Podcasts about lord himself

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.

(This podcast was previously published on May 3, 2021)   Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...   Romans 12:1-2   I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.   2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.   We who believe in God, must be diligent to cling to truth of the Bible.   Therefore when we hear someone on TV speak that which is contrary to Bible, it is important for us to renew our mind to the truth from the Bible.  For that which is false could go down into our heart and at some point deceive us.   Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.   2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.   3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.   4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.   5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness HE called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.   God created the solar system to remain in place until HE commanded otherwise.   God said:  Genesis 8:22  While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.   God keeps everything in place until the end of the world when God brings forth a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.  God will remove us from this present earth before God  destroys this current heaven and earth by fire.   We know these things because the Bible tells us this, and it is the Word of God, the truth. Therefore we have an anchor for our soul whereby we can live in peace regardless of that which the people of this world say.   This present heaven and earth will be destroyed by God in the last days.  But God has made a provision for us, a new heaven and a new earth, and we will be removed from this earth and taken to the new heaven and new earth before this earth is destroyed by God.   2 Peter 3:10   But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.   11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,   12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?   13 Nevertheless we, according to HIS promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.   14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of HIM in peace, without spot, and blameless.   We live on this earth in peace.  Then at some point, God will move us off this earth and take us to the new heaven and the new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.   Because of that which is written in the Bible, The Word from God, we know these things.   *****   The apostle John says:   Revelation 21:1  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.   ***   God created for us all that we need.  And when it is time, God will move us to the new heaven and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.   Men of this present earth try to disturb us.  But we who know the Bible and trust God, do not allow ourselves to be swept away by them and their imaginations.  We have a solid anchor and that is the Bible which is truth.   So we renew our minds to the Bible and keep ourselves in peace by God's word to us.   ***   This earth is currently kept in place in the solar system by God.  But it is reserved there unto "fire" for the day comes when God will destroy this earth.   2 Peter 3:7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.   By that word of God these heavens and earth are kept in place in the solar system until the time of the end of this world when God, by HIS Word, will move the heavens and earth and destroy by fire that which we now know.   But God will remove us and take us to that new heaven and new earth which God has prepared for HIS people.   I Thessalonians 4:13  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 (dead).   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 (on this earth) 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.   These things we know because of that which is recorded for us in the Bible.   Matthew 24:29  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.   We will meet Jesus "in the air".  With Jesus will be those who were dead and are now raised by Jesus.  And we will all be taken to the new heaven and the new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness, to new Jerusalem, which has been created by God for HIS people.   Keep your mind fixed on that which Bible says and do not fear that which man predicts, for man is not God, though man often thinks himself to be God.   Romans 12:2  Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,   And live in peace as we wait for the return of Jesus.   Philippians 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.   7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (The Word).  

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

In today's message, Pastor Chris walks us through Joshua 10, where we discover that following God often places us in the path of opposition; but we are never left to fight those battles alone. This passage reminds us that when God's people walk in obedience, the Lord Himself fights for them and brings victory over their enemies.

Todaywe come to Ephesians 6:23, where the Apostle Paul finishes this letter with abeautiful blessing: “Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from Godthe Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” First,Paul speaks about “peace to the brethren”. Earlier in the letter,remember in Ephesians 2:13-17, the Apostle Paul wrote about this: “But nowin Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the bloodof Christ. For He Himself is our peace... And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off andto those who were near.” Jesus Christ Himself is our peace. Remember,this peace comes in two ways as far as the believer is concerned. First, wehave “peace with God”. Romans 5:1 says: “Therefore being justified by faith,we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Also inEphesians 2:8-9 we read: “For by grace are you saved through faith, and thatnot of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man shouldboast.” We are justified. We are made right before a holy God. We have aright standing before Him. We are without guilt, without shame, and without theburden of sin when we stand before God. Why? Because we have peace with God byfaith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. Thenthere is another kind of peace. As believers we can experience the “peace ofGod”. Philippians 4:6 says: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything byprayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known toGod; and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guardyour hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” This is the peace of God thatcomes when we commit and yield everything we are facing—our circumstances, oursituations, and our lives—to the Lord Jesus Christ. We give it over to Him. Thenin Philippians 4:9, Paul says: “And the God of peace will be with you.” Whenwe do the things Paul instructed the believers in Philippi to do—when wemeditate on the right things and live according to the truth—then we can havethe confidence and assurance that the God of peace is with us. Myfriend, peace comes first. After that, notice Paul mentions “love with faith”.Three powerful words: peace, love, and faith. Faith and love belongtogether. Love is the source, and faith is the strength that sustains theChristian life. Love reaches down from God to us. Faith reaches up from us toGod. Love provides everything we need. Faith takes hold of what God hasprovided. Throughout this book, the Apostle Paul repeatedly emphasizes thesetruths. We are saved by faith, and then we are called by faith to walk in love,just as Christ loved us. Noticealso something very important: these blessings come from God the Father and theLord Jesus Christ. Every spiritual blessing originates with God. Peace does notcome from circumstances. Love does not come from human effort alone. Faith isnot something we produce in our own strength. These gifts flow from ourrelationship with God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ. He alone is thesource. Jesus is the source of every spiritual blessing. Itis remarkable that the Apostle Paul was writing these words while sitting in aRoman prison. From a worldly perspective, his circumstances looked verydiscouraging. Yet Paul spoke about peace, love, and faith. Why? Because hisconfidence and his joy were not rooted in his surroundings. They were rooted inthe unchanging character of God. Ohmy friend, that is the same way it should be for us today. No matter what weface in life, our peace, our love, and our faith come from the Lord Himself andfrom our daily relationship with Him. As we dive into His Word, as we take timeto meditate on who He is and what He is doing for us right now—“ever living tomake intercession for us”—we can experience that peace.  Godbless you, and may you have a wonderful, wonderful, peaceful day.

