Podcasts about Meribah

The apostles approach Jesus with a heartfelt plea: “Increase our faith!”—only to receive an enigmatic answer about uprooting a sycamore tree and planting it in the sea. In this episode, we'll unearth the astonishing symbolism of the sycamore, wrestle with the original Greek, and peel back centuries of rabbinic wisdom to grasp just how radical Jesus' words are. Along the way, we'll tackle the age-old question: Is God not answering my prayer because I lack faith? Linking our Gospel reading with the cry of Habakkuk and the hope of the Psalms, we'll dig deep to discover what true faith and servant-hearted discipleship really mean.Diving deep into our Gospel, we'll spend our episode looking closer at:The fascinating rabbinic tradition that forbade planting a sycamore tree within 37 feet of a cistern because of its enormous root system, and how Jesus upends this cultural fact in his teaching on faith [00:17:45]The striking comparison between mustard seed-sized faith moving mountains in Matthew's Gospel and, uniquely in Luke, uprooting a tree that can live 500 years, illuminating just how bold and impossible the acts of faith Jesus describes really are [00:19:05]The deeper meaning behind Jesus' answer that faith isn't about getting what we want, but about uniting our will to God's even after “a long day of plowing,” challenging any notion of faith as a spiritual insurance policy for answered prayers [00:40:17]The compelling Old Testament backdrop from the Book of Habakkuk, where the prophet demands to know why God seems to simply gaze at evil rather than act, and God's unexpected answer about faith and hope [00:46:53]How the Psalm selection for the Sunday connects Israel's exile longing with our spiritual waiting, urging us not to “harden your hearts” as the Israelites did at Meribah in the desert, and instead to nurture hope in God's future deliverance [00:56:37](Mass Readings for Oct 5, 2025)For the full show notes including citations and small group discussion questions, visit: kptz.io/27OT-C25

The Rock of Provision Exodus 17:1-7  September 7, 2025 Pastor Tony Felich    ----more---- Exodus 17:1 All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the LORD, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. [2] Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?” [3] But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” [4] So Moses cried to the LORD, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” [5] And the LORD said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. [6] Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. [7] And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the LORD by saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”  God often leads us in to trials so that we might learn to trust Him.           •  For Leaders           •  For Followers           •  For Everyone 1 Corinthians 10:1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, [2] and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, [3] and all ate the same spiritual food, [4] and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. [5] Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

At Massah and Meribah, Israel faced a familiar test—but instead of learning from the past, they defaulted to complaint and unbelief. God used the moment to show them that the real question was not about water, but about His presence. This message urges us to stop rushing from one struggle to the next, and instead ask the deeper why behind our repeated failures—so we can finally learn to trust Him.

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;    let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. 2  Let us come before him with thanksgiving    and extol him with music and song. 3  For the Lord is the great God,    the great King above all gods. 4  In his hand are the depths of the earth,    and the mountain peaks belong to him. 5  The sea is his, for he made it,    and his hands formed the dry land. 6  Come, let us bow down in worship,    let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; 7  for he is our God    and we are the people of his pasture,    the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice, 8  “Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,[a]    as you did that day at Massah[b] in the wilderness, 9  where your ancestors tested me;    they tried me, though they had seen what I did. 10  For forty years I was angry with that generation;    I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray,    and they have not known my ways.' 11  So I declared on oath in my anger,    ‘They shall never enter my rest.'”Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/faith-love-trust--3493635/support.

Psalm 95,Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.4 In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.Today, if you hear his voice,8 do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,9 when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.10 For forty years I loathed that generation and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways.”11 Therefore I swore in my wrath, “They shall not enter my rest.”Well, we are all born searching. Searching for something far greater than ourselves. Something, so great, in fact, that if we could just find it, and bind ourselves to it, it would give us life. It would sustain us in a way that we, on our own, know we cannot sustain ourselves.So as infants, we go searching for it in milk , food, and water. “Life, life, life,” they seem to us as we reach our way to them. As children, we go searching for it in toys, games, and pets. “I must have them, and I won't be okay unless I have them.”As teens, we turn toward friends, accomplishments, social status. “If I can move up the social ladder, then I'll feel complete, whole, secure” As adults, we look to salaries, spouses, even sports teams. “I can find life here” we think, and so we wrap our entire worlds around them.We, as people, are those who go, and feel we must go — searching for life. Where can I go to find life? Our psalm for this morning, Psalm 95, provides the answer. And, importantly, provides a warning for once we've found it. Let's pray, and ask the Lord to guide us as we continue…What We're Searching For (vv. 1-5)So, we're all searching for life. And, as Psalm 95 shows us, you find it when you find someone who can save, can satisfy, and who is spectacular. Let's start with that first one — someone who can save.Someone Who Can SavePsalm 95 names this early on in verse one.“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!”Salvation. That's the life we're looking for. A salvation life. A saved life.And the reason we're looking for it is because, deep down, we know, we are not okay on our own. We feel, from our very first breath, we need to be saved. Our life does not naturally expand. It contracts. Our life does not naturally add, it subtracts. The moment we're born, our clock starts ticking, and it does not tick upward. Human life heads toward the grave unless salvation is found. And so, we need someone, in whom salvation can be found. And Psalm 95 tells us, The Lord is the rock of our salvation. He is the rock. Think high-ground of our saving. Mountain peak rising high above harm's reach and death's sting. A location from which you look down, like a passenger peering through the window of an airplane, as all the chaos, destruction, loss, and heartache of the world down below slowly falls away in the distanceDon't you want to dwell in such a place? Don't you want to rest your feat upon a rock from which you can finally rest? Don't you want to be saved? Our Lord is the rock of our salvation, and he is the one who dwells among us in this very moment. He's here. Your rock is here, right now, and you can have him. You can rest your weary soul upon him today. You can pray, “God, free me from my sin and sorrow, set my feet upon the rock, right now.” We're all searching for life. It is a life found in someone who can save. And, it is a life found in someone who can satisfy. Someone who can satisfy.Someone Who Can SatisfyStill verse one, but shifting our focus a bit.“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.”You hear it? “Sing” “joyful”These are the sounds of satisfied souls. And what, we might ask, has caused their satisfaction? What has made these singers so glad? Is it salvation only in the sense of what they're saved from — escape from the grave, avoidance of Hell?Is it those things alone that have caused them to sing? Now, hear me, I don't ask the question as if to say these were small things. Escape from the grave and avoidance of Hell — these are not small things. They are miracles! Miracles grand enough to get you singing. But, are they miracles satisfying enough to keep you singing? That's the question.And in thinking that over this week, the lyrics of the old song, “Big Rock Candy Mountain” popped into my mind. You guys know that song?In The Big Rock Candy Mountains. There's a land that's fair and brightWhere the handouts grow on bushes, And you sleep out every nightThe farmers' trees are full of fruit, And the barns are full of hayOh I'm bound to go where there ain't no snow, Where the rain don't fall, the wind don't blow, In The Big Rock Candy Mountain.Imagine yourself in such a world. In the Big Rock Candy Mountain world that's entirely free from pain. Entirely free from problems. Where escape from death has become reality. Sounds good, right? But, go on living in that world. Go on experiencing that reality. Go on, century after century after century, and ask yourself, are you still singing? Are you still satisfied? Or, are you beginning to grow bored? What's the use of all these years of life? What's the purpose here? This is a world that's begun to grow old. You start realizing, Big Rock Candy Mountain might just be a big ole' waste of time. Salvation, brothers and sisters, salvation in the sense of freedom from something, is a miracle. But, it isn't miracle enough. Not for us at least. See, what we've been made for is salvation not merely from something, but to something. Something that not only takes us away from sorrow, but into satisfaction. Where things don't grow old, don't grow boring, and you never think to ask, “What's the purpose here?” See with me, where that satisfaction is found, in verse 2.“Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise.”You see it? The true joy; the deep and lasting joy; the joy that does not grow old, tired, or boring, is the joy that is found before the face of God. We are saved from the grave, to be brought into God's presence, where we will make a joyful noise to Him, because he is the one who makes us joyful. He is the one who fully satisfies.God, is our very life. He saves, he satisfies, and, third, he is spectacular. And, look, this third one here is no add-on. Ah, it just so happens he's also spectacular. No, this is not an add on. It is the very ground on which everything else here either stands or falls. He is spectacular. Someone Who Is SpectacularLook with me, verse three.“For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.”This is the ground of our satisfaction. Here lies the reason God can truly satisfy. “For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.”He is larger-than-life. His glory outshines our universe. He is a great God, and a great King above all gods. He is spectacular. Just consider his hands, verse 4,“In his hand are the depths of the earth;”The many miles of dirt and granite, nickel and iron beneath our feet — they all fit into his palm. Consider the mountains,“The heights of the mountains are his also.”Every peak upon the earth is his possession. Man can climb them. God owns them. Consider the sea, verse 5,“The sea is his, for he made it.”We build backyard pools, splash pads, and hot tubs. God builds oceans. He speaks Atlantic's and Pacific's into being. Consider every place you could set your feet on earth,“His hands formed the dry land.”Every inch of every continent — formed and shaped by him. God is not a being who is slightly higher than ourselves. Not a god who stands 3rd or 4th or 5th in line. Certainly not a god who relies upon a bag of tricks to keep his people happy.He is a great God, and a great King above all gods. He is the spectacular one. And because he is, he can satisfy for all eternity. He can be his peoples' continual source of joy forever.So, we're all searching for life. It is a life found in the God who can both save and satisfy because he is spectacular.Psalm 95 shows us this. And, as we said at the outset, Psalm 95 also provides a warning for once we've found him.Warning (vv. 8-11)And it's interesting, you know, because this very thing came up just this last Monday, at 7:50pm, right over there in the Chapel. There, about 50 of us from our church had gathered to hear from a couple who've been serving as missionaries for about the last six years in an unreached and hostile area of the world. Following a presentation that highlighted their work and the fruit they've been seeing, there was a bit of time leftover for some Q&A. One of our members raised her hand and asked a very good question: “What word do you have for us over here?” Like, from your vantage point, missionary in the middle east, what would you have to say to us, the church, over here, in America?”Now, I'll be honest with you, even though I've known this brother for over a decade, I did not anticipate his answer. I mean, just think about all the things he could have said:Do more evangelismRead more BiblePray more prayersGive more moneyDo more worksExpend more energyProduce something, create something, do somethingAnd it certainly wouldn't been wrong for him to have said any one of those things. Still, that's not what he said. Instead, he looked at us, serious, somber look upon his face, and said, “Don't leave Christ.” “Don't forsake Christ.” “Stay in Christ.”That was his answer. A warning. “Don't leave Christ.” Well, that's the warning of Psalm 95 as well. See it with me, beginning at the very end of verse 7,“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”Do not harden your hearts. Do not turn your back on God. Don't shake your fist at him. Don't leave Christ. And then a comparison…“Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.”The psalmist is pulling us back to the time of the Israelites just after they'd been rescued out of slavery in Egypt. You can find it in Exodus 17. Israel has moved on from the wilderness of Sin, and camped at Rephidim, where they found that, “There was no water for the people to drink” (Exodus 17:1). No water. Massive crowd of wandering people. No water.And that, of course, is a problem. But so is a large body of water when its standing in front of you and you've got an vengeful army chasing after you with chariots and spears. After all, when the psalmist mentions, verse 9, “Though they had seen my work” he's reminding us, those Israelites without water in the desert were no strangers to God's work. They had seen God work with their own eyes. His work which included the taking of an entire river's worth of water, and splitting it in two, for his people to pass through on foot. That, and then the smashing back together of the walls of that same river over the heads of their enemies. They had seen it. And now, at Rephidim, when they saw empty water cups, empty canteens, parched land — their word to God was not, “O, Yahweh, do it again. Show us your power over the waters again and fill our cups full!” No, instead, “the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” (Exodus 17:3)And so, Moses marked that place “Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” And so, Psalm 95, written a few centuries later, says, “Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness…”Go back with me to the Chapel for a moment. Back to those words of warning, “Don't leave Christ.” Imagine yourself hearing that warning. You hear it, and then think: “Well, I guess it is true, I haven't simply enjoyed God for quite some time. Haven't savored praying to him. I have been giving in to sin regularly. Not too much! But, yeah, I guess fairly frequently. Even so, it's just a season. A particularly busy, tiring season. I'll bounce back. I mean, it's not like I'm actually about to leave Christ.”Are you sure? Do you know how long of a season it was between the people of Israel walking through the sea, and the people of Israel asking, “Is the Lord among us or not?” About two-and-a-half weeks. Two and a half weeks!Saved by the spectacular one. Offered satisfaction in him forever. An empty cup and about half a month was all it took for them to shake their fists at Yahweh. They had found the God who offered them life, saw his mighty works, hardened their hearts, and turned away. The result? Verse 10,“For forty years [God says] I loathed that generation and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways.”Therefore I swore in my wrath, “They shall not enter my rest.” They shall not be lifted high upon the rock of salvation. Shall not make a joyful noise to him. Shall not come into his presence with thanksgiving. Shall, instead, stay outside. “They shall not enter my rest.”And you may think, “Well, that was Israel. Before Jesus. Before the cross. Before the resurrection. Before the sending of the Spirit. But we're on the other side of all those things. And we have seen so much of God's work. And so, we need not worry about hardening our hearts like they did. The book of Hebrews says otherwise. See, Psalm 95 had pulled us back to the book of Exodus. Now, it's going to send us forward to the book of Hebrews. And, this time, I want you to go there with me. So, turn with me now to the New Testament book of Hebrews. Use your table of contents if you need to, New Testament, book of Hebrews, chapter 3. Beginning with verse 5. Hebrews 3:5,“Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house, if…”See that “if” there. It's a big “if” and I'll ask you to circle it. Underline it. Highlight it. Do whatever you need to do to really see it.“…indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says…”And, there it is, Psalm 95:7-11, but now, addressed to us, the church.“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness.”It's a warning. A “Do not leave Christ” warning. And it just keeps going. Hebrews 3:12,“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”And you'll see it again in Hebrews 4:3. And again in Hebrews 4:5. And again in Hebrews 4:7. Over and over the message — to us, today, the church — do not harden your hearts as they did. Do not leave Christ. Hear the warning, brothers and sisters. Heed the warning. And, receive the invitation back in Psalm 95. We've seen the example in Exodus. Heard the warning in Hebrews. Now, back to Psalm 95, for the invitation.Positive Response (vv. 6-7)Psalm 95:6,“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!”What's the alternative to a hardened heart? Humble worship.Notice, this text goes low: “bow down,” “kneel,” “worship.” It's a humbling of one's self before God. A posture of submission that says, “I trust you. I rely upon you. You are God, not me.” The joy is still here — Oh, is it still here! But arrogance, pride, self-will is gone from view. Humble worship, from one's knees. And, final word, humble worship from his pasture. Verse 7. Final word:“For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.”Brothers and sisters, we are those who've been invited into his pasture. We are sheep led on by our great shepherd. Do you hear your shepherd's voice? Don't harden your heart. Don't run astray from his field. His pasture is where we belong. And we've found it. We've been offered it. His pasture is ours for the taking and he'd have it no other way. His pasture is our rest.TableNow, as we transition to the table, I want to remind us that this rest is, of course, ultimately offered to us in Christ. Jesus says to us, Matthew 11:28,“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”I'll give it to you. Rest from your toil. Rest from your fears. Rest from your trying to save your own soul. And even though we were those who had hardened our hearts against him in our sin, he shed his blood for us so that we might still, by faith, enter into his rest. So, because this table anticipates that future rest, if you're here today and you've received Jesus, then we invite you to take and eat with us. If you've not, just let the bread and cup pass, and in this moment, ask God,Soften my heart, give me Christ.

