Podcasts about lord himself

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.

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.

As we close out an incredible week of studying **After the Battle: Walking in God's Next Assignment**, we pause to reflect on all that God has been teaching us.This week, we discovered that God meets us in our grief, restores us after failure, strengthens us in seasons of waiting, empowers us through His Spirit, and ultimately calls us to build a life that leaves an eternal legacy.Now, as we enter the weekend readings, we begin a brand-new chapter in Scripture with the book of **1 Kings**.David's journey is coming to an end, and a new generation is preparing to lead. At the same time, the early Church continues to grow in the book of Acts as ordinary believers boldly proclaim the Gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit.Throughout these passages, we continue exploring the June theme:**Jehovah Nissi — The Lord Our Banner.**This month, we are discovering that Jehovah Nissi is not only the God who gives victory, but the Master Builder who faithfully establishes His purposes through surrendered people.====In this Weekend Edition✨ A recap of this week's journey through restoration, waiting, empowerment, and legacy.✨ An introduction to the book of 1 Kings and the transition from David to Solomon.✨ How the early Church remained bold even in the face of opposition.✨ Why God's people can remain steady because the Lord Himself is our Banner.=====Weekend Readings**Saturday, June 6**

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.

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।

(This podcast was previously published on April 22, 2022)   Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...   In heaven, there will be no pain, no sorrow, because we will not have these physical bodies in the new heaven.   ***   The elect of God are given new spiritual bodies:   I Corinthians 15   48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.   49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.   50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.   51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed,   52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.   53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.   54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.   55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?   56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.   57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.   58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.   ***   Jesus raises the dead in Christ.   I Thessalonians 4:13-17   But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.   14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.   15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede/go before) them which are asleep.   16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:   17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.   18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.   ***   Jesus gathers the elect in Christ who are still living on this earth and takes them into the air to be with Himself and the dead who are now resurrected and alive.   Matthew 24:29-31   Jesus says:   29  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:   30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.   31 And HE shall send HIS angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together HIS elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.   ***   The new heaven and new earth:   Revelation 21:1-5  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.   2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.   3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and HE will dwell with them, and they shall be HIS people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.   4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.   5 And HE that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.  

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.

June 1, 2026Today's Reading: Isaiah 6:1-7Daily Lectionary: Ecclesiastes 9:1-17; John 9:24-41“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isaiah 6:3)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.It can be easy to read Isaiah chapter six and gloss over just how intense the vision of Isaiah would have been. As the Lord called Isaiah to speak His Word, there is a lot going on. There are the Seraphim with their wings and their flying. There is the shaking of the thresholds at the voice of the One calling. There is the angel with the smoke and the coals. But what might have been the most intense was the realization of those words, “Holy, Holy, Holy.”  We don't think of holiness all that much in our day and place. For us, God is sort of a spiritual therapist. He's there for when we might need something. He's sort of in the background, just sort of letting the movie play out as it does. In short, He's a buddy who's there when we need Him, but otherwise He just sort of lets us be.  I don't think that's how Isaiah felt standing in the presence of the angels and the company of heaven. I don't think that was the thought floating in his head when the angel brought the coal. In fact, I know it wasn't. How? Because of Isaiah's own words: “And I said: ‘Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!'” Isaiah wasn't excited to see his buddy. He was nervous. Why? Because he knew of his sin. He knew of the sin of his people. He knew that this Lord of hosts, this Yahweh Sabaoth, was holy. He was not sin. He was perfection. He was the perfection that no imperfection can stand before. And so Isaiah was scared. He needed atonement.  But that's what the angel brought to Isaiah. He brought it from the altar of the Lord Himself. This thrice holy God is good and perfect. But He is loving. This Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, He is holy and hates sin. But He is loving and desires people to have the cleansing from sin that they would become the objects of His love. You, Christian, are the object of His love. He has sent Jesus to the cross to bear your unholiness. He has sent His Spirit into your heart through the Word, through the promise of Baptism, that you would know that you are His beloved. He has taken your unholiness and poured out His wrath against it on the cross, that He could give you His holiness that you could stand before Him in His heavenly temple forever. Thanks be to God.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Sabaoth. Heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Hosanna. Save us. Bless us with your holiness, that we would ever remain your beloved and holy children. AmenRev. Matthew Zickler, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Western Springs, IL.

Key Bible Verse: "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. " Isaiah 7:14; "But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. " Isaiah 53:5

Paul had a problem with the church in Corinth. They were still ‘babes in Christ' - 1 Cor 3.1. Anyone who has been a parent knows the struggle it is to bring children to maturity - to potty-train them, to train them to eat nicely, to share, and everything else…  When you come to Christ, you leave behind worldly things to live in a ‘Christ dimension' - a dimension so distinct and different from the world we grew up in. That's why Jesus said you've got to be ‘born again' - come on! You've got to die to the old, and, like a new-born, you've got to start and learn the basics. That's why Paul says in v2, “I gave you milk and not meat, because you were not able, and you're still are not able. You still behave like worldly people do…” Let's face it - there are many in the church who live and speak like the world, like they did before they became a Christian… No difference. The biggest problem in Corinth was the strife, envy and division. That's not Christ. Christ is one. In Him is no division. But some of the people in Corinth were saying, v4, “I follow Paul”, and others were saying, “I follow Apollos.” That's not of God! Paul founded the church. His conversion from the life of a fanatical but highly educated Pharisee, opposed to Christ and persecuting Christians, was dramatic - the Lord Himself appeared to him on the road to Damascus. Apollos was different. An ‘eloquent man, mighty in the Scriptures', he believed in Jesus, and spoke and taught diligently about the things of the Lord, but only knew ‘the baptism of John' - water baptism for the forgiveness of sin. It seems he didn't know the Baptism of the Holy Spirit; it was two of Paul's co-workers, Priscillla and Aquila, who instructed him ‘in the Way of God more perfectly' - Acts 18.24-28 - before recommending him to the church in Achaia, where Corinth was. The different experiences of these men are not what matter. Paul says in v5, “Who is Paul? Who is Apollos? Simply ministers by whom you believed!” -  ‘men who brought you to Christ'! V6, “I planted, Apollos watered - but it's GOD who gives the increase.” It's not Paul, it's not Apollos! It's not men. It's God. Even today we too easily follow men, rather than Christ! I don't follow men, even though I grew up in the days of some very great Pentecostal leaders in Britain - among them Evangelist George Jeffreys, Smith Wigglesworth. I don't look to those men, even though when I was born Jeffreys wanted to adopt me as his son. I don't want to follow any man. I want to follow Jesus. Come on! I want to do what Jesus said, I want to do what He told his disciples to do - preach the Gospel, heal the sick. My power doesn't come because somebody laid hands on me; my power comes because God touched me! The evidence is there, in my life. To make a donation to support David's ministry: https://www.eurovision.org.uk/donation To watch the message: https://youtu.be/70ImKZZgKNY?si=RyCFNDqad8CsZjiY 

(This podcast was previously published on April 17, 2022)   Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...   The world:   1 John 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.   16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.   17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.  

ਧਨਾਸਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥ ਜਿਨਿ ਤੁਮ ਭੇਜੇ ਤਿਨਹਿ ਬੁਲਾਏ ਸੁਖ ਸਹਜ ਸੇਤੀ ਘਰਿ ਆਉ ॥ ਅਨਦ ਮੰਗਲ ਗੁਨ ਗਾਉ ਸਹਜ ਧੁਨਿ ਨਿਹਚਲ ਰਾਜੁ ਕਮਾਉ ॥੧॥ ਤੁਮ ਘਰਿ ਆਵਹੁ ਮੇਰੇ ਮੀਤ ॥ ਤੁਮਰੇ ਦੋਖੀ ਹਰਿ ਆਪਿ ਨਿਵਾਰੇ ਅਪਦਾ ਭਈ ਬਿਤੀਤ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਕੀਨੇ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕਰਨੇਹਾਰੇ ਨਾਸਨ ਭਾਜਨ ਥਾਕੇ ॥ ਘਰਿ ਮੰਗਲ ਵਾਜਹਿ ਨਿਤ ਵਾਜੇ ਅਪੁਨੈ ਖਸਮਿ ਨਿਵਾਜੇ ॥੨॥ ਅਸਥਿਰ ਰਹਹੁ ਡੋਲਹੁ ਮਤ ਕਬਹੂ ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਬਚਨਿ ਅਧਾਰਿ ॥ ਜੈ ਜੈ ਕਾਰੁ ਸਗਲ ਭੂ ਮੰਡਲ ਮੁਖ ਊਜਲ ਦਰਬਾਰ ॥੩॥ ਜਿਨ ਕੇ ਜੀਅ ਤਿਨੈ ਹੀ ਫੇਰੇ ਆਪੇ ਭਇਆ ਸਹਾਈ ॥ ਅਚਰਜੁ ਕੀਆ ਕਰਨੈਹਾਰੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਚੁ ਵਡਿਆਈ ॥੪॥੪॥੨੮॥ਅਰਥ: ਮੇਰੇ ਮਿੱਤਰ (ਮਨ) ! (ਹੁਣ) ਤੂੰ ਹਿਰਦੇ-ਘਰ ਵਿਚ ਟਿਕਿਆ ਰਹੁ (ਆ ਜਾ) । ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਨੇ ਆਪ ਹੀ (ਕਾਮਾਦਿਕ) ਤੇਰੇ ਵੈਰੀ ਦੂਰ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਹਨ, (ਕਾਮਾਦਿਕਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਪੈ ਰਹੀ ਮਾਰ ਦੀ) ਬਿਪਤਾ (ਹੁਣ) ਮੁੱਕ ਗਈ ਹੈ।ਰਹਾਉ।(ਹੇ ਮੇਰੀ ਜਿੰਦੇ!) ਜਿਸ ਨੇ ਤੈਨੂੰ (ਸੰਸਾਰ ਵਿਚ) ਭੇਜਿਆ ਹੈ, ਉਸੇ ਨੇ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੇ ਵਲ ਪ੍ਰੇਰਨਾ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੋਈ ਹੈ, ਤੂੰ ਆਨੰਦ ਨਾਲ ਆਤਮਕ ਅਡੋਲਤਾ ਨਾਲ ਹਿਰਦੇ-ਘਰ ਵਿਚ ਟਿਕੀ ਰਹੁ। ਹੇ ਜਿੰਦੇ! ਆਤਮਕ ਅਡੋਲਤਾ ਦੀ ਰੌ ਵਿਚ, ਆਨੰਦ ਖ਼ੁਸ਼ੀ ਪੈਦਾ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਹਰਿ-ਗੁਣ ਗਾਇਆ ਕਰ (ਇਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਾਮਾਦਿਕ ਵੈਰੀਆਂ ਉਤੇ) ਅਟੱਲ ਰਾਜ ਕਰ।੧।(ਹੇ ਮੇਰੀ ਜਿੰਦੇ!) ਸਭ ਕੁਝ ਕਰ ਸਕਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਖਸਮ-ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਨੇ ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਉਤੇ ਮੇਹਰ ਕੀਤੀ, ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਅੰਦਰ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਆਪ ਪਰਗਟ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ, ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਭਟਕਣਾਂ ਮੁੱਕ ਗਈਆਂ, ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਹਿਰਦੇ-ਘਰ ਵਿਚ ਆਤਮਕ ਆਨੰਦ ਦੇ (ਮਾਨੋ) ਵਾਜੇ ਸਦਾ ਵੱਜਣ ਲੱਗ ਪੈਂਦੇ ਹਨ।੨।(ਹੇ ਜਿੰਦੇ!) ਗੁਰੂ ਦੇ ਉਪਦੇਸ਼ ਉਤੇ ਤੁਰ ਕੇ, ਗੁਰੂ ਦੇ ਆਸਰੇ ਰਹਿ ਕੇ, ਤੂੰ ਭੀ (ਕਾਮਾਦਿਕ ਵੈਰੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਟਾਕਰੇ ਤੇ) ਪੱਕੇ ਪੈਰਾਂ ਤੇ ਖਲੋ ਜਾ, ਵੇਖੀਂ, ਹੁਣ ਕਦੇ ਭੀ ਨਾਹ ਡੋਲੀਂ। ਸਾਰੀ ਸ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਟੀ ਵਿਚ ਸੋਭਾ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ, ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਦੀ ਹਜ਼ੂਰੀ ਵਿਚ ਤੇਰਾ ਮੂੰਹ ਉਜਲਾ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ।੩।ਹੇ ਨਾਨਕ! ਜਿਸ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਜੀ ਨੇ ਜੀਵ ਪੈਦਾ ਕੀਤੇ ਹੋਏ ਹਨ, ਉਹ ਆਪ ਹੀ ਇਹਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ (ਵਿਕਾਰਾਂ ਵਲੋਂ) ਮੋੜਦਾ ਹੈ, ਉਹ ਆਪ ਹੀ ਮਦਦਗਾਰ ਬਣਦਾ ਹੈ। ਸਭ ਕੁਝ ਕਰ ਸਕਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਨੇ ਇਹ ਅਨੋਖੀ ਖੇਡ ਬਣਾ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਹੈ, ਉਸ ਦੀ ਵਡਿਆਈ ਸਦਾ ਕਾਇਮ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲੀ ਹੈ।੪।੪।੨੮।The One who sent you, has now recalled you; return to your home now in peace and pleasure. In bliss and ecstasy, sing His Glorious Praises; by this celestial tune, you shall acquire your everlasting kingdom. || 1 || Come back to your home, O my friend. The Lord Himself has eliminated your enemies, and your misfortunes are past. || Pause || God, the Creator Lord, has glorified you, and your running and rushing around has ended. In your home, there is rejoicing; the musical instruments continually play, and your Husband Lord has exalted you. || 2 || Remain firm and steady, and do not ever waver; take the Guru's Word as your Support. You shall be applauded and congratulated all over the world, and your face shall be radiant in the Court of the Lord. || 3 || All beings belong to Him; He Himself transforms them, and He Himself becomes their help and support. The Creator Lord has worked a wondrous miracle; O Nanak, His glorious greatness is true. || 4 || 4 || 28 ||DHANAASAREE, FIFTH MEHL:

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.

