowing that He hears, rescues, and preserves His people. PFP reminded us that evil may take many forms, whether spiritual, systemic, or personal, but none is greater than the power and authority of God. Our Senior Pastor led the church in prayers for divine protection, deliverance from wicked and unreasonable people, and preservation from every satanic scheme and violent agenda. The service concluded with the comforting assurance from 2 Thessalonians 3:16 that the Lord Himself is able to give us peace at all times, in every way, and under every circumstance. Our confidence remains in God, whose Kingdom, Power, and Glory endure forever. Confession: Lord, I thank You for being my refuge, protector, and deliverer. Preserve me from every evil plan, every wicked influence, and every attack seen or unseen. Let Your peace guard my heart, Your power defend my life, and Your presence surround me and my loved ones in every circumstance. Amen.

"He leads out the prisoners into prosperity. Only the rebellious live in a parched land." — Psalm 68:6It sounds like a contradiction, but true freedom doesn't come from doing whatever we want—it comes from total surrender to the One who made us. In this powerful message, Pastor Rob breaks down "The Freedom of Surrender" and reveals how letting go of our rebellion opens the door to God's ultimate plan for our lives.True life and freedom are found when we stop running and start surrendering. When we align our hearts with God, He doesn't take away our freedom; He takes away our chains. Join us as we explore how surrender brings us into God's family, activates His divine advantage in our lives, and replaces a dry, parched existence with true prosperity.IN THIS MESSAGE:Adopted into a Family: Why we were never meant to walk through life alone, and how God takes us from being isolated strangers to full legal heirs.The Divine Advantage: How surrendering to Christ allows Him to redeem your past, break you out of spiritual prisons, and lead you into true success.The Trap of Rebellion: Understanding why fighting for control only leads to a "parched land" of heavy discipline, and how honesty brings instant relief.SERMON NOTES & OUTLINE:I. ADOPTION BY GODGod is building a family. We were never designed for isolation. When you surrender to Christ, you are no longer a foreigner—you are an adopted child of God, and the Lord Himself takes you in.Scripture: John 10:10, Genesis 2:18, Psalm 142:4, Ecclesiastes 4:10-12, Ephesians 2:19, Galatians 3:29, Romans 8:15-16, Psalm 27:10II. ADVANTAGE FROM GODGod doesn't just manage your past; He redeems it by throwing your sins into the depths of the sea. True prosperity is the internal transformation that gives you the power and desire to show others the night-and-day difference He made for you.Scripture: Micah 7:9, Hebrews 10:17, Philippians 2:13, Ephesians 4:28, 1 Peter 2:9III. ALIGNMENT WITH GODRebellion always creates more restrictions. Trying to hide our guilt and run from God only drains our strength. True freedom is unlocked the moment we choose humility, stop hiding, and completely surrender to Him.Scripture: Psalm 68:6, Psalm 32:2-5, Matthew 10:39

ਸਲੋਕ ਮਃ ੫ ॥ ਭੀੜਹੁ ਮੋਕਲਾਈ ਕੀਤੀਅਨੁ ਸਭ ਰਖੇ ਕੁਟੰਬੈ ਨਾਲਿ ॥ ਕਾਰਜ ਆਪਿ ਸਵਾਰਿਅਨੁ ਸੋ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਸਦਾ ਸਭਾਲਿ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਮਾਤ ਪਿਤਾ ਕੰਠਿ ਲਾਇਦਾ ਲਹੁੜੇ ਬਾਲਕ ਪਾਲਿ ॥ ਦਇਆਲ ਹੋਏ ਸਭ ਜੀਅ ਜੰਤ੍ਰ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਦਰਿ ਨਿਹਾਲ ॥੧॥O mind! Always remember the Lord who Himself arranges all your affairs, who saves you from sorrows and protects you along with your entire family. Like parents, the Lord embraces (the living beings) by raising blind children. O Nanak! The person on whom the Lord looks with the eyes of mercy, all beings become kind.1.(ਹੇ ਮਨ!) ਉਸ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਨੂੰ ਸਦਾ ਯਾਦ ਕਰ ਜੋ ਤੇਰੇ ਸਾਰੇ ਕੰਮ ਆਪ ਸੰਵਾਰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਜੋ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਦੁੱਖਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਖ਼ਲਾਸੀ ਦੇਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਸਾਰੇ ਪਰਵਾਰ ਸਮੇਤ ਤੇਰੀ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਮਾਪਿਆਂ ਵਾਂਗ ਅੰਞਾਣੇ ਬਾਲਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਪਾਲ ਕੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ (ਜੀਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ) ਗਲ ਲਾਉਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਹੇ ਨਾਨਕ! ਜਿਸ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਵਲ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਮੇਹਰ ਦੀ ਨਜ਼ਰ ਨਾਲ ਤੱਕਦਾ ਹੈ, ਉਸ ਉਤੇ ਸਭ ਜੀਵ ਦਿਆਲ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ।1। ਮਃ ੫ ॥ ਵਿਣੁ ਤੁਧੁ ਹੋਰੁ ਜਿ ਮੰਗਣਾ ਸਿਰਿ ਦੁਖਾ ਕੈ ਦੁਖ ॥ ਦੇਹਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਸੰਤੋਖੀਆ ਉਤਰੈ ਮਨ ਕੀ ਭੁਖ ॥ ਗੁਰਿ ਵਣੁ ਤਿਣੁ ਹਰਿਆ ਕੀਤਿਆ ਨਾਨਕ ਕਿਆ ਮਨੁਖ ॥੨॥ O Lord! To ask for anything other than Your Name is to incur great suffering; (O Lord!) Give me Your Name so that I may be satisfied and the longing of my mind may be quenched.O Nanak! For the Guru who has made the dry grass green in the forest, what great thing is it for Him to make men green?.2.ਹੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ! ਤੇਰੇ ਨਾਮ ਤੋਂ ਬਿਨਾ (ਤੈਥੋਂ) ਕੁਝ ਹੋਰ ਮੰਗਣਾ ਭਾਰੇ ਦੁੱਖ ਸਹੇੜਨੇ ਹਨ; (ਹੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ!) ਮੈਨੂੰ ਆਪਣਾ ਨਾਮ ਦੇਹ ਤਾਂ ਜੁ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਸੰਤੋਖ ਆ ਜਾਏ ਤੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਮਨ ਦੀ ਤ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨਾ ਮੁੱਕ ਜਾਏ। ਹੇ ਨਾਨਕ! ਜਿਸ ਗੁਰੂ ਨੇ ਜੰਗਲ ਤੇ (ਜੰਗਲ ਦਾ ਸੁੱਕਾ) ਘਾਹ ਹਰਾ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ, ਮਨੁੱਖਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਹਰਾ ਕਰਨਾ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਵਾਸਤੇ ਕੇਹੜੀ ਵੱਡੀ ਗੱਲ ਹੈ?।2। ਪਉੜੀ ॥ ਸੋ ਐਸਾ ਦਾਤਾਰੁ ਮਨਹੁ ਨ ਵੀਸਰੈ ॥ ਘੜੀ ਨ ਮੁਹਤੁ ਚਸਾ ਤਿਸੁ ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾ ਸਰੈ ॥ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਸੰਗਿ ਕਿਆ ਕੋ ਲੁਕਿ ਕਰੈ ॥ ਜਿਸੁ ਪਤਿ ਰਖੈ ਆਪਿ ਸੋ ਭਵਜਲੁ ਤਰੈ ॥ ਭਗਤੁ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਤਪਾ ਜਿਸੁ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰੈ ॥ ਸੋ ਪੂਰਾ ਪਰਧਾਨੁ ਜਿਸ ਨੋ ਬਲੁ ਧਰੈ ॥ ਜਿਸਹਿ ਜਰਾਏ ਆਪਿ ਸੋਈ ਅਜਰੁ ਜਰੈ ॥ ਤਿਸ ਹੀ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਸਚੁ ਮੰਤ੍ਰੁ ਗੁਰ ਮਨਿ ਧਰੈ ॥੩॥ The Lord, who gives such gifts, should not be forgotten from the mind, (because) without Him (by forgetting Him, even a moment of life) does not pass easily. The Lord (resides) within the being (forever), is present outside of it (even surrounding it), no being can do any work hidden from Him.That man crosses the ocean of the world (is saved from the vices of the world) whose honor the Lord Himself protects. He is a devotee, he is knowledgeable, he is a penitent, on whom the Lord bestows His grace. To whom the Lord bestows (spiritual) strength (to resist vices), his work becomes successful, he attains respect. (Similarly, mental strength is also such a state that it is very necessary to maintain it after achieving it, generally a person turns towards the Riddhis and Siddhis.) This debilitating state is maintained only by that person, whom the Lord Himself helps to maintain.The person who keeps the Guru's teachings in his heart, always meets the Lord.3.ਅਜੇਹਾ ਦਾਤਾਂ ਦੇਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਮਨ ਤੋਂ ਭੁੱਲਣਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ, (ਕਿਉਂਕਿ) ਉਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਿਨਾ (ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਭੁਲਾ ਕੇ, ਜ਼ਿੰਦਗੀ ਦੀ) ਘੜੀ ਦੋ ਘੜੀਆਂ ਪਲ ਆਦਿਕ (ਥੋੜਾ ਭੀ ਸਮਾ) ਸੌਖਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਗੁਜ਼ਰਦਾ। ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਜੀਵ ਦੇ (ਸਦਾ) ਅੰਦਰ (ਵੱਸਦਾ ਹੈ,) ਉਸ ਦੇ ਬਾਹਰ (ਚੁਗਿਰਦੇ ਭੀ) ਮੌਜੂਦ ਹੈ, ਕੋਈ ਜੀਵ ਕੋਈ ਕੰਮ ਉਸ ਤੋਂ ਲੁਕਾ-ਛਿਪਾ ਕੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰ ਸਕਦਾ। ਉਹੀ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਸੰਸਾਰ-ਸਮੁੰਦਰ ਤੋਂ ਪਾਰ ਲੰਘਦਾ ਹੈ (ਸੰਸਾਰ ਦੇ ਵਿਕਾਰਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਬਚਦਾ ਹੈ) ਜਿਸ ਦੀ ਇੱਜ਼ਤ ਦੀ ਰਾਖੀ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਆਪ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਉਹੀ ਭਗਤ ਹੈ, ਉਹੀ ਗਿਆਨਵਾਨ ਹੈ, ਉਹੀ ਤਪੀ ਹੈ, ਜਿਸ ਉਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਮੇਹਰ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ (ਵਿਕਾਰਾਂ ਦਾ ਟਾਕਰਾ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ) ਪ੍ਰਭੂ (ਆਤਮਕ) ਤਾਕਤ ਬਖ਼ਸ਼ਦਾ ਹੈ, ਉਸ ਦੀ ਕਮਾਈ ਸਫਲ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ, ਉਹ ਆਦਰ ਪਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। (ਉਂਞ ਮਾਨਸਕ ਤਾਕਤ ਭੀ ਇਕ ਐਸੀ ਅਵਸਥਾ ਹੈ ਜਿਸ ਦੀ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤੀ ਤੇ ਸੰਭਲਣ ਦੀ ਬੜੀ ਲੋੜ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ, ਆਮ ਤੌਰ ਤੇ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਰਿੱਧੀਆਂ-ਸਿੱਧੀਆਂ ਵਲ ਪਰਤ ਪੈਂਦਾ ਹੈ) ਇਸ ਡੁਲਾ ਦੇਣ ਵਾਲੀ ਅਵਸਥਾ ਨੂੰ ਉਹੀ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਸੰਭਾਲਦਾ ਹੈ, ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਆਪ ਸੰਭਲਣ ਦੀ ਸਹੈਤਾ ਦੇਵੇ। ਜੋ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਗੁਰੂ ਦਾ ਉਪਦੇਸ਼ ਹਿਰਦੇ ਵਿਚ ਟਿਕਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਉਸਨੂੰ ਸਦਾ-ਥਿਰ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਮਿਲਦਾ ਹੈ।3।

