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Welcome to Day 2933 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2933 – Wisdom Nuggets – Proverbs 2:16-22 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2933 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2933 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Road to the Shades – Rescued from Broken Covenants and the Realm of Death On our previous episode, on Day Two Thousand Nine Hundred Thirty-Two, we explored Proverbs chapter two, verses nine through fifteen, discovering how divine wisdom enters our hearts to act as a watchful sentinel. We saw how this internal guard rescues us from evil men who speak twisted words, turn away from upright paths, and take dark pleasure in doing wrong. Today, as we step onto Day Two Thousand Nine Hundred Thirty-Three of our ongoing trek, we arrive at the solemn, dramatic climax of Proverbs chapter two, focusing on verses sixteen through twenty-two. Here, Solomon turns his attention to the second major threat facing every traveler on the road of life: the seductive lure of the immoral woman, and the tragic ruin of broken covenants. Over my fifty years of studying Biblical wisdom, and through my seventy years of walking this earth—watching marriages thrive and watching families fracture—I have observed that there are two great reefs upon which human destinies are broken: the love of dishonest gain, and the surrender to unbridled passion. Both offer flattering promises, but both end in the cold darkness of destruction. Today, Solomon shows us how wisdom preserves our covenant integrity, keeping our feet planted safely on the path of life. Let us open our ears to the solemn warning recorded in the New Living Translation, grouping together the logical, contiguous thoughts found in Proverbs chapter two, verse sixteen, and verse seventeen. Wisdom will save you also from the immoral woman, from the seductive words of the promiscuous woman. She has abandoned her husband and ignored the covenant she made before God. Look at the dual description Solomon provides in verse sixteen! Wisdom rescues you from "the immoral woman" and from "the seductive words of the promiscuous woman." In the original Hebrew text, these two phrases utilize the terms zarah and nokriyah—which literally translate as the "strange woman" or the "foreign woman." In ancient Israel, this was not merely a comment on nationality; it described someone who was spiritually and morally outside the bounds of Yahweh's covenant community! She represents an alien, destructive way of life that stands in direct opposition to Lady Wisdom. Notice, however, where her primary power lies: it is in her speech! Just like the wicked man in verse twelve whose words were twisted, the immoral woman uses "seductive words." In Hebrew, her speech is described as smooth, slippery, and flattering—telling the unsuspecting youth exactly what his foolish ego wants to hear! But look at verse seventeen, where Solomon exposes her true character beneath the smooth words! "She has abandoned her husband and ignored the covenant she made before God." In the original language, her husband is called the alluph of her youth—the intimate companion, guardian, and chief friend of her early years. She didn't just walk away from a legal contract; she fractured a deep, personal partnership. Even more sobering, she "ignored the covenant she made before God." In the Ancient Israelite divine-council worldview, marriage was never viewed as a mere temporary, secular arrangement. Marriage was a sacred, binding covenant sworn in the presence of Yahweh and His heavenly assembly! To break those vows is to defy the cosmic order of the Most High God. In my seventy years of life, I have watched smooth, flattering talk break up marriages that took decades to build. Seduction always promises secret intimacy, but it delivers covenant betrayal. The narrative takes a chilling, cosmic turn as Solomon pulls back the curtain to reveal the hidden destination of her house, combining the contiguous thoughts found in Proverbs chapter two, verse eighteen, and verse nineteen. Entering her house leads to death; it is the road to the grave. None who go to her ever return or find the paths of life. These two verses contain some of the most haunting, serious language in the entire Book of Proverbs! Solomon warns, "Entering her house leads to death; it is the road to the grave." In the ancient Hebrew mindset, the word translated here as "the grave" or "the dead" is Rephaim—a term deeply embedded in the ancient Near Eastern divine-council worldview! The Rephaim were associated with the shades, the sunken spirits of the dead, and the dark, chaotic underworld of Sheol. Solomon is revealing a terrifying spiritual geography: her house is built directly on the cliff-edge of hell! Crossing her threshold is not a harmless romantic adventure; it is a downward descent into the realm of spiritual death. Look at the sobering finality expressed in verse nineteen: "None who go to her ever return or find the paths of life!" While this is poetic hyperbole—because God's grace can redeem any repentant soul—it highlights a brutal, practical reality that I have witnessed time and again over my fifty years of studying wisdom. Sexual immorality and covenant betrayal create a profound, spiritual numbness that paralyzes the conscience. Once a person crosses that boundary, sacrificing their marriage, their reputation, and their relationship with God on the altar of passing pleasure, the path back to wholeness is extraordinarily steep, painful, and rare. The house of temptation promises paradise, but its hallway leads straight into the dark chamber of the Rephaim. Wisdom stands at the door, crying out: "Do not step inside!" Having exposed the catastrophic trap of the immoral path, Solomon brings the entire second chapter of Proverbs to a triumphant, dual-sided conclusion, grouping together the logical thoughts found in Proverbs chapter two, verse twenty, verse twenty-one, and verse twenty-two. So follow the steps of the godly, and stay on the paths of the righteous. For only the godly will live in the land, and those with integrity will remain in it. But the wicked will be removed from the land, and the treacherous will be ripped away. Look at how Solomon synthesizes the entire chapter into one clear, decisive forks-in-the-road moment! In verse twenty, he urges, "So follow the steps of the godly, and stay on the paths of the righteous." This brings us full circle back to the central theme of Proverbs: life is a journey, a trek! You cannot walk down the path of compromise and expect to end up at the destination of peace. You must intentionally align your steps with those who fear the Lord. Then, in verse twenty-one and verse twenty-two, Solomon contrasts the ultimate destiny of the two paths using the profound imagery of "the land." He declares, "For only the godly will live in the land, and those with integrity will remain in it. But the wicked will be removed from the land, and the treacherous will be ripped away!" In ancient Israelite covenant theology, "the land"—the aretz—represented the place of Yahweh's presence, protection, blessing, and inherited rest. To dwell securely in the land meant having a permanent future, a thriving family, and a lasting legacy. The godly and those with integrity—those who are tamim, wholehearted and blameless—are firmly rooted like deep oak trees that no storm can uproot! In stark contrast, look at what happens to the wicked and the treacherous: they are "removed" and "ripped away!" The Hebrew word used here implies being yanked up by the roots, like noxious, poisonous weeds purged from a garden. They thought they were building an empire through their deceit, greedy shortcuts, and immoral conquests, but in the end, they leave behind no lasting root, no honor, and no legacy. They vanish from the land like smoke. As we bring our trek through Proverbs chapter two to a close today, consider the two destinations set before you. You can follow the slippery words of the culture that lead straight to broken covenants and spiritual death, or you can cherish the wisdom of God, walk with integrity, and remain firmly established in His blessing. Choose to walk on the highway of the righteous today, honor your covenants, and build a living legacy that will stand secure for generations to come. If you found this podcast insightful, please subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of, ‘Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.' As we take this Trek of...

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we begin Book Four of the Psalms by exploring Psalms 90–95. These songs remind us that the Psalms are more than ancient poetry—they are a prayer journal that gives voice to our deepest fears, joys, questions, and hopes. As you read them, let them shape your own conversations with God.We begin with Psalm 90, the only psalm attributed to Moses. In it, Moses reflects on the brevity of life and prays, "Teach us to number our days." What would change if we truly lived with that perspective? Even in the midst of life's hardships, this psalm points us toward God's faithfulness and includes a beautiful prayer we can pray over our families and friends.Psalm 91 answers the struggles of Psalm 90 by reminding us that our true shelter is the Most High God. No matter what we face, our security is found not in our circumstances but in God's presence and protection.As we continue through Psalms 92–94, we discover reasons to praise God for His steadfast love (chesed), His faithfulness (emunah), His wisdom, and His justice. These psalms remind us that the righteous flourish by remaining rooted in God, that His wisdom is beyond our understanding, and that He sees every act of evil. While human injustice may seem to prevail for a time, God will one day make every wrong right. He is the righteous King, and His people remain His treasured inheritance.Finally, Psalm 95 calls God's people to joyful worship by celebrating His greatness as Creator and King. Yet the psalm ends with a sober reminder from Israel's history: worship is more than singing. Hearts that truly know God respond with obedience. Looking back at Israel's failures encourages us to trust God's voice today.Throughout these psalms, we see a consistent invitation: remember who God is, trust Him through life's uncertainties, and live each day in light of His eternal kingdom.If you want the FREE hand outs that go along with this series, sign up for our newsletter at our website. Our website is The Context and Color of the BibleWe are on Facebook - The Context and Color of the Bible | FacebookWe are on Instagram - @contextandcolorofthebibleWe are on YouTube - The Context and Color of the Bible - YouTubeMusic: Tabuk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4453-tabukLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us Fan MailFear loves to impersonate reality. It tells you you're stuck, too broken, too tired, too far gone, and it keeps you from the life God is actually inviting you into. We lean hard into 2 Timothy 1:7 and get specific about what replaces fear when the Holy Spirit leads the way: power, love, and self-control, not as motivational phrases, but as a lived, daily practice of discipleship.We also share what we witnessed through ministry connections in Bangkok and beyond, from baptisms to church planting efforts and practical projects that serve communities. Seeing students lead and serve is a needed wake-up call: our kids are not waiting to become the church someday. Their identity is already secured as sons and daughters of the Most High God, and that confidence helps them cross cultural lines and love people well.Then we bring it home. We talk about praying for prodigals, honoring the legacy of generational faith, and refusing to give up when a loved one feels out of reach. We unpack why “fan into flame” is not poetic language, it's survival language for spiritual life, and why Christian community and life groups matter if we want a sound mind and real self-control. We close with a clear invitation to say yes to Jesus and take a next step so no one has to walk alone.If this encouraged you, share it with someone who's fighting fear, subscribe for more, and leave a review to help others find the conversation. What's one area where you need power, love, or self-control right now?Cornerstonehttps://www.cornerstoneaz.org/Follow Jesushttps://www.cornerstoneaz.org/follow-...Life Groups https://www.cornerstoneaz.org/life-gr...Giving https://cornerstoneaz.churchcenter.co...Church Center App - Download then add Cornerstone Christian Center in Avondale, AZiOShttps://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-ch...Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/de...----Instagram   cornerstoneaz  Facebook  cornerstoneaz.org  Twitter  cornerstoneaz.org

Preached on Sunday the 2nd of August, 2026 followed by the Lord's Supper.Hebrews 7:1-257 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. 6 But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. 8 In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of him,“You are a priest forever,    after the order of Melchizedek.”18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:“The Lord has sworn    and will not change his mind,‘You are a priest forever.'”22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.Intro Music by Julius H. from Pixabay Outro Music by PianoAmor from Pixabay