The Time/Out Revival is here and our special guest speaker, Elder Mason Curtis, is setting the tone with his message entitled “Organized Chaos” coming from our theme scripture Genesis 1. Get ready for a unique experience as we are led by this man of God to really appreciate where we are thanks to the Lord Himself. Don't miss out as we celebrate Pentecost with this timely message. Podcast Theme: Going All The Way In 2026Sundays @ 7:30 PM CST on All Social Media Platforms, Including The Website: www.safehavenpodcast.orgSaturday Inspiration On The 2nd & 4th Saturdays @ 12:00 PM CST (Unless Noted) on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Safe Haven Podcast Website & All Platforms.Donations Accepted via CashApp: $BrianPughsley ApplePay: (708) 321-0440Subscribe, Share & Listen

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.

Next morning, Sunday, I woke early with the memory of what had happened the previous night burning within me. I got out of bed with such a sense of excitement, this was to be the first day of my new life. I was the first to go downstairs that morning, full of expectation that a major event was about to happen – maybe the preacher wouldn't turn up and they would call on me – but whatever happened, it would be part of my ex- citing new life wholly surrendered to Jesus and fulfilling all my new dreams. But as I stood downstairs and looked at the kitchen, all I could see was a row of dirty shoes. All my senses were in rebellion, as I knew that the Lord Himself was telling me to clean those shoes – how can THIS be my dream of serving God with all my heart and mind? But I learned the hardest lesson of my life – absolute obedience – DO whatever He says and don't ask questions.

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...

Matthew Week 135 Matthew 24:36 ESV   36 "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.       John 2:19-21 ESV   19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20 The Jews then said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple and will you raise it up in three days?" 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body.       1 Corinthians 1:4-7 NASB95   4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, 6 even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,       Romans 8:18-19, 22-23 ESV   18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.       Galatians 5:5 ESV   5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.       Philippians 3:20 NASB95   our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;       Hebrews 9:28 ESV   so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.       1 John 3:1-3 NASB95   See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.       1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 ESV   9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.       1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NASB95   13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.       Matthew 24:1-2 ESV   Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, "You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down."       Matthew 24:3-8 ESV   3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" 4 And Jesus answered them, "See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.  

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.