Luke 8:4–8 (ESV) And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”Luke 8:9–11 (ESV) And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.' Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.Kingdom of God (Heaven)Intended Kingdom vs Kingdom of this WorldGod Is King vs Satan Is KingGod's Citizens Abundant Life vs Steal Kill & DestroyGod's Word/Truth Is Law vs Lies and Deception ThrivingGod's Economy Of More vs Steal Kill and DestroyTrumps The Kingdom Of This WorldGod's Word Unlocks These Realities.YOU ARE SOIL.CIRCUMSTANCES ATTACK, ATTEMPTING TO LESSEN SOIL CONDITIONS.GOD'S SEED IS SENT TO PURIFY SOIL FOR ABUNDANCE.LOGOS: written Word, rightly interpreted and appliedRHEMA: right now Word, Spirit empoweredSOIL'S RESPONSE TO GOD'S WORD DETERMINES FUTURE FRUIT.Hard Soil - ‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬ “The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.” SOIL, hardened by frequent weight, impactHardened by life experienceExodus 7:13 Yet Pharaoh's heart became hard and he would not listen to them, just as the Lord had said.”Sun on clay vs. waxHardened by decisionPsalm 95:8 - "Do not harden your hearts, as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness."Especially true of Christians who are bombarded with God's Word but do not treasure it. They almost become inoculated.Ezekiel 11:19. “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.”Rocky Soil - ‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬ “And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.”Things allowed into the soil that should not be there - Proverbs 25:26 (ESV) Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.Sometimes there is an immediate growth, excitement, but testing comes and it withers.Specific seed sent by God to deal with specific rock - refusal to embrace truthCongested Soil - ‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭14‬ ‭ESV‬‬ “And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.”The WORD is one of many things valued, like a book in the library that completes the collection, but not the primary source.1 John 2:15–17 (NLT) Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 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. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.GOOD SOIL - Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭15‬ ‭ESV ‬‬“As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.”‭‭Hold Fast - Sailors - “Hold Fast” is a nautical term that refers to securing a rope or a line tightly to prevent it from slipping. In a broader sense, it conveys the idea of holding on firmly in the face of adversity. For sailors, this phrase served as both a practical reminder and a moral encouragement to remain steadfast, especially during difficult times at sea.Prioritizing God's Word above all else, securing it in one's soil of life.Patience = Fruit

Let Us Sing Songs of Praise95.1 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;    let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;    let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!3 For the Lord is a great God,    and a great King above all gods.4 In his hand are the depths of the earth;    the heights of the mountains are his also.5 The sea is his, for he made it,    and his hands formed the dry land.6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down;    let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!7 For he is our God,    and we are the people of his pasture,    and the sheep of his hand.Today, if you hear his voice,8     do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,    as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,9 when your fathers put me to the test    and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.10 For forty years I loathed that generation    and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart,    and they have not known my ways.”11 Therefore I swore in my wrath,    “They shall not enter my rest.”

Audio reading: Num 20:1-15, 1 Chron 4:5-5:17, Acts 25:1-27, Psalm 5:1-12, Prov 18:19Join me in this journey reading through the entire bible inone year!  In Matthew 4:4, Yeshua said these words: “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Taking in the word of God every day is LIFE to our spirit and health to our bones!Visit us at: ⁠⁠dailyaudiotorah.com⁠⁠Go to ⁠Israel Connect⁠: Your bridge to the land and peopleof Israel! Daily Audio Torah,has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Bible Reading Podcasts on the web by Millionpodcasts.comhttps://www.millionpodcasts.com/bible-reading-podcasts/

Send us a textWe love the miracle moments—the breakthrough, the answered prayer, the clear direction. But what about the space between deliverance and destination—the “in-between”? Inspired by Summit Worship's "In The Waiting" and the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, this episode of More Than a Song explores what God may be teaching us when the waiting feels long and the water tastes bitter. Could it be that in the in-between, God isn't absent...He's just getting personal?Key PointsMichelle shares personal updates on being “in the waiting” and how this season mirrors the spiritual and emotional tension explored in this week's song and Scripture.God doesn't abandon us in the “in between”; He uses it to shape us and reveal Himself more deeply.Michelle uses the Israelites' journey after the Exodus to explore how God tests and teaches His people during wilderness seasons.God's expectations of devotion come before His provision—He desires a relationship, not just requests.The names and attributes of God, such as Yahweh Rapha (“The Lord Your Healer”), are revealed through these wilderness moments.Scripture ReferencesExodus 15:22–27 – Bitter water made sweet; God reveals Himself as “The Lord, Your Healer.”Exodus 16:3–4 – God's people grumble in hunger; He tests them with daily provision of manna.Exodus 17:2–7 – Quarreling and thirsting at Massah and Meribah; God brings water from the rock.Exodus 13:17 – God intentionally leads the Israelites the long way around to avoid immediate conflict they weren't ready for.Exodus 1–17 (recommended reading) – To fully grasp the context of Israel's wilderness journey.Bible Interaction Tool Exercises (BITEs) UsedRead in context – Don't isolate stories; read the full narrative from Exodus 1–17 (and beyond!)Use curiosity and meditation – Ask yourself questions like, “Why did they grumble against Moses instead of God?”Remember the people in the Bible were REAL – Remember, these were real people with real needs and emotions.Make a list – What does God want? (Ex. 15:26)Read in multiple translations – Words like “tormented” in the NLT can spark new insights.Use supplemental resources – Biblical Fiction like Where the Desert Blooms by Sierra Elliot can bring Scripture to life - Amazon Paid LinkAdditional Resources

Joshua 17 covers the allotment of land to the tribe of Manasseh. Joseph was Israel's favourite son and the one that always delighted his father, like our Lord Jesus Christ did those things that pleased His Father. To Joseph, although he was not the firstborn son, was given the blessing and double portion as if he were in fact the firstborn. So too of our Lord Jesus – Psalm 89:27-29. And so Israel blessed the sons of Joseph – Ephraim and Manasseh – and gave them a double allotted portion in the Promised Land. So two Christ's children – Jew and Gentile – will inherit the earth Romans 4:13; Hebrews 2verses 10-13. So after Joshua chapter 16 spoke of Ephraim's inheritance it is appropriate that chapter 17 tells of Manasseh's tribal allocation. Chapter 17 says that the numerous descendants of Manasseh receive land on either side of the river Jordan. The inheritances are described here. The chapter also tells us about the way in which the daughters of Zelophehad are likewise qualified to inherit along with male heirs. Like the two previous chapters of Joshua this one too has a disturbing ending with verses 12-18 speaking of Manasseh's failure to carry out the command of the LORD in destroying the Canaanites. Isaiah 23 is a prophecy about Tyre and Sidon. Tyre was the chief city of the Phoenician kingdom and closely allied with her sister city Sidon. These were settled by the Hittites who came from a powerful civilisation of the Hath-hi in Turkey. In the zenith of their power this kingdom rivalled the Egyptians and the Assyrians. The Phoenician's were the greatest maritime nation of that time sending their navies as far as the Tarshish of the west – Great Britain. Verse 3 says that Tyre was the merchant navy of the world. Verse 6 explains how the mantle of maritime supremacy was relocated from Tyre to Great Britain who in the history of the last few hundred years has ruled the seas. Verses 11-14 speaks of the loss of naval greatness would be taken from her by the LORD in modern times. Tarshish. Verses 15-18 says that there would be a revitalisation of Tarshish's powers after a 70 year epoch – the time of one monarch. We today are witnessing Great Britain reestablishing her old trading patterns with those nations of her commonwealth. This is at the close of the reign of Elizabeth 2 after a rule of seventy years. Hebrews 3 and 4 bring us to the next section of the book. Christ is greater than Moses; and greater than Joshua. Neither of these great, divinely appointed men could bring faithful believers into the Promised Land; neither of them could bring them into the rest promised in Messiah's kingdom. Verses 1-5 of chapter 3 say that, despite Moses' greatness (he was the greatest man living in his era – Numbers 12 verses 1-7) he was, still after all, only “a servant in God's house”. What a contrast to our Lord Jesus Christ, who is as God's Son the builder of the house (indeed, the builder of ALL things) and the heir, therefore, of the universe. And we, as part of that house, have an eternal inheritance providing we are, like Moses, faithful servants on that house. Chapter 3 verses 7-4 verses 13 explain that, “there is a rest that remains for the people of God”. Chapter 3 verses 7-11 are a word for word quotation from Psalm 95 verses 8-11. The incident being referred to is found in Exodus 17 verses 1-7 at a place called both Massah and Meribah. It was the place where Israel strove contentiously with God. The place where Moses strikes the rock upon God's command and out gushed water, as a river that follows Israel during their wandering in the wilderness for the greater part of 40 years. Then the water stops and Israel again grumble and ask if God is among them. Moses, out of frustration, for the second time strikes the rock ie almost 40 years after the first time. Moses claims glory for bringing water from the rock (1 Corinthians 10 tells us that rock was Christ). The place is renamed “temptation”,or in the Hebrew “Meribah” hence the references in Exodus 17; Psalm 95; Psalm 78 verses :20-22, 41; Hebrews10 verses 26-29. The two incidents 40 years apart serve as a summary of the nation's attitude during their wanderings. The great lesson for Israel, and for us, is that, although God showed patience, it is limited to while “Today” still exists. Indeed even after Joshua (Greek “Jesus”) brings the nation into the Promised Land, ie the very Land that Moses is forbidden entry, because he struck the rock on the 2nd occasion; neither Moses, or Joshua could give them the kingdom rest. That task remains for a greater “Joshua”, ie Jesus (the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua) who will give faithful believers a thousand years (Millennial) rest (Greek “the keeping of a sabbath rest” ie on the Biblical principle of a day for a thousand years see 2 Peter 3 verses 8-9). The writer says we need to keep working now that God may grant you that rest. How powerful and inspiring are the words from verse 12, “God's Word is living and energetic; and is discerning of our thoughts and intentions”. It can, if we let it, separate us from what is sensual and fleshly; and it can direct us into the paths of God. Chapter 4 verses 16 to chapter 5 verses 10 introduces us to our great High Priest – the Lord Jesus Christ. In chapter 4 verses 16-18 Jesus, because of his righteous life, has passed through the heavens. And like us, Jesus has been tested in all respects just as we have been (1 John 2 verses 15-17). Yet unlike us he has never sinned. But in his suffering through trials he understands and sympathises with our temptations; and is able to aid us (as our intercessor) in the needy times of our lives. Chapter 5 verses 1-10 both compares our Lord Jesus Christ with Aaron; and also shows Christ to be superior to Aaron in every respect of his priesthood. Chapter 5 verses 11 to chapter 6:12 warns against apostasy. Chapter 5 verses 11-14 makes an appeal for the Hebrew readers to open their dull ears, so that they might respond to God's Word. These readers who have been in the Truth for many years were as though they needed the milk of God's Word once more; and had failed to progress to meat (which should happen naturally as we grow). The listeners needed to be strengthened to practise righteousness (Greek word for “exercised” AV is “to train in the gymnasium”. Audio Player      

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;    let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;    let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!3 For the Lord is a great God,    and a great King above all gods.4 In his hand are the depths of the earth;    the heights of the mountains are his also.5 The sea is his, for he made it,    and his hands formed the dry land.6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down;    let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!7 For he is our God,    and we are the people of his pasture,    and the sheep of his hand.Today, if you hear his voice,8     do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,    as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,9 when your fathers put me to the test    and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.10 For forty years I loathed that generation    and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart,    and they have not known my ways.”11 Therefore I swore in my wrath,    “They shall not enter my rest.”

“Grace for Grumblers”Exodus 17:1-7 [ESV]1 All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” 3 But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” 4 So Moses cried to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5 And the Lord said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”CONNECT WITH USIf you have any questions or would like to get to know us further, head over to https://www.triumphlbc.org/connect and fill out our online connection card.ABOUT TRIUMPHTriumph wants to see the life and message of Jesus transform your heart, home, and city. To learn more visit https://www.triumphlbc.org/

“God On Trial”Exodus 17:1-7 [ESV]1 All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” 3 But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” 4 So Moses cried to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5 And the Lord said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”CONNECT WITH USIf you have any questions or would like to get to know us further, head over to https://www.triumphlbc.org/connect and fill out our online connection card.ABOUT TRIUMPHTriumph wants to see the life and message of Jesus transform your heart, home, and city. To learn more visit https://www.triumphlbc.org/

Key Verse: Psalm 95:7b–8 - Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness

For today’s installment of our 40 Days Meditation series, our brother Martin Steinbereithner provides commentary on Num 20: 1-13; 21:4-9. Listen below, download here, or search for Words from the Brothers on your favourite podcasting app. And the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. And Miriam died there and was buried there. Now there was no water for the congregation. And they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. And the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord! Why have you brought the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle? And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.” Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them, and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.” And Moses took the staff from before the Lord, as he commanded him. Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarreled with the Lord, and through them he showed himself holy. From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live. Num 20: 1-13; 21:4-9

What does it truly mean to honor the name of God, and how can we ensure we're not taking it in vain? These profound questions guide us through an exploration rooted in scripture, featuring insights from Psalms and Exodus. Join us, along with Jamie Luce—author of "You Don't Need Money, You Just Need God"—as we delve into the significance of God's name and the eternal power it holds. We'll touch on the rich tradition within Jewish culture of safeguarding God's name and reveal how this informs our understanding of ascribing glory where it is due. In this episode, Jamie Luce shares compelling insights from her book, highlighting the importance of divine provision and obedience. In a world often obsessed with financial success, we're reminded that true reliance should be placed on God. With examples from Moses' journey and the Israelites, we uncover the consequences of misrepresenting God's will and how disobedience might block God's intended blessings. This discussion serves as a timely reminder to represent God accurately and adhere to His guidance amidst today's challenges. Our conversation takes a critical turn as we examine the pitfalls of misrepresentation and false prophecy. We investigate the dangers of twisting scripture to suit personal agendas and emphasize the importance of maintaining the integrity of God's word. With examples like Paul's encounter with a possessed girl, the episode highlights the risks of exploiting spirituality for personal gain and the power that lies within our speech. It's a call to action for all believers to speak with integrity, ensuring our words reflect a life aligned with biblical principles. Where to dive in: (0:00:10) - The Power of God's Name The significance of using the Lord's name in vain, its power, and the importance of honoring and respecting it. (0:10:32) - Misrepresentation in Disobedience Divine provision and obedience to God's instructions, as seen in Moses' experience with the Israelites at Meribah. (0:24:43) - Guarding Against Misrepresentation and False Prophecy Interpreting God's word without bias, avoiding misuse of prophetic claims, and staying true to biblical teachings. (0:33:24) - The Impact of Our Speech Controlling our words reflects our character and relationship with God, avoiding harmful speech and focusing on thankfulness and integrity. About your host: Jaime Luce' testimony has daunting personal mountains and treacherous financial valleys. She was trapped in day-to-day stress and couldn't see a way forward. But how she started is not how she finished! And she wants you to know God has a plan for your life too, no matter how tough it seems. Today, Jaime has been married to the love of her life for almost three decades, owns two companies, and has become an author and podcaster. God's way is always the blessed way! Free chapter of Jaime's new book: You Don't Need Money, You Just Need God: https://jaimeluce.com/book/ Connect: - Website: https://jaimeluce.com - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaime.luces.page - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaime_luce/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaime-luce-00395691/