(This podcast was previously published on April 25, 2021)   Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...   Many churches today are teaching doctrines that are traditions of men instead of the commandments of God from the New Testament Bible.   This is antichrist in the end time church.  This is the apostasy that Paul said had to come before Jesus returns.   II Thessalonians 2:3-4  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;   4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.   "The falling away" are churches falling away from scripture.  When this happens the door is open for antichrist to come into the church and set up doctrines of men, departing from scripture which is the doctrine of Christ for the church.   For example:  The Catholic church teaches their followers to pray to Mary.  This is their "tradition" set up by men and not by God.   Jesus says:  John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.   In the New Testament Bible, we are taught to pray directly to God through Jesus Christ.   Philippians 4:6   Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.   Mary is dead.  She is sleeping.  She cannot hear you or watch over you.  No dead person can do these things.  Dead people are asleep.   Jesus shows us that dead people are "asleep".   John 11:11-14  These things said HE (Jesus): and after that HE saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.   12 Then said His disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.   13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that HE had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.   14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.   Some church people in both Catholic and Protestant churches think dead people watch over them.   The Bible shows us that dead people are asleep.   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.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.   15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep (dead).   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.   God watches over us.  Dead people are sleeping until Jesus returns.   In churches today, there are many traditions of men which are opposite to the doctrines of Christ in the Holy Bible.   *****   The protestant churches usually call crackers and grape juice, "The Lord's Supper."    But we commune with God through prayer and through the Bible which is the Word of God.   As we partake of scripture correctly and apply scripture to our lives, we "eat and drink" the flesh of Jesus and the blood of Jesus.  This is "The Lord's Supper."   Therefore those who wrongly apply scripture, "eat and drink" damnation to themselves.   I Corinthians 11   27  Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.   28 But let a man examine himself (as he reads Bible), and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.   29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.   30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.   31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.   ***   Matthew 15   1-2 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,  Why do Thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.   3 But HE answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?   4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.   5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;   6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free.   Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.   7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,   8 This people draweth nigh unto ME with their mouth, and honoureth ME with their lips; but their heart is far from ME.   9 But in vain they do worship ME, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.   ***   In February, 2021, a pastor of a Baptist church in Georgia (USA), announced to the world news media that homosexuals and lesbians were welcome to come to their church.   This is shockingly against the Bible.   Romans 1:26-28  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:   27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.   28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;   When I read this on CNN International, I thought of how close we must be getting to the return of Jesus and the great tribulation and the end of this world!   For when the churches fall away from scripture this way, we draw much closer to the end.   The Southern Baptist Convention removed that Baptist church in Georgia from their association of approved churches.  They said they were removed because they went against the "tradition" of the Baptist church.  (They did not mention any scripture at all, just "tradition.")   Even the Southern Baptist Convention pulled away from citing scripture.  (antichrist and the end times)   In The Bible, we read the following concerning homosexuals and lesbians:   Romans 1:26-28   26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:   27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.   28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;   When we, who are of God, give a reason for doing something, it should be because of a scripture in the Bible and we should present that scripture for all to see.   ***   But to be approved by man, many omit Bible.   The Bible, the scriptures, are the only thing keeping antichrist back.   2 Thessalonians 2:7-8  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only HE who now letteth will let, until HE be taken out of the way.   When Jesus, THE WORD, the Holy Scriptures, are removed, then antichrist moves into the church.   8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of HIS mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of HIS coming:   The apostle Paul said antichrist was already there in the churches, among the elders even, just waiting until Paul was out of the way so he could move in and speak perverse things to the church.   Acts 20:29-30  Paul says to the elders of the church at Ephesus:  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.   The apostle John also told us there were "many" antichrists in his day coming into their church.  They came into their church, in John's time, and stayed there until they saw they could not take over and speak their perverse doctrines, and then they left.   I John 2:18-19  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.   Many denominations came as a result of those who did not want to follow sound doctrines in the church groups.   These denominations set up their own doctrines and left the doctrines of Christ.  They set up their own churches by their own fleshly preferences.   Some churches even use some scripture for a time, only to "fall away" from that instruction and set up other teachings by their own thinking to please men.   It seems unreasonable to say:   *  whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.  (The man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery)   Words spoken by Jesus in Matthew 5:32   *  Let not the wife depart from her husband:  But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.  (I Corinthians 7:10-11 ... a commandment of the Lord says Paul)   *  For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.  So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.  (Romans 7:2-3)   If the divorced woman remarries, she commits adultery.   *  Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.   And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.  (Words of Jesus in Mark 10:11-12)   *  The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.  (I Corinthians 7:39)   *  But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. (Word of Jesus in Matthew 32:5)      - Man who divorces "a faithful wife" will be the cause of her adultery if she remarries.    - Faithful wife who has been divorced by her husband commits adultery if she remarries after divorce.    - Man who marries divorced woman commits adultery.   When churches change the doctrines of Christ away from the New Testament Bible, they fall away from the Word of God and this allows antichrist to come into that church group and reign over the church group.   ***   The Catholic church once taught their followers that if a woman was divorced and she remarried it was a sin. Also they taught that a man could not marry a divorced woman.  But they taught no scripture to back up their rules.   (Also the Catholics taught their followers that they could not read the Bible for they would not understand the Bible and they might get it wrong.)   And more than once, I have heard Catholic individuals say their church told them they did not need to read the Bible, for the Catholic priest would tell them what they needed to know.)   ***   The current Southern Baptist Convention is now stating that they do not welcome to their churches homosexuals or lesbians because it is against their "tradition", but they present no scripture.   As time goes by, they change their rules in their churches, falling away from the doctrines of the scripture of the New Testament Bible, and this is antichrist in the churches.   Their followers often do not know what God says in the Holy Bible about these subjects.   When we say what we believe, we must also tell the scripture upon which our belief is based, otherwise the doctrine is weakened and we get to the point we don't know if this is really what God says or not.   ***   Satan came to Eve to cause Eve to doubt that which God said:   Genesis 3:1  Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?   The devil is the father of lies.  Even in his statement to Eve, he presented perversion of the word from God, for devil said, "every" tree?  No, God didn't say "every" tree.  The devil twists scripture.   (When I recall a scripture, I like to go to that exact scripture in the Bible, for the devil has a way of adding things which are not in the scripture.  So I like to read that section of scripture from the Bible and check exactly what the Bible says to us.)   Genesis 2:9  And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.   15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.   16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:   17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.   (See how the devil twisted this scripture when he spoke with Eve.)   Jesus said this concerning the devil.   John 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.   And when we fail to quote exact scripture, we are beginning the falling away from scripture.   Soon it becomes tradition and something other than the exact word from God.   Then we, too, fall away from scripture.   We must deal very carefully with the Word of God and quote that word correctly to others even when they will not understand.   The scripture is all that stands between us and antichrist.   Do not try to lure people to yourself.  Speak the pure Word of God and let them depart if they wish to do so.   I Corinthians 2:14   But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.   I Timothy 4:2-3   Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;   ***   Other scriptures in this Podcast:   II Corinthians 6   14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?   15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?   16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be MY people.   17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean; and I will receive you,   18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.   ***   When we speak the exact scriptures to them, they will often depart from us when they are unbelievers.   If the unbeliever depart, let him depart.   They will be as thorns in our sides and pricks in our eyes if they are unbelievers and we try to be with them.   Numbers 33:55 But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.   By speaking the scriptures, we drive the unbelievers away from us.   If they agree with scripture, when we speak, then they will be saved and given the Spirit of God.   I Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.   But as long as an unbeliever chooses to come around you, speak the Word of God as the Spirit brings that word to your mind.

I SHALL NOT BE AFRAID Psalm 27:1 “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” We often face situations we do not fully understand, times where the future seems unclear, and there are circumstances that try to stir up fear in our hearts. In those moments, David's words here in Psalm 27 remind us of a truth: and that is that our confidence is not found in circumstances, it's found in the Lord Himself. Intro Music By: Mike Outland

March 2, 2026Today's Reading: Genesis 32:22-32Daily Lectionary: Genesis 18:1-15; Genesis 18:16-20:18; Mark 6:14-34“Then he said, ‘Let me go, for the day has broken.' But Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.'” (Genesis 32:26) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. What a wrestling match in Genesis 32! Not the one we would expect. Wasn't the Lord on Jacob's side? Yes, but here it appeared that the Lord was Jacob's adversary. Not exactly what Jacob probably wanted. I mean, his life was already in deadly danger. Why? Well, you may remember when Jacob cut a deal with Esau, his older brother. Esau's birthright for a bowl of vegetable stew. And then, Jacob deceived his dad to get Esau's blessing. Not a happy camper! Filled with rage, Esau threatened to murder his baby brother. A family feud was in process. Jacob didn't want it to escalate to bloodshed! He desired his family to be safe and sound, so he made plans that could possibly cool off Esau's jets. Jacob prayed to the Lord and then sent his family ahead to Esau with loads of goodies.  Jacob, now alone, found himself wrestling all night. No match against a mere man but against the Lord Himself! Throughout the struggle, Jacob had quite the grip. The Lord even touched his hip and put it out of socket, but Jacob refused to tap out. At daybreak, the Lord said, “Let go!” “Not until you bless me,” Jacob yelled! The Lord came through for Jacob as He promised! He gave Jacob the new name “Israel,” which means “he who wrestles with God.” And then, the Lord blessed him. Jacob called the place “Penuel,” which refers to seeing the Lord's face. This wrestler wouldn't share his name even though Jacob wanted that. The name would be shared, though, many years later, by the angel Gabriel with the virgin Mary and her guardian Joseph. Yes, the One that Jacob wrestled with was the One that would come from Jacob's family tree and take down Sin, Death, and Satan for you and me.  We can feel like we're in a wrestling match with the Lord. It can look like God is against us as we get bumps and bruises from the rough and tumble of life. Some days we just limp along. Suffering and sickness tucker us out. Temptations wear us down. Even though it can seem like we're all alone, we're not! Jacob is an example for us. Hold onto the Lord's promises day after day until we see him face-to-face in the resurrection. We will! All of God's promises have their “yes” in Jesus! No promise will ever be broken by the One who has broken the powers of Sin, Death, and Satan by His wrestling match at Golgotha for us. Because Jesus has conquered, we will, too! It's His promise, and His grip on us won't slip. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus, lead Thou on Till our rest is won; And although the way be cheerless, We will follow calm and fearless, Guide us by Thy hand To our fatherland. (LSB 718:1)Rev. Aaron Schian is pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Auburn, MI.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.We wander through life looking for freedom, only to realize we have listened to the devil's call to serve our selves, our pleasures, and our lusts. Instead of freedom we find ourselves enslaved to sin. We wonder if we have sinned too often, too deep to ever be welcomed back to the Father's home, back into His loving embrace. Have we lost our inheritance as children of God?In this short book, author Bryan Wolfmueller digs into the popular parable of the Prodigal Son to bring hope and aid to our hurting conscience. Wolfmueller proclaims the freedom-giving Gospel that through Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection, our place in the Father's house is secure, and forgiveness and welcome are ours in His outstretched arms. Fully Free, now available from CPH.