Maranatha: Our Lord is Coming! The Rapture of the Church    In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:1-3) The scene is etched forever in the sacred record of Scripture. It is the night of betrayal. The Passover supper has been eaten. The traitor has gone out into the darkness. The eleven remaining disciples sit in stunned silence as the weight of impending loss presses upon their souls.    Their Master has spoken plainly of His departure. He has washed their feet. He has given them the new commandment of love. And now, with the shadow of Gethsemane already falling across His face, the Lord Jesus Christ turns to address the deepest fear in their hearts. He does not offer vague religious platitudes. He does not speak in the language of uncertainty. Instead, He utters words that carry the full force of divine certainty, words that have echoed down through two thousand years of church history as the unbreakable promise of His personal return.   Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.   These verses stand as the cornerstone of the doctrine of the Rapture of the church, the blessed hope that has sustained persecuted saints, comforted grieving families, and ignited holy urgency in every generation of believers. Yet the full power of this promise is often missed in English translation.    The blazing heart of the passage lies in the Greek construction of the words “I will come again,” and it is there that the exposition must linger with scholarly precision and devotional weight. The verb translated “I will come again” is the present indicative active of the Greek word erchomai—literally, “I am coming.” It is not the simple future tense that one might expect for a distant event.  It is the present tense employed in a manner called the futuristic present tense. This is no grammatical accident. It is a deliberate choice by the Holy Spirit through the pen of the apostle John.    In classical and Koine Greek, the present tense can be used to describe a future action when that action is viewed by the speaker as so certain, so inevitable, and so imminent that it is as good as already unfolding before the eyes. The futuristic present tense does not weaken the promise; it intensifies it. It lifts the event out of the realm of mere prediction and plants it squarely in the realm of divine declaration. Jesus does not say, “I might come someday if conditions allow.”  He declares with the full authority of the Son of God, “I am coming.” The present tense shouts certainty. It breathes imminence.    It carries the weight of a future so fixed in the eternal counsels of the Godhead that the Speaker can speak of it as already in motion.   This futuristic present is not unique to this verse, but its placement here is profound.    The same construction appears elsewhere in the Gospel of John when Jesus describes events that are absolutely assured in the divine plan. The grammar itself becomes a theological hammer, driving home the truth that the return of Christ for His own is not a distant possibility but a present reality in the mind of the Savior.    He is even now, from the vantage point of eternity, in the act of coming. The promise is so certain that the tense of the verb collapses the future into the present. This is the grammatical foundation upon which the entire doctrine of the Rapture rests. The Rapture is not an afterthought in the plan of God.        It is the next great event on the divine calendar for the church of Jesus Christ, an event so fixed and so near that the Lord Himself can announce it in the present tense: “I am coming.”   The Rapture of the church is the personal, visible, and audible return of the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds to receive unto Himself every believer, both living and dead, and to take them to the place He has prepared in the Father's house. It is distinct from the Second Coming, which will occur at the end of the Tribulation when Christ returns to earth in power and great glory to judge the nations and establish His millennial kingdom.  The Rapture is the moment when the Bridegroom comes for His bride before the wrath of the Lamb is poured out upon a Christ-rejecting world. It is sudden. It is secret to the world but glorious to the saints.    It is the fulfillment of the promise given in the Upper Room, and it stands as the great hope of every blood-bought child of God.   No passage of Scripture unfolds this event with greater clarity and comfort than the words of the apostle Paul in First Thessalonians chapter four, verses thirteen through eighteen.    These verses were written by divine revelation to correct the ignorance of the Thessalonian believers concerning those who had died in Christ. The apostle writes: But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.   Consider the weight of each phrase. The apostle begins by lifting the veil of ignorance. Death is not the end for the believer; it is merely sleep for the body while the spirit is present with the Lord.    The sorrow of the Thessalonian Christians is real, but it is not hopeless sorrow. It is sorrow anchored in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because He died and rose, those who sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. The dead in Christ are not left behind. They will not miss the Rapture.    Their spirits, already in the presence of the Lord, will be reunited with their resurrected bodies at this moment.   Then comes the heart of the revelation: “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord.” This is not human speculation. This is not apostolic opinion. This is direct revelation from the ascended Christ Himself.  The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven. Notice the personal emphasis. It is not an angel. It is not a representative.    The Lord Himself— the same Jesus who walked the shores of Galilee, who hung upon the cross, who burst from the tomb, who ascended from the Mount of Olives—He Himself shall descend. And He shall descend with a shout.    The Greek word for “shout” is keleusma, a military command, a royal summons, a cry of authority that will pierce the heavens and shake the graves.    Accompanying that shout will be the voice of the archangel and the trump of God. The trumpet does not signal judgment here; it signals assembly. It is the signal for the final gathering of the redeemed.   The sequence is precise and powerful. The dead in Christ shall rise first. Their bodies, sown in corruption, will be raised in incorruption.    The graves will surrender their prey. Then—and only then—we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them. The word “caught up” is the Greek harpazo, a word that means to seize, to snatch away by force, to carry off suddenly. It is the same word used in Acts 8:39 when the Spirit caught away Philip, and in Revelation 12:5 when the man child is caught up to God.    It pictures a violent, irresistible removal from this earth. No believer will be left behind. No one who has trusted Christ will miss this moment. Living and resurrected saints will be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. The meeting place is not on the earth. It is in the air, in the clouds, the very atmosphere where the Lord will receive His own unto Himself exactly as He promised in John 14:3.   And then the final, glorious declaration: “and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Not for a thousand years. Not for a million years. Forever. The Rapture is not a temporary event.    It is the beginning of an eternal union. The bride will be taken to the place prepared in the Father's house, and there she will remain with her Bridegroom throughout the ages of ages. This is the comfort with which the apostle commands believers to comfort one another. It is not a doctrine for debate. It is a doctrine for consolation in the face of death and for courage in the face of life.   The same apostle who received this revelation also unfolds the mystery of the bodily change that will occur at the Rapture.      In First Corinthians chapter fifteen, verses fifty-one and fifty-two, he writes: Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.   This is the mystery that was hidden in ages past but is now revealed. Not every believer will die. There will be a generation of Christians alive at the moment of the Rapture. Those believers will not sleep; they will be changed.      The change will be instantaneous—“in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” The Greek word for “moment” is atomos, from which we derive the English word “atom.”    It means an indivisible unit of time, the smallest possible fragment of a second. Faster than the eye can blink, faster than the mind can comprehend, the transformation will occur.  The corruptible will put on incorruption. The mortal will put on immortality. The bodies that have groaned under the weight of sin and sickness will be glorified, conformed to the image of the risen Christ.    The trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised, and the living will be changed. This is the power of the Rapture. It is not a gradual process. It is a sudden, sovereign act of God that will leave the world stunned and the saints transported.   The early church lived in the constant expectation of this event. They faced persecution, imprisonment, and death with the cry of “Maranatha” upon their lips. That single Aramaic word, preserved for us in First Corinthians chapter sixteen, verse twenty-two, carries the heartbeat of New Testament Christianity: If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.   “Maranatha” is not a curse. It is a prayer. It is a declaration. It means “Our Lord, come!” or more literally, “The Lord is coming!”    The persecuted believers of the first century did not merely believe in the return of Christ as a distant doctrine. They cried out for it as the solution to every trial. They lived every day with the expectation that before the sun set, the trumpet might sound and the Lord might appear. That same expectant cry has been the distinguishing mark of every faithful generation since. The futuristic present of John 14:3 fueled their hope. Jesus is not merely going to come.    He is coming. The present tense makes the future certain and the certain future near. Additional passages of Scripture reinforce this truth with unyielding clarity. The apostle Paul describes the Rapture as the believer's “blessed hope” in Titus chapter two, verse thirteen: Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. It is not the appearing of wrath. It is the appearing of the great God and our Savior. It is blessed because it delivers the church from the hour of trial that is coming upon the whole world.    It is glorious because it reveals Christ in His full majesty to those who love Him.   The apostle also writes in Philippians chapter three, verses twenty and twenty-one: For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.   The word “conversation” means citizenship.    The believer's true home is in heaven, and from that heavenly realm the Savior is expected at any moment. The transformation described here is the same as that in First Corinthians fifteen. The vile body—literally the body of humiliation—will be fashioned like unto His glorious body.  The power that will accomplish this is the same power that will one day subdue all things under His feet. Nothing is too hard for the One who spoke the universe into existence.   The doctrine of the Rapture is further confirmed in the closing words of the New Testament.    In Revelation chapter twenty-two, verse twenty, the ascended Lord Himself declares:   He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. And the response of the apostle is immediate and fervent: Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.   Once again the language of certainty and imminence rings out. “Surely I come quickly.”    The same Lord who used the futuristic present in the Upper Room now seals the entire canon of Scripture with the promise of His soon return.   This constellation of biblical texts forms an unbreakable chain of truth. The futuristic present of John 14:3 is the grammatical foundation.    The detailed revelation of First Thessalonians four is the doctrinal exposition. The mystery of First Corinthians fifteen is the physiological description. The cry of Maranatha is the devotional response. The blessed hope of Titus two is the purifying motivation. The citizenship of Philippians three is the practical orientation. And the final prayer of Revelation twenty-two is the expectant climax.   Taken together, these passages challenge every believer to live in the white-hot expectancy of the Lord's return. The Rapture is not a doctrine to be debated in academic halls while life drifts on in complacency. It is a command to holiness.  The apostle John makes this explicit in First John chapter three, verses two and three: Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.   The hope of seeing Christ and being made like Him is not an abstract idea. It is a sanctifying force. The one who truly believes that Jesus may come at any moment will not toy with sin. He will not waste his days on the trivial and the temporal. He will purify his life with the same purity that characterizes the Lord Himself.    Expectancy produces urgency. It produces separation from the world. It produces devotion to the Word. It produces zeal for the gospel. It produces love for the brethren.  It produces a life lived with eyes fixed on the eastern sky.   The early church understood this. They did not build elaborate systems of prophecy to delay the return of Christ. They did not resign themselves to the idea that the Rapture was for some future generation. They lived as though today could be the day. That same spirit must characterize every generation of believers until the trumpet sounds.    The futuristic present tense in John 14:3 is not a curious footnote for Greek students.  It is a divine declaration that resounds through the corridors of time: “I am coming.” The Lord is coming. Maranatha.    The Bridegroom is on the way.   The Rapture will be a moment of indescribable glory. In one atom of time the graves of the righteous dead will burst open. Bodies long decayed will be reconstituted in splendor. The living saints will feel the sudden surge of immortal power coursing through their veins. Then, together, they will be caught up. The clouds will become their chariot. The air will become the meeting place.  The Lord Himself will receive them. No more sorrow. No more pain. No more death.    Only the eternal embrace of the One who loved them and gave Himself for them. The place prepared in the Father's house will at last be occupied by the redeemed of all ages.    The marriage supper of the Lamb will begin. The church will be presented faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.   Until that day, the Scriptures call every follower of Christ to live in the light of this imminence. The doctrine of the Rapture is not an escape clause for the lazy. It is a summons to vigilance. It is a call to watchfulness.    It is a mandate to occupy until He comes.    The believer who has fixed his hope on the appearing of Christ will order his life accordingly. He will speak the truth in love. He will labor while it is day. He will warn the wicked. He will strengthen the weak. He will lift up the hands that hang down. He will keep his garments unspotted from the world.  He will cry out with the saints of old, “Maranatha—Our Lord, come!”   The futuristic present tense of John 14:3 still echoes across the centuries. Jesus is not planning to come. He is coming.    The grammar itself testifies to the certainty. The supporting texts confirm the details. The early church embodied the expectancy. And the Holy Spirit today stirs the hearts of all who will listen with the same urgent cry: the Lord is coming. Maranatha. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.  The promise stands. The place is prepared. The trumpet is ready. The Bridegroom is at the door.   Let this truth sink deep into the soul. Let it shape every decision. Let it fuel every act of obedience. Let it purify every motive. The Lord Himself shall descend. The dead in Christ shall rise.    The living shall be changed. The redeemed shall be caught up. And so shall we ever be with the Lord. This is the Rapture. This is the blessed hope.    This is the promise of John 14:1-3, sealed by the futuristic present tense and proclaimed by the infallible Word of God.    Maranatha. Our Lord is coming. Amen.