When we last left Israel, they had just prostituted themselves with the women of Moab as an act of Baal worship. The Lord sent a plague among them that was only stopped when Phinehas impaled a fornicating couple through with his spear. In the wake of this tragic display of unfaithfulness, the Lord tells Moses in today's reading that he will soon die because he didn't obey the Lord's command at the water of Meribah. The Lord gives Moses directions on how he should pass the mantle of leadership on to Joshua, son of Nun. But first, we continue where we left off with the census that will establish how the Israelites are to divide the land once they cross the Jordan. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Reading IExodus 17:3-7In those days, in their thirst for water,the people grumbled against Moses,saying, “Why did you ever make us leave Egypt?Was it just to have us die here of thirst with our children and our livestock?”So Moses cried out to the LORD, “What shall I do with this people?a little more and they will stone me!”The LORD answered Moses,“Go over there in front of the people, along with some of the elders of Israel, holding in your hand, as you go, the staff with which you struck the river.I will be standing there in front of you on the rock in Horeb.Strike the rock, and the water will flow from it for the people to drink.”This Moses did, in the presence of the elders of Israel.The place was called Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled thereand tested the LORD, saying,“Is the LORD in our midst or not?”Reading IIRomans 5:1-2, 5-8Brothers and sisters:Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God.And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.For Christ, while we were still helpless, died at the appointed time for the ungodly.Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die.But God proves his love for usin that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.GospelJohn 4:5-42Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.Jacob's well was there.Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well.It was about noon.A woman of Samaria came to draw water.Jesus said to her,“Give me a drink.”His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.The Samaritan woman said to him,“How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?”—For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.—Jesus answered and said to her,“If you knew the gift of Godand who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink, ‘you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”The woman said to him, “Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep; where then can you get this living water?Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself with his children and his flocks?”Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in hima spring of water welling up to eternal life.”The woman said to him,“Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”Jesus said to her,“Go call your husband and come back.”The woman answered and said to him,“I do not have a husband.”Jesus answered her,“You are right in saying, ‘I do not have a husband.'For you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband.What you have said is true.”The woman said to him,“Sir, I can see that you are a prophet.Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.”Jesus said to her,“Believe me, woman, the hour is comingwhen you will worship the Fatherneither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.You people worship what you do not understand; we worship what we understand, because salvation is from the Jews.But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him.God is Spirit, and those who worship himmust worship in Spirit and truth.”The woman said to him,“I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ; when he comes, he will tell us everything.”Jesus said to her,“I am he, the one speaking with you.”At that moment his disciples returned, and were amazed that he was talking with a woman, but still no one said, “What are you looking for?” or “Why are you talking with her?”The woman left her water jar and went into the town and said to the people, “Come see a man who told me everything I have done.Could he possibly be the Christ?”They went out of the town and came to him.Meanwhile, the disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat.”But he said to them,“I have food to eat of which you do not know.”So the disciples said to one another, “Could someone have brought him something to eat?”Jesus said to them,“My food is to do the will of the one who sent meand to finish his work.Do you not say, ‘In four months the harvest will be here'?I tell you, look up and see the fields ripe for the harvest.The reaper is already receiving payment and gathering crops for eternal life, so that the sower and reaper can rejoice together.For here the saying is verified that ‘One sows and another reaps.'I sent you to reap what you have not worked for; others have done the work, and you are sharing the fruits of their work.” Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in himbecause of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me everything I have done.”When the Samaritans came to him,they invited him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days.Many more began to believe in him because of his word, and they said to the woman, “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.”

In this powerful episode, Alex unpacks Jesus' warning against religious pride and self-promotion, drawing parallels to Moses' mistake at the waters of Meribah. Through biblical insight and practical application, this message challenges listeners to examine their hearts and embrace true servant leadership in the pattern of Christ.Whether you're a church leader or simply seeking to grow in your faith journey, this episode offers timely wisdom on the dangers of self-exaltation and the freedom found in humility.Episode Outline:Introduction (00:00-01:01)* Welcome to Amen Podcast* Topic introduction: Making disciples of Jesus, not ourselves* Scripture reading: Matthew 23:1-7The Consequence of Self-Exaltation (01:25-05:29)* The story of Moses striking the rock (Numbers 20:10-13)* God's response: "You did not trust me to demonstrate my holiness"* Moses' desire for honor instead of pointing people to God* The cost of Moses' pride: not entering the Promised LandJesus Confronts Religious Leaders (05:30-10:11)* Setting: Holy Week before Jesus' arrest and crucifixion* Jesus addresses crowds and disciples about scribes and Pharisees* The "chair of Moses" and its authority* "Do what they say, not what they do"The Burden of Religious Performance (10:12-14:55)* How religious leaders burden people but won't help them* Seeking to be seen by others, not by God* Explanation of phylacteries and tassels* Enlarging religious symbols to appear more spiritual* Seeking honor, best seats, and special titlesThe Path of Humility (14:56-20:00)* Jesus' warning: "Don't be called rabbi, father, or instructor"* "The greatest among you will be your servant"* "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled"* God's grace to Moses despite his failure* Joshua (Jesus) as the true leader into the Promised LandApplication for Today (20:01-33:13)* The danger of seeking honor in Christian spaces* The authenticity of house church vs. performance-based Christianity* How religious rules can become burdens* Being careful of spiritual pride and works-based religion* Finding joy in service rather than recognitionClosing (33:13-end)* Prayer* Q&A invitation: "What is your amen?"* Final thoughts on burdens vs. freedom in Christhttps://amenpodcast.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amenpodcast.substack.com

In this powerful episode, Alex unpacks Jesus' warning against religious pride and self-promotion, drawing parallels to Moses' mistake at the waters of Meribah. Through biblical insight and practical application, this message challenges listeners to examine their hearts and embrace true servant leadership in the pattern of Christ.Whether you're a church leader or simply seeking to grow in your faith journey, this episode offers timely wisdom on the dangers of self-exaltation and the freedom found in humility.Episode Outline:Introduction (00:00-01:01)* Welcome to Amen Podcast* Topic introduction: Making disciples of Jesus, not ourselves* Scripture reading: Matthew 23:1-7The Consequence of Self-Exaltation (01:25-05:29)* The story of Moses striking the rock (Numbers 20:10-13)* God's response: "You did not trust me to demonstrate my holiness"* Moses' desire for honor instead of pointing people to God* The cost of Moses' pride: not entering the Promised LandJesus Confronts Religious Leaders (05:30-10:11)* Setting: Holy Week before Jesus' arrest and crucifixion* Jesus addresses crowds and disciples about scribes and Pharisees* The "chair of Moses" and its authority* "Do what they say, not what they do"The Burden of Religious Performance (10:12-14:55)* How religious leaders burden people but won't help them* Seeking to be seen by others, not by God* Explanation of phylacteries and tassels* Enlarging religious symbols to appear more spiritual* Seeking honor, best seats, and special titlesThe Path of Humility (14:56-20:00)* Jesus' warning: "Don't be called rabbi, father, or instructor"* "The greatest among you will be your servant"* "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled"* God's grace to Moses despite his failure* Joshua (Jesus) as the true leader into the Promised LandApplication for Today (20:01-33:13)* The danger of seeking honor in Christian spaces* The authenticity of house church vs. performance-based Christianity* How religious rules can become burdens* Being careful of spiritual pride and works-based religion* Finding joy in service rather than recognitionClosing (33:13-end)* Prayer* Q&A invitation: "What is your amen?"* Final thoughts on burdens vs. freedom in Christhttps://amenpodcast.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amenpodcast.substack.com

Numbers - Ordinance of the Red Heifer, Death of Miriam, The Water of Meribah, Death of Aaron, Arad Conquered, The Bronze Serpent, Two Victories

For today’s installment of our 40 Days Meditation series, our brother Philip Morrison provides commentary on Ex 17:1-16. Listen below, download here, or search for Words from the Brothers on your favourite podcasting app. All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” And the Lord said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord Is My Banner, saying, “A hand upon the throne of the Lord! The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” Ex 17:1-16

When we last left Israel, they had just prostituted themselves with the women of Moab as an act of Baal worship. The Lord sent a plague among them that was only stopped when Phinehas impaled a fornicating couple through with his spear. In the wake of this tragic display of unfaithfulness, the Lord tells Moses that he will soon die because he didn't obey the Lord's command at the water of Meribah. Later, the Lord prepares Moses for his death, giving directions on how Moses would pass the mantle of leadership on to Joshua, son of Nun. But first, we begin with a census that will establish how the Israelites are to divide the land once they cross the Jordan.Numbers 26 – 1:13 . Numbers 27 – 10:23 . Numbers 28 – 14:01 . Numbers 29 – 19:10 . Psalm 36 – 25:04 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Numbers 27 is a significant chapter in the Book of Numbers, containing two key events: the appeal of the daughters of Zelophehad for inheritance rights and the appointment of Joshua as Moses' successor. The Daughters of Zelophehad (Numbers 27:1-11) The chapter begins with the case of Zelophehad's daughters—Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah—who approach Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of Israel. Their father, Zelophehad, had died in the wilderness without sons, and under the existing inheritance laws, his family line would have lost its portion of land. The daughters argue that their father should not be penalized simply because he had no male heirs. Moses brings their case before the Lord, and God affirms their request, establishing a new precedent in Israelite law. God commands that if a man dies without a son, his inheritance should pass to his daughters. If there are no daughters, it should go to his brothers, then to his father's brothers, and finally to the nearest relative. This ruling ensures that family inheritances remain within the tribe, setting an important legal precedent for Israel. Joshua Appointed as Moses' Successor (Numbers 27:12-23) The second part of the chapter deals with Moses' impending death. God tells Moses to ascend Mount Abarim and view the Promised Land, which he will not enter due to his previous disobedience at Meribah (Numbers 20:8-12). Aware that Israel will need a strong leader, Moses requests that God appoint a new leader to guide and protect the people. God instructs Moses to lay hands on Joshua, son of Nun, a man filled with the Spirit. Moses is to publicly commission Joshua before Eleazar the priest and the congregation, signifying the transfer of authority. However, unlike Moses, who spoke directly with God, Joshua will seek divine guidance through Eleazar, who will use the Urim to determine God's will. Themes and Significance 1.Justice and Fairness in Inheritance: The story of Zelophehad's daughters highlights God's concern for justice and equity. It also marks an early instance of legal rights for women in biblical history. 2.Leadership Transition: The appointment of Joshua underscores the importance of orderly succession in leadership. Moses, though a great leader, acknowledges the need for a successor, emphasizing humility and obedience to God's will. 3.Obedience to God's Commands: The chapter reinforces the importance of obedience, as Moses is reminded of the consequences of his previous actions at Meribah. Numbers 27 serves as a pivotal chapter in Israel's journey, setting legal precedents and preparing for a new era of leadership under Joshua.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sendme-radio--732966/support.

Fr. Mike describes the miracle of the waters of Meribah that God performs for his people in the wilderness. He also explains the logic behind the laws God gives his people to restore their morality as they learn to live in relationship with each other. Today we read Numbers 19-20, Deuteronomy 21, and Psalm 100. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Exodus 17 – Water from the Rock and Victory Over Amalek Exodus 17 is a crucial chapter in Israel's journey through the wilderness, showcasing God's provision and power. It highlights two key events: the miraculous provision of water from the rock at Rephidim and Israel's victory over the Amalekites through divine intervention. After leaving the Wilderness of Sin, the Israelites camped at Rephidim, where they found no water to drink. The people quarreled with Moses, demanding water, and accused him of bringing them out of Egypt to die of thirst. Moses, distressed by their complaints, cried out to the Lord. God instructed him to take his staff—the same one used to part the Red Sea—and strike the rock at Horeb. When Moses did so, water gushed out, providing for the people. This place was named Massah (testing) and Meribah (quarreling) because the Israelites tested the Lord by questioning whether He was among them. Soon after, the Amalekites attacked Israel at Rephidim. Moses instructed Joshua to choose men and go out to fight, while he stood on a hill with the staff of God in his hand. As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed, but when he lowered them, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Seeing this, Aaron and Hur supported Moses by holding up his hands until sunset, ensuring Israel's victory. After the battle, God commanded Moses to write the event down as a memorial and declared that He would blot out Amalek's memory from under heaven. Moses built an altar and named it Jehovah-Nissi, meaning “The Lord is my banner,” signifying God's power and protection over Israel. Exodus 17 teaches profound lessons about God's faithfulness and the importance of trust, obedience, and intercession. The provision of water illustrates that God sustains His people even when circumstances seem impossible, pointing to Jesus as the ultimate “rock” from which living water flows (1 Corinthians 10:4). The battle against Amalek demonstrates that victory comes not merely through human effort but through dependence on God. The image of Moses' upheld hands symbolizes prayer and intercession, highlighting the need for spiritual perseverance and communal support. This chapter encourages believers to trust in God's provision, rely on His strength in battles, and uphold one another in faith.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sendme-radio--732966/support.