It's Tuesday, June 2nd, 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 Kevin Swanson and Timothy Reed 92% of Australians say it's risky to affirm Christian beliefs publicly  The first Australian Christian Freedom Index was released at the Australian Parliament last week.  The Index produced a national survey of more than 10,000 Australian Christians concerning their views on faith and freedom in their country. A full 92% of respondents in the survey felt it is riskier to affirm Christian beliefs publicly today than it was five years ago.  And, of the 74 Acts of Parliament produced that negatively affect Christian freedom, nearly half were issued in the last five years.  Thus far, 40 Christians have been penalized for their beliefs by fines or imprisonment.  Chinese Communists sentenced 31 Christians to prison In related news, persecution against Christians is on the rise in China as well.  China Aid reports that a communist court in Hubei Province has sentenced 31 members of a house church fellowship for trumped up charges, to 2-4 years in prison. A 77-year old Christian leader, named Yang Zhijing, was sentenced to three years and two months in prison, and was fined $1,180 under the charge of being involved in a cult. His defense argued that he only advocated basic Christian teachings, that “faith in Jesus leads to Heaven” and that “everyone is sinful and must confess and repent.” The defense argued these were central doctrines in orthodox Christianity. In 2 Timothy 3:12, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” U.S. military killed 3 narco-terrorists in Pacific Ocean The United States is back to striking drug boats in the Caribbean Sea. The U.S. Southern Military Command announced that it struck a narco boat in the eastern Pacific, killing three over the weekend.  Plus, the U.S. military struck several boats earlier last week. The death toll has risen to 205 for suspected narco-terrorists trying to traffic drugs into the United States by water.  100,000 Canadians have been killed by euthanasia Canada's euthanasia deaths have soared past 100,000 since legalization in 2016. A tragic new report records 17,000 killings in 2025, up from 16,500 in 2024 and 7,500 in 2020. Add this to 104,000 abortions in the country. That makes up 40% of the total deaths in Canada in a given year.  Listen to Euthanasia Prevention Coalition Director's Alex Schadenburg's comments on euthanasia at a committee hearing in Canada's parliament.  SCHADENBURG: “Canada is increasingly seen internationally as a cautionary example. The rapid growth of euthanasia deaths and the expansion of the types of cases are being closely watched abroad. … “More broadly, Canada's assisted dying law is vague. While Health Canada provides guidance, the legal framework allows for wide interpretation and lacks effective oversight.” Stocks inflated now like 2001 dot-com bust & 2009 real estate bust The S&P 500 Technology Sector stock metric gained 36% in two months. That's the biggest jump in 36 years. And the NASDAQ Composite took a 23% leap over the same time period.  Artificial Intelligence is driving much of the growth, according to some experts.  Meanwhile, the S&P 500 Price-to-Earnings Ratio reached 33. That's the same territory the ratio exceeded in the 2001 dot-com bust and 2009 real estate bust. America's twelve most highly capitalized companies have reached a worth of $30 trillion which is five times what they were worth six years ago. By contrast, income for these companies increased by only 2.5-fold.  The Buffett Indicator, which takes the total stock market funding as a percentage of the Gross Domestic Product, has reached 232%. That's twice what it was before the 2009 real estate bust, and four times what it was just after the bust. Virginia Democrats want constitutional right to kill baby at birth The state of Virginia is looking to legalize abortion up until birth with a proposed constitutional amendment.  A Roman Catholic Bishop, Michael Francis Burbidge, spoke out against the proposed amendment. He said, “This may be the only election in our lifetime where you hear me, or the Church, speak directly on how to approach the ballot box. God Himself knitted us together in our mother's womb, and our Lord Himself instituted the sacrament of marriage.” Indeed, in Psalm 139:13, David told God, “For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb.” Nevada and Missouri have abortion on the ballot The states of Nevada and Missouri are also planning referendums on abortion in the 2026 mid-term elections. Thus far, 16 states have run referendums on abortion since the reversal of Roe v. Wade. Only South Dakota preserved a trigger ban on abortion. Nebraska allowed for 12-week abortions, and Florida allows for 6-week abortions. Pro-abortion majorities voted to keep abortion legal in Arizona, Colorado, California, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Nevada, New York, and Vermont. Planned Parenthood has $2 billion in annual income And finally, Planned Parenthood is raking in the dollars. The largest abortion provider in America has released its latest annual report, recording $2.14 billion in annual income -- up from $1.29 billion in 2014-2015, and $1.64 billion in 2019-2020 prior to the reversal of Roe v. Wade. Psalm 37:35-36 speaks of powerful evil forces. ”When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it. I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a native green tree. Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more. Indeed, I sought him, but he could not be found.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, June 2nd, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

The differences between the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God is not some dry theological hair-splitting, it is one of the keys that unlocks the prophetic program of Israel and the mystery program of the Church. The kingdom of heaven points to that literal, visible, earthly reign promised to Israel, when the Lord Jesus Christ will sit upon the throne of David and rule the nations from Jerusalem. That is why the Millennial Temple of Ezekiel 40–48 belongs on the left side of the image at the top of this article: it is architectural, national, earthly, Jewish, prophetic, and future. It is Heaven's government come down to the earth, with Israel restored, the King enthroned, and the nations brought under His righteous rule.“Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” Matthew 21:43 (KJB)On this episode of Rightly Dividing, the kingdom of God, on the other hand, reaches beyond land, throne, temple, and nation, and speaks to the spiritual rule of God entered by the new birth and ultimately inherited in resurrection glory. That is why the Pretribulation Rapture of the Church belongs on the right side of the image, with a dividing line between the two of them. The Body of Christ is not waiting for Israel's temple to be rebuilt in order to receive its hope, but for the Lord Himself to descend from Heaven and call us up. The kingdom of heaven is connected with Israel's earthly promises; the kingdom of God includes the believer's spiritual standing, righteousness, peace, joy in the Holy Ghost, and the coming glorification of the redeemed. Related, yes, Jesus is King over both kingdoms, but they are not identical. Rightly dividing these two kingdoms keeps Israel in her lane, the Church in hers, and the word of truth exactly where God put it. Rightly dividing is the key to understanding the scriptures.