(This podcast was previously published on April 18, 2021)   Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...    When we are watching television, often we will hear someone say something that we know to be opposite to the Word of God as stated by God in the Holy Bible.   It is very important for us to renew our mind to the Bible.   Recently I heard a very famous man say, "All die.  No one escapes death."   Because of the Bible, I know that statement is not true.   Immediately after I heard this man say this, I took my Bible and made a screen print of the page of scripture where Paul says, "We shall not all sleep (die),"   I Corinthians 15:51-52   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.   When Jesus returns, first the dead in Christ will be raised, then those who are still alive will be changed from this earthly physical body, and be raised from off this present earth and taken into the air to meet Jesus and those who are raised from the dead.   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) 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.   *****   Romans 12:1-2   I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.   2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.   We who believe in God, must be diligent to cling to truth of the Bible.   Therefore when we hear someone on TV speak that which is contrary to Bible, it is important for us to renew our mind to the truth from the Bible.  For that which is false could go down into our heart and at some point deceive us.   Some will think this unnecessary.   But I know it is critical to do the scriptures and not just hear the scriptures.   And I know it is important to collect scriptures which are brought before us in situations such as this and put those scriptures into some form of collected file and meditate upon those scriptures as we live daily on this present earth, keeping ourselves by the Word of God.   Joshua 1:8  God says:   This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.   I use my Kindle tablet photo section and make screen prints of such scriptures which I usually read daily.   The man who said the lie of the world was Ernest Hemingway.   A three part series of his life appeared on PBS and I recorded it.  I watched some of Episode 1, but felt it best to stop watching when he divorced his first wife and married a second wife, and later a third wife, all of which is adultery according to the Bible.   Matthew 5:32  Jesus said:  But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.   I only watched part of Episode 1, but as they praised Hemingway, I found myself saying, "But Hemingway committed suicide."   Several times I said this.   I deleted Episode 2, but I watched some of Episode 3, wanting to hear their report of Hemingway suicide.  Toward the end of his life, he became crazy, thinking men in restaurants were government agents who were out to get him.  At the Mayo clinic they were giving him electric shock treatments but he continued in his imagined fears.  He was a very heavy drinker, a drunk.   I just kept thinking of how you can have all that fame and glory of men, and destroy yourself and lose everything.   Matthew 16:26 Jesus says: For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?   It is important for us to guard our own hearts with all diligence, uprooting the saying of this world and wisdom of this world, and clinging to the truth of the Word of God in the Bible.   Also I was reminded of the following:   God says:  I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.  (Joshua 1:5 & Hebrews 13:5)   And God gives us a "sound mind", when we follow HIM.   II Timothy 1:7   For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.   ***   Other scriptures in this recording:   Genesis 8:22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.   ***   II Peter 3:10-14   10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.   11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,   12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?   13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.   14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.   ***   Philippians 4:6-7   Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.   7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.   ***   James 1:21-22 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.   22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.   25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.   James 2:24  by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.   26  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. ***   Luke 21   Jesus says:   33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but MY words shall not pass away.   34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting (over indulgence), and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.   35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.   36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.   ***   Matthew 18  Jesus says:   3  And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.   4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.   ***   Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.   ***   Revelation 12   9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.   10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.   11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.   12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.   ***   Joshua 1:8   This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.   ***   James 3:15-17  But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.   17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.  

Suddenly means; swiftly, quickly, speedily, but does not mean unexpectedly when it comes to the Word of God. Our Lord always has a plan, not our plan, but His plan, and He has shared this plan with us. As the plan unfolds we human may see it as suddenly, but never with our God. John the Baptist said in Mat. 3:11, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” Jesus said just before His ascension in Acts 1:4, “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of Me.” And they did: Acts 2:1-4, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” So, His plan unfolded, they suddenly were in the mist of the fire and wind, but they had already been told of this event. Another event is coming that we have been given many signs; the sudden return of Jesus Christ to gather His own unto Him. I Thess 4:13-17, “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.” And also in John 14:2, “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 finally, the end of time will come. No One Knows That Day and Hour! Matt. 24:35-36, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” We are instructed in Heb 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Matt. 24:42, “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” Matt: 24:29-31 “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: 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. 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." This sermon on “SUDDENLIES” is preparing us to beware of “What is to come?” Always be prepared, always be ready. Suddenly He will come. None of us know the day nor the hour!

Daily Devotion with Pastor Balla for February 28, 2026 reflects on Psalm 48:1–3 and the joyful confession: “Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised.” This Christ-centered Lutheran devotion reminds us that praise flows not from our circumstances, but from God's greatness. Zion was beautiful and secure not because of its architecture, but because the Lord dwelt there. His presence made it glorious.Today, that promise is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. He is our true fortress and the joy of all the earth. Through His saving work, God makes Himself known not in stone walls, but in Word and Sacrament, where forgiveness and righteousness are freely given.In a world searching for stability and security, Psalm 48 directs us to the only lasting refuge: the Lord Himself. Because He dwells with His redeemed people, we can rejoice in confidence and peace.Support this ministry at

Is it lawful for Jesus to come through for you? Is it lawful that you receive your deliverance or healing or breakthrough? This was a question asked by the Lord Himself in Scripture. In this episode, Pastor Lebby offers rich insights that spark faith, inspire, and inform us about God's intentions for our liberty. Be blessed as you listen and share. For more info., please contact us via Instagram: @Lsi_uk or via our website: uklsi.org Stay inspired. Stay informed. Stay inFaith. 

Daily Devotion with Pastor Balla for February 25, 2026 focuses on Psalm 47:3–4 and the assurance that God subdues the enemies of His people. While these verses originally celebrate Israel's victories, the ultimate fulfillment is found in Jesus Christ, who conquered sin, death, and the devil. “He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet” reminds us that God's power, not ours, brings victory and inheritance.Our heritage is chosen by the Lord Himself. We did not earn it, we did not negotiate it. Through Christ, we receive an eternal inheritance: forgiveness, righteousness, and life that cannot fade or be taken away (1 Peter 1:4).This Christian daily devotion invites believers to rest in the promises of God, finding confidence not in worldly power but in the saving reign of Christ. Trust in His chosen heritage and rejoice in the victory He has secured.Support this ministry at

God has a way of revealing Himself that is so intentional… so precise… and so personal that it leaves you in absolute awe.This revelation didn't come in a grand setting. It came in an ordinary moment — just me, getting ready to start my day, holding a simple bag of trail mix labeled “Omega-3 Deluxe Mix.” But the word Omega wouldn't let me look away. It was as if the Lord Himself was highlighting it, drawing me in, inviting me to see beyond what was in my hand and into who He is.In that moment, He began to unfold another layer of Himself — showing me Jesus as Omega in a way I had never seen before. Not just as the last, but as the One who completes, governs, and perfectly reflects heaven and earth. He connected Scripture, identity, and authority in such a beautiful and undeniable way that it reminded me of one simple truth: God does nothing randomly. Everything He reveals is designed, intentional, and filled with purpose.This episode is an invitation for you to listen and witness how God brought another layer of revelation to me in the most God-like way — through something ordinary, yet carrying eternal meaning. It will open your eyes to how He speaks, how He reveals Himself, and how He draws us deeper into knowing Him as Alpha and Omega.Come listen… and see how the One who governs eternity still speaks in the smallest details of our everyday lives.Bible References: Revelation 22:13 (NLT)“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”Revelation 1:8 (NLT)“I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”John 10:30 (NLT)“The Father and I are one.”John 14:9 (NLT)“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”Isaiah 9:6 (NLT)“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”Matthew 6:9–10 (NLT)“Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.”John 20:27 (NLT)“Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!”Acts 1:9 (NLT)After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him.Luke 12:7 (NLT)“And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”Romans 3:23 (NLT)“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard.”Hebrews 13:8 (NLT)“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”Other references​ Book reference | Numbers That Preach, Second Edition: Understanding God's Mathematical Lingo and Code by Troy A. Brewer​Trail Mix Photo | https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kXZITLvoNMWsAsbp8C3rtSN-C69oe7x2/view?usp=drivesdk

When we reflect upon the way in which we relate to God as His people, many different verbs come to mind for the Christian. We worship the Lord. We love the Lord. We trust the Lord. But arguably the most biblically-emphasized (by God) yet under-appreciated (by us) of all our responses is to fear the Lord. The Bible says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Ps 111:10), “a fountain of life” (Pr 14:27), and “the whole duty of man” (Ecc 12:13). It tells us God's “mercy” (Lk 1:50) and “friendship” (Ps 25:14) are only for those who fear him. Even Jesus warned us, “do not fear those who kill the body… Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell”, that is, God (Mt 10:28). In this sermon from Sunday in Deuteronomy, the Lord Himself exclaims of His people Israel, “Oh, that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me” (5:29), and He desires the same of us today. Listen now as we grow in our fear (and our worship, love and trust!) of the Lord.

Srimad Bhagavatam [Bhagwat Katha] – Part 26 | Swami Mukundananda  Swamiji narrates the divine first leela of Shree Krishna in Gokul. Nand and Yashoda, known for their simplicity and devotion, had longed for a child. The Brahmins blessed them, and by divine arrangement, the Lord Himself was destined to appear in their home.  On the suspenseful night of Krishna's birth, one by one the prison guards fell asleep, the chains broke, and the doors opened. Vasudeva carried the newborn across the Yamuna, which parted to make way, and placed Him safely in Gokul. At that very moment, Yashoda fainted in divine ecstasy, and Krishna's gentle crying awakened everyone to the miracle.  Soon after, the mukh‑dikhai ceremony was performed, where the villagers gathered to behold the divine child. The celebration in Vraj was filled with joy, music, and devotion, as the community rejoiced at the arrival of their beloved Krishna.  Swamiji emphasizes that these leelas are not ordinary events but spiritual lessons. Krishna's first leela reveals how God binds His devotees with love, awakens prem bhakti, and assures that His presence is tender, loving, and accessible in the simplest forms of affection.  About Swami Mukundananda:    Swami Mukundananda is a renowned spiritual leader, Vedic scholar, Bhakti saint, best‑selling author, and an international authority on the subject of mind management. He is the founder of the unique yogic system called JKYog. Swamiji holds distinguished degrees in Engineering and Management from IIT and IIM. Having taken the renounced order of life (sanyas), he is the senior disciple of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, and has been sharing Vedic wisdom across the globe for decades. 

Though the enemies of God seek to cut His people off and stop us from serving Him, the LORD Himself always is supporting us to keep us going. The LORD is Always Your Stay.

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.