Join us on Patreon for Daily Prayer Matins - Friday after Ash WednesdayIn the Name of the Father and of + the Son and of the Holy Spirit.Amen.The Invitatory and PsalterLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.O God, make speed to save us;O Lord, make haste to help us. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,world without end. AmenPraise the Lord;The Lord's name be praised ¶ Then follows the Invitatory Psalm with a Lenten antiphon.  Lenten AntiphonThe Lord is full of compassion and mercy: Come let us adore him. VeniteCome, let us sing to the Lord; * let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, * and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, * and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God,and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. * Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!Harden not your hearts,as your forebears did in the wilderness, *at Meribah, and on that day at Massah,when they tempted me.They put me to the test, * though they had seen my works.Forty years long I detested that generation and said, * "This people are wayward in their hearts;they do not know my ways.”So I swore in my wrath, * "They shall not enter into my rest.”Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,world without end. Amen Lenten AntiphonThe Lord is full of compassion and mercy: Come let us adore him. The PsalmsAntiphon 1They gave me gall to eat, and when I was thirsty they gave me vinegar to drink. Psalm 69:1-23Save me, O God, for the waters have risen up to my neck.I am sinking in deep mire, and there is no firm ground for my feet.I have come into deep waters, and the torrent washes over me.I have grown weary with my crying; my throat is inflamed; my eyes have failed from looking for my God.Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; my lying foes who would destroy me are mighty. Must I then give back what I never stole?O God, you know my foolishness, and my faults are not hidden from you.Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, Lord God of hosts; let not those who seek you be disgraced because of me, O God of Israel.Surely, for your sake have I suffered reproach, and shame has covered my face.I have become a stranger to my own kindred, an alien to my mother's children.Zeal for your house has eaten me up; the scorn of those who scorn you has fallen upon me.I humbled myself with fasting, but that was turned to my reproach.I put on sack-cloth also, and became a byword among them.Those who sit at the gate murmur against me, and the drunkards make songs about me.But as for me, this is my prayer to you, at the time you have set, O Lord:“In your great mercy, O God, answer me with your unfailing help.Save me from the mire; do not let me sink; let me be rescued from those who hate me and out of the deep waters.Let not the torrent of waters wash over me, neither let the deep swallow me up; do not let the Pit shut its mouth upon me.Answer me, O Lord, for your love is kind; in your great compassion, turn to me.”“Hide not your face from your servant; be swift and answer me, for I am in distress.Draw near to me and redeem me; because of my enemies deliver me.You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor; my adversaries are all in your sight.”Reproach has broken my heart, and it cannot be healed; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I could find no one.They gave me gall to eat, and when I was thirsty, they gave me vinegar to drink. Antiphon 1They gave me gall to eat, and when I was thirsty they gave me vinegar to drink.Antiphon 2Christ for us became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Psalm 117Praise the Lord, all you nations; laud him, all you peoples.For his loving-kindness toward us is great, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for ever. Hallelujah! Antiphon 2Christ for us became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,world without end. Amen ReadingsRomans 15English Standard VersionWe who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,    and sing to your name.”And again it is said,“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”And again,“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,    and let all the peoples extol him.”And again Isaiah says,“The root of Jesse will come,    even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;in him will the Gentiles hope.”May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, but as it is written,“Those who have never been told of him will see,    and those who have never heard will understand.”This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you. I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.The Word of the LordThanks be to God Matthew 25:1-30English Standard Version“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.' But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.' His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.' His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.' But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'The Word of the LordThanks be to God Canticle #14 A Song of PenitenceO Lord and Ruler of the hosts of heaven, * God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of all their righteous offspring:You made the heavens and the earth, * with all their vast array.All things quake with fear at your presence; *they tremble because of your power.But your merciful promise is beyond all measure; * it surpasses all that our minds can fathom.O Lord, you are full of compassion, *long-suffering, and abounding in mercy.You hold back your hand; *you do not punish as we deserve.In your great goodness, Lord,you have promised forgiveness to sinners, *that they may repent of their sin and be saved.And now, O Lord, I bend the knee of my heart, *and make my appeal, sure of your gracious goodness.I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, *and I know my wickedness only too well.Therefore I make this prayer to you: *Forgive me, Lord, forgive me.Do not let me perish in my sin, * nor condemn me to the depths of the earth.For you, O Lord, are the God of those who repent, * and in me you will show forth your goodness.Unworthy as I am, you will save me,in accordance with your great mercy, *and I will praise you without ceasing all the days of my life.For all the powers of heaven sing your praises, * and yours is the glory to ages of ages. Amen. The Apostles' CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersThe Lord be with you.And with your spirit.Let us pray.Lord, have mercy upon us.Christ, have mercy upon us.Lord, have mercy upon us.Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. SuffragesShow us your mercy, O Lord;And grant us your salvation.Clothe your ministers with righteousness;Let your people sing with joy.Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;For only in you can we live in safety.Lord, keep this nation under your care;And guide us in the way of justice and truth.Let your way be known upon earth;Your saving health among all nations.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O God;And sustain us with your Holy Spirit. The CollectsCollect of the DayAlmighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceLord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Prayer for MissionLord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. A time for intercessions and thanksgivings may follow. A Prayer of St. ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.Let us bless the Lord.Thanks be to God.May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.Romans 15:13

Matins - The Monday Before LentIn the Name of the Father and of + the Son and of the Holy Spirit.Amen. The Invitatory and PsalterLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.O God, make speed to save us;O Lord, make haste to help us. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,world without end. AmenPraise the Lord;The Lord's name be praised ¶ Then follows the Invitatory Psalm with a Lenten antiphon.  Lenten AntiphonThe Lord is full of compassion and mercy: Come let us adore him.VeniteCome, let us sing to the Lord; * let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, * and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, * and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God,and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. * Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!Harden not your hearts,as your forebears did in the wilderness, *at Meribah, and on that day at Massah,when they tempted me.They put me to the test, * though they had seen my works.Forty years long I detested that generation and said, * "This people are wayward in their hearts;they do not know my ways.”So I swore in my wrath, * "They shall not enter into my rest.”Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,world without end. AmenLenten AntiphonThe Lord is full of compassion and mercy: Come let us adore him. The PsalmsAntiphon 1In the time of my trouble, I will call upon you, O Lord. Psalm 86:6-17Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer, and attend to the voice of my supplications.In the time of my trouble I will call upon you, for you will answer me.Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord,  nor anything like your works.All nations you have made will come and worship you, O Lord, and glorify your Name.For you are great; you do wondrous things;  and you alone are God.Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth;  knit my heart to you that I may fear your Name.I will thank you, O Lord my God, with all my heart,  and glorify your Name for evermore.For great is your love toward me;  you have delivered me from the nethermost Pit.The arrogant rise up against me, O God, and a band of violent men seeks my life;  they have not set you before their eyes.But you, O Lord, are gracious and full of compassion,  slow to anger, and full of kindness and truth.Turn to me and have mercy upon me;  give your strength to your servant;  and save the child of your handmaid.Show me a sign of your favor, so that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed;  because you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me. Antiphon 1In the time of my trouble, I will cal upon you, O Lord.Antiphon 2Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God, and worship him upon his holy hill. Psalm 99The Lord is King; let the people tremble;  he is enthroned upon the cherubim;  let the earth shake.The Lord is great in Zion;  he is high above all peoples.Let them confess his Name, which is great and awesome;  he is the Holy One."O mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity;  you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob."Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God and fall down before his footstool;  he is the Holy One.Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among those who call upon his Name,  they called upon the Lord, and he answered them.He spoke to them out of the pillar of cloud;  they kept his testimonies and the decree that he gave them.“O Lord our God, you answered them indeed;  you were a God who forgave them,  yet punished them for their evil deeds.”Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God and worship him upon his holy hill;  for the Lord our God is the Holy One.Antiphon 2Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God, and worship him upon his holy hill.Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,world without end. Amen ReadingsRomans 12English Standard Version12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.The Word of the LordThanks be to God Matthew 23:13-39English Standard Version13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.' 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, 30 saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' 31 Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? 34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, 35 so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38 See, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'”The Word of the LordThanks be to God Canticle #9 The First Song of IsaiahSurely, it is God who saves me; * I will trust in him and not be afraid.For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, * and he will be my Savior.Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing * from the springs of salvation.And on that day you shall say, * Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;Make his deeds known among the peoples; * see that they remember that his Name is exalted.Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things, * and this is known in all the world.Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy, * for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,world without end. Amen The Apostles' CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersThe Lord be with you.And with your spirit.Let us pray.Lord, have mercy upon us.Christ, have mercy upon us.Lord, have mercy upon us.Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. SuffragesShow us your mercy, O Lord;And grant us your salvation.Clothe your ministers with righteousness;Let your people sing with joy.Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;For only in you can we live in safety.Lord, keep this nation under your care;And guide us in the way of justice and truth.Let your way be known upon earth;Your saving health among all nations.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O God;And sustain us with your Holy Spirit. The CollectsCollect of the DayO Lord, you have taught us that whatever we do without love is worth nothing; Send your Holy Spirit, and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love, the very bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whoever lives is counted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ. Amen.A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceLord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Prayer for MissionLord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen.A time for intercessions and thanksgivings may follow. A Prayer of St. ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.Let us bless the Lord.Thanks be to God. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.Romans 15:13

The Treehouse: Sketches of the Millennial Kingdom If this is your first newsletter, you've jumped into the last of a four-part series that began with The Gift Horse, Watch the Smoke, and Wetter than Water. Click on the links to start at the beginning. In last week's teaching, we concluded with these mysterious statements concerning the striking of the Rock Messiah in the wilderness: ·     “Tell Aaron and his sons to be careful with the holy gifts of the sons of Israel, which they dedicate to Me, so as not to profane My holy name; I am the LORD.” (Le 22:2) ·     “'...for in the wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to treat Me as holy before their eyes at the water.' These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.” (Nu 27:14) The water, the text says, “came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank.” (Nu 20:11) The English translation of “abundantly” is from the Hebrew rav [rabim H7227] which has several meanings. Among its first uses in Scripture, we have context of a quarrel, which emphasizes that it was not only the people who were quarreling, but the water, too. Messiah had a beef with the situation, and he demonstrated it with how he yielded the waters: ·     Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Ge 6:5) ·     In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day all the fountains of the great deep burst open, and the floodgates of the sky were opened. (Ge 7:11) ·     And the land could not sustain them while dwelling together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to remain together. (Ge 13:6) The first two examples above are of The Holy One's quarrel with mankind, and the third is of the quarrel between the shepherds of Avraham and Lot. If Messiah's reaction to being struck by Moses and Aaron was quarrelsome water, it sounds as if it wasn't a gently flowing stream! It was a real gusher. From the sentence imposed on Moses and Aaron, the implication is that the quarrel was with their actions in striking instead of speaking. Striking instead of teaching holiness. But what was the reason Messiah withheld water after Miriam's death? Was he, too, joining with them in mourning? Was he giving the royal priesthood an opportunity to rise to a more intimate level with him? For them to understand that the Word in their mouths also had power to restore the plants, heal, and sanctify in the Bridegroom's Name? Perhaps Messiah wanted the Israelites to speak to him about restoring their holy gifts by the stream, yet they were conditioned to look to their leadership. The text says only that “the people drank.” That wasn't their first concern, remember? It was the miraculous plants and the purifying stream of water for a royal priesthood. They mentioned drinking water for themselves and their beasts only last. The natural earthly realm was literally the least of their worries. Let's tie this in with the River of Life in the millennium: ·     “In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth will be the pride and the adornment of the survivors of Israel.” (Is 4:5) The Branch of YHVH is Messiah Yeshua, the Rock in the wilderness. Because of the Branch and miraculous water, miraculous Edenic plants grew on the banks of the stream: orchards, spices, and vineyards on a heavenly timetable, not earthly. If not overnight, then within a month of the camp's settlement. Israel is prophetic of the world to come. She is uniting realms that have been disconnected since the fall from the Garden. In the wilderness, they came very close to Eden as demonstrated by the manna, ever-wear garments and sandals,

Psalm 81 WorksheetAs we read Psalm 81, look for clues about what this Psalm was written for. Also look for the place the Psalm switches to God being the one speaking.Asaph's call to Festival worship V. 1-3The opening 3 verses have ______ commands calling the people to the praise of the Festival, making this a Praise psalm.When Jacob is used for Israel instead of Israel, it is often a not so subtle _________________________ of where they came from – sinful Jacob became Israel because of what God had done in his life.Jacob's name can mean to be behind or supplanter. It was given to him at birth when he grabbed his twin brother's heel in the womb as they came out; That's a great name for one who later wrestled with God and had his name changed to Israel, which means “one who struggles with God.” The root consonant of ‘struggle' in Hebrew is SYR; For Israel it is ‘YSR.'Israel's lunar calendar meant their festivals coincided with moon ________________. The new moon was by definition the first of the month.Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifice of your peace offerings; and they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am the LORD your God. -Numbers 10:10Yahweh's _________________________ of His deliverance V. 4-7Verses 4-5 seem to confirm the statute referred to is the ______________________ Festival, since it was actually commanded before they actually left Egypt (Exodus 12). That would mean “He” going throughout the land of Egypt would be a reference to the LORD's judgment in the tenth plague.The reference to Joseph in verse 5 seems to be a reference to Joseph's role in preserving Jacob's sons/ Joseph's brothers in Egypt during the famine described at the end of Joseph. Alternatively, it could mean this Psalm was written with the Northern tribes in mind during the time of the divided kingdom (922-722 B.C.) That would mean the Psalm is urging the north not to reject God's design for the entire country.Verse 7 covers the time that Israel wandered for 40 years in the wilderness. God led them, even though they were often stubborn and ungrateful. Time after time He delivered them and answered them “thunderously.” They tested Him and He proved Himself faithful and holy. He tested them and they showed themselves ______________________ and sinful.These are the waters of Meribah, where the people quarreled with the LORD, and through them He showed Himself holy. -Numbers 20:13Yahweh's ___________________________ to His people V. 8-16In verses 8-9 God reminds Israel of the call in the 10 commands to worship Him alone, not ________________________.In verse 10 God is telling them that He delivered them in the past, and provided for their needs – He is the _________________________ God who did that!Verse 11 has to be among the saddest statements in the Bible. No doubt they wanted God's protection and blessing, but they didn't want God _______________________. I wonder how many professing Christians that is also true about.Where in the New Testament do we read the words, “God gave them over?”___________________________God's judgment of sin begins by letting people do the sinful things they are bound and determined to do, and experience the built-in ___________________________ of those sins.Proverbs 14:12God makes clear in verse 14 that if they return to Him He will take care of their ___________________.Verse 15 is a good Old Testament verse for the _______________________ punishment of the those who don't turn to God.The Psalm ends with an additional blessing promised – If people listen to God, turn back to Him, and walk in His ways, He won't just take care of their troubles but He will provide for their needs, fully _________________________ them.

In Episode #624, titled “What Eli, Moses, and Saul Teach Us About Leadership Transitions,” we delve into the intricate dynamics of leadership changes, drawing on the biblical narratives of Eli, Moses, and Saul. These stories provide profound insights into the challenges and necessities of leadership transitions, emphasizing accountability, trust, and alignment with God's will. We explore Eli's lack of accountability that led to his downfall, Moses' struggle with trust at Meribah and his preparation of Joshua for leadership, and Saul's failure due to impatience and disobedience contrasted with David's heart for God. This episode unpacks these transformative biblical lessons to equip today's leaders with the wisdom to handle transitions with grace and effectiveness, ensuring they are not only successful in their time but also prepare the ground for those who will follow.

Rabbinic Intern Aviva Frank's Shabbat Teaching at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, February 1, 2025. Due to technical difficulties, only the last 11 minutes of the class are available. (Youtube/Zoom) Special Guest: Aviva Frank.