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Monday morning, the 25th of May, 2026, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We go to the Gospel of John 17:19, and this is the Lord Himself speaking: ”And for their sakes (that's you and me) I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.” Sanctified - I looked up the Oxford dictionary, it means, “something holy”. “The only way that you and I can help them is by being the noblest and the best man or woman that it is possible for us to be.” That was spoken by a man named Phillips Brooks. You see it's by example. That is how we help people. They won't do what you tell them. I'm talking about your children; they will do what you do. So if you shout and swear, they'll do exactly the same thing.Never give a person a job you cannot do yourself. Show them, don't just tell them. When you've got a new tractor driver and he's ploughing and the plough is not set properly, and the front coulter's going in too deep, and the back one's sticking up in the air, and he's driving it in the wrong gear, and there's black smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe, don't sit in your pickup at the headland and shout at him. Rather let him come to the end of the field and before he turns the tractor around, jump on the tractor, ask him to sit next to you and show him the right gear, then set the plough for him and then he'll be very happy and he'll listen to you, but if you don't know how to do it then don't try and tell him. We need to walk the talk. That's what Jesus always did, and that's why I love Him so much. Do you remember that old hymn: ”A new commandment I give unto you?” Should we sing it together.A new commandmentI give unto you,That you love one anotherAs I have loved you,That you love one anotherAs I have loved you.By this shall all men knowThat you are My disciples,If you have love one for another.By this shall all knowThat you are My disciples,If you have love one for another.Jesus said, ”A new commandment I give unto to you, that you love one another as I have loved you." He showed us how to do it. Let us go out into the world and make sure that we do not cause people to stumble but to love them in the noblest and the best way we can!Jesus bless you and have a lovely day. Goodbye.

Remember Lot's Wife. Jeffrey R. Holland. ACU Sunday Series. The past is to be learned from, but not lived in. We remember the blessings enjoyed and the lessons learned, but then we look with faith toward the future. Watch the entire video at- https://youtu.be/obNlH5VZ_qg?si=9mA18OXU8KTPxS2B BYU Speeches 251K subscribers 988,775 views Jul 3, 2012 Introduction: 00:00 Remember Lot's Wife: 3:33 Don't Look Back: 9:06 Remember Them No More: 14:33 The Best is Yet to Be: 24:40 Conclusion: 32:29 Follow BYU Speeches: Podcasts: https://speeches.byu.edu/podcasts/​ Facebook:   / byuspeeches​   Twitter:   / byuspeeches​   Instagram:   / byuspeeches​   Pinterest:   / byuspeeches​   This speech was given on January 13, 2009. Read and download the full devotional text at the BYU Speeches website: https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/jeffre... Read more about Jeffrey R. Holland here: https://speeches.byu.edu/speakers/jef... © Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. "The start of a new year is the traditional time to take stock of our lives and see where we are going, measured against the backdrop of where we have been. I don't want to talk to you about New Year's resolutions, because you only made five of them and you have already broken four. (I give that remaining one just another week.) But I do want to talk to you about the past and the future, not so much in terms of New Year's commitments per se, but more with an eye toward any time of transition and change in your lives—and those moments come virtually every day of our lives. As a scriptural theme for this discussion, I have chosen the second-shortest verse in all of holy scripture. I am told that the shortest verse—a verse that every missionary memorizes and holds ready in case he is called on spontaneously in a zone conference—is John 11:35: “Jesus wept.” Elders, here is a second option, another shortie that will dazzle your mission president in case you are called on two zone conferences in a row. It is Luke 17:32, where the Savior cautions, “Remember Lot's wife.” Hmmm. What did He mean by such an enigmatic little phrase? To find out, I suppose we need to do as He suggested. Let's recall who Lot's wife was. The original story, of course, comes to us out of the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, when the Lord, having had as much as He could stand of the worst that men and women could do, told Lot and his family to flee because those cities were about to be destroyed. “Escape for thy life,” the Lord said, “look not behind thee . . . ; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed” (Genesis 19:17; emphasis added). With less than immediate obedience and more than a little negotiation, Lot and his family ultimately did leave town, but just in the nick of time. The scriptures tell us what happened at daybreak the morning following their escape: The Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities. [Genesis 19:24–25] Then our theme today comes in the next verse. Surely, surely, with the Lord's counsel “look not behind thee” ringing clearly in her ears, Lot's wife, the record says, “looked back,” and she was turned into a pillar of salt. In the time we have this morning, I am not going to talk to you about the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah, nor of the comparison the Lord Himself has made to those days and our own time. I am not even going to talk about obedience and disobedience. I just want to talk to you for a few minutes about looking back and looking ahead. One of the purposes of history is to teach us the lessons of life. George Santayana, who should be more widely read than he is on a college campus, is best known for saying, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” (Reason in Common Sense, vol. 1 of The Life of Reason [1905–1906]). So, if history is this important—and it surely is—what did Lot's wife do that was so wrong? As something of a student of history, I have thought about that and offer this as a partial answer. Apparently what was wrong with Lot's wife was that she wasn't just looking back; in her heart she wanted to go back. It would appear that even before they were past the city limits, she was already missing what Sodom and Gomorrah had offered her. As Elder Maxwell once said, such people know they should have their primary residence in Zion, but they still hope to keep a summer cottage in Babylon (see Larry W. Gibbons, “Wherefore, Settle This in Your Hearts,” Ensign, November 2006, 102; also Neal A. Maxwell, A Wonderful Flood of Light [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1990], 47). It is possible that Lot's wife looked back with resentment toward the Lord for what He was asking her to leave behind. We certainly know that Laman and Lemuel were resentful when Lehi and his family were commanded to leave Jerusalem. So it isn't just that she looked back; she looked back longingly. In short, her attachment to the past outweighed her confidence in the future. That, apparently, was at least part of her sin."   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------    For Come Follow Me lesson manual and materials visit- Come, Follow Me For Individuals and Families: New Testament 2023 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/manual/come-follow-me/2023?lang=eng     For a list of 100+ episodes of ACU Sunday Series visit- https://www.podbean.com/site/search/index?kdsowie31j4k1jlf913=85cb8104bdb182c048b714ad4385f9e82a3aeb49&v=ACU+Sunday+Series+ Note- Click on “100 Episodes Found” in upper right corner.   For many different Podcasts based on the ‘Come Follow Me' program visit- https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=come+follow+me+   Subscribe to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the latest videos: http://bit.ly/1M0iPwY Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/churchofjesu... Twitter: @Ch_JesusChrist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ChurchOfJes... Website: ChurchOfJesusChrist.org The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints   BYUEducationWeek   Get a Free Book of Mormon | ComeUntoChrist Church of Jesus Christ https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org › requests › free-...   The Book of Mormon brings you closer to Jesus. Click to download a free digital copy of the Book of Mormon and learn about it with online missionaries.   -------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the Strength of Youth To help you find the Way and to help you make Christ's doctrine the guiding influence in your life, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has prepared a new resource, a revised version of For the Strength of Youth.   