Color: White Old Testament: Isaiah 60:1–6 Psalm: Psalm 24; antiphon: v. 7 Epistle: Ephesians 3:1–12 Gospel: Matthew 2:1–12 Introit: Psalm 72:1–2, 10–11; antiphon: Liturgical Text Gradual: Isaiah 60:6b, 1 Verse: Matthew 2:2b The Lord God Is Manifested in the Incarnate Son   The Feast of the Epiphany centers in the visit of the Magi from the East. In that respect, it is a “Thirteenth Day” of Christmas; and yet, it also marks the beginning of a new liturgical season. While Christmas has focused on the Incarnation of our Lord—that is, on God becoming flesh—the season of Epiphany emphasizes the manifestation or self-revelation of God in that same flesh of Christ. For the Lord Himself has entered our darkness and rises upon us with the brightness of His true light (Is. 60:1–2). He does so chiefly by His Word of the Gospel, which He causes to be preached within His Church on earth—not only to the Jews but also to Gentiles (Eph. 3:8–10). As the Magi were guided by the promises of Holy Scripture to find and worship the Christ Child with His mother in the house (Matt. 2:5–11), so does He call disciples from all nations by the preaching of His Word, to find and worship Him within His Church (Is. 60:3–6). With gold they confess His royalty; with incense, His deity; and with myrrh, His priestly sacrifice (Matt. 2:11). Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

"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.

Friday, 20 February 2026   And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. Matthew 17:6   “And having heard, the disciples, they fell upon their face, and they feared exceedingly” (CG).   In the previous verse, a cloud overshadowed those on the mountain, and a voice came out of the cloud proclaiming Jesus is God's beloved Son in whom He is well pleased. Matthew next records, “And having heard, the disciples, they fell upon their face.”   The terror of the event was overwhelming for the disciples. Elsewhere, John records what a voice from heaven sounded like –   “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.” 29 Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.” John 12:27-29   As the disciples were enveloped in the brilliant cloud, they would be mentally confused about the source of the voice. The mental overload could have been magnified depending on how the voice spoke. If it were authoritative, it could have been shocking. If it was a bit miffed, as in, “Forget those others. I want you to focus on My Son,” they could have been fearful for having had the wrong attitude, etc.   A natural reaction would be to fall down and lie prostrate in fear. That is confirmed with the next words, “and they feared exceedingly.”   The disciples, knowing there were three there, and having heard the voices as they conversed, the sudden introduction of another voice with nobody else having been present would have been truly shocking. Peter's memory was permanently affected by this event. Many years later, he referred to it in his second epistle –   “For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.” 2 Peter 1:16-18   Life application: At some point in human history, the Lord will return for His church. We have no idea when that will be. All the speculation in the world is wasted time that could have been used to do something productive for the Lord.   When He comes, the Bible says this will be how it occurs –   “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. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17   We will hear the shout of the Lord. Now imagine what that will be like for people under different circumstances. Some may be in church praising Him. Hearing that should be a glorious moment as the joy of those who were praising Him has found its true purpose.   Another group will be working, some in very tedious jobs. That will be a call to rest from their labors. It will be a relief for the weary, toiling souls. Another group might be people on the beach or on a mountain hiking. The majesty or beauty of their surroundings will suddenly mean nothing compared to the glory that lies ahead.   Others, however, might be engaged in stealing from Walmart, cheating with their neighbor's wives, or doing other things that Christians should not be engaged in. Their final acts on this earth before being taken to glory will be a source of embarrassment and shame.   How do you want your last moments before Jesus comes to be remembered? We should focus our minds on Him and honor Him at all times. We should have our eyes directed to Him and our activities in line with what He would find pleasing in His eyes.   The Lord is coming, and we don't know when. Be about your business with that in mind.   Lord God, help us to spend our time wisely as we await Your return for us. We may die before that day and await Your call from the sleep of death, but You may come while we are still alive. Give us wisdom to remember that day, considering it at all times as we contemplate a better life in Your presence forever. Amen.  

Daily Devotion with Pastor Balla for February 19, 2026 reflects on Psalm 46:1–3 and the unshakable refuge we have in God. When life feels like it's collapsing—when relationships strain, diagnoses surface, finances tighten, or the world itself seems unstable—this psalm speaks directly into the chaos.“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” This Christian daily devotion reminds us that our confidence does not come from inner resilience, but from the Lord Himself. Even if the earth gives way and mountains fall into the sea, we will not fear—because God is present in the storm.This devotion also points to Jesus Christ, who entered our broken world, bore our sin, and conquered death. In Him, we have a refuge no disaster can destroy and a peace no crisis can steal.Whatever is shaking in your life today, stand firm in this promise: God is near, God is strong, and God is faithful.Support this ministry at

The early church grew through devotion, worship, and genuine love for one another. When community is rooted in Christ, the Lord Himself adds to our number day by day.

*Listen to the Show notes and podcast transcript with this multi-language player. Summary This conversation explores God's work in forming not isolated individuals, but a corporate people—a family and a royal priesthood. Through devastation, humility, and submission, God is bringing forth a purified company that exists not for personal gain, recognition, or ministry ambition, but to minister to the Lord Himself. The family emphasize that devastation is not meaningless suffering but a divine process that strips away self-interest and prepares God's people to walk as sons, worshipers, and priests. This priesthood is not defined by position or title, but by a spiritual state of being—one that fulfills God's eternal purpose revealed from the foundation of the world. Show Notes God is shifting from individual ministry emphasis to acorporate, family expressionTeaching and ministry flow through thebody, not a single voiceEach believer carries a different aspect of what the Spirit is speakingDevastation humbles the heart and removes pride and self-ambitionGod is raising acompany, not elevating personalitiesWorship is offering ourselves fully to God as living sacrificesPriesthood is aspiritual state, not an individual roleThe motivation of walking with God changes from “what I get” to “what God gets”God is forming a people for His own possessionSons of God walk in the earth as Christ walkedTrue priesthood is formed through submission, not recognitionGod is the potter; we are the clay Key Quotes “The teaching priest is coming through the family, through the body—not one person.”“There is a greater purity in the company God is raising up rather than individuals.”“Devastation is a prelude to the priesthood.”“The motivation of walking with God changes when it's no longer about us.”“God is creating a people for His own possession.”“

On a dark Atlantic night in 1873, Horatio Spafford lost all four of his daughters, and from that unimaginable grief he wrote, “It is well with my soul.” This law homily on the first commandment presses past surface obedience and asks what we truly cannot imagine losing, exposing the small gods we quietly trust. When everything else sinks, only the Lord Himself is a portion that cannot be taken away.

When famine strikes the Promised Land, Abram's faith is tested under pressure. Fear drives him to Egypt, where Abram's Faithlessness is revealed as he relies on deception rather than trust in God's promises. Yet, in God's surprising grace, Abram's Fortune increases even in the midst of failure, showing that God's covenant purposes are not undone by human weakness. Ultimately, the passage points to Abram's Fortress—not his own wisdom or schemes, but the Lord Himself, who intervenes, protects Sarai, and preserves His promise. This account reminds us that while faith may falter, God remains faithful and is our true refuge.

When headlines, social media, and everyday stress collide, anxiety can easily take over. In this episode, Jennifer Slattery and Carol McCracken explore why our minds and bodies respond so strongly to cultural chaos—and how God gently leads us back to peace. Download the free companion guide for this episode here: Finding Peace in a Chaotic World: A Faith-Based Guide to Quieting Anxiety and Re-centering Your Heart You’ll hear: how stress and overstimulation affect the brain why anxious thoughts spiral so quickly practical grounding tools rooted in faith how Jesus modeled withdrawal and reconnection with the Father why joy, Scripture, and community strengthen emotional resilience If you’ve felt overwhelmed lately, this conversation will remind you: you’re not broken—and you’re not alone. God meets us right where we are and leads us toward calm, clarity, and renewed trust. Scripture referenced in this episode: Proverbs 3:5–6“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Isaiah 26:3–4“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You… The Lord Himself is the Rock eternal.” Psalm 46:1–2“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear…” Psalm 91:1–4God as refuge, shelter, and covering. Isaiah 41:10“Do not fear, for I am with you… I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Colossians 3:15“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…” Gospel accounts of Jesus withdrawing to pray(Mark 1:35-39; Luke 5:15-16; Luke 6:12) Reflective Questions: Use these for journaling, small groups, or personal reflection. When I feel overwhelmed, what tends to trigger my anxiety most—noise, conflict, social media, uncertainty, or something else? What physical signs tell me I’m becoming dysregulated or stressed (sleep disruption, tension, racing thoughts, irritability)? Which grounding practice helps me reconnect with God most easily—breathing, Scripture, silence, journaling, nature, prayer, or community? Where might God be inviting me to “withdraw” from input right now so I can hear His voice more clearly? What truth from Scripture do I need to return to when my thoughts begin to spiral? What is one small step I can take this week to pursue peace intentionally instead of waiting for my circumstances to change? If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend who may be feeling overwhelmed. And don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review—it helps others find hope and practical help when they need it most. Find Carol McCracken: On her website On Facebook On Instagram Find Jennifer Slattery: On her website Instagram Facebook Amazon Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this episode, Micah Herbster continues the journey through Psalm 119 with verses 101–104, part of the thirteenth stanza—a section centered on pondering and practicing God's Word with both discipline and delight.After reading the passage, Micah walks verse by verse through the Psalmist's testimony, highlighting the clear purpose statements woven throughout the text. Each action is tied to a reason—revealing how obedience to God's Word is never accidental, but intentional.Listeners will explore four defining responses to Scripture:Restrain — learning to hold back from evil in order to obey God's Word, recognizing that true holiness involves a growing hatred for sin.Remain — staying on the path because the Lord Himself is our Instructor, illustrated through the vivid picture of a climber trusting a Sherpa to guide them safely up Mount Everest.Rejoice — discovering the personal sweetness of God's Word, more delightful than honey, savored through meditation and spoken with joy.Repulse — gaining understanding from Scripture that produces discernment and a settled rejection of falsehood and evil.Drawing from rich cross-references and timeless voices like Spurgeon, Matthew Henry, and Thomas Brooks, this episode emphasizes that God's Word does more than inform—it shapes our affections, directs our steps, and trains us to love what God loves and hate what He hates.The episode closes with a prayerful response, “praying the Psalm,” inviting listeners not just to study the Word, but to live it.A thoughtful and practical meditation for anyone seeking to walk wisely, love Scripture deeply, and follow the Lord with understanding and conviction.