Colossians - Pt 4 - Drawing from Colossians 3:12–4:1, this study emphasizes that after "taking off" the old self, believers must "put on" a new garment woven from the love, peace, word, and name of Christ. These spiritual qualities should manifest in a life of thankfulness and worship, ensuring that every word and deed is done in the name of the Lord. This transformation ultimately reshapes how we submit to, love, and serve one another within our families and workplaces as if we are serving the Lord Himself.

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...

Have you ever wondered what it truly means to lead by serving others? In this message, we explore the powerful example of Jesus washing his disciples feet and how that act of humility changes everything about how we view greatness in the Kingdom of God. Whether you are feeling burnt out or looking for a way to make a difference, this video reveals why service is actually a secret to a more fulfilling life. We dive deep into the biblical foundations of service, looking at the life of Jesus, the work of Mother Teresa, and the specific spiritual gifts God has placed within the church. You will learn about the science of the helpers high and why serving others is a cheat code for personal happiness and community belonging. We also hear directly from ministry leaders about practical ways to get involved, from children's ministry and prayer teams to local community outreach programs like Love Your Neighbor. Service is not just about doing chores; it is an attitude and an act of worship. When we help the least of these, we are ultimately serving the Lord Himself. Stop waiting for the perfect circumstances to get started and discover the joy of moving in your calling today. Chapters 0:00 The Significance of Foot Washing 4:15 True Greatness in the Kingdom of God 8:30 Serving Jesus Through the Least of These 13:10 Service as an Act of Worship 17:45 The Science of the Helpers High 21:30 The Spiritual Gift of Helping 25:50 Overcoming the Reluctance to Volunteer 29:15 Practical Ministry Opportunities 34:00 Final Prayer and Encouragement If this message inspired you to take a step toward serving others, please give this video a like and subscribe to our channel for more weekly encouragement. We would love to hear in the comments how you are using your gifts to bless those around you! #Christianity #JesusChrist #BibleStudy #Faith #Jesuswashingfeet #servantleadership #Matthew25sermon #theleastofthese #MotherTeresastory #John13commentary #Christianservice #servantheart #livinglikeJesus #spiritualgrowth #gracevsworks #rewardsinheaven #biblicalhumility #helpingtheneedy #GospelofJohn #Christianministry

In our Feast series, Come and See, about the Gospel of John, we went through the six signs of Jesus.The first six signs are: Sign 1: Turning water into wine at Cana (2:1-12) Sign 2: Healing of the official's son in Cana (4:46- 54) Sign 3: Healing the paralyzed man in Bethesda(5:1-9) Sign 4: Feeding the 5000 in Galilee (6:1-15) Sign 5: Healing of the blind man (9:1-7) Sign 6: Raising of Lazarus in Bethany (11:1-44) All six signs are pointing to the seventh sign—the greatest miracle: The Resurrection of Jesus. Talk 7 recounts the death of Lazarus, Jesus weeping over losing this friend whom He loved, even as He knew Lazarus would live again because the Lord Himself would raise Lazarus from death. Jesus Himself dies on the Cross but He lives again– forever. When we die, we too will live again. Jesus knows this– but just as He wept for Lazarus, He grieves as He feels the pain of our death– and actually, our other sufferings in our earthly life. The One big message of Talk 7: Jesus is your Resurrection.

April 20, 2026Today's Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-16Daily Lectionary: Exodus 33:1-23; Luke 7:1-17“I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep.”  (Ezekiel 34:15a) In the Name of Jesus. Shepherds. Israel's history is full of them: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. When Jacob moved his family to Egypt, they were segregated to Goshen because Hebrew shepherds were considered an abomination to the Egyptians (Genesis 46:34; cf. 43:32). Moses and David were shepherds (Exodus 3:1; 1 Sam 17:34-36). Joshua would shepherd Israel so that “the congregation of the LORD may not be as sheep that have no shepherd” (Numbers 27:17; cf. 1 Kings 22:17; Ezekiel 34:5). Additionally, the prophets, particularly Ezekiel, speak of Israel's kings as shepherds. Most of these king-shepherds abused the flock. King Ahab was one of the worst in the Northern Kingdom, and Manasseh was one of the worst in the Southern Kingdom. The children of Israel were like sheep without a shepherd. These king-shepherds did not strengthen, heal, and bind up the weak and sick. Instead, they ruthlessly subjected them. Preyed on them. Exposed them to wild beasts.   Ezekiel correctly makes the case that Judah's shepherds consumed their flock instead of feeding it. Instead of protecting, they slaughtered. Instead of gathering, they scattered. Consequently, the LORD takes His stand. He will “destroy” and “feed” the voracious-feeding-themselves “fat and strong” unfaithful shepherds “in justice.” They will get what they want as their punishment for their stubborn unbelief, corruption, and unrepentance. In addition, the LORD Himself promises to do what Israel's predatory shepherds will not and cannot do. He will be Israel's shepherd. “I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out … I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep.” He will rescue and gather the scattered. He will “feed them with good pasture” – even on the mountain heights. He will “seek the lost … bring back the strayed … bind up the injured, and … strengthen the weak.” Connect the dots. Ezekiel 34 is to the Old Testament what John 10 and Luke 15:3-7 are to the New Testament. Jesus— Immanuel / God with us— is the Good Shepherd of Ezekiel's prophecy! God the Father sends His only-begotten Son “to seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10). David was both “shepherd” and “prince” of Israel. As such, David prefigures Jesus, who is the greater salvational Shepherd-King! So, when Jesus identifies Himself as “the good shepherd,” He categorically proclaims Himself as the fulfillment of Ezekiel's prophecy. And in Good Friday sacrificial love for you, His sheep, He “lays down his life” (Jn 10:15) and then takes it up again on Easter Sunday (Jn 10:17-18) to win your salvation by His blood as the sacrificial lamb who “takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Good Shepherd Jesus, continue to shepherd and pasture us in Your kingdom as we live in and from our Baptism as You repent, faith, and lead us in Your Word. Amen.