All people want to be happy. I have spent a lot of time with people as a pastor, and the majority of couples and individuals who met with me over the years did so because they longed to be happy. It is also true that the motivation for couples seeking marriage or divorce, the desire for a new job or the determination to quit a job, what led to substance abuse or a willingness to break an addiction is all the same: the desire to be happy. In fact, there have been people who claimed to be Christians who sought marriage, divorce, drugs, freedom from addiction, debt, and freedom from debt out of the belief that God wanted them to be happy. How about you? Do you believe God wants you to be happy? Do you believe that the ends justify the means to achieve and experience the happiness you believe God wants for you? Maybe you are asking any one of the following questions: I am unhappy where I live, if I have the means to do so, can I move so that I can be happier? I am tired of driving the same old car, should I buy a new one that will make me happier? I feel unfulfilled where I work, can I look for a new job that will fill my day with a little more joy? I feel ignored and taken for granted in my marriage, my spouse does not meet my needs, I am unhappy, our children are miserable because we are miserable... something needs to change so that we can be happy. So here is what I want to do with the time we have left. I want to show you from the Bible three things: God expects you to seek happiness. God commands you to pursue your joy. Finding your joy/happiness is possible. By answering the above three questions, I hope that you will have a clear and biblical understanding as to whether God wants you to be happy. God Expects You to Seek Happiness (vv. 1-5) Let me begin by stating that in Psalm 95 alone, the word joy is repeated three times in the first two verses: sing for joy..., shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation, shout joyfully to Him in songs with instruments. But Psalm 95 is not the only place where such language is used; consider the language from the Bible: Delight yourself... (Ps. 37:4) Rejoice... (Phil. 4:4) Rejoice always... (1 Thess. 5:16) Let us rejoice and be glad... (Ps. 118:24) But where is it that God expects us to find our joy? Again, consider the same above verses: Delight yourself in the Lord... (Ps. 37:4) Rejoice in the Lord always... (Phil. 4:4) Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess. 5:16-18) This is the day which the Lord has made, lets us rejoice and be glad in it. (Ps. 118:24) Is our happiness only to be found in God? What about verses like Ecclesiastes 9:9, does it not tell us to enjoy life while we have it? Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your futile life which He has given you under the sun, all the days of your futility; for this is your reward in life and in your work which you have labored under the sun. Yes and no. Consider the first two verses of Psalm 19 and what it says about creation: The heavens tell of the glory of God; and their expanse declares the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. The heavens are what God created, and like your wife whom you love, like the life you enjoy, and everything else... it all points to the glory of the Creator! The reason why Psalm 95 begins with these words: Come, lets sing for joy to the Lord, lets shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Lets come before His presence with a song of thanksgiving, lets shout joyfully to Him in songs with instruments is because He is the giver of all good things! Why should we worship Yahweh? Because Psalm 95:3-5 is true of only Him: For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods, in whose hand are the depths of the earth, the peaks of the mountains are also His. The sea is His, for it was He who made it, and His hands formed the dry land. This is why, of the Ten Commandments, Jesus summed up the first four: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind (Matt. 22:37; see also Deut. 6:5; Exod. 20:1-11). Listen, God expects us to seek our joy, but not ultimately in His good gifts but in the giver who gave those good gifts... namely God Himself. In fact C.S. Lewis rightfully observed from reading his Bible that, Joy is the serious business of heaven.[1] God Commands You to Pursue Your Joy (vv. 6-7) Psalm 95 begins with an imperative, which is a command: Come, lets sing for joy... Why does He command us to pursue our joy? Because we exist for something greater than the good gifts of His creation. We exist because of Him and for Him! The second imperative in Psalm 95 begins with verse 6, Come, lets worship and bow down, lets kneel before the Lord our Maker. Why are we commanded to bow before God? Because He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand (v. 7). The command to pursue our joy is not that we find it in anything, but in the One who made all things. He is God, and by definition there is nothing and no one that is greater than He is. To look for or expect our happiness or joy to be primarily found in anything or anyone else will not only leave you empty and disappointed, but is to worship the gift over the Giver! To worship the gift over the Giver is to expect from the gift the thing that only the Giver, God, can provide. C.S. Lewis wrote in his book, Reflections on the Psalms, something that I have found helpful, so I will share it with you: I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed. It is frustrating to have discovered a new author and not to be able to tell anyone how good he is; to come suddenly, at the turn of the road, upon some mountain valley of unexpected grandeur and then to have to keep silent because the people with you care for it no more than for a tin can in the ditch; to hear a good joke and find no one to share it with. Do you hear what C.S. Lewis is saying? We praise what we value and care about and our delight is not complete until our delight is expressed. If it is true, that there is no greater beauty, reality, or person than the God who created all that is beautiful and good, true worship cannot be experienced unless it is directed at Him. This is why the Westminster Catechism is right to begin with these words: The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. But even on this point, C.S. Lewis made the following observation that helps us get a little closer to answering the question as to what kind of happiness God wants for us; here is what Lewis wrote: The Scotch catechism says that mans chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. But we shall then know that these are the same thing. To fully enjoy is to glorify. In commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy Him. John Piper took it one step further by swapping out the word and in the Westminster Catechism of Faith with the word by: The chief end of man is to glorify God byenjoying Him forever. God does expect us to seek our happiness, and He does command us to pursue our joy, but a happiness and a joy that is rooted in Him. If our happiness and joy is sought in anything other than God, it will not satisfy. However, if the pursuit of our happiness and joy is sought in Him, there will be a joy and happiness that will be rooted in a contentment in Him. This is how and why James 1:2-3 is only true for those who find their joy in Jesus Christ: Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Finding Your Joy/Happiness is Possible (vv. 8-10) So, does God want you to be happy? Yes, He wants you to be happy in Him! Does that mean that He wants you to leave your marriage because it does not make you happy? No! Does that mean you should leave your job because it does not make you happy? No. Does that mean you should get a new car because it does not make you happy? No, not necessarily. Why? Because your happiness and joy cannot ultimately be found in anything or anyone except the God who is your Maker. When we come to Psalm 95:8, there is a shift from the command to find your joy in God to Israels rebellion while they were in the wilderness, and more specifically, the Psalm refers to something that happened in Exodus 17:1-7 not long after God saved Israel from Pharoh and his army by parting the Red Sea. While in Egypt, Israel witnessed their God and Maker do mighty deeds that should have left little room to doubt His goodness and love for His people. Even though they had no reason to doubt Gods faithfulness to them, they still struggled to believe His faithfulness to them, so they complained: So the people quarreled with Moses and said, Give us water so that we may drink (Exod. 17:2)! Moses response gives us a glimpse into 40 years of Israel in the wilderness: Moses said to them, Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord? Throughout Israels existence, they were known for complaining and faithlessness towards God. Even after 40 years in the wilderness, God said of His people: Be appalled at this, you heavens, And shudder, be very desolate, declares the Lord. For My people have committed two evils: They have abandoned Me, the fountain of living waters, to carve out for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that do not hold water (Jer. 2:12-13). The great evil that Israel was guilty of was that She traded God for idols that could not satisfy. Consider another example from Isaiah 55:1-3 when God invited His people to turn away from the things that could not satisfy what they really needed: You there! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, according to the faithful mercies shown to David. So what happened in Exodus 17? Moses immediately brought Israels complaint before God out of a fear that they might eventually stone him to death. Moses asked, What am I to do with this people? (v. 4). Listen to the way God responded to Israels lack of faith and sin: Then the Lord said to Moses, Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel (17:5-6). In other words, God said to Moses: Moses, take your staff that ought to be used to strike Israel for their sins, and take your rod and strike the rock I will be standing on so that Israel will not die of thirst. In 1 Corinthians 10:1-4, the apostle Paul said that the rock Moses struck was a picture and example of what God would do to satisfy the thirst of all who desire to be satisfied. The rod of Gods judgment for our sin came down upon Jesus as the rock of our salvation! Paul said of the rock Moses struck: for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ (v. 4). Now, listen to what Jesus said in John 7:37-38, If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water. Psalm 95 begins with these words: Come, lets sing for joy to the Lord, lets shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Jesus is the rock of our salvation! Again, Psalm 95 continues, Come, lets worship and bow down, lets kneel before the Lord our Maker (v. 6). Of Jesus, the Bible testifies, ...for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authoritiesall things have been created through Him and for Him (Col. 1:16). Because the rod of Gods holy wrath came upon Jesus in our place, we are told: And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2:8-11) The Psalmist then reminds us that not only is God our Maker, but that He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Today if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on the day of Massah in the wilderness... (v. 7). Can you not hear the words of Jesus in Psalm 95:7, did He not say: I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.... I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me.... And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice; and they will become one flock, with one shepherd (John 10:11, 14, 16). Conclusion Is joy and happiness possible for you? The answer is Yes! But it will not come from your car, through your job, or from any other person, but your Maker and the Great Shepherd of His sheep... namely Jesus! If you are seeking your happiness and joy in anything other than Jesus, then C.S. Lewis words serve as a fitting conclusion to this sermon: It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased. God wants you to be happy and He wants you to experience joy, but it is a happiness and a joy that can only be found in Him. The joy and happiness that can only be found in God is the kind of joy and happiness that does not dissolve through suffering but sustains the sufferer because of the One from Whom true happiness and joy comes from. Amen. [1] C.S. Lewis,Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer(San Diego: Harvest, 1964), p. 93.

All people want to be happy. I have spent a lot of time with people as a pastor, and the majority of couples and individuals who met with me over the years did so because they longed to be happy. It is also true that the motivation for couples seeking marriage or divorce, the desire for a new job or the determination to quit a job, what led to substance abuse or a willingness to break an addiction is all the same: the desire to be happy. In fact, there have been people who claimed to be Christians who sought marriage, divorce, drugs, freedom from addiction, debt, and freedom from debt out of the belief that God wanted them to be happy. How about you? Do you believe God wants you to be happy? Do you believe that the ends justify the means to achieve and experience the happiness you believe God wants for you? Maybe you are asking any one of the following questions: I am unhappy where I live, if I have the means to do so, can I move so that I can be happier? I am tired of driving the same old car, should I buy a new one that will make me happier? I feel unfulfilled where I work, can I look for a new job that will fill my day with a little more joy? I feel ignored and taken for granted in my marriage, my spouse does not meet my needs, I am unhappy, our children are miserable because we are miserable... something needs to change so that we can be happy. So here is what I want to do with the time we have left. I want to show you from the Bible three things: God expects you to seek happiness. God commands you to pursue your joy. Finding your joy/happiness is possible. By answering the above three questions, I hope that you will have a clear and biblical understanding as to whether God wants you to be happy. God Expects You to Seek Happiness (vv. 1-5) Let me begin by stating that in Psalm 95 alone, the word joy is repeated three times in the first two verses: sing for joy..., shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation, shout joyfully to Him in songs with instruments. But Psalm 95 is not the only place where such language is used; consider the language from the Bible: Delight yourself... (Ps. 37:4) Rejoice... (Phil. 4:4) Rejoice always... (1 Thess. 5:16) Let us rejoice and be glad... (Ps. 118:24) But where is it that God expects us to find our joy? Again, consider the same above verses: Delight yourself in the Lord... (Ps. 37:4) Rejoice in the Lord always... (Phil. 4:4) Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess. 5:16-18) This is the day which the Lord has made, lets us rejoice and be glad in it. (Ps. 118:24) Is our happiness only to be found in God? What about verses like Ecclesiastes 9:9, does it not tell us to enjoy life while we have it? Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your futile life which He has given you under the sun, all the days of your futility; for this is your reward in life and in your work which you have labored under the sun. Yes and no. Consider the first two verses of Psalm 19 and what it says about creation: The heavens tell of the glory of God; and their expanse declares the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. The heavens are what God created, and like your wife whom you love, like the life you enjoy, and everything else... it all points to the glory of the Creator! The reason why Psalm 95 begins with these words: Come, lets sing for joy to the Lord, lets shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Lets come before His presence with a song of thanksgiving, lets shout joyfully to Him in songs with instruments is because He is the giver of all good things! Why should we worship Yahweh? Because Psalm 95:3-5 is true of only Him: For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods, in whose hand are the depths of the earth, the peaks of the mountains are also His. The sea is His, for it was He who made it, and His hands formed the dry land. This is why, of the Ten Commandments, Jesus summed up the first four: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind (Matt. 22:37; see also Deut. 6:5; Exod. 20:1-11). Listen, God expects us to seek our joy, but not ultimately in His good gifts but in the giver who gave those good gifts... namely God Himself. In fact C.S. Lewis rightfully observed from reading his Bible that, Joy is the serious business of heaven.[1] God Commands You to Pursue Your Joy (vv. 6-7) Psalm 95 begins with an imperative, which is a command: Come, lets sing for joy... Why does He command us to pursue our joy? Because we exist for something greater than the good gifts of His creation. We exist because of Him and for Him! The second imperative in Psalm 95 begins with verse 6, Come, lets worship and bow down, lets kneel before the Lord our Maker. Why are we commanded to bow before God? Because He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand (v. 7). The command to pursue our joy is not that we find it in anything, but in the One who made all things. He is God, and by definition there is nothing and no one that is greater than He is. To look for or expect our happiness or joy to be primarily found in anything or anyone else will not only leave you empty and disappointed, but is to worship the gift over the Giver! To worship the gift over the Giver is to expect from the gift the thing that only the Giver, God, can provide. C.S. Lewis wrote in his book, Reflections on the Psalms, something that I have found helpful, so I will share it with you: I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed. It is frustrating to have discovered a new author and not to be able to tell anyone how good he is; to come suddenly, at the turn of the road, upon some mountain valley of unexpected grandeur and then to have to keep silent because the people with you care for it no more than for a tin can in the ditch; to hear a good joke and find no one to share it with. Do you hear what C.S. Lewis is saying? We praise what we value and care about and our delight is not complete until our delight is expressed. If it is true, that there is no greater beauty, reality, or person than the God who created all that is beautiful and good, true worship cannot be experienced unless it is directed at Him. This is why the Westminster Catechism is right to begin with these words: The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. But even on this point, C.S. Lewis made the following observation that helps us get a little closer to answering the question as to what kind of happiness God wants for us; here is what Lewis wrote: The Scotch catechism says that mans chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. But we shall then know that these are the same thing. To fully enjoy is to glorify. In commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy Him. John Piper took it one step further by swapping out the word and in the Westminster Catechism of Faith with the word by: The chief end of man is to glorify God byenjoying Him forever. God does expect us to seek our happiness, and He does command us to pursue our joy, but a happiness and a joy that is rooted in Him. If our happiness and joy is sought in anything other than God, it will not satisfy. However, if the pursuit of our happiness and joy is sought in Him, there will be a joy and happiness that will be rooted in a contentment in Him. This is how and why James 1:2-3 is only true for those who find their joy in Jesus Christ: Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Finding Your Joy/Happiness is Possible (vv. 8-10) So, does God want you to be happy? Yes, He wants you to be happy in Him! Does that mean that He wants you to leave your marriage because it does not make you happy? No! Does that mean you should leave your job because it does not make you happy? No. Does that mean you should get a new car because it does not make you happy? No, not necessarily. Why? Because your happiness and joy cannot ultimately be found in anything or anyone except the God who is your Maker. When we come to Psalm 95:8, there is a shift from the command to find your joy in God to Israels rebellion while they were in the wilderness, and more specifically, the Psalm refers to something that happened in Exodus 17:1-7 not long after God saved Israel from Pharoh and his army by parting the Red Sea. While in Egypt, Israel witnessed their God and Maker do mighty deeds that should have left little room to doubt His goodness and love for His people. Even though they had no reason to doubt Gods faithfulness to them, they still struggled to believe His faithfulness to them, so they complained: So the people quarreled with Moses and said, Give us water so that we may drink (Exod. 17:2)! Moses response gives us a glimpse into 40 years of Israel in the wilderness: Moses said to them, Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord? Throughout Israels existence, they were known for complaining and faithlessness towards God. Even after 40 years in the wilderness, God said of His people: Be appalled at this, you heavens, And shudder, be very desolate, declares the Lord. For My people have committed two evils: They have abandoned Me, the fountain of living waters, to carve out for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that do not hold water (Jer. 2:12-13). The great evil that Israel was guilty of was that She traded God for idols that could not satisfy. Consider another example from Isaiah 55:1-3 when God invited His people to turn away from the things that could not satisfy what they really needed: You there! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, according to the faithful mercies shown to David. So what happened in Exodus 17? Moses immediately brought Israels complaint before God out of a fear that they might eventually stone him to death. Moses asked, What am I to do with this people? (v. 4). Listen to the way God responded to Israels lack of faith and sin: Then the Lord said to Moses, Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel (17:5-6). In other words, God said to Moses: Moses, take your staff that ought to be used to strike Israel for their sins, and take your rod and strike the rock I will be standing on so that Israel will not die of thirst. In 1 Corinthians 10:1-4, the apostle Paul said that the rock Moses struck was a picture and example of what God would do to satisfy the thirst of all who desire to be satisfied. The rod of Gods judgment for our sin came down upon Jesus as the rock of our salvation! Paul said of the rock Moses struck: for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ (v. 4). Now, listen to what Jesus said in John 7:37-38, If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water. Psalm 95 begins with these words: Come, lets sing for joy to the Lord, lets shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Jesus is the rock of our salvation! Again, Psalm 95 continues, Come, lets worship and bow down, lets kneel before the Lord our Maker (v. 6). Of Jesus, the Bible testifies, ...for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authoritiesall things have been created through Him and for Him (Col. 1:16). Because the rod of Gods holy wrath came upon Jesus in our place, we are told: And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2:8-11) The Psalmist then reminds us that not only is God our Maker, but that He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Today if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on the day of Massah in the wilderness... (v. 7). Can you not hear the words of Jesus in Psalm 95:7, did He not say: I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.... I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me.... And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice; and they will become one flock, with one shepherd (John 10:11, 14, 16). Conclusion Is joy and happiness possible for you? The answer is Yes! But it will not come from your car, through your job, or from any other person, but your Maker and the Great Shepherd of His sheep... namely Jesus! If you are seeking your happiness and joy in anything other than Jesus, then C.S. Lewis words serve as a fitting conclusion to this sermon: It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased. God wants you to be happy and He wants you to experience joy, but it is a happiness and a joy that can only be found in Him. The joy and happiness that can only be found in God is the kind of joy and happiness that does not dissolve through suffering but sustains the sufferer because of the One from Whom true happiness and joy comes from. Amen. [1] C.S. Lewis,Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer(San Diego: Harvest, 1964), p. 93.