By Mary Lindow  I am by far not an expert on the subject of plumblines and righteousness, so take what I say in the light of one who at time gropes like a child in the dark, ever reaching for the hand of the ONE to lead me into a safe place filled with His Hope, His Mercy, His Light and Life. WE LIVE IN A CORRUPT WORLD and therefore, have the “effects and affects” of that corruption ever influencing, ever tainting and ever wooing the flesh.  Plumbline: a tool that consists of a small, heavy object attached to a string or rope and that is used especially to see if something (such as a wall) is perfectly vertical or in alignment)   A plumbline is a simple but accurate tool used for determining whether or not something is perfectly vertical or upright. The Lord also used, and uses, a "plumbline," His Word, to determine how upright His people truly are in His sight. How upright they think they are, or how upright they proclaim themselves to be, means nothing to God. "Behold, I WILL set a plumbline in the midst of My people".  -Amos 7:7  A PLUMBLINE SET OUT BY THE HAND OF GOD IS ONE THAT WE CAN ANCHOR OUR HEARTS TO. It will always, always, ALWAYS, direct us to the truth in a matter; even if it requires pain, loss, persecution and perhaps death in areas we feel we may well have rights to.  It will also be a shield, a balm, a comfort and a teacher to those who will yield to the directive positioning of the Master.  “I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumbline.” -Isaiah 28:17  LIFE – DISTRESS - AND PERSECUTION  I have found that in my life, distress and persecution do not feel like God's care being poured out on me. My heart is not immediately drawn to thanksgiving and gratefulness for the faithfulness of God on display as I cling to the battered pieces that look like potential “rafts” of hope, only to find out that many of them have gaping holes or slow leaks in them.  Rather, it feels like yet another hurt is being permanently woven into my tattered and war-torn soul. It seems as if another mound of questions are piling up and just waiting for an answer and a true solid REAL anchor of hope.  I CAN REALLY CONNECT TO THE WRITER OF PSALM 42  He said “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” It's at those very times that the words of the Savior are so important. When we are down and in turmoil.  But, how do we connect the dots between what we know is true about God's faithfulness and what our hearts feel? When flipped and flung around by the waves, weary from crying and when no answer seems at hand, what is the answer?  When my circumstances show many foes and tyrants rising up against me and my heart is prone to wander and fear, what hope is there of peace?  When my feelings start controlling my thoughts, how can I rest in God's promises?  AT THIS POINT… I HEAR THE “GASPS” …  …And perhaps shocked comments of a few who are amazed that someone who appears to walk so fervently and intimately with the Lord would have such difficulties!  Well! Guess what? I do struggle, I do hurt, and yes I do doubt when I have been side swiped or “rammed” by skilled cons and those who, although may have the appearance of godliness and offered friendship or fellowship, end up having private and evil agendas behind their well placed and planned schemes. And boy oh boy! Those skilled players know the wicked art of wounding the heart and causing people to reel in pain!  BUT, THERE IS ONE WHO FULLY SEES IT ALL  The main skill in the issue of dealing with life as a spiritual person, is to know how to handle yourself when things not only crush and grind your heart, but what to do with the anguish and toll of their aftermath.  We have to get ourselves into a place where we hear clearly again.  We need have to address ourselves, preach to ourselves, and ask questions about ourselves.  We must say to our soul: "Why are you cast down –Why are you so anxious and lacking in peace?"  We must urge ourselves, and say ‘Hope in God'–instead of remaining in this paralyzed, aching state!”  AND THEN WE MUST TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER We must go on to remind ourselves just “Who “God is, and what God is and what God has done, and what God has promised that he Himself said that He would do.  Having done that we can stand up and sing out strongly, defying the torment of the soul, and resist other people's wicked tongues and arrogance, and refuse to go along with the devil and the whole world, and say: ‘Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”  The hope and promise of the fairness of God's justice when dealing with the hurtful things and presumptions of others gives me the confidence to know that God will never turn away from me in my need. No matter how they seem to prosper in the short term, wicked men and women will ultimately pay for their sins, in this life or the next. Jesus died to meet my greatest hardships and sorrows for me, and I need to preach this to myself every day. His power is greater than my weariness and suffering.  The comforting and instruction that comes from simply running to feed upon His word instead of the toxic poison of the replaying of trauma reminds me that what Jesus has done is strong enough for my soul to rejoice in and to be set into a place where it can rest and regroup, gaining a healthy perspective about what to give out to others and what is simply… …. To be enjoyed by the Lord Himself.  THE NATURAL IMPULSES OF MANKIND ARE SINFUL AND DECEITFUL!  Human willpower alone will never be able to change this.  We need God's help to truly change our hearts.  REMEMBER. You cannot change the heart of anyone else either.  If you try to, you will feel the bite of stinging venom or be laughed out of a room. Only the power of the conviction of the Holy Spirit can permeate and get around the jam-packed hardhearted egos of the self sufficient and bitter.  Jeremiah 17:9 says that the human heart is deceitful in all things and is even beyond cure! We must be cautious and wise in reproving and warning such types of people about their bad behaviors and wicked actions where there seems to be no appearance or hope of change and where there is danger of experiencing great and heart wrecking retaliation and slander.  These types trample the warnings and urging for repentance and humbling of the heart under their feet, and turn again and slash at you, despising the warnings that are “tearfully and fearfully” given, and often hurt the persons who give them, either by words or deeds.  "Don't waste what is holy on people who are unholy.  Don't throw your pearls to pigs!  They will trample the pearls,  then turn and attack you.”  -Matthew 7:6    "GIVE ME THE FACTS MA'AM JUST THE FACTS”  I remember that phrase from a TV show called “Dragnet”. The detective would not allow the details of the case to be skewed by any assumptions or pontificating from those he interviewed. He stoically and firmly demanded only the facts.  And so, here are the “facts” about the heart of a good man or woman. 1.) The good man or woman: Brings good things out of the good stored up in his/her heart. And the facts about an evil man or woman.  2.) The evil man/woman brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his/her heart. For out of the overflow of his or her heart his or her mouth speaks. Luke 6:45    THE FRAILTY, BRIEFNESS, AND INSECURITY OF LIFE  The frailty, briefness, and insecurity of life should hold down the vanity and presumptuous confidence of all of our projects and boasting about future greatness and bragging rights! We are always to depend on the will and leading of God.  OUR TIMES ARE NOT IN OUR OWN HANDS, BUT ARE INSTEAD IN THE TIMING OF GOD. Our heads may be filled with cares and plans for ourselves, or our families, or our friends; but Divine intervention often throws our plans into bewilderment. All we have in mind, and all we do, should be with a humble and deep dependence on God. It is foolish, and it is hurtful, to boast of trendy “latest happening” things and prospective projects, and it will bring great disappointment and will prove destructive to relationships and meaningful help to others in the end.  “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.”  -1 John 2:16 LISTEN KINDLY - BEFORE SPEAKING YOUR THOUGHTS  People don't need a lecture on the meaning of suffering or to have a barrage of scriptures “machine-gunned” at them as a reprimand for sharing their moment of grief or struggle! (Especially when their hearts are breaking, weary of the battle and if they are fatigued.) Job could have done without some of the self-righteous answers that came from his “well-meaning” friends. All of the answers could have even been true, but Job didn't need to hear any of them.  He needed their love, not their value judgments.  In fact, it appears as if God judged THEM for trying to offer simple solutions to things that were beyond their comprehension. They had never walked in the loss he was in anguish over.  WHEN WE SUFFER UNJUSTLY WE HAVE A MAJOR CHOICE TO MAKE How will we respond? We can feel sorry for ourselves (and understandably so, for a while), become bitter and cynical, get drawn into a war of words, or even become mixed up in a major conflict. On the other hand, we can take our suffering to the cross and allow our pain to draw us into a deeper place of understanding of what Jesus went though in his sufferings. This does not remove the pain, but does help us to know what to do with our hurt.  This is the 'fellowship of his sufferings' (Philippians 3:10), one of the gateways to closeness with God and the release of his power in our lives. The weight of heartbreak shared with a loving friend cuts it in half. When the burden is shared with many friends, we can cope with almost anything. We never feel more revitalized than when a friend loves us enough to walk with us in our pain. Not lecture us.  The apostle Paul wrote these words to the church in Corinth:  "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God". -1 Corinthians 1.3-4  SOMETIMES GOD GETS INVOLVED WITH DIRECT MIRACLES, Giving supernatural strength to those in need. But for the most part, he depends on us, his people, to do his work in the world. We love each other, work for healing, and suffer with those who suffer.  The next time you see a friend who is suffering, Jesus may just invite you to be the warm embrace! We comfort each other with the comfort we have received in Christ. And when we do, we become the Body of Christ and he receives the glory!  THE BIBLE IS CLEAR!  We are to bear one another's burdens.  We are to comfort others as Christ has given comfort to us.  Your hard time becomes my hard time.  We join hands in the journey.  When you succeed, I succeed.  When you suffer, I suffer. But we do it together. We share it together.  And we do it, not so much in our wisdom or our words, but in our availability, our understanding, and through our presence.  THAT'S WHAT FELLOWSHIP IS ALL ABOUT!  But not “bland” fellowship. It is CHRISTIAN fellowship. It is the business of burden bearing. Authentic CHRISTIAN fellowship says that when you need me . . . I'll be there. Support in suffering is at the core of what it means to share life together in Christ. The word for "comfort” is the same root word as the name Jesus used to describe one of the functions of the Holy Spirit in our lives (Paraclete). “I will be a comforter, one who comes alongside to give help.” And so as God comes alongside you, now you are able to come alongside another. As the Comforter is at work within you, so you also can be of comfort to those around you.  WE ARE CALLED TO BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS.  To mourn with those who mourn. To be a follower of Jesus means to come alongside people who are hurting and find ways to help them walk even through the valley of the shadow of death. We are called to do this, as the word of God and care of God is shared with the intention of stirring, plowing up hardened hearts, creating a place for repentance and challenging saints to hope again, I know and believe that as we learn again as believers, to care, to truly listen and to hope fully again, that the sweet and heavy weight of HIS Glory will be made known and will manifest in unfettered and uncontrolled waves of worship and spontaneous adoration of the King of Heaven.  HE REALLY DOES KNOW WHAT HE WANTS Let's focus on bowing low and seeking His heart and plans in what matters to Him. Indeed, HE is the Plumbline.  Prayer  God, I ask in Jesus' name, that you comfort, strengthen and encourage all who are hurting deeply right now and are going through so much pain and heartache.  Don't allow them to give up in the heat of the battle.  Let them feel your arms wrapping around them and your love overflowing and filling them up. Lord, I will pray often and I know that you will hear my voice, even when I speak to You in my silent thoughts.  To You, I am crying out and my prayers are now before You.  Father, I give to You my problems, I do not want them.  Father, please restore them to You. I know that you have compassion for your children. Father, show them your ways and teach them your paths. Lead them in your truth and teach them you are the God of our salvation and on you we will wait.  Protect them from the evils of this life and guide them through all of their days. Father, thank You for hearing my prayer Father and for considering and for having compassion on all who hear and read these words, and all who hurt, in this troubled world we live in.  Keep them in the center of Your love.  In Jesus' Name ~ Amen  Duplication and sharing of this message is welcomed provided that complete article, podcast link and website information for Mary Lindow is included.  Thank You Copyright © 2026 " THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow www.marylindow.com https://marylindow.podbean.com Your Gracious Support and Donations Are So Very Helpful And Assist Mary In Publishing Her Teaching Podcasts and Audio Messages. THANK YOU! Please go to PAYPAL to donate  or support this blog:  Donate to the tax-deductible ministry name of:  paypal.me/mlindow    (His Beloved Ministries Inc.)  Or  You Can Mail a Check or Cashiers Check to:  His Beloved Ministries INC  PO Box 1253  Eastlake CO 80614  United States    