Read OnlineThat very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus' disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. Luke 24:13–16These two disciples were overwhelmed by grief and bewildered by the events that had taken place. As they walked the seven-mile journey from Jerusalem to Emmaus, they expressed their sadness and confusion. Jesus, Whom they had hoped “would be the one to redeem Israel,” was brutally tortured and crucified before their eyes. After His death, He was buried, and that very morning they heard reports from some of the women, as well as Peter and John, that His body was missing from the tomb. What's more, the burial cloth was neatly rolled up in the tomb, and the women informed the disciples that they saw “a vision of angels who announced that he was alive.” The two did not know what to think.As the story unfolds, Jesus appeared to them as they walked and conversed with them, “but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.” Jesus' hidden presence teaches us that He is often with us, in our midst, yet we do not recognize Him. Distractions, trials, or our own misconceptions can dull our spiritual senses. We often fail to perceive His presence in the Eucharist, the Scriptures, the Church, during our prayer, and in one another.Jesus' loving rebuke of these two disciples was intended to wake them up: “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Every time we stumble from spiritual blindness, which leads to confusion, our Lord lovingly says the same to us. We must take that rebuke with humility, acknowledging our blindness and inability to perceive His constant presence.Jesus then “interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures.” This opening of their minds to the spiritual Gift of Understanding is key. By humbly acknowledging our spiritual blindness and the foolish way we often go about our daily lives, we dispose ourselves to this precious gift. The Gift of Understanding cannot be acquired by our own effort. Only after we honestly humble ourselves before God will He open our minds to all we need to know and understand.Once they arrived in Emmaus and invited this divine Stranger to stay with them for the night, Jesus agreed. As they dined, “while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.” The Lord Himself, the great High Priest, gave them the Eucharist, and suddenly “their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight.”Though our Lord vanished from their sight, He remained with them, as He does with us today. His presence in the Eucharist is His True Presence, His Divine Essence. By revealing Himself in the Scriptures and the Breaking of the Bread, He teaches us that He is always with us in His Word and in the Sacraments. We consume His Word through daily meditation, study, and the teachings of the Church. His True Presence is with us when we attend Mass and participate in the Sacraments.Reflect today on the initial confusion of these two disciples, filled with sorrow and bewilderment as they grappled with recent events. Contrast this with the growth in faith they likely experienced in the months and years ahead. Little by little, they grew in understanding and belief, allowing their misconceptions about who the Messiah would be—not a political leader, but the Savior of the World—to be dispelled. Whenever you face confusion, turn to the example of these disciples and learn from the lessons taught through them. Seek Christ in His Word and Sacraments, trusting that He will dispel doubts and guide you to greater faith.Ever-present Lord, please humble me so that I turn more fully to You, hearing Your voice and recognizing Your presence. When I am confused or uncertain, please intervene and open my mind to You and to Your Truth so that I will believe with all my heart and follow wherever You lead. Jesus, I trust in You.Image:  Christ on the Road to EmmausSource: 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.

The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8Support the show, a product of Hope Media: https://hope1032.com.au/donate/2211A-pod/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scripture: Obadiah 19-21Title: Thy Kingdom ComeSHOW NOTES: For encouragement on your spiritual journey, we invite you to visit our ministry website, Discover God's Truth, where you can access additional resources to enrich your Walk with God. NEW! Watch us ONLINE! Click here!The short book of Obadiah addresses the pride and sin of the Edomites. Yet in the prophet's vision, God extends His hope and promise to those who follow Him. Israel will ultimately defeat Edom, and the Lord will restore the Promised Land. The day is coming when every knee will bow. Those who have been rescued will go up to Mount Zion in Jerusalem to rule over the mountains of Edom.And the Lord Himself will be king! Obadiah 1:21 Head to HeartFriends, we must remember that even in the bleakest times, God is at work, preparing His people for the greatest victory. Trust Him. All honor and praise to His Holy Name—King of kings! For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.Psalm 47:2Song: Holy is Your Name - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJtCgkx9SFI&list=RDJJtCgkx9SFI&index=1

For the priorities the Lord gives us, the Lord Himself must be our strength.

For the priorities the Lord gives us, the Lord Himself must be our strength.

“So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.” John 8:36 NASB “Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.” Galatians 5:1 MSG “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 NASB The Resurrection gives me harmony with the past “He who was delivered over because of our wrongdoings, and was raised because of our justification.” Romans 4:35 NASB “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was previously a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost sinner Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:12-17 NASB The Resurrection gives me help for today “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” Romans 8:11 NLT “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27 NIV The Resurrection gives me Hope for the future “I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.” John 11:25-26 NASB “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, so that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.” Hebrews 2:14-15 NASB “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed the rest of mankind do, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. For we say this to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NASB

In this encouraging closing message from Fire in Our Bones, Ron Brown reminds pastors, leaders, and servants of God that the call of ministry is not to manufacture results, but to remain faithful in the work God has assigned. Drawing from Acts 10 and Ephesians 2, he points to Jesus as the model of Spirit-anointed ministry, one who “went about doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” From there, Ron calls the church back to a steady, surrendered faithfulness: plant the seed of God's Word, water it with prayer, obedience, and love, and trust the Lord Himself to bring the increase. With warmth, gratitude, and pastoral wisdom, Ron urges leaders not to measure their lives or ministries by artificial standards, outward appearances, or pressure to produce visible success. Instead, he calls them to serve with thanksgiving, blessing, and endurance, remembering that God is always at work in hidden places. One of the clearest burdens of the message is this simple but powerful charge: “You just keep on planting. You just keep on watering. You just keep on praying.” At the heart of the sermon is a call to live from gratitude, trust God with the harvest, and remember that every good work prepared by God carries eternal significance, even when the fruit is not yet visible.

Peace can feel hard to find in a world filled with pressure, anxiety, and uncertainty. But the Bible reveals that peace isn't just a feeling—it's a place we can live in through Jesus.In Isaiah 53:5, we're reminded that Jesus was wounded so that we could be healed—and that includes the healing of our inner turmoil. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 declares that the Lord Himself is the source of peace, giving it to us at all times and in every way. And in Ephesians 2:14, we see that Jesus doesn't just give peace—He is our peace.This message, “The Place of Peace,” will guide you into understanding how to step out of chaos and into the steady, unshakable peace that only Christ can provide.