For over 50 years, For the Strength of Youth has been a guide for generations of Latter-day Saint youth. I always keep a copy in my pocket, and I share it with people who are curious about our standards. It has been updated and refreshed to better cope with the challenges and temptations of our day. The new version of For the Strength of Youth is available online in 50 different languages and will also be available in print. It will be a significant help for making choices in your life. Please embrace it as your own and share it with your friends. This new version of For the Strength of Youth is subtitled A Guide for Making Choices. To be very clear, the best guide you can possibly have for making choices is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the strength of youth. So the purpose of For the Strength of Youth is to point you to Him. It teaches you eternal truths of His restored gospel—truths about who you are, who He is, and what you can accomplish with His strength. It teaches you how to make righteous choices based on those eternal truths.13 It's also important to know what For the Strength of Youth does not do. It doesn't make decisions for you. It doesn't give you a “yes” or “no” about every choice you might ever face. For the Strength of Youth focuses on the foundation for your choices. It focuses on values, principles, and doctrine instead of every specific behavior. The Lord, through His prophets, has always been guiding us in that direction. He is pleading with us to “increase [our] spiritual capacity to receive revelation.”14 He is inviting us to “hear Him.”15 He is calling us to follow Him in higher and holier ways.16 And we are learning in a similar way every week in Come, Follow Me.     ACU Endorsed Charities -------------------------------------------------------- Pre-Born! Saving babies and Souls. https://preborn.org/ OUR MISSION To glorify Jesus Christ by leading and equipping pregnancy clinics to save more babies and souls. WHAT WE DO Pre-Born! partners with life-affirming pregnancy clinics all across the nation. We are designed to strategically impact the abortion industry through the following initiatives:… -------------------------------------------------------- Help CSI Stamp Out Slavery In Sudan Join us in our effort to free over 350 slaves. Listeners to the Eric Metaxas Show will remember our annual effort to free Christians who have been enslaved for simply acknowledging Jesus Christ as their Savior. As we celebrate the birth of Christ this Christmas, join us in giving new life to brothers and sisters in Sudan who have enslaved as a result of their faith. https://csi-usa.org/metaxas   https://csi-usa.org/slavery/   Typical Aid for the Enslaved A ration of sorghum, a local nutrient-rich staple food A dairy goat A “Sack of Hope,” a survival kit containing essential items such as tarp for shelter, a cooking pan, a water canister, a mosquito net, a blanket, a handheld sickle, and fishing hooks. Release celebrations include prayer and gathering for a meal, and medical care for those in need. The CSI team provides comfort, encouragement, and a shoulder to lean on while they tell their stories and begin their new lives. Thank you for your compassion  Giving the Gift of Freedom and Hope to the Enslaved South Sudanese -------------------------------------------------------- Food For The Poor https://foodforthepoor.org/ Help us serve the poorest of the poor Food For The Poor began in 1982 in Jamaica. Today, our interdenominational Christian ministry serves the poor in primarily 17 countries throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. Thanks to our faithful donors, we are able to provide food, housing, healthcare, education, fresh water, emergency relief, micro-enterprise solutions and much more. We are proud to have fed millions of people and provided more than 15.7 billion dollars in aid. Our faith inspires us to be an organization built on compassion, and motivated by love. Our mission is to bring relief to the poorest of the poor in the countries where we serve. We strive to reflect God's unconditional love. It's a sacrificial love that embraces all people regardless of race or religion. We believe that we can show His love by serving the “least of these” on this earth as Christ challenged us to do in Matthew 25. We pray that by God's grace, and with your support, we can continue to bring relief to the suffering and hope to the hopeless.

There is something almost incomprehensible in this passage from St. Anastasios and St. Maximos because it reveals just how surrounded we are by mercy while continuing to behave as though condemnation were wisdom. The Fathers do not merely tell us not to judge. They overwhelm us with reasons not to judge. They show us a universe saturated with the patience of God, the intercession of angels, the prayers of saints, the tears of repentance, the mystery of hidden transformation, the power of baptism, the healing of affliction, the medicine of chastisement, the compassion of Christ, and the joy of Heaven itself over the salvation of even one sinner. And still we condemn. That is the horror. We condemn while standing inside the greatest revelation of mercy the world has ever known. St. Anastasios says plainly: you do not know what has happened between God and that soul after the moment you witnessed his sin. Not five years later. Not tomorrow. Ten steps later. That is how quickly grace can act. A man may fall publicly and repent secretly. A woman may appear outwardly shattered while inwardly clinging to God with tears unknown to the world. A soul everyone has dismissed may already be visited by the Holy Spirit. And the Fathers insist that we understand this: we know almost nothing. We see fragments and imagine ourselves judges of the whole human being. We see behavior but not wounds. Actions but not warfare. Falls but not repentance. Scandal but not tears. Weakness but not humility. Temptation but not hidden prayer. Worst of all, we do not see what God Himself is doing inside another person. The Fathers say there are souls purified through illness. Souls purified through humiliation. Souls purified through temptation. Souls purified through demonic assault endured with thanksgiving. Souls saved through the prayers of others. Souls restored in their final moments. Souls secretly reconciled to God before death. How then dare we speak so confidently about anyone? The terrifying thing is that we do this while calling ourselves Christians. Christians. Those who claim to worship the God who became man for sinners. The Incarnation alone should silence every condemning tongue forever. The angels themselves longed to behold this mystery: that God would unite Himself to fallen humanity. Not to idealized humanity. Not to polished humanity. Fallen humanity. Christ assumed the very flesh we despise in one another. He entered the human condition completely apart from sin so that no sinner could ever again say: “God does not know what I am.” He knows. He entered it willingly. And Heaven never ceased rejoicing over this mystery. St. Anastasios says the angels love mankind precisely because they beheld God become man. Imagine that. The bodiless powers who never fell into flesh are astonished by what humanity has become through Christ. Meanwhile we, who were baptized into Him, often despise one another mercilessly. The Fathers remind us that every baptized person has been entrusted to an angel. Every baptized person has been sealed by the Spirit. Every baptized person has become the object of heavenly concern. The angels themselves plead for us. Think of that. While we gossip about one another, the angels intercede for one another. While we expose each other's failures, Heaven labors for each other's salvation. While we speak words that crush souls, the saints and angels beg God to heal them. And still we continue as though condemnation were normal. St. Maximos says Heaven is astonished at this. Astounded. The earth quakes. But we are “insensible and unabashed.” Insensible because we no longer perceive the mystery of redemption correctly. Unabashed because we condemn others without trembling. The saints trembled before judging another human being because they knew that judgment belongs to Christ alone. To judge another is not merely to commit a moral fault. St. Anastasios says it is to usurp the office of the Lord Himself. This is why the Fathers speak so fiercely. The judging heart has forgotten the Gospel. It has forgotten the thief entering Paradise in a single moment. It has forgotten Rahab the harlot. It has forgotten the Publican justified by a sigh. It has forgotten Manasses forgiven after decades of horror. It has forgotten Peter restored after denial. It has forgotten that Judas stood among the Apostles while the thief hung among murderers, and yet by evening their places were reversed. The saints understood something we resist with all our strength: human beings are not static creatures. A single moment of real repentance can alter eternity. And because of this, the saints became exceedingly merciful. Not naïve about evil. Not indifferent to sin. But deeply aware that every person stands inside a battle for salvation surrounded by mysteries unseen to human eyes. The demons accuse. Christ heals. The demons reduce persons to failures. Christ beholds the image buried beneath the ruin. The demons delight in exposure. Christ covers nakedness. And the terrible thing is how often religious people unknowingly participate in the work of accusation while imagining themselves defenders of righteousness. The Fathers knew better. This is why the holiest among them became gentlest toward sinners and harshest toward themselves. Because the closer one comes to God, the more clearly one sees that he himself survives only by mercy. And once a man truly knows this, condemnation becomes impossible. He no longer stands above humanity. He stands beside it, beating his breast, praying: “To You, O Lord, belongs mercy.” --- Text of chat during the group: 00:02:05 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: https://www.philokaliaministries.org/post/nazareth-and-the-hidden-life 00:34:49 Julie: It feels like there is no rest 00:35:43 Julie: With the senses I mean, to cut the thought straight away 00:36:19 Bob Čihák, AZ: P. 18 paragraph 1 00:36:31 Nypaver Clan: Reacted to "P. 18 paragraph 1" with

I. Access to the LORD's promises II. Access to the LORD's justice III. Access to the Lord's worship IV. Access to the LORD Himself.