All people want to be happy. I have spent a lot of time with people as a pastor, and the majority of couples and individuals who met with me over the years did so because they longed to be happy. It is also true that the motivation for couples seeking marriage or divorce, the desire for a new job or the determination to quit a job, what led to substance abuse or a willingness to break an addiction is all the same: the desire to be happy. In fact, there have been people who claimed to be Christians who sought marriage, divorce, drugs, freedom from addiction, debt, and freedom from debt out of the belief that God wanted them to be happy. How about you? Do you believe God wants you to be happy? Do you believe that the ends justify the means to achieve and experience the happiness you believe God wants for you? Maybe you are asking any one of the following questions: I am unhappy where I live, if I have the means to do so, can I move so that I can be happier? I am tired of driving the same old car, should I buy a new one that will make me happier? I feel unfulfilled where I work, can I look for a new job that will fill my day with a little more joy? I feel ignored and taken for granted in my marriage, my spouse does not meet my needs, I am unhappy, our children are miserable because we are miserable... something needs to change so that we can be happy. So here is what I want to do with the time we have left. I want to show you from the Bible three things: God expects you to seek happiness. God commands you to pursue your joy. Finding your joy/happiness is possible. By answering the above three questions, I hope that you will have a clear and biblical understanding as to whether God wants you to be happy. God Expects You to Seek Happiness (vv. 1-5) Let me begin by stating that in Psalm 95 alone, the word joy is repeated three times in the first two verses: sing for joy..., shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation, shout joyfully to Him in songs with instruments. But Psalm 95 is not the only place where such language is used; consider the language from the Bible: Delight yourself... (Ps. 37:4) Rejoice... (Phil. 4:4) Rejoice always... (1 Thess. 5:16) Let us rejoice and be glad... (Ps. 118:24) But where is it that God expects us to find our joy? Again, consider the same above verses: Delight yourself in the Lord... (Ps. 37:4) Rejoice in the Lord always... (Phil. 4:4) Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess. 5:16-18) This is the day which the Lord has made, lets us rejoice and be glad in it. (Ps. 118:24) Is our happiness only to be found in God? What about verses like Ecclesiastes 9:9, does it not tell us to enjoy life while we have it? Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your futile life which He has given you under the sun, all the days of your futility; for this is your reward in life and in your work which you have labored under the sun. Yes and no. Consider the first two verses of Psalm 19 and what it says about creation: The heavens tell of the glory of God; and their expanse declares the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. The heavens are what God created, and like your wife whom you love, like the life you enjoy, and everything else... it all points to the glory of the Creator! The reason why Psalm 95 begins with these words: Come, lets sing for joy to the Lord, lets shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Lets come before His presence with a song of thanksgiving, lets shout joyfully to Him in songs with instruments is because He is the giver of all good things! Why should we worship Yahweh? Because Psalm 95:3-5 is true of only Him: For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods, in whose hand are the depths of the earth, the peaks of the mountains are also His. The sea is His, for it was He who made it, and His hands formed the dry land. This is why, of the Ten Commandments, Jesus summed up the first four: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind (Matt. 22:37; see also Deut. 6:5; Exod. 20:1-11). Listen, God expects us to seek our joy, but not ultimately in His good gifts but in the giver who gave those good gifts... namely God Himself. In fact C.S. Lewis rightfully observed from reading his Bible that, Joy is the serious business of heaven.[1] God Commands You to Pursue Your Joy (vv. 6-7) Psalm 95 begins with an imperative, which is a command: Come, lets sing for joy... Why does He command us to pursue our joy? Because we exist for something greater than the good gifts of His creation. We exist because of Him and for Him! The second imperative in Psalm 95 begins with verse 6, Come, lets worship and bow down, lets kneel before the Lord our Maker. Why are we commanded to bow before God? Because He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand (v. 7). The command to pursue our joy is not that we find it in anything, but in the One who made all things. He is God, and by definition there is nothing and no one that is greater than He is. To look for or expect our happiness or joy to be primarily found in anything or anyone else will not only leave you empty and disappointed, but is to worship the gift over the Giver! To worship the gift over the Giver is to expect from the gift the thing that only the Giver, God, can provide. C.S. Lewis wrote in his book, Reflections on the Psalms, something that I have found helpful, so I will share it with you: I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed. It is frustrating to have discovered a new author and not to be able to tell anyone how good he is; to come suddenly, at the turn of the road, upon some mountain valley of unexpected grandeur and then to have to keep silent because the people with you care for it no more than for a tin can in the ditch; to hear a good joke and find no one to share it with. Do you hear what C.S. Lewis is saying? We praise what we value and care about and our delight is not complete until our delight is expressed. If it is true, that there is no greater beauty, reality, or person than the God who created all that is beautiful and good, true worship cannot be experienced unless it is directed at Him. This is why the Westminster Catechism is right to begin with these words: The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. But even on this point, C.S. Lewis made the following observation that helps us get a little closer to answering the question as to what kind of happiness God wants for us; here is what Lewis wrote: The Scotch catechism says that mans chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. But we shall then know that these are the same thing. To fully enjoy is to glorify. In commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy Him. John Piper took it one step further by swapping out the word and in the Westminster Catechism of Faith with the word by: The chief end of man is to glorify God byenjoying Him forever. God does expect us to seek our happiness, and He does command us to pursue our joy, but a happiness and a joy that is rooted in Him. If our happiness and joy is sought in anything other than God, it will not satisfy. However, if the pursuit of our happiness and joy is sought in Him, there will be a joy and happiness that will be rooted in a contentment in Him. This is how and why James 1:2-3 is only true for those who find their joy in Jesus Christ: Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Finding Your Joy/Happiness is Possible (vv. 8-10) So, does God want you to be happy? Yes, He wants you to be happy in Him! Does that mean that He wants you to leave your marriage because it does not make you happy? No! Does that mean you should leave your job because it does not make you happy? No. Does that mean you should get a new car because it does not make you happy? No, not necessarily. Why? Because your happiness and joy cannot ultimately be found in anything or anyone except the God who is your Maker. When we come to Psalm 95:8, there is a shift from the command to find your joy in God to Israels rebellion while they were in the wilderness, and more specifically, the Psalm refers to something that happened in Exodus 17:1-7 not long after God saved Israel from Pharoh and his army by parting the Red Sea. While in Egypt, Israel witnessed their God and Maker do mighty deeds that should have left little room to doubt His goodness and love for His people. Even though they had no reason to doubt Gods faithfulness to them, they still struggled to believe His faithfulness to them, so they complained: So the people quarreled with Moses and said, Give us water so that we may drink (Exod. 17:2)! Moses response gives us a glimpse into 40 years of Israel in the wilderness: Moses said to them, Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord? Throughout Israels existence, they were known for complaining and faithlessness towards God. Even after 40 years in the wilderness, God said of His people: Be appalled at this, you heavens, And shudder, be very desolate, declares the Lord. For My people have committed two evils: They have abandoned Me, the fountain of living waters, to carve out for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that do not hold water (Jer. 2:12-13). The great evil that Israel was guilty of was that She traded God for idols that could not satisfy. Consider another example from Isaiah 55:1-3 when God invited His people to turn away from the things that could not satisfy what they really needed: You there! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, according to the faithful mercies shown to David. So what happened in Exodus 17? Moses immediately brought Israels complaint before God out of a fear that they might eventually stone him to death. Moses asked, What am I to do with this people? (v. 4). Listen to the way God responded to Israels lack of faith and sin: Then the Lord said to Moses, Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel (17:5-6). In other words, God said to Moses: Moses, take your staff that ought to be used to strike Israel for their sins, and take your rod and strike the rock I will be standing on so that Israel will not die of thirst. In 1 Corinthians 10:1-4, the apostle Paul said that the rock Moses struck was a picture and example of what God would do to satisfy the thirst of all who desire to be satisfied. The rod of Gods judgment for our sin came down upon Jesus as the rock of our salvation! Paul said of the rock Moses struck: for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ (v. 4). Now, listen to what Jesus said in John 7:37-38, If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water. Psalm 95 begins with these words: Come, lets sing for joy to the Lord, lets shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Jesus is the rock of our salvation! Again, Psalm 95 continues, Come, lets worship and bow down, lets kneel before the Lord our Maker (v. 6). Of Jesus, the Bible testifies, ...for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authoritiesall things have been created through Him and for Him (Col. 1:16). Because the rod of Gods holy wrath came upon Jesus in our place, we are told: And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2:8-11) The Psalmist then reminds us that not only is God our Maker, but that He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Today if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on the day of Massah in the wilderness... (v. 7). Can you not hear the words of Jesus in Psalm 95:7, did He not say: I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.... I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me.... And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice; and they will become one flock, with one shepherd (John 10:11, 14, 16). Conclusion Is joy and happiness possible for you? The answer is Yes! But it will not come from your car, through your job, or from any other person, but your Maker and the Great Shepherd of His sheep... namely Jesus! If you are seeking your happiness and joy in anything other than Jesus, then C.S. Lewis words serve as a fitting conclusion to this sermon: It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased. God wants you to be happy and He wants you to experience joy, but it is a happiness and a joy that can only be found in Him. The joy and happiness that can only be found in God is the kind of joy and happiness that does not dissolve through suffering but sustains the sufferer because of the One from Whom true happiness and joy comes from. Amen. [1] C.S. Lewis,Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer(San Diego: Harvest, 1964), p. 93.

In this episode, we examine the profound consequences of divine disobedience through the compelling story of Moses at Meribah. When God commanded him to speak to the rock, Moses struck it instead – a moment of disobedience that prevented him from entering the Promised Land. We will also talk about the importance of obedience and how its impacts are for way more people than just you. What We'll Explore: • The critical moment that changed Moses' destiny and what it teaches us about following God's specific instructions • Understanding how our spiritual gifts come with sacred responsibilities • The truth about divine calling: fear doesn't nullify God's purpose for your gifts• my own personal reflections and real-life examples of walking in obedience versus choosing our own path. For Those: • Seeking clarity in their spiritual journey • Struggling with their calling • Learning to discern and follow God's voice • Ready to move from fear to faithful action #WalkInObedience #PropheticPurpose #FaithJourney

Ps 81 (NKJV) 1 SING aloud to God our strength; Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob. 2 Raise a song and strike the timbrel, The pleasant harp with the lute. 3 Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon, At the full moon, on our solemn feast day. 4 For this is a statute for Israel, A law of the God of Jacob. 5 This He established in Joseph as a testimony, When He went throughout the land of Egypt, Where I heard a language I did not understand. 6 “I removed his shoulder from the burden; His hands were freed from the baskets. 7 You called in trouble, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. ​Selah 8 “Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you! O Israel, if you will listen to Me! 9 There shall be no foreign god among you; Nor shall you worship any foreign god. 10 I am the LORD your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. 11 “But My people would not heed My voice, And Israel would have none of Me. 12 So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, To walk in their own counsels. 13 “Oh, that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways! 14 I would soon subdue their enemies, And turn My hand against their adversaries. 15 The haters of the LORD would pretend submission to Him, But their fate would endure forever. 16 He would have fed them also with the finest of wheat; And with honey from the rock I would have satisfied you.” --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maranatha-ministries/support

Pastor Omar takes us on a journey through the Book of Jasher, uncovering Abraham's powerful lesson about honor and respect in families. From Ishmael's two wives—one dishonoring and the other honoring Abraham—we learn how our words and actions can strengthen or destroy our relationships. This episode highlights the importance of treating our spouses, children, and parents with love and dignity. Pastor Omar provides practical and spiritual insights on building homes that reflect God's character. Tune in to discover timeless truths about family honor and respect!