Promises for Provision (audio) David Eells – 7/29/26 We have many revelations on our site of how God has planned to provide for His saints in the coming wilderness tribulation. I'm going to share just a few of these with you today.   God's Warehouse in the Wilderness K. H. - 08/29/2008 In a dream, my mom, sister, nieces, and I were moving into this warehouse that seemed to be off on its own in a way, and if you weren't looking for it, you would miss it. (Many do miss God's warehouse because they don't take His promises seriously and in faith. It is off on its own because it is in the wilderness place of our weakness that His power is made perfect.) As we entered the warehouse, I was amazed at all the things that I saw in it. There were beds, couches, lamps, refrigerators, toys, food, water, etc. (Also, there are eyes that see, organs, limbs, and all heathy things.) It looked like there was anything and everything that we would ever need in there. The enormity reminded me of a store that I went to a few months ago called IKEA (“eye-key-yah”) but it was larger than that and had so much more. In the warehouse, I also saw several more families; some of the kids were playing. There was such joy and peace that filled this large room. We all were just so thankful that we would have all that we would ever need in that warehouse. Praise the Lord! As my mom and I were talking about the dream, she immediately mentioned that God let me see His warehouse or storehouse for His saints. Praise God! Paul says in Philippians 4:19, And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. I have experienced God supplying our every need but what a blessing to actually be able to see God's warehouse for those who live in His shelter. This promise is something that the children of God will need to stand on in the coming tribulation. The sum of His Word is truth and no matter what it may look like, the Lord will provide and bring us through. Praise Jesus; thank you, Father!   Obedience In Provision Anonymous 3/30/23 (David's notes in red) I had a vision of an average man. He was suddenly blessed with a very large abundance of money and a driven calling from God. (There are many prophecies of the Man-child being abundantly blessed to build the Kingdom of God.) The man was then led to buy all these businesses and houses that were for sale, and he obtained almost a whole city. (Many people represented by the houses will be coming into the Kingdom in Spirit and Truth. Also, this has been fulfilled by the Lord since this 2023 revelation.) In so doing and led by God, to change a country and giving hope and faith by his example in servitude. Every one of the businesses and houses were for those in need. Housing the poor and the faithful in Christ; businesses were used for His Glory according to the Word and Christ and gave spiritual truth and provision for all their needs to be met. (Again, this has been fulfilled by the Lord since this 2023 revelation. In return, all those he helped then participated with their gifting or their profession, and many helped in genuine love as one community for God, and it grew. The changes even convinced many non-believers not to change it back to what it had been. (This is coming.) (I felt this is our deepest desire to have His Kingdom be established here and now in the physical, not for our own selves but to fulfil the needs of others.)   An Abundance of Provision for the Bride L. W.- 2/3/23 (David's notes in red) I had a dream where I was in what looked like a big warehouse, with bank tellers. (The Father's gift of wealth coming to bank accounts through NESARA that will especially favor the Bride. It is money the D.S. stole from everyone for many years but D.T. found.) I went to get a statement for my account, and when the lady handed it to me, I noticed I had about $37,000,000,000. That's $37 billion. (She was expecting this but had a critical, unforgiving spirit, and I tried to gently warn her, but sadly she lost it all and went to her place.) In the dream, I remember thinking, “Yesterday, I was thinking about how I wanted a billion dollars,” but I hadn't asked God for this. (In real life, I have no desire to be a billionaire. The number 37, in Bible Numerics, means “Word of God”.) (Those who have the Word manifested in them will have all needs met.) In the dream, my goal was to keep the knowledge about how much money I had a secret and use it anonymously for good. I was planning on using it to build a personal house, a church building for UBM, to get my husband a new truck (Which he badly needed at the time), and to help others in need. I remember thinking in the dream that “I would just keep my current car.” End. …In dream #2) It was a sunny day. My husband and I were looking into getting another house. We were looking at one that was multi-story and had two kitchens. UBM was there looking at it with us. I thought that it would be a great place for pot blessings. (All the good she previously had a desire to do.) I remember specifically seeing Gabe and Michael and didn't think much about it. But later in real life, I think the Lord reminded me that two of His archangels are Michael and Gabriel. (His angels watch over the affairs of UBM.) (To render to all according to their works.) …I asked the Lord for a verse by faith at random about these dreams and got Rom. 1:17 For therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith. (The faithful righteous will be blessed soon!)   Provision to Preserve & Build the Kingdom Eve Brast - 11/05/18 (David's notes in Red) I had a couple of dreams involving a Monopoly game board. It's no coincidence that as I sat down to write this, an announcement on the radio said that on this day in history, November 5, 1935, Parker Brothers introduced the game of Monopoly to the public. (Which had to do with dealing with money.) Dream 1: I was sitting in the dining room of our old house on Vanderbilt Rd. in TX. (Vanderbilt is representative of the wealthy elite... The Vanderbilts were once the wealthiest family in America. Cornelius Vanderbilt was the richest American until his death in 1877. After that, his son William acquired his father's fortune and was the richest American until his death in 1885. The Vanderbilts' prominence lasted until the mid-20th century, when the family's 10 great Fifth Avenue mansions were torn down, and most other Vanderbilt houses were sold or turned into museums in what has been referred to as the “Fall of the House of Vanderbilt”. Wikipedia. (They lost it all as many will do.) But, instead of a dining table, there was a green card table. (The Deep State house of cards is falling.) It was dark in the kitchen area, but there was a light shining down on the card table. (Father is shining the light on the fact that many are gambling with their life.) There was an empty Monopoly board game on the table, where three men with slicked-back, black hair were sitting around the Monopoly board with me. (Black hair represents submission to darkness. The elite behind the Deep State are playing the game of spiritual monopoly, and they are losing due to God.) R. S. was to my right with her hands folded over her forearms, observing the scene. The only thing each of us had been given was the usual amount of Monopoly money that each player receives. There were no houses, hotels, or game tokens to move around the board. (The value is not in the material possessions but in the funny money itself. By her composure, we know that R. S. was resting in the flesh, for she fell away. Eve was just sitting there resting in the Lord. All things are provided freely in our rest from self-works. The monopoly money, thought to be worthless, represents the national currency of nations that have fallen to a very low value. NESARA will change this for the righteous.) Suddenly, a pair of dice appeared above the board as if an invisible pair of hands was shaking them. Then the dice were cast onto the board, and they came up 3 and 4, equaling 7. (God rolls the dice for He holds the future, and He and those who abide in Him, win the game. He has His own people at the table to receive the gift.) The three men all declared, “7!!!” in a defeated and disgusted tone. (God has defeated the elite who planned to use this currency for their own New World Order.) Then they all got up from the table, took all their Monopoly money and stacked it in a large pile on top of my money, and then it all turned into real money as they left the game. (The revaluation of currencies to come up on a par with the dollar, which must lose some of its value to come into alignment. Hence, those with worthless currencies will find they have become real money. This is necessary to have a GCR or global currency reset, where all come to the same value. In the short term, this will be used to build the Kingdom, as in the temple of God, which is His people. The elite had planned to take the Christians down, and then they would take all. But Trump, who, as Cyrus did, will contribute Babylon's vast hidden wealth towards the temple of God's people.) I then realized I'd won even though I didn't know I'd been playing. (None of us has been playing, but like this, it will be given to us by God's roll.) R. S. then said, “Wow, Eve! You really made out!” (Eve could represent herself and the corporate Bride). I was so amazed by this. Then I woke up and I looked at my phone, and the time was 3:33 am. (I thought of Jeremiah 33:3 because I had asked Father to show me more about His plans and what He is doing currently. Jer. 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and will show thee great things, and difficult, which thou knowest not. (I said months ago I wondered if the elite would be taken down so that they could not be involved in this revaluation and that their currencies' value would then be left to be divided to the people of God. Now I know it was a word of knowledge.) I asked Father for a word concerning the Monopoly game and the black-haired men (Who I believe represent the [elite through the] Deep State) and my finger was on, “Shalt thou reign?” in Jeremiah 22:15. Jer 22:12-17 but in the place whither they have led him captive, there shall he die, and he shall see this land no more. 13 Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by injustice; that useth his neighbor's service without wages, and giveth him not his hire; 14 that saith, I will build me a wide house and spacious chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and it is ceiled with cedar, and painted with vermilion. 15 Shalt thou reign, (Those who were sure they would reign by collecting enormous profits from this revaluation have lost it. The people's monopoly money is now worth much more, for the till has the elites' and the wicked's money in it and it will be divided as God sees fit.) because thou strivest to excel in cedar? Did not thy father eat and drink, and do justice and righteousness? then it was well with him. 16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Was not this to know me? saith Jehovah. 17 But thine eyes and thy heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for shedding innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it. I then asked for a word for the men giving me all their money, and my finger was on Matthew 6:29. In context Mat 6:28-34 And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? (When I pasted this text in this article, somehow, I accidentally turned the background red, but this underlined part was white. I know of no way this could naturally happen, and my accident was not an accident. So believe God to supply for you in the coming wilderness as He did for Israel.) 31 Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Also, this verse came to mind. Pro 13:22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children; And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous. Dream 2: I went back to sleep, and again I was sitting in front of the Monopoly board, alone this time. I was looking at a small stack of money between the game board and me. In the dream, I knew that it was $42. And I was thinking, “It will not be enough; I'm going to fall short.” (Everyone wanted the revaluation to happen too early. If it had, it would have been swallowed up by the criminals.) Then Donald Trump merged with David and came in through the door near the dining room that led out to the garage. (When I say they were merged, it was like their two images flickered back and forth between Donald Trump in a dark suit, white shirt, and red tie, and David in a white Polo shirt and light blue jeans.) (This merger has been seen for a while, especially in Eve's dreams. This represents the David Man-child reformers working to bring about the Kingdom on a Christian level, while Trump-Cyrus works to bring about the Kingdom on a National level. And the Davids will help the Trump.) I heard their voices in unison say, “42....43,44,45” as they added three more dollars to the 42 that I had. (Bill Clinton was the 42nd president, Bush Jr. the 43rd, Obama the 44th, and Trump the 45th. (And currently the 47th. Notice the criminals did not further the process of GCR during their terms because then Christians would benefit having been told by the Lord to invest in this. As a ministry, we have not, but others have for us. Obama/Hillary/Biden's job was to finish off the Christians with their invasion and cheating on the vote. Then came God's 45th and 47th president to prepare us with the tribulation provision. There is a lot of revelation concerning 45, which represents preservation. The Isaiah 45 Trump-Cyrus/Man-child parallel to rebuild the Kingdom, etc.) Isa 44:28-45:3,13 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure, even saying of Jerusalem, She shall be built; and of the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid. 45:1 Thus saith Jehovah to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him, and I will loose the loins of kings; to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut: 2 I will go before thee, and make the rough places smooth; I will break in pieces the doors of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron; 3 and I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that it is I, Jehovah, who call thee by thy name, even the God of Israel. … 13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will make straight all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let my exiles go free, not for price nor reward, saith Jehovah of hosts. I was relieved because this was exactly the amount I needed. The 3 dollars they laid down were much larger than normal, like the size of business envelopes. (I believe that Trump has “bought us” more years, represented by the 3 large dollar bills, before the tribulation begins). Then I woke up. I asked Father for a word concerning the three more dollars and my finger was on “heir of righteousness” in the concordance under Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. (Arks are expensive and laborious, as we learned when many went to see this huge replica – The Ark Encounter in Kentucky.) Mat 24:37-39 And as were the days of Noah, so shall be the coming of the Son of man. 38 For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, 39 and they knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall be the coming of the Son of man. What 42 dollars could also represent...   Meaning of Number 42 in the Bible Forty-two is a number with a direct connection to the coming Antichrist kingdom. His evil efforts will last 42 months in the end time, and thus forty-two is firmly associated with him. (This 42nd Presidency brought an end to 3 generations of antichrist leadership, but we are being preserved by the 45th and 47th. In God's view, Trump skipped a year because He is needed now.) On Oct 14, 2018, Melissa Pollock wrote: David, I thought I would look online and see if there is anything about Pres. Trump having dreams and needing interpretation. I looked for a little, but not really hard. The Lord got my attention when I was online, that Trump is the 45th President. I was thinking about how the Lord is using him as a type of Cyrus. Then all of a sudden the Lord brought to mind that Isaiah 45 is the first chapter, which talks about Cyrus. So I went and looked. Actually, verse 28, the last verse of chapter 44, is the first place Isaiah starts talking about Cyrus. Chapter 45 is the only chapter in Isaiah that starts at the beginning, talking about Cyrus. Then I thought about the fact that 45 means preservation. The Lord also got my attention with how I wrote all this info down. PRES. is short for President, and PREServation both begin with the same letters! The Lord is using PRES Trump as a type of Cyrus to PREServe the U.S. and the world by taking down the Deep State. That's so we have a relative time of peace for the sake of bringing His people out of apostasy so they will follow the Man-child into the wilderness, like David has been teaching us. There are only three verses that use the number 45 in the Bible. Gen.18:28 peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, I will not destroy it, if I find there forty and five. (45 preserved) Joshua 14:10 And now, behold, Jehovah hath kept me alive, as he spake, these forty and five years, from the time that Jehovah spake this word unto Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. (45 preserved) 1 Kings 7:3, In context 1-3, 1 And Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house. 2 For he built the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length thereof was a hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars. 3 And it was covered with cedar above over the forty and five beams, that were upon the pillars; fifteen in a row. Cedar wood is bug-resistant and used to store things in order to preserve them from being eaten up by bugs. (His house was preserved and supported by 45 beams)   Huge Box of Gold Coins Given to David David Eells - 11/04/2016 I had a vision in the night. I saw myself in a huge warehouse. I had been sent by my Boss to move a large box that I saw in the Spirit to our part of the warehouse. When I got there, I still saw the box in the Spirit, and I saw the industrial-sized forklift that I was to use to pick it up. I would judge the box to be about 8' square and very strong. It was full of dollar-sized gold coins. I looked at the forklift and wondered if it was big enough to pick the box up. I found the manager of the warehouse and told him what I was told to do. He said, “I was told by my boss not even to speak nominally (in name only) of that box”. Then I told him, “Do you want me to go back to my Boss or do you want to speak to yours?” I knew my Boss, Father, was over his boss, Satan. End of vision. (I believe the Lord is saying we are soon to receive access to the money to serve His saints in the refuge.)   UBM, Refuge from the Storm David Eells - 09/21/2007 In a vivid dream, an elderly white-haired man sat at His desk looking at some papers. He was also watching me with an expression of pleasant approval as I lay on a couch next to Him. I also was looking at some papers. It was revealed to me that He was leaving me with a billion dollars, which to me just represented a lot of money. Later I was told it would literally be infinitely more than that, and it would be to take care of His people, house, property, and the Man-child families. There were household servants who looked on. (The elderly white-haired man represents our heavenly Father, Who will provide Unleavened Bread Ministries with everything necessary to care for that portion of His house and property that He has left us to care for. The house represents His holy people, and His property represents those who are under the blood and in the process of becoming holy. I represent UBM, which is a body of saints committed to preparing the elect to walk in the steps of Jesus. The papers we were looking at represent the Biblical, legal contract between the Father and us that guarantees all these things. The servants are the angels who serve His people to bring this to pass. I was lying down in a restful position, signifying that it would not be by the works of UBM, but as we rest from our own works, the grace of God will bring it to pass.) Afterward, I saw myself walking through the house and looking out a front window. I saw that a storm was raging and that the properties outside the boundaries of our property were being devastated. In other words, we were a refuge. Trees were being blown away, and the landscape was becoming desolate. (Looking out the front window is to look into the future, or what is before the house. The raging storm is tribulation to come. The world outside the property will be devastated to prepare a wilderness that will motivate God's people to flee to the Kingdom of God through repentance and faith. This is abiding in Christ, the “Secret Place” of the Most High God. In the Bible, people are likened to trees, so the trees blown away represent people's lives being destroyed who do not abide in the shelter of Christ.) Next, I saw that inside the boundary of the property were all kinds of animals. I knew that the billion dollars was given to shelter and take care of these. (After the dream, I thought how much this seemed like the beasts who fled to Noah's ark for safety from the storm to come. Solomon taught that men are as beasts. Ecc.3:18 I said in my heart, [It is] because of the sons of men, that God may prove them, and that they may see that they themselves are [but as] beasts. 19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; and man hath no preeminence above the beasts for all is vanity. I have shared in our teachings that the different peculiarities of these animals represent the different strengths and weaknesses of men. The different species can also be seen as different unclean sects, divisions or denominations.) Peter was being prepared by a trance vision to accept into the Kingdom those men he considered to be unclean beasts. Act.10:11 and he beholdeth the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth: 12 wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the heaven. 13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat. 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common and unclean. 15 And a voice [came] unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common. 16 And this was done thrice: and straightway the vessel was received up into heaven. Immediately after this vision, Peter was invited to the house of Cornelius, and he perceived that God had revealed to him that He had cleansed the lost, unclean Gentiles through the sacrifice of Jesus. Act.10:28 and he said unto them, Ye yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to join himself or come unto one of another nation; and [yet] unto me hath God showed that I should not call any man common or unclean... 34 And Peter opened his mouth and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him. At this point, Peter preached the Gospel to all who were in Cornelius' house, and they were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit. Many unclean beast people will be fleeing the judgments on the world and apostate Christianity and coming into the shelter of the Kingdom through our ministry. These were sanctified of their beastly character by the sacrifice of Jesus, and we will have to deal with those peculiarities by faith and the Word. Some of them will ultimately not be saved, for they will not continue in the faith and endure to the end to be delivered of their beastly appetites. Next, I saw, as I looked out of the front window, a rhinoceros charging towards the window. At the last minute, it veered off and went down the left side of the house. I turned and ran to the back of the house and looked out the back window to see lions and a rhino calf peacefully in the backyard together with other animals. I supposed that the rhinoceros was thinking of protecting its own, but there was no threat; they were all at peace. (Notice that the animals are at peace, like they must have been in Peter's sheet and Noah's ark. This symbolizes the one flock with one shepherd that Jesus said would come. Mat.5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God. In Isaiah 11:1-5, the Branch is Jesus in the Man-child ministry as in Jer.23:1-6. Then it also speaks of the animals being at peace and protected and led by the man-child. Isa.11:6 And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them (man-child). 7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain (Kingdom of God); for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea. The rest of the chapter speaks of gathering God's people to their spiritual Land of Promise and bringing peace between them while conquering the old man in the land. Chapter 12 speaks of them drinking freely of God's salvation. And chapter 13 is the Day of the Lord and the fall of America as we know it. Here, the shepherds and their flocks are gone, but the wild beasts- especially “goats” (the wicked and apostates) and “wolves” (apostate false leaders) are left to “cry in their castles” (churches). 13:19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans' (Babylon in religion and politics) pride, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. 20... neither shall shepherds make their flocks to lie down there. 21 But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there (religion); and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and ostriches shall dwell there, and wild goats shall dance there. 22 And wolves shall cry in their castles (churches), and jackals in the pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.) Looking out the front window in this dream represents seeing into the future, and the left side, where the rhinoceros went, represents where the goats walk. Just as it is now, some self-righteous, competitive, ambitious, sectarian, factious, domineering types will seek to separate those of their own kind and their own thinking from the body when in reality they are in the safest place to be. This also may be speaking of a larger future scenario that involves the new world order religion seeking to separate those who may be proven to belong to them from those at peace with God and each other. They will not be ashamed to use the weapon at their disposal to gore those who have been given authority. The rhinoceros first aimed at me and then at those who agreed with me. Some, like Judas, will go to the place ordained for them because of their selfish ambition and because they abuse their freedom in Christ. Gal.5:10 I have confidence to you-ward in the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be... 13 For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only [use] not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another (as the wild beasts normally do), take heed that ye be not consumed one of another (as the wild beasts do). 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.... 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, 21 envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.   Refuge Presence of God B. R. - 05/01/2009 (David's notes in red) I was reading in Second Samuel, and this scripture impressed me: 2Sa.6:14 And David danced before Jehovah with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of Jehovah with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. (When the David Man-child ministries are anointed as the new leadership of God's people, the presence of God will be in their midst for the first time since the Saul ministries began. 1 Chr.12:38 All these being men of war, that could order the battle array, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king... 13:2 And David said unto all the assembly of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and if it be of Jehovah our God, let us send abroad everywhere unto our brethren that are left in all the land of Israel, with whom the priests and Levites are in their cities that have suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us; 3 and let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we sought not unto it in the days of Saul.) Then, last night, I had a refuge dream, and only the following came to mind: We were in a covered pavilion with picnic tables. David (representing the David/Man-child ministries to come) and I had arrived, and there was a group of people expecting us. A middle-aged woman came up to us and told us that the pretzels in the stacked, white boxes of different sizes on the picnic tables were for us to eat. (This represents partaking of the joyous rewards of the unleavened bread of the Word, the crucified life of the heart, and prayer. All this in a clean, white garment representing faith and the works of the Spirit. Which I will share below.) David was walking behind me, singing in tongues. He was in a very joyous mood. (Bringing the anointed presence of God.)   What Do Pretzels Represent? The origins of the pretzel go back to a frugal monastery in the mountains between Southern France and Northern Italy. In 610 AD, the monks created the first soft pretzels. They didn't want to waste the dough leftover from making unleavened communion bread. (Partaking of the pure Word.) Christians, in those days, prayed with their arms crossed over their chest (the crucified life of the heart) with each hand on the opposite shoulder. The monks realized that the dough could be twisted into a similar shape. The treats were given to village children as a reward to children for memorizing their prayers. The monks called their treats “pretiola”, a Latin word that means “little rewards”. (Partaking of the joyous rewards of the unleavened bread of the Word and prayer.)   Provision for the Bride Terri McGinley - 4/19/22 (Deb's notes in green | David's notes in red) I had a dream where I was observing these young men. (Representing the Man-child Body of first fruits reformers.) They were between the ages of 18-23 or so. (Eighteen is the numerical value of the Hebrew word “chai,” which means “life.”... It is a Jewish custom to give monetary gifts in increments of 18, thus symbolically blessing the recipient of the gift with a good, long life. The number 23 in the Bible symbolizes death. The Man-child body of reformers is the first to come to their spiritual death of self so that they can bring salvation, provision, and life through the Gospel of Christ to all of God's elect during their first 3 1/2 years of ministry in the tribulation.) They were camping, and someone there told them of a lady who was in need and asked if they could help out. (Camping represents that the Man-child reformers are in their own personal wilderness.) (The lady in need is the modern-day Church, which has been impoverished by apostasy and division over these last 2,000+ years and is in desperate need of the real Jesus.) One young man said, “Wait, just a minute.” (The young man represents Jesus Who has already given us everything.) He had a stack of birthday cards. (Birthday cards represent invitations to be born into the Kingdom.) He looked through them and found a blank check and a hundred-dollar bill. He took them out of the cards and gave them to the lady in need. (The Man-child will show the woman how to receive the $100 bill representing 100-fold fruit and the blank check representing carte blanche; i.e., whatever is needed; no stipulations or no limits.) (Est 2:13 then in this wise came the maiden unto the king: Whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house.) He left the check blank. I was really surprised, thinking he'd give maybe five or ten dollars, especially since he didn't seem to have much and was so young. That was the whole dream. (Jesus didn't have much during His earthly life according to the world's standards, but He gave all of His life so that we could have Life. A “blank check” reminds me of Mar.11:24 Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye received them, and ye shall have them.) AMEN.