Sermons Archive RSS John 5:16-30 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. 19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.Ephesians 2:1-10 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.Matthew 25:30-31 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.1 Thessalonians 4:16 For 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. Sermon Discussion Questions:What are the different ways in which Jesus Gives life? What is the difference between Jesus Raising Lazarus and someone being spiritually raised?Did God commit this power of giving life to Jesus?What are we to take away from this teaching on Jesus' power and authority?

This is message 4 in Understanding the Love of God Lamentations 3:22-36 Even in the darkest seasons of loss, suffering, and disappointment, hope is not found in circumstances but in the unchanging character of God. His mercy holds back the judgment we deserve, His compassion never fails, and His faithfulness never wavers. When everything else seems stripped away, the Lord Himself remains enough. Those who remember who God is, wait on Him, and trust His purpose discover that He has not abandoned them. His work is still unfolding, and even in affliction He is shaping His people for His glory and their good. Don't forget to download our app for more from the Riverview Baptist Church. http://onelink.to/rbcapp Find more at https://riverviewbc.com/ Donate through Pushpay https://pushpay.com/pay/riverviewbc

Join us for this week's sermon!Whether you're seeking hope, direction, or a deeper connection with God, this message is for you. Each week, we open God's Word together to find truth, encouragement, and strength for the journey.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” (Hebrews 12:1–2 NLT) Over the past two weeks, we’ve looked at several Old Testament characters. In Hebrews 12:1–2, the significance of their lives, their experiences, their struggles, their victories, and their testimonies is brought home to us. One chapter earlier, the author of Hebrews recapped many of their stories in what’s often called the “Faith Hall of Fame.” The placement of the exhortation in Hebrews 12:1–2 seems to suggest that these “hall of famers,” these heroes of the faith—Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, David, Daniel, and others—take a rooting interest in our spiritual race. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne” (NLT). These people of faith who went before us gave us models to follow so that we might live and exercise our faith as they did. Reading about the lives of these men and women who walked with God and trusted Christ and stood strong in the face of trials and persecutions can add steel to our souls. But they didn’t just give us templates to follow. They are also observing us and taking note of our progress in the faith. This “crowd of witnesses” is watching us and cheering us on, if you will. That’s just one interpretation of the passage, of course. We don’t know for certain that there are heavenly grandstands where people monitor the progress of loved ones living out their lives on earth. But it wouldn’t surprise me if that were true. I do, however, know this much: We are in the race of our lives on earth, and none of us knows how long it will last. So, we must make the most of it. We must live our lives to please not the bystanders but the Lord Himself. We must make decisions and interact with others in ways that honor and pique curiosity about Him. We must leave a legacy that inspires other believers—the ones we will cheer on when we join the crowd of witnesses. Reflection question: How does knowing that you have a crowd of witnesses impact your Christian race? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Third Reflection Lenten Retreat 2026 When God Begins to Take Everything On the Delusion of Belonging to God While Still Belonging to Oneself “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:46 There comes a point in the spiritual life when the man can no longer recognize himself. Until this point, he has struggled with visible things. With sins. With distractions. With passions that moved through his body and mind. He struggled to restrain them. He struggled to purify himself. He struggled to become faithful. This struggle had structure. It had direction. It had meaning. He could see what he was fighting. He could measure progress. He could recognize failure and repentance. He lived with the sense that he was moving toward God. Even when he failed, he knew where he stood. Even when he fell, he knew he could rise. His existence had continuity. His identity had stability. He was a man seeking God. He knew himself as such. Then something begins to happen that he cannot understand. God removes not sin, but support. Not temptation, but stability. Not rebellion, but ground. 1 Prayer continues, but something within it has disappeared. The words remain. The effort remains. The intention remains. But life has receded. He speaks to God, but he does not experience being heard. He calls, but nothing answers. He remembers when prayer gave him warmth, when the name of Christ carried sweetness, when he felt himself held in a presence greater than himself. Now that presence cannot be found. He does not know whether it has left or whether he has. St. Isaac the Syrian writes that there is a stage in which God withdraws the perceptible operation of grace so that the soul may be taught that it does not possess Him. This withdrawal is not punishment. It is revelation. Until this point, the man believed he depended on God. Now he sees that he depended on his experience of God. He depended on the stability that experience gave him. He depended on the sense that he knew where he stood. This sense has now been taken. He no longer knows where he stands. He no longer knows what he is. He no longer knows how to locate himself before God. Evagrios says that when grace withdraws, the soul is handed over to knowledge of its own powerlessness. 2 Not intellectual knowledge. Existential knowledge. The man discovers that he cannot produce even the smallest movement toward God by his own strength. He cannot restore what has been taken. He cannot recover the life he once knew. He cannot make himself alive again. This knowledge terrifies him. Because until now, he has lived with the assumption that he existed. That he endured. That he remained himself across time. That his relationship with God was something he inhabited. Now even this has dissolved. He experiences groundlessness. Not emotional instability. Ontological groundlessness. He cannot find the place within himself from which he once lived. St. Macarius the Great says that until the soul passes through abandonment, it cannot be freed from the illusion that it possesses life. This illusion is so subtle that even humility cannot destroy it. The man may believe he is nothing. He may confess his weakness. He may acknowledge his dependence. And still exist as the center of his own life. 3 God removes this center. Not suddenly. But completely. The man cannot stop this process. He cannot preserve himself. He cannot secure himself. Everything he relied on to know himself has been taken. This produces the deepest temptation. Not the temptation to sin. The temptation to restore himself. To rebuild identity. To recover stability. To become again the one he was. Many do this unconsciously. They reconstruct their religious self. They recover certainty. They regain structure. They resume existing as before. And they lose something they do not understand. They lose the possibility of union. Because union requires the disappearance of the one who lives apart from God. St. Paul writes with terrifying clarity, “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3 4 Hidden. Not strengthened. Not improved. Hidden. The man can no longer find himself. Because he no longer exists where he once lived. Christ entered this darkness fully. “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” He entered the experience of abandonment. Not because He had lost the Father. But because He had surrendered every human ground. He stood where man stands when nothing remains. So that man could stand there and live. St. Silouan says, “Keep thy mind in hell and despair not.” Hell is the place where every support has been removed. Where the self cannot preserve itself. Where existence depends entirely on God. The ego cannot survive here. This is its death. The man who remains here without turning back passes beyond himself. But he does not yet know this. He knows only loss. 5 Only absence. Only the disappearance of the one he believed himself to be. This is the threshold of resurrection. But resurrection cannot yet be seen. Only death can be seen. And the man must remain. ⸻ This is the most terrible mercy God gives to those He draws near. Because as long as the man can still find himself, he still lives from himself. As long as he can still locate stability within his own experience, he has not yet been born of God. Christ said, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” John 12:24 Remains alone. Even if it is righteous. Even if it is faithful. Even if it believes itself to belong to God. As long as it remains intact, it remains alone. St. Sophrony writes that God allows the soul to descend into this darkness so that it may learn to exist from Him alone and not from any created support, including its own experience of grace. This descent feels like death because it is death. The death of psychological continuity. The death of spiritual self recognition. The death of the one who could say, I am the one who prays. 6 Now prayer continues. But the one who prayed cannot be found. The Jesus Prayer may still be spoken. The lips may still move. The mind may still form the words. But the center from which it once came has been shattered. The man stands before God without himself. This is why the psalmist cries, “I am forgotten like one dead, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel.” Psalm 30:12 LXX Forgotten. Broken. Without place. Without continuity. Without self possession. St. Isaac says that when the soul enters this stage, it feels itself suspended between existence and non existence. It cannot return to what it was. It cannot yet see what it will become. It cannot move forward. It cannot move back. It can only remain. This remaining is crucifixion. Christ did not descend from the Cross. 7 He remained. He did not preserve Himself. He entrusted Himself. “Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit.” Luke 23:46 This is the final act of abandonment. Not abandonment by God. Abandonment of oneself into God. Archimandrite Zacharias writes that at this stage, man learns true obedience. Not obedience of action, but obedience of being. He no longer acts from himself. He no longer preserves himself. He exists in radical dependence. This dependence feels like non existence. Because the ego cannot live this way. The ego requires ground. Continuity. Self possession. Identity. God removes all of it. Not to destroy the person. But to reveal the person. Because the person does not exist in himself. The person exists in God. St. Paul writes, “For in Him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17:28 Not alongside Him. Not with assistance from Him. 8 In Him. When this is seen, the man understands that his previous life, even his spiritual life, was sustained by illusion. He believed he lived. He believed he endured. He believed he remained. Now he sees that he does not possess existence. Existence is given. Moment by moment. Breath by breath. “God withdraws His breath, and they perish and return to their dust.” Psalm 103:29 LXX The man feels this. Not as theology. As reality. He feels that if God does not sustain him, he will cease. Not morally. Ontologically. This is why fear arises. Not fear of punishment. Fear of non being. But if the man remains, something begins to happen that he cannot yet perceive. A new center begins to emerge. 9 Not located within himself. Located in God. Christ begins to live where the ego once lived. This is why St. Paul says, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Galatians 2:20 Not metaphor. Ontological fact. The old center has died. A new center has been given. St. Silouan writes that when man descends into this hell and remains with faith, the Lord Himself becomes his life. Not as comfort. As existence. The man no longer lives toward God. He lives from God. But before this becomes clear, there is only darkness. Only abandonment. Only the terrible silence of God. St. Sophrony says that this silence is not absence, but the deepest form of presence. God is acting beyond perception, dismantling the final illusion that man possesses himself. The man feels forsaken. But he is being carried. He feels abandoned. 10 But he is being born. This is the third dismantling. Not the destruction of sin. Not the destruction of righteousness. The destruction of the illusion that one belongs to God while still belonging to oneself. God takes everything. Even the man's experience of belonging to Him. So that the man may finally belong to Him completely. And the man must remain. Without returning. Without rebuilding. Without preserving anything. He must remain in the darkness where Christ Himself stood. “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” And wait for the life that only God can give. 11