Today's Promise:  Every day you wake up in a spiritual battlefield. Fear, doubt, shame, and relentless accusations bombard your mind. Today's episode speaks directly into that spiritual fight with a powerful promise from Isaiah 54:17: "No weapon formed against you will prosper."   In today's episode, you'll be reminded that while the enemy may try to come at you from every angle and through circumstances or cutting words, none of his weapons have the power to destroy you. Satan may accuse, discourage, and dredge up your past, but the blood of Jesus has already silenced every charge against you.   This episode gives you four confessions you can make that reaffirm God's protection over your life and family. This episode is a call to stand firm, lift your head, and walk in confidence, knowing the Lord Himself stands between you and the enemy.   You are not defenseless. You are covered. And today, every weapon aimed at you will fail.

Proverbs 20:10–12 reveals the Lord's concern for justice, integrity, and spiritual awareness. Dishonest weights and measures are an abomination to God, exposing how corruption often hides behind everyday transactions. Yet the passage also reminds us that the Lord Himself fashioned the hearing ear and the seeing eye—nothing escapes His notice. In today's Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart examine how God measures fairness, why integrity matters in both public and private life, and how living wisely begins with remembering that the God who gave us eyes and ears also sees and hears all. Lesson 17-2026 Teachers: Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart You can partner with us by visiting MannaNation.com, calling 1-888-519-4935, or by mail at PO Box 399 Vero Beach, FL 32961. MEGA FIRE reveals the ancient recurring cycles of war and economic collapse that have shaped history for 600 years. These patterns predict America is now entering its most dangerous period since World War II. Get your copy today! www.megafire.world Get high-quality emergency preparedness food today from American Reserves! www.AmericanReserves.com It's the Final Day! The day Jesus Christ bursts into our dimension of time, space, and matter. Now available in eBook and audio formats! Order Final Day from Amazon today! www.Amazon.com/Final-Day Apple users, you can download the audio version on Apple Books! www.books.apple.com/final-day Purchase the 4-part DVD set or start streaming Sacrificing Liberty today. www.Sacrificingliberty.com

When Jesus comes, there will be no delay. In this devotion, Pastor Roderick Webster continues the Lamps With Oil / Lamps Without Oil series from Matthew 25:1–13 (KJV) and explains a sobering truth: when the Bridegroom arrives, those who are ready will enter immediately.Jesus' parable shows that all ten virgins had lamps and were waiting, but only those with oil were prepared when the moment came. Pastor reminds us that the oil represents the Holy Spirit—to have oil is to have Christ, and to lack oil is to lack Him.This message connects Matthew 25 with the clear teaching of Scripture concerning Christ's return. Paul declares that believers will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:51–52) and that the Lord Himself will descend, the dead in Christ will rise first, and living believers will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17).Pastor also points ahead to the joy awaiting the redeemed—the marriage supper of the Lamb—where Christ receives His bride, the church. Those who are ready will go in with Him. When the door is shut, it will be final.The question is not how long we've been around church, but whether we are truly ready. If you are ready, help someone else get ready. If you are not ready, today is the time.

Will I see my loved ones again? In today's Words From The Word devotion, Pastor Roderick Webster opens 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 (KJV) to answer a question that touches every family at some point—especially in seasons of grief.Paul writes so believers won't be ignorant and won't sorrow like those who have no hope. Pastor explains that Scripture doesn't say we should not sorrow. It teaches us the difference between sorrowing without hope and sorrowing with hope—because in Christ, death is not the end.This passage also gives the order of events when the Lord returns: the Lord Himself will descend, the dead in Christ shall rise first, and then living believers will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. That word “together” matters—because it points to reunion, comfort, and an eternal future with Christ.Pastor also highlights why Paul says God will “bring with Him” those who have died in Jesus—showing that believers who die are with the Lord, and their bodies will be raised at Christ's coming.If you're grieving today, this devotion is meant to steady your heart and strengthen your hope. And it also includes a personal call: make sure you are truly in Christ, because only those in Christ share this comfort.#WordsFromTheWord #GriefWithHope #1Thessalonians4 #BibleAnswer #PastorRoderickWebster

Moses chapter 7 centers on the rise of the City of Enoch, a people who learned to build Zion by becoming “of one heart and one mind,” dwelling in righteousness, and caring deeply for one another. Under Enoch's prophetic leadership, the people rejected violence, pride, and inequality, choosing instead to live the law of consecration so fully that there were “no poor among them.” Their society was marked not only by moral purity but by profound compassion—so much so that the Lord Himself wept over the suffering and wickedness of the world. In contrast to the surrounding nations, Zion stood as a covenant community defined by love, justice, and unity with God. The chapter also teaches that Zion is not merely a place, but a condition of the heart that any people can strive to achieve. Moses 7 makes clear that Zion is built through repentance, obedience, humility, and collective commitment to God's ways. As Enoch's people aligned their lives with heaven, they became sanctified and were ultimately taken into God's presence, symbolizing the destiny of a truly Zion-like society. For modern readers, the City of Enoch becomes both a model and an invitation: Zion is achieved when individuals and communities choose righteousness, unity, and selfless care for the vulnerable, preparing the world—and themselves—for the return of the Lord.