A Reformed Baptist Church in Chilliwack, B.C. Committed to preaching Christ and Him crucified. Host of the "Confessing the Faith" annual conference.Pastors Jim Butler and Cam Porter

Water from the Rock (Exodus): In the third and final desert test, at Massah and Meribah, the Israelites desperately needed water (again), and things were going from bad to worse. They quarreled with God and were ready to kill Moses. In our time of need, will we harden our hearts and put God to the test? Or will we turn in faith to Jesus, our Rock and our Redeemer, who provides streams of living water? Recorded on Nov 24, 2024, on Exodus 17:1-7 by Pastor David Parks. This message is part of our Exodus series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham and Sarah. Exodus is also a picture of the gospel and the Christian life. In Christ, we, too, are freed from captivity to sin and death and led through the wilderness of life by God's Word and Presence as we make our way to the Promised Land of the world to come. Join us as we make this journey to find true and lasting freedom. Sermon Transcript So, we're working through the book of Exodus in a sermon series called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation, of God rescuing and redeeming a people for himself. After freeing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, Yahweh God led them through the desert wilderness by his word given through Moses and by his holy Presence. For the last few weeks, we've seen that God tested his people on the way to Mount Sinai to teach them important lessons. He did this because the Israelites lived for generations as slaves in Egypt, and they needed to learn a lot. They needed to learn how to be their own people, how to listen to God, how to trust him, and so much more. So how was it going? Well, the first test at Marah was just a few days after the famous parting of the Red Sea. The people were dying of thirst, and they found only bitter water and started grumbling against God. But God healed the water and provided refreshment when they arrived at Elim. Then, last week, we considered the second test. About a month after crossing the Red Sea, the people had run out of food and started grumbling against God again. But again, God provided manna/bread from heaven. This sustained them for forty years in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land. If you missed any of the sermons from our Exodus series so far, you can always go back and watch or listen to the audio podcast online or on the Church Center app if you'd like. But after these first two tests, had the Israelites finally learned to listen to God's word? Had they learned to trust his goodness and faithfulness to provide for them? I'll just tell you upfront the answer is no. This would be a hard lesson for them. Instead of learning and getting better at trusting God and listening to him, they seemed to go from bad to worse. But, to be fair, they were out of water again. In the desert, this was a very serious problem. Have you ever been in a bad situation and couldn't see a way out? I have. Maybe you got an unexpectedly big bill or had some other financial problem. Maybe you got a bad diagnosis at the doctor, or maybe you had something hidden come to light in your marriage, and now you're not sure where to go or what to do. In tough times like those, all kinds of theological questions come up. Questions like, “God, where are you right now?” or “Is this really your will for my life?” or even “Are you even real?” We're told that God disciplines us because he loves us as his children. But what might've been a test to help us learn and grow often gets turned around, and we start to test or quarrel with God. Maybe if we were among those ancient Israelites, we wouldn't be that much different. Maybe we'd be there, grumbling in the wilderness. But what do we do when we have serious problems — when we're in a bad situation and can't see a way out? Is there a way to bring our questions and doubts to God in humble,...

America's Nuke War with Russia   (audio) David Eells 10/23/24   Pastor Phillip Barnett - Azovmena 1 Prophecy   https://youtu.be/ip4xEGh-u5M?si=50v6E8B-WtybEHpb  Recorded 4/27/2022 in Tulsa, OK at Lewis Ave Church of God of Prophecy   Transcription: Pastor Phillip Barnett begins saying, I would always keep a pad of paper and pen on my nightstand so I could write down any thought, or Word from the Lord. On this particular night I had this dream and it was amazing with a lot of scenes and it was very long. I knew it was from God, but I laid back down and fell asleep without writing it down and when I woke up I could not remember anything. I fasted and prayed for 2 weeks what the dream was about and I left it with the Lord. Then on January 18, 2007, I went to bed and I dreamed the dream all over. In the dream I knew what the next scene would be because I had seen it in the dream before. I realized while dreaming that God was giving me the dream again that I had 10 years ago that I had forgotten!   In this dream I saw 8 large rocket-shaped mountains and the tops had a nuclear warhead. They were in crescent shape and they were frozen. (Saved for a later time.) Over the next few days, God revealed to me what these rockets were and that there would be a war between the United States and a reformed Soviet Union, including Russia, Belarus, and eastern Ukraine. (Where the Russians are at the time of this attack.) Those rockets would be American nuclear missiles that would destroy eastern Ukraine; the first one would hit Kiev and then it would circle around to Sumy, Harkoff, and all the cities to the bottom of Odessa. All of eastern Ukraine would be destroyed.  (Warheads peeling off a multiple warhead ICBM missile. Did the (DS) Deep State steal the launch codes for these missiles?) I was in central Ukraine and a few days later, I'm thinking about how there's no mountain like what I saw in central Ukraine. I'm on a bus and so I asked somebody on the bus, “What is the name of this mountain?” A woman said what sounded like an Italian word, like ‘Azolemna' or something which sounded like it had a lot of vowels. I tried to repeat what I thought I heard and she said again, “Azov Mena”.   Later as I was on the floor praying to the Lord about the name of this mountain, God said write it down. So I wrote down the letters of the name: A, Z, O, V, and then, M, E, N, A. I connected AZOV to the Azov Sea and then I connected “Mena” to the interpretation of the handwriting on the wall in Dan 5:26 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and brought it to an end; I then heard the Holy Spirit say, “From the Azov Sea to the Belarus border, from the Dnieper River over to the Russian border (Kiev is on this river), all of eastern Ukraine will be destroyed by these 8 American nuclear missiles.”  (All the evidence of human trafficking and labs creating biological weapons the DS wants destroyed and of course depopulation.) God revealed in the dream that Russia would invade Ukraine, there would be a holocaust against the Jews, (Two signs before the nukes go off; Russia did invade Ukraine and the nations are attacking Israel now.) and He urged people to flee, especially from the heavily populated Donbass area with approximately 11 million people. God spoke to me for five hours during the night and gave me four visions. The day after I had the dream, which was exactly the same as the first one 10 years prior except I was much closer to the 8 nuclear missiles that were going to be launched…   That night I was praying and the Lord spoke something to my heart and I went to write it down and I had a vision. I saw that all eastern Ukraine from the Azov Sea up to the Belarus border, and from the Dnieper River to Russia was black; it had been burned black by nuclear bombs that had fallen in that area.   The Lord gave me 4 visions this same night and after each vision, I asked the meaning of the vision and the Lord would give me the meaning. This went on for four hours. Then the Lord told me to go into the kitchen and when I went into the kitchen, I looked out the window and see several clouds in the sky, each in the shape of cars, buses, and trucks, and they were moving in two distinct lines from downtown Kiev towards southwestern Ukraine. I saw one huge cloud in the shape of a large bus over downtown Kiev. The wind had blown these clouds to the southwest.   God then spoke to me, saying, “There will be two evacuations from Kiev. The first one will take place when the Russian army is about to occupy Kiev and the second one will come when the nuclear war between the reformed Soviet Union and the United States takes place.” About 3 ½ - 4 weeks after this war started. There were hundreds of thousands of cars in deadlock trying to get out of Kiev. I saw this on TV and realized the next part of the prophecy would come next.  (The third sign comes to pass.) This paragraph is a summary (Pastor Barnett recounts going all over preaching his prophecy about Russia invading Ukraine and the reactions it received. He had preached this prophecy at various churches in Ukraine where he was invited. He received many death threats on social media. Many people thought he was crazy and did not believe him and thought it all was impossible. He continued to preach his prophecy. The end of 2013 comes around and a revolution begins in Kiev and then early war begins. The then-President Yanukovych of Ukraine made a public plea on Russian television for Russian troops to invade Ukraine. Yanukovych's request came before the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, which had already resulted in thousands of deaths. He shares how the governor of the Donbas region in Ukraine had made a plea on Russian national television for President Putin to intervene and "destroy the fascists," who are ruining this country and killing children.)   My family and I left Ukraine after God had given me 17 dreams urging us to return home in the United States. The fighting began in Donbass after President Yanukovych had requested the Russians to come in and take Ukraine. Donbass is where all the mineral resources in the industry and the metal industry's at in Ukraine. This is what the Azovmena Prophesy in 2007 said would happen. These things began in 2014, 7 years later.   A man contacted me from Ohio who had watched the Azovmena Prophecy in 2007 and he was living in Kiev at the time, and the Holy Spirit spoke to him that this is true; this war is going to happen. Russia is going to invade Ukraine. He told me he moved to Levi in western Ukraine and then thought that wasn't far enough away, and he needed to move to America. So they're now in Ohio because he believed the prophecy. Another family who heard the prophecy and believed it, moved their family to California and they escaped the invasion of Russia. Many thousands of people who heard this prophecy including many Jews were saved because they moved before Russia invaded.   Amo 3:7 Surely the Lord Jehovah will do nothing, except he reveal his secret unto his servants the prophets.   God told me that I could not leave anything out of this prophecy and I can't add anything to it. He said, “If you preach it just the way I gave it to you, I will give you more.” He told me that I need to share these prophecies, not just in Ukraine but to many other countries.   So next I'm going to share now about the nuclear war that is coming to America. What states and cities that will be destroyed and what states and cities that will not be destroyed. (He doesn't share “cities not destroyed” in this video.)   In Azovmena 1 Prophecy, God put me on a building in Mobile, Alabama. As I'm on this building, I see (in vision) Russian ICBM missiles coming across Canada to America. I could see from the Rocky Mountains all the way to the East Coast. From where I was standing, I couldn't see Florida and I couldn't see anything on the west side of the Rocky Mountains.   The first ICBM to hit America destroyed Chicago. The next one hit Milwaukee WI, but it was way up in the air; it didn't come down lower in the air, but was way up in the atmosphere, where it blew up over Milwaukee.  (This would destroy Milwaukee and EMP a large portion of the country.) The next one I see hits Cleveland OH, then St. Louise, MO, Memphis, TN, Nashville, TN and New Orleans, LA, then Little Rock, AR, Denver, CO, and Albuquerque, NM.  10 warheads Later on God gave me a dream and in it, I saw two sets of flights of Russian bombers and they weren't the big giant bombers, they were medium range bombers that would have to fly off of an aircraft carrier and be refueled in the air. One flight had four planes, and the other flight had two planes. They all had nuclear cruise missiles, and they dropped the missiles. (I believe the Lord told me in His mercy this part would not happen.)  Here's what I understood of what I saw in the dream. Three nuclear bombs will hit New York City and two will hit Washington D.C. One will hit Baltimore, MD and one will hit Boston, MA (He misspoke “Maryland” in the video, but correction is made to Boston is on screen.) Now that's seven nuclear missiles, but six planes that I saw. So evidently, one of the bombs to hit NYC, will be an ICBM because I only saw six of these planes with nuclear cruise missiles to hit cities in the northeast. Cincinnati… (He gets off track here and doesn't come back to these missiles in this video. Possibly because the Lord said these bombers will not fly in His mercy.)   (He shares how he faced opposition and death threats for sharing this prophecy, particularly from people in Russia. Then he goes on to preach the tribulation begins … He states how the Bible is no longer U.S.'s foundation and the Obama administration has made law that men can marry men and a women can marry women. He states that 62 million babies have been murdered…and America will pay the cost in blood. (As it did to Sodom and Gomorrah and it is beginning with the DS's weather warfare. Abraham bargained with God and an angel took Lot and family out of Sodom before the cities were destroyed. [Come out of the big sin cities.] So I asked God would He delete this judgment and only got that He would lessen it because of His mercy. Since I have seen extreme mercy from God on the world lately, I jumped right to the end of the bargaining and asked if one missile from U.S. and one missile from Russia would be enough and He said “Yes”. I was surprised but God said He wanted to show His mercy again. Keep in mind that the U.S. ICBM's have 5 warheads and the Russian ICBM's have 10 warheads. But God will be in control as His Word says.) …       Russian Nuclear Exchange with U.S.   Garrett Crawford- 4/29/22  (David's notes in red) I dreamed that everyone was stocking up on food at a grocery store late at night. (Insiders are warning to have at least 3 to 6 months of food stored up. As far as believers go, we know that God shall supply our every need according to His riches in Glory.) I saw many people rushing at the last minute to get prepared. There was a general sense of uncertainty in the air. Many who had been expecting an event to happen were already prepared. (And it may be that these will have to help those around them and miracles will happen.)   For some reason Sylvester Stallone was in the dream and he was getting prepared too, but he had lost heart and his courage had left him. He was not mentally or spiritually prepared. (Sylvester plays the part of a strong warrior, so to speak, but it appears even they will lose heart through the things coming.)   I told him he could stay with me as I had been preparing for this for some time. (The most important way to prepare is spiritually, for the Word says, “Righteousness delivereth from death.”)   As we were leaving the store, I noticed many people's cars had been stolen from the parking lot while they were buying supplies. People came out to find their cars were gone, they were in disbelief. Sylvester and I thought that my car had been stolen too but we eventually found it. (Having their cars stolen out of the parking lot represents that rest and peace will be taken from the vessels of many. Also in the natural the DS would do this to put people at their mercy which is nil.)   We were somewhere talking and he could not understand why I was happy and not scared. He felt he had so much more to live for on this Earth and he was upset that it was all being taken from him. (Many lives will be turned upside down in order to get their attention and cause them to seek the Lord once He has destroyed all their worldly idols.)   I, on the other hand, had no love for the world and the things in it, I could literally feel nothing because this Earth had no hold on me. I felt freer than any man alive. (John 12:25 He that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.)   Around this time, I had a flashback to the beginning of the day. It was light outside and the sun was out. I was walking through the parking lot of the grocery store and the Word of Lord came to me saying, “At this time the wise will shine brighter than the sun and will instruct many.” (The wise will be anointed with the wisdom of Jesus and will instruct many in the way of righteousness.)   The next thing I knew, the scene changed and I was at my dad's house in Bethel. (Representing the Father's “House of Bread”. Those feeding on the Bread from Heaven, Jesus Christ, the Word of the Lord, will be in the rest.)   I was all alone with my dogs and cat. (The elect among all the factious dogs and the rebellious cats to God and His Word will return to the Father's house.)   I remember watching the war in Ukraine taking place over my dad's house, like an open vision, but it was something tangible that I was actually experiencing. (Like the death angel that passed over the houses of the Israelites, this “war” and its fall-out will pass over the elect of God.)   I saw that America had been assisting Ukraine. I even saw America launching attacks to aid Ukraine, but there was a grave mistake made and an American missile had been launched accidentally and it hit a Russian target. (Notice, “one missile” as I was told although I did not remember this dream. Will this be accidental or on purpose? The DS has been provoking the nuclear option and would love to escalate this conflict to continue to deflect away from the declass of all their evil crimes that are coming to light and to depopulate and to try to derail the elections so that they can hold on to power. Also it was admitted that the U.S. helped the Ukrainians sink the Russian flagship Moskva and it was an American missile. No one would admit this unless they wanted the Russians to retaliate against the U.S. as the DS does. Moskva led the naval assault during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, from February 2022 until her sinking on 14 April 2022.)   This so called, ‘accidental' Missile strike caused the whole world to stop. Everyone wondered what Russia would do, but no one expected that Russia would retaliate against America. (Putin has come out publicly and warned that any attack on Russia by NATO or U.S. and Western forces during this Ukraine conflict would be reciprocated, presumably against the DS, since he knows they are the real enemy.)   Then I watched what appeared to be a large missile silo open and a projectile came out and was fired at America. (Notice one missile) The missile hit America inside her borders and everyone was in a state of shock. No one actually believed Russia would retaliate but they did and with fierce wrath. (Putin and Russia have been fighting the DS and they would know this missile is coming from them. They would pick their targets accordingly. Get out of blue cities and states.)   The weapon they used made 7 waves of fire blast throughout America like fiery shockwaves. The sound of the weapon was like a siren. Every blast was accompanied by the most ominous siren sound; seven blasts and seven sirens. (This is a multiple warhead missile. Also, could seven blasts announce the approach of the seven trumpet judgments of the Tribulation as in the first dream?)   After the last blast I looked outside and America was on fire. It was just 1 missile launch from each side and after Russia struck with their missile they did not continue. (A measured response to stop the war.) It was like an eye for an eye. I felt in the dream that America was playing a dangerous game with Russia that backfired. (Even though the military has moved interceptor missiles to the coast in the night, they evidently didn't intercept this. The Russian ICBM missiles have 10 warheads that spread out to different cities and are considered by many to be unstoppable due to its evasive maneuvers. The U.S. ICBM's have 5 warheads so it's not an equal response but God who “works all things after the counsel of His own will” can easily change this unbalance.)   Everyone in America was in complete disbelief. I heard a man say, “I can't believe they did it, I can't believe they actually attacked us!”. After the blasts I surveyed the damage and my dad's house was still standing. Both my dogs were in the house with me and survived. I opened the front door (Jesus) and my cat was there. (Many of the rebellious who are God's elect will return to the Father's House of Bread.) He had survived the carnage even though he had been outside of the house. Then I woke up.   Let's pray and ask mercy of the Lord on this.   Here is the war that begins the seven year tribulation, which two of these dreams speak of. Rev 6:3 And when he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, Come. 4 And another horse came forth, a red horse: and to him that sat thereon it was given to take peace from the earth, and that they should slay one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.       An Angry Bear Awakens   Excerpt from Dumitru Duduman's Prophecies   April 1997   I knelt by my bed to pray, as I do every night before going to sleep. After finishing my prayer, I opened my eyes, but I was no longer in my room. Instead, I found myself in a forest. I looked around, and to my right I saw a man dressed in white who pointed his finger and said, “See and remember”. It took me a while to find what he was pointing at. It was a small bear who seemed half dead lying on the ground.   As I continued to watch this bear, it began to breathe deeper. With every passing minute it seemed to revive itself, and, as I watched, it also became angrier. It then began to grow. Soon it was larger than the forest floor, and as it grew larger, it continued to become angrier. It then began to paw the ground, so that when its paw would hit the ground, the earth would shudder. The bear continued to devastate all that stood in its path until it came upon some men with sticks trying to fend it off. (Don't pay any attention to the lies, the Russians have won this war in Ukraine but the DS needs a bigger war that hurts the US and Russia, their two worst enemies. The Russians have taken down the Nazi's, the bio-labs, the tunnels and dungeons with the captive children, and the evidence of DS crimes, etc.) By this time the bear had grown so large that it simply crushed the men underfoot and continued its rampage.   I was stunned by what I saw and asked the man standing beside me, “What does this mean?” “At first they thought the great bear was dead,” the man said. (If you listen to MSM's silliness.) “As it will begin to stir once again, they will consider it harmless. Suddenly, it will grow strong once more with purpose and violence. (They have made tremendous advances in weaponry.) God will blind the eyes of those that continue to trample on the sacrifice of Christ's blood, until the day the bear will strike swiftly. This day will catch them unprepared, and it will be just as you saw”.   The man then said, “Tell my people the days are numbered and the sentence has been passed. If they will seek My face and walk in righteousness before Me, I will open their eyes that they may see the danger approach. If they only look to the approaching danger, they, too, will be caught up and trampled underfoot. Only in righteousness will they find safety”.   Suddenly, I was once again by myself in my room, on my knees, with sweat covering my face.       Five Major U.S. Cities Nuked   Richard Swanson   Author of the book Spare Your People     In 1971, I saw, in a dream, limited nuclear war in America. (Or one missile with multiple warheads) I beheld two or three short successive orange-colored flashes of light off in the distance towards the north. These flashes, which produced a strobe-light effect, literally lit up the nighttime sky.   As they occurred I could briefly see the outline of some mountains from beyond which the flashes came. The next morning - in the dream - as I was walking through a field of swamp grass, I heard a news report over a transistor radio which was attached to a corner pole of a lean-to. The news report said: “Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago, Denver and San Francisco have been struck by thermonuclear warheads”. (Five DS strongholds the Russians would target. In 1971 the Russians likely had mostly 5 warheads per ICBM. They have been updating these to 10 warheads. But they could use a five warhead missile which would even the odds and bring peace.)   By the time the broadcast said “Denver” I was in the Spirit. I was standing beside Jesus. I then realized it was Jesus Who was giving the news report, and what I was hearing over the transistor radio was the Word of God. As He spoke, His words could be heard throughout eternity.   As Jesus said “Denver,” He pointed there, and as He did, the Holy Spirit showed me, though it was not quite dawn, exactly where Denver was. It was still night in San Francisco, yet the Holy Spirit showed me where that city was too. I then looked back toward the East Coast. The sun had already risen there and through some cirrocumulus clouds, I could see the Florida area. I suddenly realized I was up in the heavens looking down.   I also knew that during this limited nuclear attack I would be in Florida, very close to the Alabama border. (Phillip Barnett was in AL too) Several years later I discovered that this part of Florida is indeed swampland, just as in the dream.       Bride Protected as the Wicked are Nuked   Bill Steenland - 4/23/22 (David's notes in red)   I dreamed I was in my kitchen preparing dinner. (Representing the preparation of the spiritual food to feed God's elect.) I was suddenly translated to a place in the mountains. (This represents the choosing of the Bride by bringing Her to Mt. Zion which is a place of safety from the Beast?) Although I was incredibly surprised about the miracle, I knew why the Lord had done it. I had a horrible feeling and immediately started searching the skies. I said to myself, “Oh my God! This is it and it must have started!”   There was a light orange flash way, way off in the distance. (The people to be judged will be spiritually far from Zion and the presence of God.) I saw the top of a mushroom cloud. The Lord was letting me know nuclear weapons were going off in a distance that I couldn't physically see. (Back when this dream was given: I asked if we should pray this down by faith and got a “NO.” When I forwarded this dream to Eve, she cast lots asking the Lord if we can pray this down? And she received 3 Tails for “NO”. ... Has God planned to chasten the U.S. in spite of their silly thousand years of peace on a wicked nation?)   Back when this dream was given: I asked, “Is this the DS cities being destroyed?” And got “Yes”.) As in a nuclear attack there will be desolation, waste, and astonishment as the Lord said in Eze 35:2 Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir and prophesy against it, (The leadership of the Edomites who are Esau's seed who persecuted and betrayed their own brother, Israel.),   3 and say unto it, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against thee, O mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against thee, and I will make thee a desolation and an astonishment. 4 I will lay thy cities [or congregations] waste, and thou shalt be desolate; and thou shalt know that I am Jehovah.)   Little mushroom clouds appeared in the background and stuck in the sky as if it was some computer program that pinned the location of the blasts in the distance. As I moved around the symbols would stay in their places. There were many, many of these nukes going off.   I continued to walk up this hill to an abandoned house with no windows or doors. It was made of concrete and looked like the place the Lord was sending me to hide. (Representing the refuge that God has prepared for His people to be hidden in the Rock. Their freedom to come and go is unhindered by doors.)   The house had a bunch of silver everywhere. (The Lord will supply for the financial and physical needs of His people in the times ahead. Some say ultimately silver will be more valuable than gold.) I thought I could barter using them, so I started to break them apart and put them in a backpack. It struck me odd that whoever was there previously didn't see the value in the silver. (Because escaping is overwhelmingly more important. And silver will only later skyrocket.)   Then I looked out of the little concrete building and there was a massive food processing plant nearby. I remember almost laughing because the Lord had put me right next to a food processing plant. I thought, “Oh wow! That's that! Thank you God!” (Food and money will be plentiful among the Bride as the Lord spoke. Isa 61:5-8 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vine-dressers. 6 But ye shall be named the priests of Jehovah; men shall call you the ministers of our God: ye shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.   7 Instead of your shame ye shall have double; and instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be unto them. 8 For I, Jehovah, love justice, I hate robbery [the factions in Church and state have stolen from their brethren] with iniquity; and I will give them their recompense in truth (God will re-pay), and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.)  Back when this dream was given: I asked, “Will this devastation come after the redistribution of wealth planned in the GCR ?” And received a “Yes.” Eve asked for a confirming word for this and received, Psa.81:5 (in context 5-7) He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony, When he went out over the land of Egypt, Where I heard a language that I knew not. 6 I removed his shoulder from the burden: His hands were freed from the basket. 7 Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder; I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah   As the dream changed I was still in the house but was talking to a woman dressed in camouflage. (The Bride is hidden in the “secret place of the Most High.”) She was explaining to me where we were in the mountains. She told me the state, the mountain range, and the roadway. I can't remember what it was but I knew it was somewhat iconic, well known and popular for mountain travel. There was a Native American word she told me and I remember thinking, “I need to look that up and find the meaning.” but I cannot remember the name. I knew more people were coming; some of them good and some of them bad. (Many will come and be saved in the revival.) Then I woke up.   Eve asked for a word by faith at random for Bill's dream and received: Eze.21:28-32 And thou, son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah concerning the children of Ammon (A faction who turned against the people of God like the DS has.), and concerning their reproach; and say thou, A sword, a sword is drawn, for the slaughter it is furbished, to cause it to devour, that it may be as lightning; (I asked is this representing a swift taking down of those who factioned against their own countryman? And got “Yes.” This could be so-called Americans against Americans the Alliance against the DS as is happening now.)   29 while they see for thee false visions, while they divine lies unto thee, to lay thee upon the necks of the wicked that are deadly wounded, whose day is come in the time of the iniquity of the end. 30 Cause it to return into its sheath. In the place where thou wast created, in the land of thy birth, will I judge thee. 31 And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee; I will blow upon thee with the fire of my wrath; and I will deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, skillful to destroy. 32 Thou shalt be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in the midst of the land; thou shalt be no more remembered: for I, Jehovah, have spoken it.   (I believe the fake nuclear war will turn into a real nuclear war by the DS hands. The world knows that President Trump's base are Christians and they do not differentiate Christians from New Agers, who have lied to them about “peace and safety” because they do not believe in the book of Revelation. This will set the stage for the “sudden destruction”. And in the second 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation, the world Beast will make war against the Christians in Rev 13.)       From The Edge Hyssop Chronicles   Larry W. Taylor - Sept. 21, 2002   I saw an Eagle standing proud and tall and the Eagle was turning to fight some enemy that was before it. (The DS) The proud Eagle, all dressed for battle, turned and faced the enemy before it and just as the Eagle started forward toward the enemy; I saw a knife being thrust into the back of the proud and surprised Eagle. (The DS Judas' start a limited nuclear war with Russia?) As the Eagle staggered from the knife wound to its back, I saw (nuclear) arrows come from the enemy it had been facing and hit the Eagle. (The DS caused the retaliation against the U.S.) The vision faded at this point , so I did not see the result of the attack on the Eagle.       MISSILES OF OCTOBER! Sept. 7, 2002 Thought I would relate a dream to you I had in the early 1980s. I had been in prayer for about a week and on the last day of my prayer fast, I became very sleepy. So sleepy, that I couldn't keep my head up. I struggled against sleep as I was trying to hear the Lord. I lay back on the bed for a minute, but as soon as my head hit the bed I was asleep. I immediately had a dream.   In the dream I saw a long line of missile silos. I had the knowledge in the dream that these were missiles no one ever thought would be fired! I could not tell who the missiles belonged to. As the dream progressed, I saw the missiles begin to fire and lift out of their silos. I noted that not all the missiles were fired, but only a certain number were fired. I saw the missiles fired, go up into the sky and reach a peak; then start to arch and fall back towards the earth, towards its target. I did not see who or what the target was but as the missiles began to fall towards their targets, I heard in my dream what sounded like a loud audible voice, "THESE ARE THE MISSILES OF OCTOBER!"   This voice woke me up fully awake and I sat up with a start! I still remember in vivid detail the dream of the Missiles and the voice that declared they were of October. (No year was given)  (If the DS was going to fire at the Russians to make a war, wouldn't they do it before the election to stop it? Since they are too far behind to get away with cheating this time?) 1 THESSALONIANS 5:3 For when they shall say peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.   2 CHRONICLES 20:20  Believe in the LORD, your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets so shall ye prosper.   AMOS 3:7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto his servants, the prophets.   (Note: I shared this with President Trump and General Smith.)