Send us Fan MailJoin your host Clifton Pope as he is back with another solocast as the July 2026 installment of the Spiritual Enlightment Series is here as we speak!In this month's episode, Clifton Pope breaks down the concept of Holy Hustle from the Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Stoic philosophy, and the Gnostic Texts traditions to highlight how Holy hustle comes down to understanding the part of the work we are responsible for and releasing the part that belongs to the Most High GOD, reality, or larger order of life!The work is good and the rest is holy when it comes to holy hustle regardless of the religion or tradition as it relays the same message!Don't miss the monthly installments of the Spiritual Enlightment Series on Apple/Spotify Podcasts/Rumble courtesy of the HFWB Podcast Series!Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it and leave a rating/review if you love the show so more people can tap into the information  and turn it into wisdom!Receive your copy of the Fitness Mirage on Amazon via E-book/paperback and on Gumroad via audiobook with the links below!https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GY1FZZPKhttps://cpope26.gumroad.com/l/zzyfdThank you for the love and support!Support the showhttps://athleticism.com/HEALTHFWEALTHBhttps://coolgreenclothing.com/HEALTHFITNESSWEALTHBUSINESShttps://normotim.com/HEALTHFIThttps://www.portablemeshnebulizer.com/pages/collab?dt_id=2573900official affiliates of the HFWB Podcast SeriesPlease support the mission behind each product/services  as it helps grow the HFWB Podcast Series to where the show can continue to roll along!

The Power of an indestructible Life “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and reliable and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.” Hebrews 6:19-20-7:1-3 NASB “And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. Hebrews 7:15-16 NASB The Power of a Permanent Priesthood “For it is attested of Him, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek…The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing; Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.Therefore He is also able to save forever those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens; who has no daily need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because He did this once for all time when He offered up Himself. For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, who has been made perfect forever.” Hebrews 7:17, 23-28 NASB The Power of an Eternal and better covenant “For, on the one hand, there is the nullification of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect); on the other hand, there is the introduction of a better hope, through which we come near to God. And to the extent that it was not without an oath (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, “The Lord has sworn And will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever'”) by the same extent Jesus also has become the guarantee of a better covenant.” Hebrews 7:18-22 NASB “Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21 NASB

TAKING GROUND: Opposition In The Spirit Steve Parrish ‭‭‭‭‭Ephesians 6:10–12 (ESV) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle (intense struggle) against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.Following Jesus is a Journey, leading you to Taking Ground, one step at a time in your DiscipleshipRelationshipsFamilyMinistryCareerCommunityTalents/GiftingsFinancesThere is a spiritual realmGod is Spirit - God created the spiritual realmThere is the Holy SpiritThere is the reality of angelsThere is the reality of fallen angels - Satan/SatanaThere is the reality of demons (likely not angels)There is the reality of false godsOPPOSITION IN THE SPIRIT: The Holy SpiritJohn 1:43 (ESV) The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”Galatians 5:25 (ESV) If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.Acts 16:6–10 (ESV) And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.Misalignment with the Holy Spirit brings brings contentionActs 7:51 (ESV) “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.Ephesians 4:30 (ESV) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.OPPOSITION IN THE SPIRIT: Surrendered TerritoryEphesians 4:27 (NIV) and do not give the devil a foothold.This can happen Personal, Family, RegionUnforgivenessHidden/Addictive SinGeneration SinOccultic PracticeThis establishes a rightful ground to be used for opposition in your life.Daniel 10:13 (ESV) The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia,While slavery was a horrific sin of American in it's early years, the sin of Abortion is far worse.Old Testament, Children were murderedMolech - children passed through the fireBaal - sacrifices Why? Favor, protection, blessing, prosperity and agricultural success. Fertility of land and livestock. Protection from enemies and disasters. Divine favor and acceptance.Mark 5:7–10 (ESV) And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country.OPPOSITION IN THE SPIRIT: DeceptionRevelation 12:9 (ESV) And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.Ephesians 2:1–2 (ESV) And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—Saul/PaulJohn 16:2 (ESV) They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.Acts 7:59–8:1 (ESV) And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.Acts 8:3 (ESV) But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.Acts 9:1–6 (ESV) But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”Believing things that are not true is a spiritual issueThere are great limiters for believers - Revelation is neededOPPOSITION IN THE SPIRIT: Satan/SatanaGenesis 3:14–15 (ESV) The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”He Opposed Jesus: Luke 4:13 (ESV) And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.2 Corinthians 2:11 (ESV) so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.1 Peter 5:8–9 (ESV) Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.James 4:7–8 (ESV) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.John 8:44 (ESV) You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.1 Thessalonians 2:18 (ESV) because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.OPPOSITION IN THE SPIRIT: Things Bound In The Spiritual RealmMatthew 17:19–21 (KJV 1900) Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.OPPOSITION IN THE SPIRIT: Occultic PracticeNumbers 22:15–17 (ESV) Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these. And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to me, for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.' ” “That cant touch me…”. It can, but you can discern and oppose it.

Welcome to Day 2907 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2907 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 144:1-8 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2907 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2907 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Cosmic Warrior's Sanctuary – Bowing the Heavens to Rescue Frail Mortals On our previous expedition, on Day Two Thousand Nine Hundred Five, we bore witness to David's heavy, cumulative exhaustion in Psalm One Hundred Forty-Three. We stood alongside him in the dark, feeling the suffocating, numbing weight of a long-drawn-out wilderness campaign, as he pleaded for the morning light of God's unfailing love to rescue his failing spirit. Today, as we crest a magnificent new ridge along our multi-month journey through the psalter, we advance directly into Psalm One Hundred Forty-Four, verses one through eight. This text serves as an incredibly powerful, triumphant answer to the dark paralysis we analyzed in our last study. David is no longer sitting frozen in the dust, wondering if the darkness will permanently consume him. Instead, he bursts forth with a magnificent, high-energy anthem of praise, recognizing that the very hardships he endured were the training grounds for his ultimate destiny. As we explore these eight verses together, we will discover a dynamic mosaic of royal warfare, cosmic geography, and profound theological humility, viewing this entire battlefield through the brilliant, ancient worldview of Yahweh's sovereign heavenly host. The first segment is: The Divine Arsenal: Training for the Frontiers of Chaos Let us open our minds to the opening movements of this royal liturgy, as recorded in the New Living Translation, grouping together the deeply connected, contiguous thoughts found in verse one and verse two. Praise the Lord, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle. He is my loving ally and my fortress, my tower of safety, my rescuer. He is my shield, and I take refuge in him. He subdues the nations under me. David begins this segment with an unshakeable, rhythmic blast of absolute adoration, declaring, “Praise the Lord, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle. He is my loving ally and my fortress, my tower of safety, my rescuer. He is my shield, and I take refuge in him. He subdues the nations under me.” To fully appreciate the vast, panoramic scope of these opening lines, we must view David's military reality through the fascinating, complex lens of the Ancient Israelite divine-council worldview. In the ancient Near East, kingship was never viewed as a purely secular, administrative function. The king of Israel was understood to be the earthly representative, the unique viceroy, of Yahweh Himself. When David addresses God as Yahweh Sabaoth—the Lord of Heaven's Armies—he is recognizing that his earthly battles are intimately intertwined with a grand, unseen cosmic conflict. The hostile surrounding nations were not just political competitors; they were groups aligned with rebellious, territorial spiritual principalities who actively sought to subvert the cosmic order established by the Most High God. Notice that David does not boast in his own inherent athletic prowess, or his natural military genius, even though he was a legendary warrior who defeated giants. Instead, he attributes all of his kinetic capability to his Creator, shouting, "He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle." Yahweh is depicted here as the Master Commander, personally mentoring His earthly king, tuning his reflexes, and sharpening his tactical focus so that he can effectively push back the frontiers of chaos. David then layers title upon glorious title, describing God as his rock, his loving ally, his fortress, his tower of safety, his rescuer, and his shield. In the ancient world, a tower of safety or a fortress on a high crag was completely unassailable by infantry. By running into the character of Yahweh, David enters a fortress that sits completely above the reach of both earthly weapons and dark, cosmic forces. It is from this secure, celestial vantage point that the true King of the universe executes judgment, subduing rebellious human assemblies under the feet of His anointed servant. The second segment is: The Radical Contrast: Cosmic Majesty and Fleeting Shadows Right in the middle of this high-stakes military declaration, David pauses to display a stunning level of philosophical and theological humility, combining the logical thoughts found in verse three and verse four. O Lord, what are human beings that you should notice them, mere mortals that you should think about them? For we are like a breath of air; our days are like a passing shadow. David pivots his gaze away from the grand geopolitics of his kingdom to look directly into the mirror of human fragility, asking, “O Lord, what are human beings that you should notice them, mere mortals that you should think about them? For we are like a breath of air; our days are like a passing shadow.” This exquisite, highly poetic exclamation directly echoes the haunting cosmic questions raised in Psalm Eight. As a king who sat in council with the elders, and who regularly contemplated the vast tapestry of the night sky, David was acutely aware of the mind-boggling scale of reality. In the ancient cosmic geography, above the physical dome of the sky rested the glorious, burning palace of the divine council, populated by majestic, immortal spiritual beings who had witnessed the very foundations of the earth being laid. In comparison to these enduring celestial hosts, and in comparison to the eternal, uncreated majesty of Yahweh, what is a human being? David uses two incredibly vivid Hebrew metaphors to describe our mortal condition: hevel—which translates to a mere breath of warm air, a vapor that appears for a microsecond in the winter cold and then vanishes completely—and a passing shadow, like the silhouette of a bird flying over a field, gone before the eye can even track its movement. Yet, the profound mystery of biblical wisdom lies right here in this juxtaposition. The transcendent Sovereign Lord of the cosmos, who rules over billions of stars and commands legions of heavenly messengers, actively chooses to step down into history to notice, think about, and harbor deep affection for these fragile, breathing dust-creatures. He doesn't just tolerate humanity; He partners with mortals, inviting them to participate in the restoration of His cosmic order. The third segment is: Cosmic Theophany: Splitting the Fabric of the Sky Having established both the supreme majesty of God and the radical dependence of man, David now launches into a dramatic, high-impact prayer for an immediate, supernatural intervention, weaving together the cosmic warfare motifs found in verse five and verse six. Open the heavens and come down, Lord. Touch the mountains so they billow smoke. Flash your lightning and scatter your enemies! Shoot your arrows and confuse them! David calls down the ultimate cosmic cavalry, crying out with immense urgency, “Open the heavens and come down, Lord. Touch the mountains so they billow smoke. Flash your lightning and scatter your enemies! Shoot your arrows and confuse them!” This section contains some of the most concentrated, highly dramatic theophany imagery in the entire Old Testament. When David prays, “Open the heavens and come down,” the original language literally means to bow or to bend the heavens. In the ancient mindset, the sky was seen as a solid, physical separation between the celestial realm of God's throne room and the terrestrial realm of human history. David is asking Yahweh to grab the fabric of the cosmos, bend it downward, and rip open the boundary line, invading earthly geography with the raw, unfiltered glory of His heavenly presence. When the Most High steps down, the physical geography of the earth cannot sustain His weight. He touches the mountains—which in the ancient near eastern worldview were considered the pillars of the earth, the cosmic boundary stones where the gods met—and they instantly erupt, billowing smoke like volatile volcanoes, completely unmasked as fragile structures before their Creator. David then describes the weapons of this cosmic combat: lightning bolts functioning as divine spears, flashing across the dark sky to scatter the entrenched armies of the wicked, while supernatural arrows of thunder confuse and disorient the adversaries. This is...