The Battle of Gog and Magog Ezekiel 38:1-3 “And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, And say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.” This chosen text from the opening verses of Ezekiel chapter 38 serves as the foundation for our exposition of the battle of Gog and Magog. The prophecy spans Ezekiel 38 and 39, two chapters that form a unified oracle delivered by the prophet during the Babylonian exile. Ezekiel, whose name means “God strengthens,” was a priest carried into captivity in 597 B.C. alongside King Jehoiachin. His ministry, spanning roughly 593 to 571 B.C., addressed both the judgment upon Judah and the future restoration of God's people.    In these chapters, the Lord shifts from messages of immediate hope and restoration (as seen in Ezekiel 36–37) to a dramatic foretelling of an end-times invasion that will demonstrate His sovereign power over the nations.    The prophecy is set explicitly “in the latter years” and “latter days” (Ezekiel 38:8, 16), pointing to a future period when Israel has been regathered to her land.   By historical geography and biblical genealogy, we understand and believe Gog to be the leader of Russia and Magog as the country itself—Russia. This aligns with a careful reading of the ancient names in light of biblical genealogy, historical geography, and etymological connections preserved in early sources.    The prophecy is not vague symbolism but a specific geopolitical forecast involving a northern power and its allies descending upon a restored Israel.  The structure of the prophecy unfolds in clear stages. Here are the pertinent details presented as bullet points in the order they appear in the biblical text, each accompanied by its primary scripture reference: The divine summons to prophesy against Gog of Magog: The Lord commands Ezekiel to set his face against “Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal” and to declare God's opposition (Ezekiel 38:1-3).   God's sovereign control over the invasion force: The Lord declares He will “turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws,” drawing forth Gog and his vast army of horses, horsemen, and fully armed troops (Ezekiel 38:4).   The composition of the multinational coalition: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya join with shield and helmet; Gomer and the house of Togarmah from the north quarters come with all their bands, along with “many people” (Ezekiel 38:5-6).   • The command to prepare for battle: Gog and his company are told to be prepared and to act as a guard for the assembled forces (Ezekiel 38:7). The precise timing of the invasion: “After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them” (Ezekiel 38:8).   The nature and scale of the assault: The invaders ascend “like a storm” and cover the land “like a cloud,” with Gog and all his bands and many people (Ezekiel 38:9).   The evil thought that motivates the attack: At that time, thoughts will arise in Gog's mind: “I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey…” (Ezekiel 38:10-12).   • The inquiry of observing nations: Sheba, Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish with their young lions question the invaders' intent to seize spoil, silver, gold, cattle, and goods (Ezekiel 38:13). The confirmation of Israel's security at the time of attack: When God's people Israel dwell safely, Gog will know it (Ezekiel 38:14).   The geographic origin and military character of the force: Gog comes “from thy place out of the north parts,” with many people riding upon horses—a great company and a mighty army (Ezekiel 38:15).   • The divine purpose behind the invasion: God Himself brings Gog against His land so that “the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes” (Ezekiel 38:16). The ancient prophetic witness: God asks whether Gog is the one spoken of “in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel” (Ezekiel 38:17).   The unleashing of divine fury: When Gog comes against the land of Israel, God's fury rises; a great shaking occurs in the land (Ezekiel 38:18-19).   • The cosmic and terrestrial convulsions: All creatures shake at God's presence; mountains are thrown down, steep places fall, and every wall collapses (Ezekiel 38:20). Internal chaos and supernatural judgments: God calls for a sword against Gog throughout the mountains; every man's sword turns against his brother; pestilence, blood, overflowing rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone fall upon the invaders (Ezekiel 38:21-22).   The magnification of God's name: Through these acts, God magnifies and sanctifies Himself so that many nations know “that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 38:23).     Turning to Ezekiel 39, the prophecy continues without break, detailing the complete destruction and its aftermath:   The repeated address and partial decimation: God again declares Himself against Gog and will turn him back, leaving only a sixth part, bringing him upon the mountains of Israel (Ezekiel 39:1-2).   The disarmament and slaughter of the army: God smites the bow from Gog's left hand and causes arrows to fall from his right; Gog and all his bands fall upon the mountains of Israel and are given to ravenous birds and beasts (Ezekiel 39:3-5).   Fire sent upon Magog and the isles: God sends fire on Magog and those dwelling carelessly in the isles (Ezekiel 39:6).   The sanctification of God's holy name in Israel: The Lord makes His name known in the midst of Israel and prevents further pollution; the heathen know He is “the Holy One in Israel” (Ezekiel 39:7).   The declaration that the day has come: “Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord God; this is the day whereof I have spoken” (Ezekiel 39:8).     The seven-year burning of weapons: Israel's inhabitants burn the shields, bucklers, bows, arrows, handstaves, and spears for seven years, using no wood from field or forest (Ezekiel 39:9-10).   The burial of the multitude: Gog and his multitude receive a place of graves in Israel—the valley of the passengers east of the sea, called the valley of Hamon-gog; it stops the noses of passersby (Ezekiel 39:11).   The seven-month cleansing process: The house of Israel buries them for seven months to cleanse the land; all the people participate, and men are employed continually to search and bury remains; a city is named Hamonah (Ezekiel 39:12-16).   The call to the great sacrificial feast: God commands every fowl and beast to assemble for a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, to eat the flesh and drink the blood of the mighty, princes, rams, lambs, goats, bullocks, horses, chariots, and mighty men (Ezekiel 39:17-20).   The global recognition of God's glory: Through this judgment, God sets His glory among the heathen; the house of Israel knows He is the Lord their God from that day forward (Ezekiel 39:21-22).   The explanation to the nations: The heathen learn that Israel went into captivity for their iniquity, but God now hides His face no longer and pours out His Spirit upon the house of Israel (Ezekiel 39:23-29).     This ordered sequence reveals a meticulously orchestrated drama in which human aggression serves divine purpose. Let us now develop these details more fully, verse by verse and concept by concept, so that the exposition remains clear yet grounded in scholarly observation.   The opening command in Ezekiel 38:1-3 is striking in its directness. The Hebrew phrase “set thy face against” (sim paneyka) is a technical prophetic expression used elsewhere in Ezekiel to denote focused opposition (see Ezekiel 4:3; 6:2).    Gog is not merely a title but the personal name of the leader; Magog is the land—identified here as Russia. Scholarly support for this draws first from Genesis 10:2, where Magog appears in the Table of Nations as a son of Japheth.      The first-century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus explicitly links the descendants of Magog to the Scythians, a fierce nomadic people inhabiting the region north of the Black Sea and Caucasus Mountains—the very territory that became southern Russia.    Early Greek writers such as Hesiod (7th century B.C.) made the same identification. The phrase “chief prince of Meshech and Tubal” further specifies the geographic origin.    The Hebrew “nasi rosh” is best rendered “prince of Rosh,” where “Rosh” is widely understood by many expositors as an ancient designation for the people who later became known as Russians (the name “Rus” appearing in 10th-century sources). Meshech and Tubal, also Japhethite descendants, are associated with regions that later developed into areas around Moscow and Tobolsk.    Thus, the leader Gog emerges from the far northern power of Russia, heading a coalition that includes ancient names now corresponding to modern Iran (Persia), parts of Africa (Ethiopia/Cush and Libya/Put), and northern allies (Gomer and Togarmah, often linked to regions in modern Turkey).     God's control is absolute: “I will put hooks into thy jaws” (Ezekiel 38:4).    This vivid metaphor, drawn from ancient Assyrian and Egyptian practices of leading captives with hooks through the lip or nose, underscores that even the most powerful ruler moves only at the sovereign direction of the Lord.  The army is described with military precision—horses, horsemen, bucklers, shields, swords—reflecting the cavalry-heavy forces of ancient northern steppe peoples, yet the language accommodates any future mechanized equivalent. The coalition's preparation (Ezekiel 38:7) is ironic; they ready themselves, yet they are merely instruments.   The timing is critical and repeated for emphasis: “in the latter years” and “latter days” (Ezekiel 38:8, 16).    Israel must first be “brought back from the sword” and “gathered out of many people” to dwell “safely” on the mountains once waste (Ezekiel 38:8).    This regathering, described in Ezekiel 36–37 as a national resurrection, has its modern counterpart in the return of the Jewish people to their ancestral land. At that moment of apparent security—unwalled villages, no bars or gates (Ezekiel 38:11)—Gog conceives an “evil thought” of plunder.    The motive is economic and strategic: spoil, prey, cattle, goods, silver, and gold (Ezekiel 38:12-13). Observing merchant nations (Sheba, Dedan, Tarshish) question but do not intervene, highlighting the isolation of the attack.   The invasion route is unmistakable: “out of the north parts” (Ezekiel 38:15; 39:2). In biblical geography, “the north” (tsaphon) frequently denotes the direction of ultimate threat (Jeremiah 1:14; 4:6), and from Israel's perspective, the extreme north aligns precisely with Russia's latitude. The force is massive—“a cloud to cover the land” (Ezekiel 38:9, 16)—emphasizing overwhelming numbers.   Yet the true actor is the Lord Himself. He brings Gog against His land precisely “that the heathen may know me” (Ezekiel 38:16). The prophecy echoes earlier oracles (Ezekiel 38:17), indicating this event fulfills long-standing warnings. When the attack begins, divine fury erupts (Ezekiel 38:18).      