"I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel." While the other tribes receive land, the Levites receive something far greater: the LORD Himself. They are sustained by the tithes and offerings of the people, set apart for sacred service. In this chapter, we see a beautiful picture of Gospel ministry. Those who serve at the altar live from the altar, and their true reward is not earthly possession but the privilege of serving in God's presence.  The Rev. Derek Waffel, pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church in Huntsville, AL., joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Numbers 18:8-32.  To learn more about Ascension Lutheran, visit ascensionhsv.org. The Book of Numbers is far more than an ancient census report. It is the story of a people learning to trust God in the wilderness, and failing, and finding grace anyway.  In this series, host Pastor Phil Booe and guest pastors walk through the Old Testament book of Numbers chapter by chapter. We follow Israel from Sinai toward the Promised Land, through grumbling and rebellion, fiery serpents and a talking donkey, faithless spies and faithful priests. The journey is hard, the failures are many, and God remains faithful to a faithless people.  These ancient accounts point us to Christ. The bronze serpent lifted on a pole points to the cross. The rock struck for water points to the one struck for us. The high priest whose death frees the manslayer points to the Great High Priest whose death sets us free forever. Join us as we discover that the wilderness has more to teach us than we ever expected.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Saving faith isn't merely the result of a human decision. It is a precious gift from the Lord Himself. From his sermon series in 2 Peter, today R.C. Sproul teaches that the assurance of our salvation rests not in our efforts but in Jesus Christ, our God and our Savior. Get R.C. Sproul's commentary on 1–2 Peter with your donation: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/   Live outside the U.S. and Canada? Request the 1–2 Peter commentary ebook with your donation: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global Register today for Ligonier's 2026 National Conference, Crucial Questions: https://www.ligonier.org/2026   Meet Today's Teacher:   R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.   Meet the Host:   Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of media for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, and host of the Ask Ligonier podcast. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

For 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 shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Taught at Agape Bible Church in Willits, California on March 1, 2026. [51 minutes]

The world is loud, life is fast, and wonder is slipping through the cracks. But Jesus gave a simple command—consider the birds. This week on The Land and the Book, you’ll learn how birds illustrate timeless truths found in Philippians. You’ll see birds—and the Lord Himself—in a fresh new light. Here’s your invitation to slow down, look up, and rediscover the Gospel written in the wings of creation. The Land and the Book.Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/landandthebookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, 'Arise, O LORD, and let your enemies be scattered.'" Two silver trumpets are fashioned to summon the congregation and signal the march. Then, after nearly a year at Sinai, the cloud lifts, and Israel begins its journey toward the Promised Land. In this chapter, we witness the people of God finally on the move, led by the LORD Himself. The journey begins with hope and order, though trials lie ahead.  The Rev. Matthew Kusch, pastor of King of Glory Lutheran Church in Elgin, IL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Numbers 10.  To learn more about King of Glory, visit kogelgin.org. The Book of Numbers is far more than an ancient census report. It is the story of a people learning to trust God in the wilderness, and failing, and finding grace anyway.  In this series, host Pastor Phil Booe and guest pastors walk through the Old Testament book of Numbers chapter by chapter. We follow Israel from Sinai toward the Promised Land, through grumbling and rebellion, fiery serpents and a talking donkey, faithless spies and faithful priests. The journey is hard, the failures are many, and God remains faithful to a faithless people.  These ancient accounts point us to Christ. The bronze serpent lifted on a pole points to the cross. The rock struck for water points to the one struck for us. The high priest whose death frees the manslayer points to the Great High Priest whose death sets us free forever. Join us as we discover that the wilderness has more to teach us than we ever expected.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.