In our last lesson, we saw how Jesus had power over creation in stilling the storm on the lake. In this lesson, we now see Jesus demonstrating power over demons. Jesus cast out of a man the demons who spoke with Jesus. They told Him that they knew who He was, Jesus, Son of the Most High God. They also know there is coming a time when they will be tormented by being cast into the abyss. So they begged the Lord to allow them to enter a herd of pigs, which He did. Jesus is the one who has the authority over demonic spirits. Peter writes that Christ, who has gone into heaven is at the right hand of God with angels, authorities and powers having been subjected to Him. 1Peter 3:22Let's join Dr. Mitchell in Luke 8:26 on the Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast.

In Today's Secular Uncertainties, God is Sovereign; and God “the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he {God} will” MESSAGE SUMMARY: Political discord and health care uncertainties surround us in all directions today. Without Jesus in our lives, we have reasons to be anxious and fearful. However, Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:31: “Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.”. The future years may hurt our pride, wallets, and/or our freedom. On the other hand, we should not let the current secular political environment and culture hinder our resolve to continue in our fearless faith in the truth; our constant hope in the future; and our radical love for our neighbors. God has a plan; and, regardless of how things look from our eyes, we must remain faithful to His purpose. Now is the time to draw near to Jesus and to advance His Kingdom. Our gaze must remain on Jesus if we want to walk on the water during the storm. God is the King of Kings and the Sovereign God of the Universe. As Daniel interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 4:17 when God told Nebuchadnezzar: “to the end that the living may know that the Most High {God} rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he {God} will and sets over it the lowliest of men.”. God is always involved in our lives, and He gives the government offices “to whom he will”, even if the political processes produce “the lowliest of men {or women}”. Sometimes, we receive the elected officials we need, and sometimes we receive the elected officials that we deserve; but God is always Sovereign and faithful.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Father, I confess that when difficulties and trials come into my life, large or small, I mostly grumble and complain. I realize the trials James talks about are not necessarily “walls,” but they are difficult to bear, nonetheless. Fill me with such a vision of a transformed life, O God, that I might actually consider it “pure joy” when you bring trials my way. I believe, Lord. Help my unbelief. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 94). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be a complainer (Philippians 2:14). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”. (Philippians 4:14). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 6:31; Philippians 4:5-7; Daniel 4:17; Psalms 106c:25-36. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Our Realities Speak to Our Real Priorities”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Raising Expectations with Pastor Joe Schofield, Melba Schofield, Stefanie Thayer, Dr. Craig Thayer, Dr. Paul Hall, and Ron Greer Never Doubt the Power of a Positive Word Dr. Sheila Schuller Coleman joins the Raising Expectations team for an uplifting conversation about hope, Christian identity, compassionate ministry, and the lasting influence of words spoken with faith and love. Friends, Here is a special word from Sheila Schuller Coleman just for you and tonight's “Raising Expectations “show! "Never Doubt the Power of a Positive Word! Have you ever considered that you carry the power of life and death in your words? When I became friends with a homeless man, Mark, I saw firsthand that the positive words I'd been taught by my father really can save lives! It's my mission in life to remind others that they, too, have this within themselves. To receive and even to give words of life to others." It's going to be a great and informative night together! Guest Spotlight Dr. Sheila Schuller Coleman brings a deeply personal and pastoral message shaped by her Christian faith, her ministry experience, and the teachings of her father, Dr. Robert Schuller. Throughout the episode, she reflects on lessons she received about reframing negative language, encouraging people through words of hope, and recognizing practical needs as an essential part of compassionate ministry. She shares stories from her work with homeless families, children, churches, international ministries, and individuals she has encountered in everyday places. Her message centers on the belief that even one sincere and compassionate statement can plant a seed whose eventual impact may be far greater than the speaker ever sees. Don't forget to check out our guest, Dr. Coleman's books! "The Heart of a Warrior: Delivering the Children of the World for Christ" "The Living Tree" "Unearthing the Lost Treasure: Wisdom" "Claiming The Identity of Christ's Children: A Handbook for Families" Never Doubt the Power of a Positive Word Dr. Sheila Schuller Coleman introduces the evening's central theme by explaining how her father taught her to examine every word and reframe messages from a positive perspective. She acknowledges that speaking this way requires intention and discipline but says Christians can express the hope of Jesus Christ through language that encourages rather than discourages. To illustrate the principle, she recalls meeting a homeless man named Mark through a weekly meal ministry she established at the Crystal Cathedral campus. When Mark told her that he did not believe in God, she responded that God believed in him. Years later, she encountered him again and learned that he had embraced Christianity and was playing guitar in a worship band. For Dr. Coleman, the experience demonstrates how words can function like seeds whose growth may remain unseen for years. Restoring Hope Before Despair Takes Hold The conversation expands into the relationship between encouragement, despair, and the human need for hope. Dr. Paul Hall observes that the loss of hope can be associated with suicidal despair, prompting the panel to discuss the responsibility carried by parents, grandparents, pastors, teachers, counselors, and other caring adults. Dr. Coleman and the Raising Expectations team describe words as capable of producing either healthy or damaging fruit, especially when spoken repeatedly over children. Stefanie Thayer explains that an offhand criticism received in childhood can become a destructive belief that follows someone into adulthood. The speakers therefore encourage replacing inherited negative messages with Scripture-based affirmations and truthful declarations of identity. Their discussion presents hope as something that can be strengthened through intentional language, prayer, community, and compassionate attention. Speaking Identity Over Children and Grandchildren Dr. Coleman shares how she applies these principles within her own family by deliberately choosing affirming language for her grandchildren. Rather than calling an energetic child a “handful,” she calls him a “heartful,” reframing his liveliness as something valuable rather than burdensome. She tells the story of that grandson praying for a sibling and eventually welcoming triplets into the family, which she describes with humor and gratitude. Dr. Coleman teaches her grandchildren to describe themselves as one-in-a-million miracles, blessed and highly favored, and beloved children of the Most High God. She believes children must learn to claim their spiritual identity for themselves so they can resist harmful messages when parents and grandparents are not present. The panel agrees that repeatedly speaking loving and truthful words can help children develop healthier beliefs about their value, abilities, and purpose. Lessons from Dr. Robert Schuller's Ministry A substantial portion of the program reflects on the ministry philosophy and personal example of Dr. Robert Schuller. Dr. Coleman explains that her father was frequently criticized for offering what some called a “feel-good gospel,” but she says his primary concern was reaching people who were not already connected to a church. He believed that those who were already Christians had assurance of heaven, while his calling was to communicate the gospel to people who might otherwise reject or never hear it. She recounts how his missionary uncle taught him that people in China first needed rice before they were prepared to receive a religious message. That lesson led Dr. Schuller to ask residents of Garden Grove what they needed and contributed to his well-known ministry principle, “Find a need and fill it.” The panel connects this approach with the ministry of Jesus, emphasizing that feeding people, healing them, helping them find deliverance, and assuring them of God's love can be integral to spiritual outreach. Compassion in Everyday Encounters Dr. Coleman describes ordinary public encounters as opportunities to offer encouragement and recognize the dignity of others. She recounts meeting a grocery-store employee named Isaac who described his heart as small and dark and said he was not important to anyone. Dr. Coleman responded that he was important to God and continued praying for him whenever she saw him afterward. When she later saw Isaac smiling and laughing, she viewed the encounter as encouragement to keep praying and to continue planting positive words without assuming she would immediately see their results. The conversation also includes humorous examples of misunderstood comments in public places, reinforcing how quickly words can travel beyond their intended audience. The speakers encourage listeners to remain attentive during routine activities because people may be more willing to talk, receive prayer, or accept encouragement than expected. The Heart of a Warrior and Faith During Difficult Seasons Dr. Coleman discusses her book The Heart of a Warrior, which she says began as an assignment from God to address the spiritual needs of children. While researching the condition of young people, she encountered a statistic about rising suicide rates among 14-year-olds that deeply affected her and strengthened her commitment to prayer and ministry. She also reflects on helping prepare her father's messages for publication, including Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do!, and offers its central encouragement to listeners facing hardship. Recalling a difficult season at the Crystal Cathedral, she describes going to a prayer garden and receiving renewed strength through the words of a hymn assuring her of God's presence and sustaining power. Dr. Coleman encourages listeners to pray, as she does, “Lord, give me the same faith in You that You have in Yourself,” especially when confronting circumstances that appear immovable. Her testimony frames courage not as the absence of fear, but as choosing to trust and move forward despite fear. From Encouraging Words to Active Ministry The final portion of the conversation shows how Dr. Coleman's message extends into tangible service. She describes Hope Center of Christ, her pastoral work, and partnerships with ministries supporting children, pregnant women and mothers, homeless families, churches, and communities in Kenya. One outreach began with the purchase of sheep for women in a Kenyan village and expanded as others contributed money and the animals multiplied, eventually helping one woman obtain a cow. Dr. Coleman also discusses her desire for a permanent church property where her congregation could establish programs for children, partner with ministries serving women in crisis pregnancies, feed homeless people, create a school, and provide additional community services. Melba Schofield prays for the property, the ministries, the mothers, and the children they hope to serve. Stefanie Thayer then prays for people serving in ministry and for provision for Raising Expectations, while Dr. Craig Thayer offers a separate prayer for BBS Radio TV, its staff, its continued operation, and its protection. Raising Expectations Through Faith, Service, and Hope Pastor Joe Schofield closes the program by drawing together the episode's themes of identity, prayer, courage, encouragement, and compassionate service. He describes Dr. Coleman and the Raising Expectations team as people who have served faithfully in different ways and who encourage listeners to believe they can face hardship through prayer, faith, and their identity in Christ. The hosts invite the audience to raise their expectations, pray through financial or personal difficulties, and trust that hardship does not eliminate purpose or hope. Dr. Coleman's stories reinforce the idea that ministry can begin with something as simple as a positive statement, a meal, a prayer, a sheep, or a willingness to ask another person what they need. The episode ultimately presents encouragement as both a spiritual discipline and a practical responsibility. Its closing message invites listeners to speak life, meet needs, remain faithful, and recognize the possibilities contained within even the smallest act of love.

The sermon examines the biblical account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refusing to worship King Nebuchadnezzar's golden statue, highlighting their unwavering faith despite the threat of death in a fiery furnace. It explores the theological significance of the fourth figure in the fire as a theophany or Christophany, demonstrating God's power to deliver His people. The preacher contrasts the Hebrew youths' loyalty with Nebuchadnezzar's pride and subsequent acknowledgment of the Most High God's sovereignty. Additionally, the discussion clarifies the chronological gaps in the Book of Daniel, distinguishing between historical events and prophetic visions. The message concludes by warning against spiritual amnesia and urging believers to recognize God's ultimate control over all earthly kingdoms.

Welcome to Day 2903 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2903 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 142:1-7 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2903 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2903 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: Echoes From the Cave – Finding Our Sovereign Refuge in Utter Isolation On our last trek together, as we navigated through the profound protective boundaries of Psalm One Hundred Forty-One, we listened as David begged the Lord to set a vigilant watchman over his mouth and to guard the door of his lips. He was deeply concerned about his internal response to external pressures, praying that he would not be lured into testing the wicked delicacies of spiritual compromise. Today, we step directly onto a contiguous trail as we enter Psalm One Hundred Forty-Two, verses one through seven. This psalm serves as an incredibly raw, beautiful companion piece to our previous studies. As we look closely at the landscape of this new passage, we notice that David has been plunged into an even more acute, claustrophobic crisis. The historical background of this psalm describes it as a maskil—a psalm of deep instruction—written when David was hiding deep inside a cave. Whether it was the damp, pitch-black cavern of Adullam or the desolate crags of En-gedi, David was physically trapped, hunted like an animal by the relentless armies of King Saul. The internal walls of his soul were closing in, matching the cold, rocky boundaries of his physical hiding place. Yet, even in this profound state of darkness, abandonment, and severe isolation, David does not despair. Instead, he transforms his damp subterranean prison into a magnificent anteroom of the heavenly palace, casting his eyes upward toward the sovereign council of the Most High God. The first segment is: Pouring Out the Cosmic Complaint: The Heavenly Deposition Let us open our ears to the raw, uncut emotion of this prayer, as recorded in the New Living Translation, grouping together the urgent thoughts found in verse one and verse two. I cry out to the Lord; I plead for the Lord's mercy. I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles. In this opening movement, David wastes absolutely no time masking his desperation under a veneer of false stoicism. He cries out, “I cry out to the Lord; I plead for the Lord's mercy. I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles.” The vocabulary here is highly intense, painting a picture of an overflowing vessel that can no longer contain the pressure of its contents. To fully appreciate the structural depth of these verses, we must view them through the fascinating lens of the Ancient Israelite divine-council worldview. In the ancient Near East, when an individual suffered severe injustice, they did not merely vent their frustrations into the void. They brought a formal, legal petition before the king or the supreme assembly. The Hebrew word for “complaint” used here is siyach, which carries a strong legal connotation. It refers to filing an official lawsuit or a formal legal deposition. David is bypassing all localized, corrupt earthly courts—which have completely failed him and are actively hunting him down—and is taking his legal case directly to the ultimate Supreme Court of the universe. By pouring out his troubles directly before Yahweh, David is demonstrating an advanced level of spiritual intimacy. He knows that the Creator of the universe, sitting enthroned among His holy heavenly council, is not indifferent to human suffering. David does not sanitize his prayers; he brings his raw, unfiltered agony into the courtroom of the Sovereign King, completely confident that his voice is being heard by the highest authority in existence. The second segment is: Overwhelmed and Utterly Alone: Traps in the Dark The narrative of David's subterranean struggle deepens as he links his overwhelming internal state with the reality of his external traps, combining the logical thoughts found in verse three and verse four. When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn. Wherever I go, my enemies have hidden a trap for me. I look for someone to come and help me, but no one seems to know me! No one cares what happens to me. David completely uncovers his soul, admitting, “When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn. Wherever I go, my enemies have hidden a trap for me. I look for someone to come and help me, but no one seems to know me! No one cares what happens to me.” This section beautifully illustrates the ultimate dark night of the soul. In the original language, the phrase “when I am overwhelmed” literally means that his spirit is fainting, wrapped in a suffocating shroud of profound weakness and anxiety. But notice the immediate, brilliant flash of cosmic confidence that pierces through the darkness: “You alone know the way I should turn.” This thought beautifully ties right back to the grand, transcendent themes of Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Nine, where we discovered that God completely maps out our paths and knows our sitting down and our rising up. Even when David cannot see two feet ahead of him in the pitch-black cave, the omniscient King of heaven already sees the entire exit path fully illuminated. David then reports the terrifying reality of his surroundings, explaining that everywhere he goes, his enemies have hidden a trap for him. This directly echoes the toxic, predatory environments we encountered in Psalm One Hundred Forty and One Hundred Forty-One. His human adversaries, acting under the corrupting influence of dark, rebellious spiritual principalities, have laid hidden nets to trip his steps. To make matters worse, David looks around for human support and finds absolutely nothing, crying out that no one knows him and no one cares what happens to him. He feels utterly abandoned, forgotten by his friends, Isolated from his community, and discarded by society. Every earthly refuge has completely vanished, leaving him entirely exposed in the dark. The third segment is: The Ultimate Inheritance: Aligning with the True Portion Finding himself completely stripped of human protection and earthly security, David makes a monumental, paradigm-shifting pivot in his spirit, anchoring his thoughts securely in the sovereign character of God as recorded in verse five and verse six. Then I pray to you, O Lord. I say, “You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life.” Hear my cry, for I am very low. Rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. When every earthly door is violently slammed shut, the vertical door to heaven remains wide open. David cries out, “Then I pray to you, O Lord. I say, ‘You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life.' Hear my cry, for I am very low. Rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me.” Think deeply about the sheer theological weight of that statement. In the ancient Israelite worldview, the various nations of the world were assigned to lesser spiritual beings, but Israel was Yahweh's unique possession, and Yahweh was the unique “portion” or inheritance of His people. When David declares, “You are all I really want in life,” which can be translated as you are my portion in the land of the living, he is making a profound cosmic allegiance. He is stating that even if King Saul strips away his earthly inheritance, his royal status, his home, his reputation, and his family, he still possesses the ultimate, indestructible treasure because he has Yahweh. He then presents his urgent petition to the heavenly throne, pleading for rescue because he has been brought very low and his persecutors are far too strong for him. He openly confesses his human limitations. He recognizes that Saul's royal army, and the dark spiritual forces fueling their irrational hatred, are far too powerful for his small band of men to defeat on their own. He does not rely on human military tactics or political manipulation; he throws himself entirely upon the supernatural, intervening strength of the Sovereign King of the cosmos. The fourth segment is: From the Dungeon to the Congregation: The Final Verdict Let us now examine the final, climactic verse of this beautiful prayer, where David looks completely past his current imprisonment and envisions a glorious day of public vindication in verse seven. Bring me out of prison so I can thank you. The righteous will crowd around me because you are good to me. David closes his cosmic legal brief with a powerful plea for...