The “great shaking” (ra'ash) is both literal earthquake and cosmic upheaval (Ezekiel 38:19-20), reminiscent of theophanies at Sinai and in the prophets. Internal confusion turns the invaders' weapons against themselves (Ezekiel 38:21), while supernatural plagues—pestilence, blood, rain, hailstones, fire, and brimstone—complete the rout (Ezekiel 38:22). The purpose is unambiguous: “Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations” (Ezekiel 38:23).   Chapter 39 intensifies the judgment. Only a sixth part survives the initial onslaught (Ezekiel 39:2). The army falls on Israel's mountains and open field, becoming food for birds and beasts—a reversal of the sacrificial imagery used against Israel earlier in the book (Ezekiel 39:4-5). Fire falls on Magog itself and the “isles” (coastal or distant lands), signaling global repercussions (Ezekiel 39:6). Israel's seven-year burning of weapons (Ezekiel 39:9-10) and seven-month burial operation (Ezekiel 39:11-16) portray the totality of victory and the thorough cleansing of the land. The valley of Hamon-gog (“the multitude of Gog”) and the city Hamonah become monuments to the defeat. The great sacrificial feast (Ezekiel 39:17-20) echoes the language of Isaiah 34 and Revelation 19, portraying the invaders' destruction as a divine banquet for creation.   The theological climax is restoration and recognition. Israel knows the Lord is their God from that day forward (Ezekiel 39:22), and the nations understand the reason for past captivity and the reality of present divine intervention (Ezekiel 39:23-29). The outpouring of the Spirit seals the renewal.   In summary, this prophecy reveals the Lord's absolute sovereignty over history. A Russian-led coalition, drawn irresistibly southward in the latter days against a restored and apparently secure Israel, meets catastrophic judgment on the mountains of Israel. The event is not the final battle of history (that occurs later, after a thousand years, in Revelation 20:7-9), but a distinct pre-millennial demonstration that the God of Israel alone is Lord.    The details—names, geography, timing, motives, and judgments—cohere with remarkable precision when read in their plain, grammatical-historical sense. The prophecy calls every reader to recognize the God who controls nations, judges evil, and restores His people.        It stands as both warning and comfort: no alliance, however vast or northerly, can thwart the purposes of the Almighty.

Welcome to Day 2860 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2860 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 125:1-5 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2860 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2860 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The Title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Song of Ascent – Surrounded by the Unshakeable Mountain In our previous episode on this grand expedition, we looked back with a shuddering sense of gratitude. In Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Four, we confronted a terrifying, hypothetical question: what would have happened if the Maker of heaven and earth had not been on our side? We realized that without the intervention of Yahweh, the raging, chaotic waters of the rebel gods would have swallowed us alive. We celebrated the glorious truth that the Divine Warrior stepped in, snapped the fowler's snare in half, and set our souls free to fly. We anchored our survival entirely to the Name of the Lord. Today, we continue our upward climb on the ancient pilgrim trail. The traveler has survived the wilderness, and is now gazing at the magnificent, geographical reality of the Holy City. We are exploring the sixth song in this collection, which is Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Five, verses one through five, in the New Living Translation. The psalmist shifts our focus from the fleeting, fragile nature of our earthly struggles, to the massive, permanent, and unshakeable geology of God's cosmic headquarters. Let us step onto the trail, look at the mountains, and discover what it means to be eternally secure. The first segment is: The Cosmic Center and the Immovable Saint Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Five: verse one. Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever. The stanza opens with a profound, stabilizing comparison. The psalmist declares, "Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion." To fully appreciate the immense weight of this statement, we must understand the concept of cosmic geography in the Ancient Israelite worldview. In the ancient Near East, mountains were not just piles of rock and dirt; they were the meeting places of the divine. The pagan nations surrounding Israel believed that their gods ruled from towering, majestic peaks, like Mount Hermon or Mount Zaphon. The rebel spiritual principalities, the fallen members of the Divine Council, demanded worship on these high places. In stark contrast, Mount Zion, the hill upon which Jerusalem was built, is not a particularly tall or physically intimidating mountain. Compared to the snow-capped peaks of the north, Zion is relatively modest. Yet, Yahweh chose this specific, unremarkable hill to be the cosmic center of the universe. It is the earthly footprint of His heavenly throne room. Because the Most High God dwells there, Mount Zion cannot be moved. It is immune to the chaotic storms of the rebel gods. It stands firm, defying the spiritual gravity of a fallen world. The psalmist makes a breathtaking theological leap. He states that the human being who places their absolute, unyielding trust in Yahweh, actually takes on the geological characteristics of Mount Zion itself. When you anchor your soul to the Creator, you become immovable. You become a living, breathing extension of the cosmic mountain. He promises that those who trust "will not be defeated but will endure forever." In a world where human empires rise and fall in the blink of an eye, and where our personal circumstances constantly fluctuate, this is an anchor for the soul. The forces of darkness may swirl around you, and the culture may attempt to push you off balance, but if your trust is in the King, you are eternally secured to the bedrock of reality. The second segment is: The Divine Perimeter Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Five: verse two. Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever. As the pilgrim approaches Jerusalem, he observes the physical topography of the region. "Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people." Jerusalem is uniquely situated. It sits on a hill, but it is enveloped by a ring of slightly higher mountains, such as the Mount of Olives to the east. In ancient warfare, this natural terrain provided an incredible, strategic advantage. The surrounding mountains acted as a massive, geological shield, breaking the force of incoming winds, and forcing approaching armies to navigate treacherous, uphill bottlenecks before they could ever reach the city walls. The psalmist takes this physical reality, and transforms it into a stunning picture of spiritual protection. He is saying, "Look at the hills wrapping their arms around this city. That is exactly what Yahweh is doing for you." We are not left exposed on an open, spiritual plain. The Lord Himself forms a thick, impenetrable perimeter defense around the covenant community. When the chaotic, rebel forces of the unseen realm attempt to launch an attack against your soul, they cannot simply walk up to your front door. They must first go through the Sovereign Commander of the universe. He encompasses His people. He is the vanguard, the rearguard, and the towering, protective wall on every side. And notice the duration of this protection: "both now and forever." This is not a temporary, seasonal security contract. The mountains do not get tired, and they do not clock out at the end of a shift. In the same way, the protective, surrounding presence of Yahweh is a permanent, eternal reality, spanning across the ages, long after the current, earthly conflicts have faded into dust. The third segment is: The Expiration Date of Evil Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Five: verse three. The wicked will not rule the land of the godly, for then the godly might be tempted to do wrong. Suddenly, the psalmist addresses a deep, painful tension that exists within the hearts of the pilgrims. He says, "The wicked will not rule the land of the godly." Other translations render this phrase, "For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest upon the land allotted to the righteous." This language is deeply rooted in the Divine Council theology of Deuteronomy Chapter Thirty-Two. The world is currently contested territory. The rebel gods, and the wicked, human rulers who act as their avatars, hold scepters of power over the disinherited nations. They constantly try to extend their dark, chaotic jurisdiction into the land allotted to Yahweh's people. When the pilgrim looks around the world, it often seems like the wicked are winning. Corrupt politicians prosper, deceitful systems thrive, and the righteous are marginalized. But the psalmist steps in with a divine, prophetic guarantee. He declares that the scepter of the wicked has a strict, non-negotiable expiration date. Yahweh will not permit the forces of chaos to establish permanent, uncontested rule over His inheritance. The occupation is temporary. Why does God place this limit on the power of evil? The psalmist gives us a profound, psychological reason: "for then the godly might be tempted to do wrong." Literally, the Hebrew text suggests that if the oppression lasts too long, the righteous might reach out their hands to iniquity. The Creator intimately understands the fragility of the human frame. He knows that we are made of dust. If we are subjected to the crushing, unrelenting pressure of injustice, generation after generation, without any hope of relief, even the most faithful, devoted believer might eventually snap. The temptation to assimilate, to adopt the corrupt practices of the pagan culture just to survive, would simply become too great. Therefore, out of His fierce, Fatherly compassion, Yahweh intervenes. He breaks the scepter of the wicked, and limits the duration of the trial, ensuring that the burden never outweighs the grace He provides to endure it. He protects His people from the breaking point. The fourth segment is: The Fork in the Road and the Final Blessing Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Five: verses four and five. O Lord, do good to those who are good, whose hearts are in tune with you. But banish those who turn to crooked ways, O Lord. Take them away with those who do evil. May Israel have peace! In the final verses of the song, the psalmist offers a powerful, dual-sided prayer, clearly marking the division between the two paths of humanity. First, he...