In week three of The Church Imagined series, we explored another identity-shaping image of the church in the New Testament: the Royal Priesthood. 1 Peter 2:9 reminds us that the church is not a building or an organization, but a holy people chosen by God, called out of darkness, and set apart to proclaim His praises.By looking back the role of the Jewish priesthood in the Old Testament, we saw how Jesus fulfilled the priestly system once and for all as our Great High Priest. Because of His death, resurrection, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, God has now made the church itself His royal and holy priesthood.The sermon focused on three key aspects of this calling: priestly clothing, priestly duties, and priestly portion. From Colossians 3, we were challenged to “put on” spiritual clothing such as compassion, humility, forgiveness, and love. We were also reminded  that just as the priests of old had duties, we too as a royal priesthood have responsibilities today: praying and interceding for others, caring for God's temple by loving one another and using our spiritual gifts, and teaching the Word of Christ through both instruction and example. Finally, we reflected on our greatest inheritance as God's priests: the Lord Himself, our portion now and for eternity.As Christ's church, we are a royal priesthood so that we may proclaim the praises of the One who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. May this truth shape how we live and serve together!

“Be strong and courageous, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 The book of Joshua stands at a hinge in Israel's history. The wilderness years end, the promises to Abraham begin to unfold in full view, and the people of God cross a boundary that is both geographical and spiritual. Joshua teaches us that the living God is not an abstraction, a fairy tale or myth. He guides, commands, judges, and saves. Human action is sometimes God's means to achieve His will, but human strength is never the source. The story moves forward because God keeps His word. Again and again Joshua confronts us with this truth. The Jordan does not part until the priests step into the waters. Jericho's walls fall by obedience rather than force. Israel's presumption at Ai yields defeat, and humility restores what pride had lost. Each scene presses the same lesson into the heart. Trust in God is not passive. It is a posture of obedience and submission, taken in the confidence that the Lord Himself goes before His people. Nowhere is this clearer than at the threshold of Jericho. Joshua encounters a mysterious warrior with drawn sword, who identifies Himself as Captain of the Lord's armies. Joshua falls on his face. He removes his sandals. The ground is holy. The One who spoke to Moses from the burning bush now stands before Joshua as Commander. The battle that follows is not Israel's achievement. It is the Lord's, just as he promised. This moment reveals the true theme of the book. The comes through God's presence. He is not simply giving Israel a land. He is forming a people who know Him, follow Him, and entrust their future to His faithfulness. They were to be God's messenger (malak) to the nations, the means to return exiled humanity to Himself. Near the end Joshua gathers the tribes at Shechem and places the decision before them with absolute clarity. “Choose this day whom you will serve.” That call is not merely ancient. It is perennial. Every generation must decide whether to trust the Lord who keeps His promises or to follow the idols of its age. Joshua concludes on a quiet and triumphant note. The Lord gave Israel rest. Not one of His promises failed. May this reading help us see the same God at work in our own lives, faithful in every generation, leading His people into the inheritance He has prepared.

“Be strong and courageous, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 The book of Joshua stands at a hinge in Israel's history. The wilderness years end, the promises to Abraham begin to unfold in full view, and the people of God cross a boundary that is both geographical and spiritual. Joshua teaches us that the living God is not an abstraction, a fairy tale or myth. He guides, commands, judges, and saves. Human action is sometimes God's means to achieve His will, but human strength is never the source. The story moves forward because God keeps His word. Again and again Joshua confronts us with this truth. The Jordan does not part until the priests step into the waters. Jericho's walls fall by obedience rather than force. Israel's presumption at Ai yields defeat, and humility restores what pride had lost. Each scene presses the same lesson into the heart. Trust in God is not passive. It is a posture of obedience and submission, taken in the confidence that the Lord Himself goes before His people. Nowhere is this clearer than at the threshold of Jericho. Joshua encounters a mysterious warrior with drawn sword, who identifies Himself as Captain of the Lord's armies. Joshua falls on his face. He removes his sandals. The ground is holy. The One who spoke to Moses from the burning bush now stands before Joshua as Commander. The battle that follows is not Israel's achievement. It is the Lord's, just as he promised. This moment reveals the true theme of the book. The comes through God's presence. He is not simply giving Israel a land. He is forming a people who know Him, follow Him, and entrust their future to His faithfulness. They were to be God's messenger (malak) to the nations, the means to return exiled humanity to Himself. Near the end Joshua gathers the tribes at Shechem and places the decision before them with absolute clarity. “Choose this day whom you will serve.” That call is not merely ancient. It is perennial. Every generation must decide whether to trust the Lord who keeps His promises or to follow the idols of its age. Joshua concludes on a quiet and triumphant note. The Lord gave Israel rest. Not one of His promises failed. May this reading help us see the same God at work in our own lives, faithful in every generation, leading His people into the inheritance He has prepared.

“Be strong and courageous, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 The book of Joshua stands at a hinge in Israel's history. The wilderness years end, the promises to Abraham begin to unfold in full view, and the people of God cross a boundary that is both geographical and spiritual. Joshua teaches us that the living God is not an abstraction, a fairy tale or myth. He guides, commands, judges, and saves. Human action is sometimes God's means to achieve His will, but human strength is never the source. The story moves forward because God keeps His word. Again and again Joshua confronts us with this truth. The Jordan does not part until the priests step into the waters. Jericho's walls fall by obedience rather than force. Israel's presumption at Ai yields defeat, and humility restores what pride had lost. Each scene presses the same lesson into the heart. Trust in God is not passive. It is a posture of obedience and submission, taken in the confidence that the Lord Himself goes before His people. Nowhere is this clearer than at the threshold of Jericho. Joshua encounters a mysterious warrior with drawn sword, who identifies Himself as Captain of the Lord's armies. Joshua falls on his face. He removes his sandals. The ground is holy. The One who spoke to Moses from the burning bush now stands before Joshua as Commander. The battle that follows is not Israel's achievement. It is the Lord's, just as he promised. This moment reveals the true theme of the book. The comes through God's presence. He is not simply giving Israel a land. He is forming a people who know Him, follow Him, and entrust their future to His faithfulness. They were to be God's messenger (malak) to the nations, the means to return exiled humanity to Himself. Near the end Joshua gathers the tribes at Shechem and places the decision before them with absolute clarity. “Choose this day whom you will serve.” That call is not merely ancient. It is perennial. Every generation must decide whether to trust the Lord who keeps His promises or to follow the idols of its age. Joshua concludes on a quiet and triumphant note. The Lord gave Israel rest. Not one of His promises failed. May this reading help us see the same God at work in our own lives, faithful in every generation, leading His people into the inheritance He has prepared.

“Be strong and courageous, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 The book of Joshua stands at a hinge in Israel's history. The wilderness years end, the promises to Abraham begin to unfold in full view, and the people of God cross a boundary that is both geographical and spiritual. Joshua teaches us that the living God is not an abstraction, a fairy tale or myth. He guides, commands, judges, and saves. Human action is sometimes God's means to achieve His will, but human strength is never the source. The story moves forward because God keeps His word. Again and again Joshua confronts us with this truth. The Jordan does not part until the priests step into the waters. Jericho's walls fall by obedience rather than force. Israel's presumption at Ai yields defeat, and humility restores what pride had lost. Each scene presses the same lesson into the heart. Trust in God is not passive. It is a posture of obedience and submission, taken in the confidence that the Lord Himself goes before His people. Nowhere is this clearer than at the threshold of Jericho. Joshua encounters a mysterious warrior with drawn sword, who identifies Himself as Captain of the Lord's armies. Joshua falls on his face. He removes his sandals. The ground is holy. The One who spoke to Moses from the burning bush now stands before Joshua as Commander. The battle that follows is not Israel's achievement. It is the Lord's, just as he promised. This moment reveals the true theme of the book. The comes through God's presence. He is not simply giving Israel a land. He is forming a people who know Him, follow Him, and entrust their future to His faithfulness. They were to be God's messenger (malak) to the nations, the means to return exiled humanity to Himself. Near the end Joshua gathers the tribes at Shechem and places the decision before them with absolute clarity. “Choose this day whom you will serve.” That call is not merely ancient. It is perennial. Every generation must decide whether to trust the Lord who keeps His promises or to follow the idols of its age. Joshua concludes on a quiet and triumphant note. The Lord gave Israel rest. Not one of His promises failed. May this reading help us see the same God at work in our own lives, faithful in every generation, leading His people into the inheritance He has prepared.

“Be strong and courageous, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 The book of Joshua stands at a hinge in Israel's history. The wilderness years end, the promises to Abraham begin to unfold in full view, and the people of God cross a boundary that is both geographical and spiritual. Joshua teaches us that the living God is not an abstraction, a fairy tale or myth. He guides, commands, judges, and saves. Human action is sometimes God's means to achieve His will, but human strength is never the source. The story moves forward because God keeps His word. Again and again Joshua confronts us with this truth. The Jordan does not part until the priests step into the waters. Jericho's walls fall by obedience rather than force. Israel's presumption at Ai yields defeat, and humility restores what pride had lost. Each scene presses the same lesson into the heart. Trust in God is not passive. It is a posture of obedience and submission, taken in the confidence that the Lord Himself goes before His people. Nowhere is this clearer than at the threshold of Jericho. Joshua encounters a mysterious warrior with drawn sword, who identifies Himself as Captain of the Lord's armies. Joshua falls on his face. He removes his sandals. The ground is holy. The One who spoke to Moses from the burning bush now stands before Joshua as Commander. The battle that follows is not Israel's achievement. It is the Lord's, just as he promised. This moment reveals the true theme of the book. The comes through God's presence. He is not simply giving Israel a land. He is forming a people who know Him, follow Him, and entrust their future to His faithfulness. They were to be God's messenger (malak) to the nations, the means to return exiled humanity to Himself. Near the end Joshua gathers the tribes at Shechem and places the decision before them with absolute clarity. “Choose this day whom you will serve.” That call is not merely ancient. It is perennial. Every generation must decide whether to trust the Lord who keeps His promises or to follow the idols of its age. Joshua concludes on a quiet and triumphant note. The Lord gave Israel rest. Not one of His promises failed. May this reading help us see the same God at work in our own lives, faithful in every generation, leading His people into the inheritance He has prepared.