From the Gospel of Luke (8:26-39): And They Asked Jesus to Leave Introduction -- Compassion Unpacked: God wants to have a heart-to-heart talk with us. Therefore, if there is anything in our lives blocking this talk with God, we must remove it – we need to open ourselves to what God will do for us if we will just let go of our life impediments. We must pray for God's guidance that He keeps us from becoming judgmental, self-righteous, self-centered Christians like the Pharisees in Luke 7:36-50. Today's Message -- And They Asked Jesus to Leave: When Jesus stepped ashore after a storm-tossed sail across the Sea of Galilee, Luke 8:26-39 tells us that Jesus was met by a demon-possessed man. True Christians cannot be demon-possessed; the Holy Spirit indwells and possesses Christians. For non-believers, their spirit is void and open to passion by demons. However, Christians can be oppressed by demons. In Luke 8:32-33, Luke tells us that the demons called Jesus by name and asked that they not be removed from the demon-posed man and be sent to the “abyss”. Therefore, Jesus removed the demons from the man and transferred the demons into a large herd of pigs: “Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.". Subsequently, the people from the town came to observe the formerly possessed man and the fate of the pig herd (Luke 8:36-39): “And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him {Jesus} to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, ‘Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.'". The people of the town asked Jesus, the Creator of the Universe, to leave because he had cost their economy, and they were afraid. However, “asking him {Jesus} to depart” is something we Christians do. We learn from this story of the demon-possessed man and the people of “Gerasenes” that: 1) Jesus has power over demons (demon passion and oppression are real and should not be taken lightly); 2) it is easy to talk those people that we do not know well about what Jesus has done for us, but Jesus wants us to witness to our families and friends; 3) we should be careful what we invest, especially those investments that are against God's law; 4) we do  “ask Jesus to leave” – every time we sin, every time we begin our day without Jesus, every time we walk away from His calling on our lives, every time we say “my will be done” rather than “they will be done”; 5) Jesus wants us to share what He has done for us – wherever we are and whomever we are with, especially where we live and work; and 6) this story tell us Jesus  who Jesus is – the demon-possessed man tells us (Luke 8:32) who Jesus is: “When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.'”. The ultimate question that we all must all answer: “Who do we say that Jesus is?”.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. John 1:12f SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Ephesians 6:10; Luke 8:22-25; Luke 8:26-39; Psalms 141:1-10. SCRIPTURE REFERENCE SEARCH: www.AWFTL.org/bible-search/ A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Jesus Followers' Righteousness Will Flow, with the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit, from Their Heart Through Their Personal Relationship with Jesus”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

We cannot take our next breath without The Most High God. He is the Creator of our lives and souls. Therefore, it is paramount that we do everything with His approval. We must give an account to Him for all that we think, say, and do. We must ask Him to search our hearts and minds. We must become introspective and answer these questions:What are we producing with the life that God has given us? Do our words and actions uplift or tear down? Does our fruit help others experience life or death? What we do for others, we do for God. What has Yung Miami, Trick Daddy, et al. done for our commUNITY? Is it righteous or wicked? Listen and learn. SUBSCRIBE. Thank you. #lifelessons #spirituallessons #yungmiami

Welcome to Day 2897 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2897 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 139:13-18 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2897 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2897 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today's title is: Wonderfully Made, Forever Known Today, we continue our trek through Psalm one hundred thirty-nine, focusing on verses thirteen through eighteen from the New Living Translation. In our previous podcast, David lifted our eyes to the inescapable presence of God. He asked, in essence, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” The answer was clear. Nowhere. Not the heavens above. Not the grave below. Not the farthest sea. Not even the darkness of night. God is there. God sees. God knows. God guides. God holds us fast. Now, in verses thirteen through eighteen, David moves from God's presence around us, to God's knowledge within us. He takes us from the vastness of the universe, to the hidden place where every human life begins. He moves from the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the darkness, to the quiet mystery of the womb. There, before any person could applaud us, reject us, name us, measure us, or misunderstand us, God already knew us. God was already at work. Psalm one hundred thirty-nine, verses thirteen and fourteen, remind us that God made all the delicate inner parts of David's body, and knit him together in his mother's womb. David responds with worship. He thanks God because he is made in an amazing and wonderful way. God's workmanship is marvelous, and David knows it deeply in his soul. This is not David being proud, vain, or self-centered. This is David standing in awe of the Creator. He is not saying, “Look how impressive I am.” He is saying, “Look how wise, careful, and intentional God is.” David sees his own life as evidence of God's personal involvement. His bones, his organs, his personality, his capacity to think, love, choose, repent, worship, and create—all of it points back to the Lord who formed him. In the ancient Israelite worldview, life was never considered random or meaningless. The Lord was not a distant force, watching from far away. He was the living God, the covenant God of Israel, the Creator who ruled above every spiritual power. The nations around Israel often believed in many gods, local gods, fertility gods, household gods, and unseen powers assigned to territories. But David's confession is different. He does not credit his existence to chance, fate, lesser spiritual beings, or the shifting powers of the heavens. He says, in effect, “You, Lord, made me.” That matters. In a divine-council worldview, God is surrounded by heavenly beings who serve his purposes, but none of them shares his throne. None of them creates life apart from him. None of them writes our story independently of him. The Lord alone is Creator. The Lord alone is sovereign. The Lord alone forms human beings in his image, with dignity, purpose, and eternal value. David describes God's creative work with the tenderness of a master craftsman. The image is not of mass production. It is not an assembly line. It is not careless or mechanical. It is more like weaving, shaping, and forming with skill. Every life begins hidden from human eyes, but not hidden from God's eyes. Every child develops in secret, but not in isolation. Every heartbeat, every cell, every feature, every unseen process unfolds under the attention of the Creator. That should change the way we see ourselves. Many people look in the mirror and see only flaws. They see what age has changed, what hardship has scarred, what weakness has limited, or what comparison has criticized. But David invites us to look deeper. Before culture labeled us, before failure wounded us, before fear silenced us, before sin distorted us, God formed us. Our value does not begin with what we achieve. It begins with the One who made us. It should also change the way we see others. Every person we meet carries the fingerprints of God. The unborn child, the elderly neighbor, the disabled friend, the difficult coworker, the forgotten prisoner, the refugee, the lonely widow, the confused teenager, and the person who does not yet know the Lord—all are people created by God, known by God, and accountable to God. Human dignity is not granted by society. Human dignity is given by the Creator. Verse fifteen continues this thought. David says that God watched him as he was being formed in secret, as he was woven together in the dark place of the womb. The language is poetic, but the truth is powerful. The beginning of life may be hidden from public view, but it is not hidden from God. God sees what no doctor, parent, ruler, or priest can yet see. Before David had a public identity, he had divine attention. The phrase “formed in secret” does not mean forgotten. It means sacred. Some of God's most important work happens in places no one else notices. Seeds grow underground. Roots strengthen beneath the surface. Character forms in quiet choices. Faith deepens in lonely valleys. Healing begins before anyone sees the evidence. God often does his finest work in hidden places. That may speak to you today. Perhaps you are in a hidden season. You are serving, but few notice. You are grieving, but few understand. You are changing, but no one sees it yet. You are praying, waiting, learning, and trusting in the dark. Psalm one hundred thirty-nine tells us this: hidden does not mean meaningless. Hidden does not mean abandoned. Hidden does not mean unseen. God watched David in the womb, and God watches over you in the quiet places of formation. Then, in verse sixteen, David says that God saw him before he was born. Every day of his life was recorded in God's book before even one day had passed. This is a breathtaking statement. David is not saying he understands every mystery of God's sovereignty and human responsibility. He is not claiming that life will be easy, predictable, or free from sorrow. He is confessing that his life is not accidental. His days are known by God. In the ancient world, kings kept records. Courts kept scrolls. Names, decisions, judgments, and decrees were written down. In the heavenly-council imagery of Scripture, God is sometimes pictured as the great King whose records are true, whose judgments are righteous, and whose purposes stand. David imagines his life written before it unfolded—not because he was trapped by fate, but because he was held within the wisdom of God. That is both humbling and comforting. It is humbling because our lives are not ours to waste. Each day is a stewardship. Each breath is a gift. Each opportunity to love, forgive, serve, speak truth, and walk in wisdom matters. But it is also comforting because our lives are not out of control. Even when our days feel confusing to us, they are not confusing to God. Even when we cannot see the path ahead, God is not lost. This does not mean every event in life is good. Scripture never asks us to pretend that evil is good, suffering is easy, or grief is small. David himself knew danger, betrayal, fear, and failure. Yet, he also knew that God's knowledge was deeper than his pain. God's purpose was stronger than his enemies. God's mercy was greater than his sin. God's presence was closer than his fear. Then, in verses seventeen and eighteen, David's worship rises even higher. After reflecting on the God who formed him, saw him, and knew his days before they unfolded, David considers the thoughts of God. He says that God's thoughts are precious to him, and that they cannot be numbered. If David tried to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. And when David wakes up, he is still with God. What a beautiful turn in the psalm. David does not merely say that God thinks. He says God's thoughts are precious. That means God's mind is not cold, distant, or mechanical. God's knowledge is not simply data. God's thoughts toward his people are weighty, valuable, personal, and full of purpose. The One who knows every detail of our lives also thinks toward us with wisdom beyond measure. Imagine standing on the shore of the sea, scooping a handful of sand, and trying to count each grain. Then imagine the entire beach, every shoreline, every desert, every hidden place where dust and sand gather across the earth. David says, “That is still not enough to measure the thoughts of God.” The Lord's wisdom is too vast for calculation. His attention is too deep for comprehension. His care is too constant to exhaust. For ancient Israel, this was deeply reassuring. They lived in a world where nations feared the movements of stars, signs in the skies, omens, gods of war, gods of fertility, and spirits of the unseen realm. But David does not fear that he is lost in a universe crowded with competing powers. The Lord, the Most High God, knows him fully. The Lord's thoughts are greater than the heavenly beings,...

Episode Summary: Have you ever noticed how free you feel when no one’s telling you what to do? Or maybe you wake up in the morning with an appointment free day. The day lays before you and you can do anything you want. I love a day without any expectations in it. I make all these plans to paint or play the piano or read a good book, but then I open YouTube and before I know it, my day of freedom turned into a slog of senseless videos. My day of freedom no longer feels free. The lure of endless entertainment trapped me, and I felt guilty for getting stuck. This lack of freedom shows up in other places like faith, relationships, or even creativity. We want freedom but end up experiencing more pressure and regret. In recognition of Independence Day in the United States, today we’re going to be talking about How to Find True Freedom in Christ. Quotables from the episode: Think about all the ways we save time—we can start our ovens from our smartphones, our fridges send us notifications when we need to replace a filter, and we can set our washing machine apps to send a message to someone to change the loads. These modern features save us time, which technically, gives us more freedom to do other things. But we find ourselves entrapped by our devices. We say we want freedom but end up more stuck. One of the reasons so many Christians love the idea of freedom in Christ, but don’t feel free, is because they struggle with the split-life problem. We live in two realities which are the spiritual reality and the worldly reality. Or an easier way to describe it is we have a church life and an everyday life. Sermons, bible studies, devotions talk about true freedom found in Christ. We talk about sin as the worst form of slavery and Jesus sets us free from it in church. Then, there’s the “rest” of our lives where we look for freedom in self-expression, creativity, free speech, liberation from traditions and societal constraints. We want more stuff and less rules. This kind of freedom avoids commitment and wants as many choices as possible. Modern culture defines freedom as absence of restraint. Freedom in Christ is becoming who Christ intends for us to be. It’s when we make freedom a reason for self-indulgence that we become enslaved to making us the main character of our life instead of God. We are to be in the world and not of the world, but when we separate our church life and everyday life, we suffer the impact of allowing self-indulgence to shape how we read Scripture. That looks like reading Scripture and saying, “God doesn’t really mean that applies to me.” For example, Hebrews 12:1 says, Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” It’s easy to find the sin that entangles someone else’s life but excuse it away when we see it in our own life. By nature, we are proud people and don’t like to have our weaknesses highlighted or the struggles we may have. Allowing sin that entangles to stay in our lives doesn’t have to be dramatic rebellion, it can be something small we justify like self-sufficiency instead of complete dependence on God. We experience false freedom when we have spiritual liberation without spiritual transformation. People can receive spiritual freedom through the forgiveness Jesus bought with his blood called justification. Many people think that’s all there is to it, but there’s a transformation over time that happens in a life completely surrendered to God. This is called sanctification. Think of it as justification is the door and sanctification is learning how to live once you walk through the door. And many people who believe in Christ stop at the door. John 8:32 says, “then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” And Romans 6:4 tells us there’s more to do, “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” We are set free to live a new life. It’s an ongoing, daily journey. And it’s when we reject the ongoing work of transformation that freedom can feel like a fancy theory instead of daily reality. We want to shift our attention to what Jesus actually means when he says we are free. Jesus sets us free from the power of sin and from the effects of sin on our daily lives. A common mistake we make regarding understanding freedom is misunderstanding what it means to belong to Christ. The Apostle Paul referred to himself as a bondservant in Romans 12:1. This introduced the concept of belonging and ownership. The Greek word for bondservant is doulos. This belonging to God does not mean we are a servant expecting a wage. Receiving a wage is a transaction between employer and employee. Work for rewards. When Paul calls himself a bondservant, he indicates that we are not hired by God; we belong to him. The Christian has nothing to offer the Lord in payment for forgiveness, which means a Christian is totally owned by the Master who bought him with His shed blood on the cross. We are purchased by him and we belong to him. Romans 6:16-18, “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” The word slave feels heavy so let’s talk about why Scripture uses it. Romans clearly states that everyone belongs to something. Bondage to sin leads to death. But bondage to Christ leads to life, inheritance, and adoption. Galatians 5:24-25 says, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” The biggest struggle I’ve had with experiencing daily freedom is when I’ve resisted letting go of an old habit, identity, or area of control. It’s often been tied to a loss of self, pleasure, or autonomy. When I gave my “leftovers” to my little family and God clearly said they needed my best self. For a time, he called me to lay down my volunteering in the church (I was involved in every area) so I could focus on my littles. I resisted because I didn’t want to lose myself in motherhood, but I underestimated what I gained. I learned that God knows what’s best and he used that time to make me a more well-rounded woman of God. To belong to Christ is not oppressive, but freedom. Jesus set us free from the law of sin and death. Our “bondage” to Christ makes us sons and heirs of the Most High God. As heirs, we partake in that inheritance—eternal life. Everyone is in bondage to either sin and death or Jesus and eternal life. We rebel and refuse to obey him by clinging to our old lives rather than embracing our new life in Christ. First, identify what or who you’re obeying. Are you obeying sin, self, or your Savior? It could be a sinful thought or behavior that pulls you away from freedom in Christ. Self-care can slide into self-obsession if we’re not careful. Or are we walking in step with Jesus? Second, implement the put off/put on practice. Ephesians 4:22-23 tells us to put off our old way of living which was corrupted by deceitful desires and to be made new in the attitude of your minds. Third, replace habits. Replacing habits happens when we set our hearts and mind on seeking Jesus Christ. Develop the habits of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love. Fourth, live from identity and not effort. “…for we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.” (Romans 6:6-7). Freedom isn’t doing whatever you want. It’s about surrendering control of every part of your life such as what you say and how you say it. Or what we watch. It’s also about being aware of your thoughts and bringing them in line with what honors God and brings him glory. Freedom is becoming who you were redeemed to be. A child of God living a righteous life. Scripture References: Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” John 8:32 “then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Romans 6:4 “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Romans 6:16-18 “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” Galatians 5:24-25 “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Romans 6:6-7 “for we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.” Recommended Resources: Reframing Rejection: How Looking Through a Different Lens Changes Everything By Jessica Van Roekel Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Rev. Jessica Van Roekel: Website / Instagram / Facebook Connect with Dr. Bengtson: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Co-Host: Jessica Van Roekel is a worship leader, speaker, and writer who believes that through Jesus, personal histories don’t need to define the present or determine the future. She inspires, encourages, and equips others to look at life through the lenses of hope, trust, and God’s transforming grace. Jessica lives in rural Iowa surrounded by wide open spaces which remind her of God’s expansive love. She loves fun earrings, good coffee, and connecting with others. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this message, I talk about why having a positive mindset is so important, and how the Most High God actually wants us to live expecting good things. I see so many of us, including myself for a short time, come into the "truth" and all we seem to expect is destruction and judgement.The bible in the book of (Sirach 30: 21–23) says “Give not over thy mind to heaviness, and afflict not thyself in thine own counsel… The gladness of the heart is the life of man, and the joyfulness of a man prolongeth his days.”I believe this scripture wholeheartedly, when you look at happy people, joyful people, their souls look happy. Older people live longer when they are cheerful and positive. God didn't create you to live stressed, negative, and drained.He wants you walking in joy, peace, abundance, and purpose.Stay positive and Expect good things.