Read OnlineChosen Out of the WorldJesus said to his disciples: “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you.” John 15:18–19No one wants to be hated. Yet our Lord makes it very clear that because He has “chosen you out of the world, the world hates you.” He doesn't say that the world “might” hate you or that you “might” suffer some injustice. He declares that those whom He has chosen out of the world will be hated by the world. This is one of the paradoxes of our faith: Living in Christ brings love from Him but hatred and persecution from the world. Yet this hatred is a sign of a deeper reality: We are no longer bound by the fleeting values of this fallen world but are participants in God's eternal Kingdom, where peace and true freedom are found.The “world” in this context is not Creation itself. All that God created is good. The world represents the fallen spiritual order, caught up in sin. Those who “belong to the world” are those who conform to diabolical values, such as seeking power for power's sake, wealth as a selfish means to fulfillment, or carnal indulgence in an attempt to satiate oneself. Living in accord with the values of the fallen world is foolishness. It leads to a superficial life that cannot ultimately satisfy our deeper spiritual cravings and shares in the envy and hatred of the demons.Breaking free of worldly attachments is difficult at first because those who have become worldly are blinded by their disordered desires. Sin is a slippery slope. Compromising even in small ways to gain acceptance risks losing clarity of purpose and rootedness in Christ. The more people sin, the more miserable they become, and the more miserable they become, the more they seek satisfaction from sin. Only when that cycle is broken does peace begin to take hold and freedom is found. Yet, in the midst of this struggle to detach from worldly illusions, Jesus offers a profound truth: “I have chosen you out of the world.”To be chosen by Christ is to be set apart for a life of divine purpose and eternal fulfillment. This call draws us into communion with Him, transforming suffering into a path to glory. The disciples' identity is not self-made but rooted in His choice. This divine election sets them apart for a mission that challenges the temptation to worldly ambitions. Their call to holiness and truth inevitably provokes hostility because it shines a light on the darkness of the world's sin and draws others to conversion. Yet with this call also comes the promise of eternal joy.This raises an important question for each of us: Does the world love or hate you? Do you fit in or stand in opposition to worldly values? If we try to gain the world's love, from those who have embraced worldly ambitions and values, then we will find ourselves compromising to gain acceptance. But if we remain steadfast, even when persecuted, we share in Jesus' victory and the promise of eternal life.Jesus tells us this sober truth as a way of preparing us for the inevitable: “Remember the word I spoke to you, ‘No slave is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). We must remember His word, His warning, so that if we experience persecution, hatred, or any form of judgment or criticism, we will not become discouraged or fearful. Understanding the consequences of living contrary to worldly values will prepare us for the rejection that our Lord Himself experienced. Reflect today on being chosen by God and the consequences of being called out of the world. Consider any ways that living your faith openly results in criticism or persecution. As you do, recall that you are called to be like Jesus, including being given a share in His sufferings, but also a share in His glory. As Saint Paul reminds us, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us” (Romans 8:18). Do not give in to fear. Remain courageous and confident that along with Jesus' call comes the grace to respond to and endure whatever comes your way, knowing that the joy of the Resurrection awaits.Victorious Lord, You have conquered the world, sin, and death, and You have called me out of this fallen world into the light of Your grace. Strengthen me with courage and steadfastness when I face persecution for my faith. Help me to trust in Your victory, to endure with hope, and to find joy in the promise of sharing Your eternal glory. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Advent 1 by Lawrence OP, license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.Source: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Welcome to Day 2854 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2854 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 122:1-9 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2855 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2855 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Wisdom-Trek: The Song of Ascent – Stepping Through the Cosmic Gates In our previous episode, we walked the treacherous, dusty trails of Psalm One Hundred Twenty-One. We learned to lift our eyes away from the high places, where the pagan cultures worshiped their rebel gods, and fix our gaze entirely upon the Maker of heaven and earth. We discovered the profound comfort of the Guardian who never slumbers, and never sleeps. We realized that, even when the journey is steep, and the wilderness is infested with dark, spiritual forces, the Lord Himself is our protective shade, guarding our souls as we come and go. Today, the long, arduous journey up the mountain pass finally yields its greatest reward. We have arrived. We are exploring the third song in this pilgrim collection: Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Two, verses one through nine, in the New Living Translation. The dust of the road is still on our boots, but the danger of the wilderness is now behind us. The traveler has transitioned from the vulnerability of the open, contested terrain, into the ultimate, secure fortress of the Most High God. Let us step through the gates, and experience the joy of the cosmic center. The Invitation and the Arrival (Reads Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Two: verses one and two NLT) I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” And now here we are, standing inside your gates, O Jerusalem. The psalm opens with a beautiful, retrospective memory of an invitation. The psalmist remembers the exact moment back in his hometown, perhaps out in the distant, hostile territories of Meshech or Kedar, when his fellow Israelites turned to him and said, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” Notice his reaction. He says, “I was glad.” This is not the mild, polite happiness of receiving a dinner invitation. This is a profound, soul-deep relief. To understand this joy, we must view the geography through the lens of the Divine Council worldview. The world outside of Jerusalem was heavily influenced by the fallen, rebel spirits—the elohim who demanded worship from the disinherited nations. Living out in the countryside meant living in contested territory, constantly battling the oppressive, chaotic atmosphere of the pagan culture. But the “house of the Lord” was different. Jerusalem was the cosmic mountain. It was the intersection of heaven and earth, the literal footprint of Yahweh's throne room in the human realm. When the invitation came to go up to Jerusalem, it was an invitation to leave the oppressive domains of the rebel gods, and return to the safe, centralized headquarters of the Creator. It was a call to come home. Then, in verse two, the memory shifts to the breathtaking present reality: “And now here we are, standing inside your gates, O Jerusalem.” Imagine the sheer, physical relief of this moment. After days, or even weeks, of sleeping with one eye open, guarding against bandits and predators, the pilgrim finally steps over the threshold. The massive, reinforced gates of the city close behind him. The wilderness is shut out. The anxiety of the journey instantly evaporates, replaced by the overwhelming, sensory experience of the holy city. He is standing securely within the boundary lines of God's protected domain. The Architecture of Unity and the Gathering of the Exiles (Reads Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Two: verses three and four NLT) Jerusalem is a well-built city; its seamless walls cannot be breached. All the tribes of Israel—the Lord's people— make their pilgrimage here. They come to give thanks to the name of the Lord, as the law requires of Israel. As the pilgrim stands inside the gates, he looks around, marveling at the architecture of his surroundings. He declares, “Jerusalem is a well-built city; its seamless walls cannot be breached.” Other translations render this, “Jerusalem is built as a city that is bound firmly together.” This is not just a compliment to the local stonemasons. In the ancient world, a city with seamless, tightly bound walls was a fortress that could withstand the most brutal siege. But there is a deeper, spiritual metaphor at play here. The physical stones of the walls reflect the spiritual unity of the people standing within them. This unity is beautifully described in verse four: “All the tribes of Israel—the Lord's people—make their pilgrimage here.” Remember the story of the Tower of Babel. When humanity rebelled, God confused their languages, divided them into seventy nations, and scattered them across the earth, placing them under the authority of the lesser spiritual beings. Babel was the ultimate act of division, and scattering. But here, in Jerusalem, we see the glorious reversal of Babel. Instead of being scattered into chaos, the scattered tribes of Israel are magnetically drawn back together. They converge from the north, the south, the east, and the west, ascending the mountain to become one unified, seamless people again. The tribes leave their separate, localized identities behind, and they bind themselves firmly together within the walls of the holy city. And what is their unified purpose? “They come to give thanks to the name of the Lord, as the law requires of Israel.” They do not gather to celebrate their own military achievements, or to build a monument to their own greatness, as the rebels did at Babel. They gather for the sole purpose of expressing profound, collective gratitude to the Name of Yahweh. The Name represents God's reputation, His character, and His supreme, unrivaled authority over the Divine Council. By giving thanks to His Name, the unified tribes are actively testifying to the surrounding, pagan nations that Yahweh alone is the True King of the cosmos. The Thrones of Cosmic Justice (Reads Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Two: verse five NLT) Here stand the thrones where judgment is given, the thrones of the dynasty of David. The pilgrim's eyes move from the defensive walls of the city, to the ultimate center of authority: “Here stand the thrones where judgment is given, the thrones of the dynasty of David.” In the biblical worldview, true justice is the foundation of cosmic order. In Psalm Eighty-Two, God holds a trial in the midst of the Divine Council, condemning the rebel gods because they judge unjustly, show partiality to the wicked, and fail to defend the weak and the fatherless. The spiritual rulers of the darkness have corrupted the earth with their chaotic, abusive legal systems. But Jerusalem is designed to be the absolute antithesis of that corruption. Here, inside these seamless walls, stand the thrones of David. God entered into an eternal covenant with David, promising that his dynasty would represent Yahweh's righteous rule on earth. These thrones are not places of exploitation, tyranny, or self-serving power. They are the seats of tsedeq—true, restorative, unbending righteousness. For the weary pilgrim, who has just spent months living in the unjust, chaotic territories of the world, seeing these thrones brings immense comfort. He knows that here, in the cosmic center, the oppressed will find a fair hearing. The marginalized will be protected. The wicked will be held accountable. The thrones of David are the earthly guarantee that the Creator has not abandoned His universe to the lawless forces of chaos. The Weaponized Prayer for Shalom (Reads Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Two: verses six and seven NLT) Pray for peace in Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper. O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls and prosperity in your palaces. Having soaked in the beauty, the unity, and the justice of the city, the psalmist transitions from observation, into active, targeted intercession. He issues a command to his fellow pilgrims: “Pray for peace in Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper.” The Hebrew word for peace is our familiar, heavy, and profound anchor word: Shalom. He asks us...