“Be strong and courageous, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 The book of Joshua stands at a hinge in Israel's history. The wilderness years end, the promises to Abraham begin to unfold in full view, and the people of God cross a boundary that is both geographical and spiritual. Joshua teaches us that the living God is not an abstraction, a fairy tale or myth. He guides, commands, judges, and saves. Human action is sometimes God's means to achieve His will, but human strength is never the source. The story moves forward because God keeps His word. Again and again Joshua confronts us with this truth. The Jordan does not part until the priests step into the waters. Jericho's walls fall by obedience rather than force. Israel's presumption at Ai yields defeat, and humility restores what pride had lost. Each scene presses the same lesson into the heart. Trust in God is not passive. It is a posture of obedience and submission, taken in the confidence that the Lord Himself goes before His people. Nowhere is this clearer than at the threshold of Jericho. Joshua encounters a mysterious warrior with drawn sword, who identifies Himself as Captain of the Lord's armies. Joshua falls on his face. He removes his sandals. The ground is holy. The One who spoke to Moses from the burning bush now stands before Joshua as Commander. The battle that follows is not Israel's achievement. It is the Lord's, just as he promised. This moment reveals the true theme of the book. The comes through God's presence. He is not simply giving Israel a land. He is forming a people who know Him, follow Him, and entrust their future to His faithfulness. They were to be God's messenger (malak) to the nations, the means to return exiled humanity to Himself. Near the end Joshua gathers the tribes at Shechem and places the decision before them with absolute clarity. “Choose this day whom you will serve.” That call is not merely ancient. It is perennial. Every generation must decide whether to trust the Lord who keeps His promises or to follow the idols of its age. Joshua concludes on a quiet and triumphant note. The Lord gave Israel rest. Not one of His promises failed. May this reading help us see the same God at work in our own lives, faithful in every generation, leading His people into the inheritance He has prepared.

“Be strong and courageous, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 The book of Joshua stands at a hinge in Israel's history. The wilderness years end, the promises to Abraham begin to unfold in full view, and the people of God cross a boundary that is both geographical and spiritual. Joshua teaches us that the living God is not an abstraction, a fairy tale or myth. He guides, commands, judges, and saves. Human action is sometimes God's means to achieve His will, but human strength is never the source. The story moves forward because God keeps His word. Again and again Joshua confronts us with this truth. The Jordan does not part until the priests step into the waters. Jericho's walls fall by obedience rather than force. Israel's presumption at Ai yields defeat, and humility restores what pride had lost. Each scene presses the same lesson into the heart. Trust in God is not passive. It is a posture of obedience and submission, taken in the confidence that the Lord Himself goes before His people. Nowhere is this clearer than at the threshold of Jericho. Joshua encounters a mysterious warrior with drawn sword, who identifies Himself as Captain of the Lord's armies. Joshua falls on his face. He removes his sandals. The ground is holy. The One who spoke to Moses from the burning bush now stands before Joshua as Commander. The battle that follows is not Israel's achievement. It is the Lord's, just as he promised. This moment reveals the true theme of the book. The comes through God's presence. He is not simply giving Israel a land. He is forming a people who know Him, follow Him, and entrust their future to His faithfulness. They were to be God's messenger (malak) to the nations, the means to return exiled humanity to Himself. Near the end Joshua gathers the tribes at Shechem and places the decision before them with absolute clarity. “Choose this day whom you will serve.” That call is not merely ancient. It is perennial. Every generation must decide whether to trust the Lord who keeps His promises or to follow the idols of its age. Joshua concludes on a quiet and triumphant note. The Lord gave Israel rest. Not one of His promises failed. May this reading help us see the same God at work in our own lives, faithful in every generation, leading His people into the inheritance He has prepared.

“Be strong and courageous, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 The book of Joshua stands at a hinge in Israel's history. The wilderness years end, the promises to Abraham begin to unfold in full view, and the people of God cross a boundary that is both geographical and spiritual. Joshua teaches us that the living God is not an abstraction, a fairy tale or myth. He guides, commands, judges, and saves. Human action is sometimes God's means to achieve His will, but human strength is never the source. The story moves forward because God keeps His word. Again and again Joshua confronts us with this truth. The Jordan does not part until the priests step into the waters. Jericho's walls fall by obedience rather than force. Israel's presumption at Ai yields defeat, and humility restores what pride had lost. Each scene presses the same lesson into the heart. Trust in God is not passive. It is a posture of obedience and submission, taken in the confidence that the Lord Himself goes before His people. Nowhere is this clearer than at the threshold of Jericho. Joshua encounters a mysterious warrior with drawn sword, who identifies Himself as Captain of the Lord's armies. Joshua falls on his face. He removes his sandals. The ground is holy. The One who spoke to Moses from the burning bush now stands before Joshua as Commander. The battle that follows is not Israel's achievement. It is the Lord's, just as he promised. This moment reveals the true theme of the book. The comes through God's presence. He is not simply giving Israel a land. He is forming a people who know Him, follow Him, and entrust their future to His faithfulness. They were to be God's messenger (malak) to the nations, the means to return exiled humanity to Himself. Near the end Joshua gathers the tribes at Shechem and places the decision before them with absolute clarity. “Choose this day whom you will serve.” That call is not merely ancient. It is perennial. Every generation must decide whether to trust the Lord who keeps His promises or to follow the idols of its age. Joshua concludes on a quiet and triumphant note. The Lord gave Israel rest. Not one of His promises failed. May this reading help us see the same God at work in our own lives, faithful in every generation, leading His people into the inheritance He has prepared.

In this message, we explore Psalm 91:11–12 and the biblical ministry of angels as a reflection of God's design for His Church. Scripture reveals how God used archangels to deliver messages, engage in spiritual warfare, and minister in worship. From Gabriel the messenger, to Michael the warrior, to Lucifer before the fall as a worshipper, we see clear roles that ultimately find their fulfillment in Christ and His Church today. Even as Michael relied on the Lord, we are reminded that we must always rely on Him, for we can do nothing without His presence and His Spirit. This sermon walks through key passages in Daniel, Luke, Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Jude to show that while angels are ministering spirits, our faith is not in angels but in the Lord Himself. The ministry once carried out by angels now reflects the calling of the Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. We are called to declare the truth, stand firm in spiritual battle, and worship God with our whole lives. The plans of the enemy are no match for the Lord, and through His presence, protection, and power, the Church advances the Kingdom of God. Jesus is Lord, and it is all about Him.

Sermon Summary: Joshua – Session 11 (Ending the Year Right)   God Calls His People to Possess What He Has Given As the land is divided in Joshua 17–18, God reminds Israel that the inheritance already belongs to them—but they must rise up and take possession. Delayed obedience, fear of opposition, or spiritual passivity keeps believers from fully walking in God's promises. Incomplete Obedience Leads to Future Struggles Some tribes failed to fully drive out the Canaanites, choosing compromise instead of obedience. What is tolerated today often becomes a snare tomorrow. God calls His people to remove what competes with devotion, not manage it. Faith Requires Action, Not Excuses When tribes complained about limited territory, Joshua challenged them to get up and do the work. God had already given them power, but they had to act in faith. Blessing follows obedience, diligence, and courage—not passivity. The Lord Is Our True Inheritance The Levites received no land because the Lord Himself was their inheritance. This points to a greater truth for believers today: our ultimate reward is not earthly security but life with God. Like Abraham, believers are called to live as pilgrims, prioritizing spiritual inheritance over temporary comfort. God Is a Refuge for the Guilty and Broken The cities of refuge reveal God's mercy. Long before sin occurred, God provided a place of safety. These cities foreshadow Jesus Christ as our refuge, where sinners can flee for forgiveness, protection, and restoration. Salvation Must Be Received, Not Ignored A refuge only saves those who run to it. Jesus is God's provision for sin, but each person must choose to enter. Trusting in goodness, effort, or delay is dangerous—Christ alone is the safe place. A Call to Renewed Commitment As the year closes, the sermon challenges believers to: Be honest with themselves Reject spiritual sluggishness Recommit to disciplined faith Place God first without reservation The message closes with hope: when all hope seems lost, the Lord shows up. God remains faithful, and those who trust Him will find safety, purpose, and victory in Him.  

Isaiah 7:10-17 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: 11 "Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven." 12 But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test." 13 And he said, "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel. 15 He shall eat curds and honey when He knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. 17 The Lord will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father's house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah—the king of Assyria!"   Key Words: Ask, Sign, House, David, Virgin, Bear, Immanuel Keystone Verses: Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)     DOWNLOAD BULLETIN