Welcome to Day 2893 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2893 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 139:1-6 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2893 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2893 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Sovereign Surveillance of the Soul – Intimacy Beyond Celestial Limits In our previous expedition along this ancient, sacred trail, we stood on a glorious, sunlit ridge of faith with King David in Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Eight. We witnessed a staggering, holy audacity as David grabbed his harp and chose to sing his praises to Yahweh directly before the face of the false gods. We explored that cosmic courtroom scene through the profound lens of the Ancient Israelite divine-council worldview, realizing that David was boldly declaring the total illegitimacy of the rebel elohim—those fallen, territorial spiritual principalities who held the disinherited nations under their dark, oppressive spell. We rested in the triumphant guarantee that even when we are completely surrounded by troubles, the raw, warrior strength of Yahweh's right hand will shatter the rage of our adversaries, flawlessly executing His redemptive blueprints for our lives because His covenant love endures forever. Today, my friends, we take our next deliberate, breathtaking steps forward on our trek, transitioning into what is universally recognized as one of the most intimately profound, and macro-cosmically sweeping pieces of literature ever penned by human hand. We are entering the opening movement of Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Nine, verses one through six, in the New Living Translation. If Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Eight showed us David singing before the celestial council, the opening of Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Nine reveals why the true Creator completely outmatches every single member of that rebellious heavenly assembly. We are shifting our focus from the external, international battlefields of cosmic warfare, and stepping directly into the quiet, absolute, and unmediated sanctuary of our own internal architecture. Let let us step onto this sacred ground, adjust our lenses, and prepare to be completely exposed, and beautifully comforted, by the infinite intelligence of our King. The first segment is: The Sovereign Scrutiny of the Ultimate Mind Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Nine: verses one, two, and three. O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up; you know my thoughts even when I'm far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. The psalm opens with a deeply personal, almost terrifyingly transparent confession of divine absolute knowledge. “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.” The Hebrew word used here for “examined,” or “searched,” is chaqar, a technical term that implies a deep, exhaustive, and meticulous excavation. It is the exact same word used in the ancient world for mining operations, where miners would dig deep into the pitch-black shafts of the earth, sifting through the rock to uncover the hidden gems, and secret veins of gold. David looks up at the King of the universe, and he realizes that his internal life has been completely, flawlessly mined. There are no dark corners, no hidden chambers, and no masked motives that have escaped the piercing gaze of the Almighty. Yahweh has bypassed all our carefully constructed public personas, and He knows the raw, unedited truth about everything we are. To fully appreciate the cosmic warfare, and the radical theological polemic embedded in these three verses, we must contrast this reality with the severe limitations of the divine council's rebel deities. In the ancient Near Eastern mythologies of Babylon, Canaan, and Egypt, the pagan gods were never viewed as omniscient. They were fundamentally localized, spatial, and limited in their intelligence. To find out what was happening in their empires, or to discover the secret plots of human beings, the false elohim had to actively rely on intricate networks of cosmic spies, spiritual messengers, and the messy, unpredictable data delivered through human divination, or the reading of bird flights. If a person traveled outside the geographic border of a specific deity's territory, that god became blind and deaf to their movements. The rebel principalities were trapped by space, and blind to the internal motives of the human spirit. They could only judge external behaviors, and guess at the rest. But David completely shatters that fragmented, pagan worldview in verses two and three: “You know when I sit down or stand up; you know my thoughts even when I'm far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.” Notice the beautiful, comprehensive pairings the psalmist uses to describe the totality of human existence. Sitting down and standing up represent the ordinary, routine movements of our daily routines. Traveling and resting at home represent the broad, expansive geography of our life journeys—the public paths of our careers, and the hidden, private sanctuaries of our domestic spaces. Yahweh doesn't need to check a celestial surveillance feed, and He doesn't need to dispatch an angelic messenger to find out where you are, or what you are doing. His presence is immediate, unmediated, and absolute in every single coordinate of time and space. Even more devastating to the claims of the rebel gods is the phrase, “you know my thoughts even when I'm far away.” The Hebrew text implies that Yahweh perceives our internal processing from a cosmic distance. Before an inkling of a thought is even formulated within the neural pathways of our brains, the Creator has already read it perfectly. He doesn't just see what we do; He understands why we do it. The local boundaries of the disinherited nations mean absolutely nothing to the Most High God. You can travel to the most distant, pagan corners of the planet—completely outside the historical borders of Zion—and you are still intimately, thoroughly known by the Maker of heaven and earth. The spiritual principalities are totally blind inside their own dark territories, but Yahweh's omniscience is a seamless blanket that covers the entire globe. The second segment is: The Divine Interception and the Protective Perimeter Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Nine: verses four and five. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go ahead of me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. The psalmist moves from the silent architecture of his thoughts, to the dynamic, physical reality of his words and paths. “You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go ahead of me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.” Verse four introduces a staggering, time-bending dimension to God's absolute awareness. “You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.” Human speech is the primary vehicle through which we attempt to project our will, build our relationships, or execute our hidden strategies. Often, we use our words to manipulate, to deceive, or to construct a protective wall around our vulnerabilities. But before a single syllable can form on David's tongue, Yahweh has already heard the entire sentence echo through eternity. He intercepts our communication at its very root. He knows our true intent, long before we ever dress it up in the polite language of human conversation. There is no possibility of spinning the data in the courtroom of the Most High King. This total, intrusive knowledge could easily produce a crushing sense of paranoia, if it were not balanced by the beautiful, protective reality of verse five: “You go ahead of me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.” The literal Hebrew text for “go ahead of me and follow me” utilizes an exceptionally powerful, military idiom: tsartani, which means “You have hemmed me in,” or “You have besieged me.” It is the exact vocabulary used when an army surrounds a fortress city, cutting off all exits, and establishing a tight perimeter. In the context of the divine-council worldview, this is an incredibly comforting piece of spiritual defense. David realizes that he is a heavily contested asset. The rebel spiritual principalities, and their earthly proxies, are constantly seeking to ambush, derail, or destroy the anointed line of the true King. But Yahweh has established a hyper-vigilant, supernatural perimeter around His servant....

Welcome to Day 2892 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2892 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 138:1-8 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2892 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2892 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title for Wisdom-Trek is: Praise in the Face of the Council – Uncompromising Worship Before the Gods In our previous stop along this ancient, winding trail, we sat in the mud and wept. We explored the devastating, emotionally raw territory of Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Seven, where we found the broken exiles of Israel sitting beside the literal irrigation canals of Babylon. We witnessed them hanging their heavy, silent harps upon the branches of the poplar trees, absolutely refusing to perform the sacred, liturgical songs of Zion for the amusement of their cruel, mocking captors. We felt the intense, dark pressure of cosmic geography, realizing that they were trapped inside the very womb of the ancient serpent's rebellion—the territory of Babel—where the rebel spiritual principalities gloated over the apparent defeat of Yahweh's people. It was a season of deep, suffocating shadows, and raw, agonizing cries for ultimate courtroom justice. But today, my friends, as we step forward onto a brand-new path, the atmosphere completely transforms. We are stepping out of the Babylonian mud, and climbing onto a soaring, sunlit ridge of faith. We are beginning a collection of eight consecutive psalms explicitly attributed to King David, starting today with Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Eight, verses one through eight, in the New Living Translation. David provides the ultimate, defiant antidote to the silence of the exile. Instead of hanging his harp on a tree out of fear or sorrow, David grabs his instrument, stands tall in the celestial courtroom, and uses his music as an aggressive weapon of cosmic warfare. Let us step onto the trail, adjust our spiritual focus, and learn how to sing our songs of victory directly into the teeth of the enemy. The first segment is: Cosmic Defiance and the Architecture of Grace Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Eight: verses one, two, and three. I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart; I will sing your praises before the gods. I bow before your holy Temple as I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name. As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength. The psalm explodes into reality with a breathtaking, uncompromised pledge of personal devotion. “I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart; I will sing your praises before the gods.” To fully appreciate the radical, counter-cultural nature of this opening stanza, we must look at it through the profound lens of the Ancient Israelite divine council worldview, as masterfully taught by Doctor Michael S. Heiser. In our modern, Western world, we frequently skim past the word “gods,” assuming it refers to empty, psychological idols—like wealth or ego—or that it simply means imaginary figments of human superstition. But in the ancient Near Eastern context, the Hebrew word used here is elohim. David is not singing to thin air; he is standing in the middle of a heavily populated spiritual landscape. He is consciously addressing the lower, rebellious members of the heavenly host—the territorial, fallen principalities who held the disinherited nations under their dark, oppressive jurisdiction. Think about the sheer, holy audacity of King David! He doesn't wait until he is safely insulated inside a private prayer closet to express his gratitude. He walks directly into the cosmic courtroom, looks the rebel elohim straight in the eyes, and opens his mouth to boast in Yahweh. This is the ultimate act of spiritual polemics. By singing praises before the gods, David is declaring that the rival powers are completely illegitimate. He is mocking their false claims of sovereignty, and demonstrating that his allegiance belongs exclusively to the one true Most High God. His worship is a direct, mocking challenge to the principalities of darkness. He reinforces this allegiance in verse two, mapping out his physical and spiritual alignment: “I bow before your holy Temple as I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.” Even if David is physically distant from Jerusalem—perhaps running for his life in the wilderness, or fighting battles on foreign soil—he turns his body and bows toward the holy Temple. In cosmic geography, the Temple on Mount Zion was the unique, earthly footprint of Yahweh's heavenly throne room. It was the place where heaven and earth intersected. By bowing toward that specific center, David is rejecting the sacred high places of the pagan gods, and locking his spiritual compass onto the true capital of the universe. And why is he praising Him? For two specific attributes: Hesed and Emet—His unfailing love, and His unshakeable faithfulness. David notes that Yahweh's promises are backed by all the honor of His Name. In the ancient world, a king's reputation was bound to his word. If a king failed to keep a promise, his name became a laughingstock among the rival nations. But Yahweh's character is flawless. He has staked the entire weight of His eternal reputation on His covenant promises, ensuring that the dark powers cannot find a single legal loophole to defeat His redemptive plans. This cosmic security leads to the intimate, practical reality of verse three: “As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.” The rebel gods were distant, capricious, and demanded frantic, exhaustive rituals before they would ever notice their followers. But Yahweh is immediately accessible. The moment the king calls out from the battlefield, the response from the heavenly throne room is instantaneous. The Creator doesn't necessarily remove the physical trouble immediately, but He floods the internal soul of His servant with a supernatural, muscular encouragement, giving him the precise strength required to stand firm against the onslaught. The second segment is: The Reclaiming of the Disinherited Kings Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Eight: verses four, five, and six. Every king in all the earth will thank you, Lord, for all of them will hear your words. Yes, they will sing about the Lord's ways, for the glory of the Lord is very great. Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud. David transitions his song from his personal, defiant testimony, to a grand, prophetic vision of global transformation. “Every king in all the earth will thank you, Lord, for all of them will hear your words. Yes, they will sing about the Lord's ways, for the glory of the Lord is very great.” To understand the immense scale of this prophecy, we must recall the foundational tragedy of Deuteronomy, chapter thirty-two, verses eight and nine. At the Tower of Babel, because of humanity's persistent rebellion, Yahweh disinherited the nations of the earth. He gave them over to the rule of lesser spiritual beings, choosing the family of Abraham—Jacob—as His own personal, prized allotment. Ever since that moment, the kings of the earth had been operating under the corrupt, dark inspiration of their territorial, pagan deities. They built empires based on tyranny, slavery, and the worship of the rebel council. But David looks down the timeline of history, and he foresees a total, spectacular global reclamation. He declares that every king in all the earth will eventually turn, and thank Yahweh! Why? Because “all of them will hear your words.” The voice of the true Creator will penetrate the dark, spiritual borders of the disinherited nations. The Gospel of the Kingdom will shatter the monopoly of the false gods. The earthly rulers will abandon their localized, mute idols, and they will actually begin to sing about the ways of Yahweh, acknowledging that His glory is completely unmatched in any dimension of reality. This is the prophecy of the Great Commission, the final, beautiful restoration where the nations are bought back, and integrated into the true family of God. David then highlights the unique, stunning character of the true Sovereign in verse six, drawing a sharp contrast with the nature of the false gods: “Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud.” In the ancient Near East,...