17 All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” 3 But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” 4 So Moses cried to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5 And the Lord said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the name of the place Massah[a] and Meribah,[b] because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” 8 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. 9 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses' hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword. 14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord Is My Banner, 16 saying, “A hand upon the throne[c] of the Lord! The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

Today's Bible Verse: "At Mount Hor, near the border of Edom, the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Aaron will be gathered to his people. He will not enter the land I give the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah." Numbers 20:23-24 Want to listen without ads? Become a BibleStudyTools.com PLUS Member today: https://www.biblestudytools.com/subscribe/ MEET OUR HOSTS at https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

After centuries of oppression, Yahweh takes the Hebrews out of Egypt. And the first thing they do is complain about being taken out of Egypt. Why?Desert Battle Story / Ezekiel (Exodus 14, verses:)4 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, "What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their labor!"5 So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him.10 As Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites looked back, and there were the Egyptians advancing on them. In great fear the Israelites cried out to Yahweh. 11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is this not the very thing we told you in Egypt, ‘Let us alone so that we can serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 13 But Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that Yahweh will accomplish for you today, for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again. 14 Yahweh will fight for you, and you have only to keep still.”23 During the last watch of the night Yahweh overlooked the Egyptian armies in the form of a pillar of fire and smoke and he threw their armies into confusion.24 He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, "Let's get away from the Israelites! Yahweh is fighting for them against Egypt."29 That day Yahweh saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore.30 And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of Yahweh displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared Yahweh and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant. Staff on the Stone Story / Ezekiel (Exodus 15 and then 17, verses:)22 So Moses led Israel into the wilderness, and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter. That is why it was called Marah.24 And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” *2 The people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test Yahweh?” 3 But the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?” 4 So Moses cried out to Yahweh, “What shall I do for this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5 Yahweh said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff and go. 6 I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 He called the place Massah and Meribah,because the Israelites quarreled and tested Yahweh, saying, “was Yahweh among us or not?” Join our tribe on Patreon! Check out these cool pages on the podcast's website:Home PageWho wrote the Bible: Timeline and authorsAncient maps: easy to follow maps to see which empire ruled what and whenClick here to see Exodus divided into "sources" according to the Documentary Hypothesis The podcast is written, edited and produced by Gil Kidron

Meribah Knight is a reporter with Nashville Public Radio. She won the Polk Award for Podcasting for “The Kids of Rutherford County,” produced with ProPublica and Serial, which revealed a shocking approach to juvenile discipline in one Tennessee county. “Where does it leave me? It leaves me with a searing anger that is going to propel me to the next thing. But we've made some real improvement. And that's worth celebrating. That's worth recognizing and saying, This work matters, people are paying attention.” This is the third in a week-long series of conversations with winners of this year's George Polk Awards in Journalism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.