Welcome to Day 2853 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2853 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 121:1-8 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2853 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2853 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Song of Ascent – The Guardian Who Never Sleeps In our previous episode on this grand expedition, we took our very first steps onto the ancient pilgrim trail. We opened the collection known as the Songs of Ascents, beginning with Psalm One Hundred Twenty. There, we felt the suffocating exhaustion of living among deceitful people, dwelling in the hostile, spiritual wastelands of Meshech and Kedar. We realized that true peace, true biblical Shalom, cannot be found by negotiating with the empire of lies. That painful realization served as the ultimate catalyst for our journey. We packed our bags, left our tents in the chaotic lowlands, and began our steep, deliberate ascent toward Jerusalem, seeking the presence of the True King. Today, we take our next determined strides up the mountain pass. We are exploring the second song in this pilgrim collection: Psalm One Hundred Twenty-One, verses one through eight, in the New Living Translation. As the traveler leaves the safety of his home, and steps out onto the dangerous, open road, a profound sense of vulnerability sets in. The journey is long, the terrain is treacherous, and the wilderness is infested with bandits, predators, and dark spiritual forces. To survive the ascent, the pilgrim needs absolute assurance that he is not walking alone. Let us step onto the trail, lift our eyes to the horizon, and meet the Guardian of our souls. Psalm One Hundred Twenty-One: verses one and two. I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! The psalm opens with one of the most iconic, yet frequently misunderstood, questions in all of Scripture: “I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there?” In our modern, romanticized view of nature, we often read this verse and think the psalmist is drawing peace from the majestic beauty of the mountain peaks. We imagine a serene, snow-capped range inspiring a sense of divine comfort. But to the Ancient Israelite mind, the mountains were deeply intimidating, and spiritually contested, territory. Physically, the mountains were where the bandits hid. They were the places of ambush, rockslides, and wild beasts. But more importantly, we must view this through the lens of the Divine Council worldview. In the ancient Near East, the high places—the peaks of the mountains—were universally recognized as the dwelling places of the gods. The rebel spiritual principalities, the fallen elohim of the disinherited nations, demanded worship on the high places. The Canaanites built their altars to Baal, and their shrines to Asherah, on the elevated hills. Therefore, as the weary pilgrim looks up at the towering, shadow-filled mountains surrounding the road to Jerusalem, he is acknowledging a profound temptation. The pagan culture whispers, "The journey is too hard. The road is too dangerous. Why don't you stop at this local shrine? Why don't you offer a quick sacrifice to the gods of these hills, just to ensure your safe passage?" The psalmist asks the question, “Does my help come from there?” And he answers it with a resounding, cosmic rejection of the rebel gods. “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!” He completely bypasses the localized, lesser deities of the hills. He declares that he will not seek protection from the dark powers that claim jurisdiction over the mountains. Instead, he appeals directly to Yahweh, the Supreme Architect, who actually created the dirt, the rocks, and the sheer cliffs of those very mountains. Why would he beg for help from a created, rebel spirit, when he has direct access to the Uncreated Maker of the entire cosmos? His help is anchored not in the terrain, but in the Creator of the terrain. Psalm One Hundred Twenty-One: verses three and four. He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. Having established the identity of his Helper, the psalmist begins to sing an anthem of profound assurance over his own soul, and over the souls of his fellow travelers. He promises, “He will not let you stumble.” On a steep, rocky, and unpaved mountain trail, a single stumble could mean a sprained ankle, a broken leg, or a fatal fall into a ravine. A stumble meant you became easy prey. But the psalmist assures us that the Creator is actively involved in the micro-movements of our lives. Yahweh is not a distant, clockmaker God who wound up the universe and walked away; He is intimately engaged, ensuring that our feet find solid purchase on the treacherous path of obedience. And why is God's protection so flawless? Because, “the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.” In this beautiful repetition, the psalmist draws a sharp, mocking contrast between the God of Israel and the false gods of the surrounding nations. In pagan mythology, the gods were fundamentally limited. They got tired. They needed to eat, and they needed to sleep. If you remember the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel, he famously mocked the prophets of Baal when their god failed to send fire. Elijah taunted them, saying, “Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and needs to be awakened!” A sleeping god is a useless god. If your deity takes a nap, you are entirely vulnerable to the chaotic forces of the world. But the Commander of the heavenly armies does not experience fatigue. He does not require a night watchman to relieve Him of His post. Because Yahweh never closes His eyes, the pilgrim can safely close his. In a world fraught with nocturnal terrors, and dark spiritual forces that prowl in the night, the absolute, unbroken vigilance of the Creator is our ultimate source of rest. Psalm One Hundred Twenty-One: verses five and six The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The promises of protection become even more intimate, and incredibly specific. “The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.” The Hebrew word used repeatedly throughout this psalm for “watches over,” or “keeps,” is shamar. It means to guard, to protect, to build a hedge around, or to carefully attend to. The psalmist is emphasizing that Yahweh does not delegate your ultimate security to a lower-ranking angel; the Lord Himself is your personal bodyguard. He stands at your right hand, which was the traditional position of a military defender, holding a shield to protect a warrior's exposed side. He acts as a "protective shade." In the scorching, relentless heat of the Middle Eastern desert, shade was not just a luxury; it was a matter of life and death. But once again, we must read verse six through the eyes of the ancient, cosmic worldview: “The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.” To the surrounding pagan cultures, the sun and the moon were not just celestial bodies; they were powerful, ruling deities. Shamash was the Babylonian sun god, representing blistering, judging heat. Yarih, or Sin, was the moon god, often associated with the terrors of the night, madness, and disease. When the psalmist declares that the sun and the moon will not harm you, he is making a massive theological claim. He is stating that Yahweh exercises absolute sovereignty over the celestial realm. The rebel gods of the sky have been stripped of their power to destroy the faithful exile. The oppressive, scorching trials of the daytime cannot break you, and the creeping, psychological terrors of the moonlight cannot drive you to despair. The Lord, your protective shade, completely neutralizes the most powerful, threatening elements of the natural, and supernatural, world. Psalm One Hundred Twenty-One: verses seven and eight The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever. The psalm reaches its crescendo with a sweeping, comprehensive guarantee of...