Welcome back to Gnostic Insights and to the Gnostic Reformation on Substack. Last week was part one of my interview with Bishop Nathan Wilson of the Gnostic Union, and he explained to us a bit about who the Gnostic Union is and what they believe in. At the beginning of that episode, I read from the Gnostic Union website their history and mission statement. And my brother Billy called me up and said, “Oh, but there’s a point of their theology that’s all wrong. I know they’re ecumenical and all, but we mustn’t fall into the error of wrong teaching.” And, you know, I totally agree with that concept, not teaching anything that is incorrect or that doesn’t make sense, according to the Gnosticism that I share with you here. And it created a very large discussion between my brother and me. And I don’t even have enough time in this short introduction to go into the point that Bill brought up out of their statement of beliefs. So we’ll wait and we’ll do that when these interviews are all over and that way we can go into depth and give the topic the attention it deserves. You see, the Gnosticism that I share with you here mostly comes from the Tripartite Tractate of the Nag Hammadi. And the Tripartite Tractate is a very unusual book. It is not a book of mythology. It is not a book of ancient myths concerning angels and demigods and great battles in heaven and so forth. It’s not that kind of book. We think of it as physics. It’s literally a book that describes the cosmology and the cosmogony, that is, how consciousness came to be transmitted from the base state of consciousness that we call the Father or the Source, and all the way downstream into, ultimately, us. We’re sitting here talking and thinking about it. This is pure consciousness we’re talking about. It’s not particularities. You understand? Gnosis itself we think of as that river of consciousness. That’s what gnosis is. So, I often say, if my dog can’t understand the gnosis, it’s not really gnosis—it's a knowledge claim. If a blade of grass or a tree in the forest can’t bask in the gnosis, then it’s not really gnosis. It’s a human knowledge claim. This is the reason why here at Gnostic Insights and on the Gnostic Reformation, we do not dwell in the history of things. We dwell in the understanding or the gnosis itself. The cosmogony and cosmology of Gnosticism that I share with you here is a logical step-by-step rollout of the consciousness of the Father or the Source. It doesn’t really matter what you call it. It’s the base state. It’s the matrix of consciousness itself and how it flows down to us. There are necessary steps described in the Tripartite Tractate for how that consciousness is differentiated and particularized and then rolled down. And how it is that we material beings are different than the ethereal beings. How could that have possibly happened? It’s like that. It’s a logical progression that necessarily comes out of an a priori statement of consciousness as the ground state. That’s quite a bit different than mythologies of how these angels fit in with these gods and goddesses down here on earth and so forth. Because those particularities definitely come out of the mind of humans. They can be inspired. Okay, I’ll give you that. But they are knowledge claims. They’re not necessarily gnosis and because of that they can go wrong. They can be wrong. Whereas starting with this a priori notion of consciousness ending up in us and how does that occur? By what means does that possibly happen? And how is it that we earthlings plug into that illimitable consciousness? That’s a different thing. That’s a description of process. That’s an understanding or a gnosis of what it is that we are part of. 15 steps in Gnostic Cosmology So I’m not knocking the history or the particularities that Bishop Wilson shares with us. But the gnosis that leads you to enlightenment is simply this: We come from the Father [El Elyon] or from the Source or from the Mother-Father or from the Great Mother—whatever you want to call it. We come from that Source, that unlimited well of consciousness and life and power and might and love. And then we will return to that. That’s all you have to know. We come from Above and we return to Above. And with that knowledge, that’s your base state. That’s what the blades of grass and the dogs and the trees all understand. All the rest of the particularities of who and why and how, those are just details being filled in. Some of them out of gnosis, but most of them out of tradition or history. So we’ll be proceeding now into part two of my interview with Bishop Nathan Wilson of the Gnostic Union. And later on, we’re going to talk some more about the difference between mythology and the process of gnosis. That is what this podcast specializes in. That’s what my brother Bill and I have parsed out and discovered out of direct mining of the Tripartite Tractate. Our gnosis comes from that and it proceeds in an orderly fashion that doesn’t require any extra research. It’s all about gnosis and what must be. But here, let’s go back to this interview with Brother Wilson. **************************************************************** Cyd: Well, tell me more about your Bible that you wrote. What do you call it? You call it… Bishop Nathan Wilson: I call it The Gnostic Christian Truth Bible. I actually asked one of the older bishops that trained me, Bishop Jason, and he started that. So, I like the name. So, I thought, okay, I want to put Gnostic Christian in there. So, I was going to call it first the Truth Bible. He requested that, but I thought, well, Gnostic Christian makes it less likely for the Catholics to come after me as well, and the Protestants. Many do not like my translations. They are quite upset that I’ve done this, but they don’t put too much light on me. So, it’s best not to give me too much attention, basically. So, the less attention I have, the less people know about this, but which is something unique about mine. I don’t just offer my translations. I offer the original Koine Greek with it, so they can look at the actual text. So, even if my translation, say, could be wrong, they could look straight at that text and go argue with the text that they see, which I also wanted to include for their own reason, and when I included the alternative English, it’s so I might read it one way, but someone else is going to read it another way, and that can teach me something new. I feel, oh, I didn’t understand it like that. So, that’s why I wanted to keep that in there too, and a couple of words I kept in there were Greek. So, I kept Logos. I kept Kosmos, Zoe, Sophia, Archon. Magus. I kept all these words. So, very, very Gnostic, and you won’t find these in the English translations. They have gone out of their ways to censor them. I also kept the word daemon or daimon, daemon, so I did not put that down as demon because that’s not what it means. So, I kept the original Greek context of use, and I also add a Greek, Koine Greek, index in my translation so people can actually look at little snippets of what these words mean. So, I have some things in here. So, this is just on one page on basically all Greek with English meaning. So, there’s Logos, which I explained means God’s word, God’s authority, God’s reasoning, song, and speech, and utterance. So, when you see Christians speak that Jesus is speaking the Word, or in the beginning there was Word, they are doing a disservice to what’s being implied. This is the word of God. Very different, and even the word God we use is very English. I did keep up, but for the English sake of things. So, English people wouldn’t freak out too much on me, and another thing is also a safer mouthful, because this Word means supreme deity, deity of deities, which is very interesting. Otherwise, we would go into a god, which is lesser gods as well. So, we have a pantheon. So, it was very different, like even monotheism would evolve into what we think it is today, but in the ancient past with ancient Jewish people, they did believe in other gods, it’s just they chose to worship one god. So, this would be not the same as monotheism now, where you completely reject them as non-existent. This wasn’t that case. So, they had a very different mind. So I kept Sophia being wisdom. I mentioned this is how this is feminine wisdom, God’s feminine wisdom, coming from the Hebrew word Chokmah. Sometimes those are called Chokmah. So, I kept that in there as Sophia. Zoe, I kept too, meaning basically when you see eternal Zoe, that’s eternal life. So, that’s implying the feminine wisdom again, but also the spiritual benefits one receives with a spiritual relationship with God, or what’s with mine. So, I kept that in there. So, it’s very feminine, and that’s being removed. They would not want you to know that life is Zoe, and there’s other words they could have used for life or soul, but they chose to use the word Zoe, and that’s important. So, I kept that in there. And I’ve also got Megas. I’ve already mentioned that, but Magus comes from—here’s two words that are entwined, but the thing was the church has used a later translation, which would be terrible, but that’s kind of wrong, and this is because the language would evolve over time. It came to words Megus and Magos, which basically would be Magi, and then great and powerful, larger than life. So, Jesus was also called Iesous Magos. So, Jesus the Great, Jesus the Wise, has been censored because of Magus, and they don’t want you to know about Simon Magus. They don’t want you to know anything about Gnosticism. So, this has been censored, and I’ve also put some passages where find this. I kept Daemon in here, or Diamon. Gehenna, I also translated in here. I kept Gehenna. I did not use hell because hell is German. It’s realm of light in German, so it’s a Germanic word. So, I kept the word Gehenna, which is ultimately what we would kind of call hell, but it’s not what people think it is. That’s an evolved tradition. So, Gehenna or even Abaddon, these are two different words, but the same thing. Gehenna was the place where the soul was destroyed or purified. So, the text can translate to eternal punishment, but that’s not strictly bound to it. That’s more would be a later theology bound to that translation where it means period of time. So, it doesn’t necessarily mean all these different things. It’s like the word soma where it’s all about Jesus’ body. It can be living body, dead body, or a carcass, or even the living body of the church, which is more symbolic, but fascinating. I also kept in here a couple words, such as I explained Hades, which is mentioned with Sheol and how that’s separate from Gehenna. I’ve kept Helios, Selene, Astron, or Asterios, as well as Aletheia. These words are very interesting because they are all gods. They’re all Greco-Roman gods. So, the scholars or, I really should say, a Christian apologist, that state there’s no pagan gods in the New Testament—they are entirely wrong. It’s just that they have looked at it in a modern Greek eye instead of looking at an ancient past—they would have seen the gods being mentioned. So that’s very interesting. So when Jesus says that the stars and the sun is falling, he’s not speaking about the sun and stars. He’s speaking about the Helios, the Roman sun god is falling, and the stars and goddesses falling, as well as Selene, the moon, so the moon goddess. That’s the falling of the pagan Roman gods that was subjecting the Jewish people. So very different theology. So theology matters. So we have to look at how people believed back these times. [Jesus speaks of the stars, moon, and sun in Matthew 24:29, Mark 13:25, Luke 21:25. Assigning them as gods and goddesses is Bishop Wilson's interpretation.] The Jewish people did not like the Romans. Not saying that all of them did not. We had some that were pro-Roman. One of the Romans that was involved in the Jewish revolt, fighting against the Jewish people, was Jewish, which is cool. And he was related to Philo of Alexandria. So very interesting. I think he might be his grandson. Cyd: Let me jump in for a second as we’re speaking about gods and the God Above All Gods versus lesser gods. Is it your thought that the God of the Jews of the Old Testament, Jehovah, is a lesser god as opposed to the God Above All Gods? Bishop Nathan Wilson: Yes. Cyd: Okay, so Jehovah is the tribal god of the Old Testament? Bishop Nathan Wilson: Yes, a bit of a mix. So there’s two gods. Well, there’s a couple, if you’ve got to go every single god being mentioned. But what they’re describing is, say, Deuteronomy 32:8, you have El Elyon dividing up the nations according to the Elohim being children of El, and Yahweh received his inheritance from the most high God. So Yahweh was more like a guardian deity, basically. He was a brother of Baal. But some Canaanites believed that Yahweh was Baal. So Yahweh kind of came later after Baal. But the first to worship Yahweh were the Sashu of Yahweh. So they were Canaanite raiders. Hebrew was also a Canaanite language.  [The earliest trace of Yahweh isn't Israelite—it's desert-born. Egyptian inscriptions speak of the “Shasu of YHW,” nomadic peoples on the edges of Canaan, sometimes regarded as raiders. It suggests the name of Yahweh may have emerged out of the wilderness before it was ever claimed by Israel. Even Hebrew itself comes out of the same Canaanite linguistic world.] So I see the views—the ones that were worshipping El would be the ones that would become the Essenes or Jewish mystics. So the Essenes worshipped El. They didn’t worship Yahweh. They viewed Yahweh as a lesser god, which is one reason they challenged the temple, because they viewed, you guys aren’t worshipping God, you’re worshipping the lesser deity, you’re worshipping an angel. And so they rejected the temple. And the priesthood was corrupt. So then you also had the Magharians or Magarites. They were first century BC era Jews. They were proto-Gnostic, so that’s a scholar term. So they were Jewish mystics. They believed that Yahweh was a demiurge and that he was a lieutenant. So not an evil demiurge, but he was ignorant of the most high Father El Elyon, but that’s not a name to them. That was just a title meaning most high God. So they didn’t believe in God with a name, the unknowable Father, they believed was beyond sex as well. So Mother-Father, basically. So beyond all things. Too perfect to interfere with matter. And they believed that the Torah had been corrupted. So that’s fascinating. So that’s a group that we want to talk about. So we had about 25 different versions of Judaism during that time with all different beliefs. So what type of Jew was Jesus? This makes a big, big difference. So not all Jews worshipped Yahweh. Some viewed him as a lesser God and some viewed him as the devil, which is whack. So the only Gnostics or proto-Gnostics would use that word devil at that time. So we have the wisdom of Solomon, which is the first text adored by Christians that they would say, look, this is our Messiah mentioning he’s a dying and rising Messiah calling himself the Son of God and he’s been crucified. So this means that just like our text, he would die a shameful death. But this text mentions that through death, the devil enters the world. So the Pharisees didn’t believe in the devil. The Sadducees didn’t either. But what’s interesting about the Pharisees and Sadducees and the Herodians, which kind of made up both these groups, they were a part of both, just the Herodians mostly supported King Herod. They believed that either King Herod was the Messiah or his family would be, or they belonged to the Sadducees and didn’t believe in a Messiah. So the Sadducees didn’t believe in angels. They didn’t believe in an afterlife. They believed once you were dead, the soul turned to dust. God was too perfect to interfere with humans. So that’s an interesting belief. But we had different subsects of Sadducees that had a different opinion to that. They believed that God did interfere with humans, but we had total free will. So they could interfere with some things, but there was no Messiah. There was no angels. So they believed that a human could be a messenger of God. That was about it. So like Moses. Then you had the Pharisees. They believed that Satan served Yahweh. His job was to test humanity or seduce humanity away from God. So that way mankind had free will. But some Pharisees didn’t believe that. They believed that Satan, Hasatan, was just symbolic for mankind’s inclination towards evil. So they didn’t believe in an evil being. So their belief was that God ordained good and evil, basically, would use evil for his own will. So that’s trippy, very trippy. So the Pharisees had a very different belief. They didn’t believe in the adversary against God. They didn’t believe in fallen angels. Later on, they would take on this belief, borrowing it from mystics and zealots. So funny enough, they would be influenced by Jesus’ teachings, such as saving a life on the Sabbath. The Pharisees would not do that. But to be fair, some Essenes wouldn’t do that either. Some Essenes were very warlike, wanting to join God’s angelic army fighting at the Armageddon of the last days of the world. But these mystics, they are the only groups that believed in fallen angels and believed in a place of punishment. The only groups. And that’s fascinating. So they believed in a physical adversary against God. And these beliefs are carried on in the Christianity with the Armageddon day, or even the belief that God basically allows Satan to do what he wants, but he’s going to conquer over him. That was an Essene belief. They believed that Belial was the adversary against God, a fallen angel, leader of the fallen angels, and God would allow him the sin because he would destroy him in the end. So that was an Essene belief, but not all that belief. Some believed that basically fallen angels chose to rebel against God, so they had free will and that God would overcome them in the end. So that’s different. So we have to look at those beliefs because that makes a big difference in theology as well. And one reason I chose to keep daemon or daimon in the text is because this doesn’t mean Jesus is casting out evil demons, but rather, well, the ghost of the mystic belief of pagan gods were fallen angels. So he’s casting out pagan gods, or he’s just casting out unclean spirits, depending on what the definition of word is, because that daimon or unclean spirit, for instance, isn’t always referenced to a pagan god. It’s just someone who’s died vengeful or angry at God, and is now just a ghost causing haunting. So it depends on how it’s being used. So I kept those words in there. So if the word said unclean spirit, I kept that as unclean spirit. But if it was going into a daimon for a pagan god, basically I’ll keep it as that daimon, so they could choose how they’re going to read it. Because sometimes you’re dealing with two things at once. Sometimes you’re dealing with an unclean spirit, then a pagan god’s being mentioned too. So this archon ruler’s having little other minions subject under him. So we even have an archon ruler being mentioned. So an archon of the daemons, ruler of pagan gods. So other gods had dominions, basically. So they viewed these other gods having their own realms of power, which we also see in the Gnostic text. So I kept all that. I also kept the archon of the synagogue, which is a ruler of the synagogue. So it’s not always a bad thing. Sometimes it’s just political rulers that are mentioned. So an archon of the Gentiles, for instance, is just a ruler of Gentiles, just a politician. I have kept archons in the sense of Yahweh somewhat, I believe, as being the devil. Because in John 8:44, we have Jesus going up to the Pharisees and Sadducees and Herodians who made up the high priesthood. He says, You are of your father, the devil. But if only these Gnostic Jews believed in the devil and their God is Yahweh, who’s he calling devil? And then when the daemons are calling him Son of the most high God, they’re calling him huios, which means son. Huios tou theou tou hypsistou, which is Greek for Son of the most high God. But if you put this in the Hebrew, it’s Son of El Elyon. So this is what the pagan gods are calling him. So the lesser gods. And then he’s also saying that we’re all the children of El Elyon, which is also fascinating. And also the word for son they’re using just means child. It can be male or female. But again, they’re wanting a male audience. So they restricted it, which is a shame. Cyd: How about the word aeon? A E O N. What do you do with that word? You know, in my work with the Tripartite Tractate, it seems to me that most references of aeon in the New Testament translate it as time, a period of time, or the end of the ages, the ages. Whereas I tend to see it always as eternal beings from the ethereal plane. What do you think about that? Bishop Nathan Wilson: I love that. I think that too. I think it’s a mixture of all these things, which is also, I keep, it depends on the context of use. But a lot of times you do see the text that is referring to a higher being, which is beautiful to mention, especially when you’re looking at Gnostic works. But you do see this in the New Testament as well. So you see one text mentioning, for instance, who is this Sophia and this higher power? And that’s how the text can translate too, which is fascinating. So that means who’s this unknown higher power. And then it mentions about the Aeon. And so you see all this sort of stuff being mentioned. Yes, it means an eternal being or an angelic being, but it can also mean eternity or a period of time. So depending on the context of use. So words have power as well. So that’s interesting. So again, how it’s used can make a world of a difference. And it’s interesting when they’re using certain words because there are some times that they could have chosen to use a different word. So when they’ve used a certain word like that, that can change the entire context of meaning. Cyd: Right. Like saying there’s some reference to judgment at the end of the age. And I’m always thinking that it’s judgment from the Aeons when I see that. But I’m not translating from scratch, I’m taking biblical translation, so what do I know? Bishop Nathan Wilson: You’re spot on though. So you’re correct. So it can translate that as well. And we have to realize that we have different versions of Christianity. So that’s certainly appropriate for a first century understanding. Most people are looking at from fourth century. So you’re looking at it from a first century point of view. And so you’re ahead of others in that sort of case, which is beautiful to see. So that’s rare. And I chose to keep that for that reason. So people can have their own conclusions, not having it forced onto them. Cyd: You are very much into the history of things. You’re an historian. I am not at all interested in history per se. I’m always talking about what other people believed in other times. That is not pertinent to our gnosis here and now. So what do you view the purpose of this deep historical knowledge that you have concerning the Jews and the Essenes and whatnot? And is it necessary to go into all of that? Bishop Nathan Wilson: If you want to, I guess, teach from a historical perspective as well as a spiritual one, then yes. But if you want to go for spiritual, you can just go by the heart. There were plenty of spiritual teachers that were illiterate, that could not read, that could not write, and they had a beautiful message. So there’s something more powerful that we can receive within that you won’t obtain from books. But ultimately, you can also have wisdom gained from books. It can be a form of worship or a form of connecting with the divine as well. We have many forms of worship or many forms of experience what’s divine or having that intimate moment with what’s divine to reflect and to deepen our purpose. I wanted to know the historical man we call Jesus and ultimately put into practice what he put into practice. So I wanted to look at the history side of things and especially also, what’s another word I would like to use, decondition myself, decondition past beliefs that were harmful, that did not serve me and ultimately not serving others, and also find out that I was wrong about many things, which I wanted to know as well. So what brought me to this was to know the man we call Jesus, Yeshua, or Yehoshua, whichever term you like, whichever name you want to use. So I want to know not just that, but I want to know his practices, what he did with his life, how his first followers lived, how the first Christians lived, and what I could use for my own spiritual path and how I could put that into practice. So that’s why I want to look at the history side of things. I think if you want to put into practice the different techniques of all the many different Gnostics, then you’re going to have to look at some of the history side of things to find those practices. That doesn’t mean that every single practice is necessary for you. So what works for me might not work for others. What works for others might not work for me. So double-edged sword. Cyd: What sort of practices are you referring to? Are these rituals? What’s the practices? Bishop Nathan Wilson: I go into some of the ancient rituals as well. Some of them I might look at the prayers that they would use, the diet they would take, or means of worship. So how they would go about their forms of private practice. So that sort of stuff. And then I might apply it into my own life and see how I can go. There’s still more I’d like to go and check out more. So I’m still studying a couple of some of the ancient practices as well. So from different or religious perspectives as well. And then I can see how I can put it to my own form of use. So I looked at a lot of Jewish Christians, they would do the shema for instance, before their meditations. And I’ll do that as well. [“Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one… You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength…”] They also did breath works back then, which would also induce a sense of intoxication if you want to use, or light headness. And in turn that can also open a new state of reality. So entering the spiritual realm can be a vehicle, if you will, to get there. So to open the mind. And that’s also a practice that’s been used in ancient past. And we can certainly use that today. We have modern practices, say like Wim Hof, that teach breath work in meditation. That’s also useful. So sometimes looking at the past, we do see stuff in today’s world that’s not really new. It’s just being basically reentering this world again, from past knowledge gained of old. And I find that in a lot of Gnostic stuff. When you look at history, you kind of see that Gnostics kind of did a lot of things first, that what we’re doing now that we think is modern, but it’s not. It’s ancient. Cyd: That’s why conventional Christians who read my books, they say, oh, you’re just all new age. And I’m like, no, it’s not new age at all. It’s ancient. Bishop Nathan Wilson: Which is a shame that Christians have been shut off into their own world, which is kind of funny. I actually tell most Christians that they are, in fact, new age, because these beliefs are ancient. And what they are going by is, depending on what version of Christianity, if you’re Protestant, that’s 16th century, I believe. Non-denominal, 18th century. Protestant, 16th century. Catholicism, late second century. Orthodoxy, as we know it now, would be about 14th century. But older Orthodoxy, which would be the split from the Catholic church, is fourth century. So it’s when you go to Gnostic Christians, first century, and we’re really the only groups that are surviving, the Jewish Christians got killed. They ultimately were wiped out or would convert to mainstream Judaism or would become Christian or Islam, they would follow as well. So some would be converted to Muslims, which is also interesting as well. We as Gnostics were also harmed by these other groups, by Catholics, Protestants, Muslims as well. At one point Zoroastrians, but that was only one particular era. And we’ve basically arisen from all that, from that underground, and we’ve still survived, which is fascinating. It’s beautiful that we have. And also the texts that have been rediscovered, this is not accidental. This is all happening for a reason. What’s divine is experiencing itself where it can experience itself and express itself again safely in today’s world. In ancient past, it was dangerous to have diversion after the fourth century, which is a shame because the Catholics would kill those who came before them. They didn’t like that. And they even knew that some of the Gnostics, they had older writings, but they still denied them, which is funny. So it’s why such the hate, which is such a shame. So it goes back to that control of power, my way or the highway, basically. And it was never meant to be like that. It was meant to be very universal. It was meant to be very diverse. The first Christians were Gnostics and Jewish Christians, a mixture between strict law observing Jews and a mixture of Gentiles. And then you had the Jewish mystics that became the Christian mystics, which is fascinating. That was the original groups. And the original groups would argue amongst each other. The strict law observing Jews wanted circumcision, where the mystics said, no, no circumcision of the hearts, let the Gentiles come. That’s fine. So even when we look at the word, say, ethnos, for instance, in the Gospels, when you see kingdom against kingdom, nation against nation, these are the same things. So what they’re actually talking about is Gentile against Gentile and kingdom against kingdom. So the Jewish people didn’t have a kingdom at this stage. It was a mixture of Judea, Galilee and Samaria. So we’re the Samaritans. So that’s also something to take into account, too. So they didn’t like that. They were looking for a messiah to reunify the Jewish people, restore the Jewish faith and make Israel a kingdom again. And so some of them didn’t like the fact that Jesus wasn’t after this, for instance. So they didn’t like some of these teachings. It was a bit different. But if you look at the mystics, they had a very different interpretations. They did believe in a renewal of the Jewish faith, but a renewal back to El Elyon and a rejection of Yahweh. So that’s very different. So when you look at repentance, for Israel to repent, meaning for all of Israel to return back to El Elyon. And if you look at for the Gentiles conversion, that would be referring to not converting to any religion, but converting to God. So God outside religion. So fascinating. So you see all this in the original text. Cyd: And why do you suppose, this might be an unanswerable question, but why do you suppose conventional modern Christians are so, you know, extremely antagonistic towards Gnostic Christians? Is it fear or what? Bishop Nathan Wilson: Well, they’ve been told you're the enemy, basically. And yes, some of it is fear. Fear as well of the unknown. And also because of the need of an opponent. So they believe that they are doing a good thing. And if they don’t do this, they can be punished. So it’s the case of where a victim becomes an abuser. So most Christians have never even heard about Gnostics. It’s only the real ones who are into spiritual warfare, basically, and really full on extremist dogmatic ones that are familiar with, and apologetics. But they are now feeling like they’re losing the battle because more people were interested in Gnosticism and especially interested in other Jewish groups and the Dead Sea Scrolls, as well as the Nag Hammadi. So they’re realizing their other texts and there’s other options now. And that’s great. And regarding even my translations, one reason I chose to do it that I did, I found out that no modern English Bible translates from one source material. They’re all a mixture of different sources. So we have the Codex Sinaiticus mixed with the Latin Vulgate, mixing with Germanic copies, and then mixing ancient Koine Greek into modern Hebrew, putting it back into Greek. And that’s not good at all. So we’re just changing—we’re swapping chapters because we feel uncomfortable with them. So I was mortified when I was looking at that. And so I realized I couldn’t trust basically my Bible anymore. So I thought, well, I’m making this myself. And then I thought, well, I’m going to release it. Let’s go and share it too and do what they will with it. And it opened a lot of doorways to me, actually. So that’s one reason I wanted to give that out so people can have their own faith in their own interpretation and also believe in the message of Yeshua, bringing people back to the Most High God, to the Unknowable God, the Living Father, the Mother-Father. And we also see the Mother being mentioned in other texts too. It’s just mostly blocked out by mainstream Christianity, which is unfair, unfair to women and unfair to humanity with their approaches. It’s been very violent. So we need to remove that violence because that’s nothing to do with Yeshua’s teachings. He didn’t teach us to go around fighting each other. He said, Those who are for me are with me. They don’t understand his message. They very much follow the Catholic teachings of Paul that they’ve been given. And so they can look at the Gnostic teachings of Paul as well, which are also in there. Paul’s letters, we now know they’re mostly all forgeries. We don’t have any original copies either. They’re all later fourth century and we have some second century fragments. But the oldest reference to Paul is from the Ten Letters of Marcion. And he’s the man who compiled the first Christian Bible. And some people can argue, some people don’t believe he was a Gnostic. Others think he was a Gnostic. I think he was a type of Gnostic because he believed in a demiurge. So he believed that the God of the Jews was Yahweh and not the Supreme God of Jesus. That is a very Gnostic belief. But the thing is, the word Gnostic was given to us by the Catholic church, was a way of separating us and identifying us. But we wear it as a badge of honor because we understand they’re just calling us knowledgeable Christians, which is kind of funny. So language is powerful and the Catholic church certainly forgot it. So because of them, we now use daimon as demon. So they’ve basically demonized Jesus. They’ve demonized the Holy Spirit, which is their greatest sin. And they’ve demonized God and every other God. So they don’t know what damage they’ve done. And that’s not good. So I wanted to reverse that damage and bring people back to what I believe is the message of Yeshua, of Jesus, and to have their own spiritual relationship with God, an individual relationship, which is something that I want to see more of. That’s a very beautiful thing. You can’t define that intimate experience without living it. Cyd: Right, right. Well, that's all we have time for in this episode. We'll pick it up again next week for part three of my interview with Bishop Nathan Wilson of The Gnostic Union Church.  I like the way he talks, huh? Until next week, onward and upward and God bless us all.

It can be easy to let past struggles shape how we view God’s character. Difficult circumstances may tempt us to believe we are forgotten or left to handle life alone. But God’s faithfulness is often revealed not by removing every hardship, but by carrying us through each one with His peace, provision, and strength. Because of Christ, we are not abandoned or forgotten. We are deeply loved, chosen, guided, and redeemed by the Father. When we remember who God is and who we are in Him, fear loses its power and we can walk forward with confidence in His care. Highlights: God’s love is something we are invited to experience, not just understand intellectually Past hardships can distort our view of God’s faithfulness if we lose sight of His truth God often meets us through difficulties by providing strength, peace, and guidance We are desirable, lovable, helpable, and redeemable because of God’s love Knowing we are loved by God changes how we face challenges and uncertainty Join the Conversation Have you experienced a time when God reminded you that He saw your pain, needs, or circumstances? How does knowing that God is El Roi—the God who sees you—change the way you approach difficult seasons? Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/ Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: God’s Heart for You Is HugeBy Kelly Balarie Bible Reading:“…and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself].” – Ephesians 3:19 AMPC For a second, I imagined myself as a little girl, abandoned and left alone in the rain. Shivering, it was obvious that my clothes were far too scarce for the elements. As I came back out of my daydreaming, I decided that a random imaginary picture summed up how I felt. It aligned with my underlying thoughts: Who will rescue me? Who will protect me? Will I be okay? The logical side of me knew, cerebrally, the truth: “God is faithful.”The authentic side of me, honestly said, “Can I really trust God?” I wasn’t so sure after all I’d been through - problem after problem, health issue after health issue, car malfunction after car malfunction. It leaves one wondering: Will I always be left out to dry? The enemy of my soul certainly wanted me to believe that this would be the case. That God won’t show up. That God will fail me. That I can’t trust God. For if the devil can discourage me with the past, he can steal from me faith in the present. I wasn’t about to let that happen. My mind circled back to the truth of my hard past situations. I remembered back to how Jesus didn’t deliver me from my surgery, but how His peace carried me through surgery and recovery. I acknowledged how some lump sum of money didn’t drop on me, but how God readily provided for me with my car problems. I remembered how a problem for a family member became a confidence boost post-event. God loves me. He wasn’t running from me; God was with me. His love was right there. A lie was unearthed: God wants to be near me and is not far from me. He desires to help me. Owning this truth feels somewhat self-indulgent, but it still remains true that: I am desirable to God. He so desires to be with me that Christ lives in me.I am lovable to God. He so loves me, He sent His Son for me, even while I was still a sinner.I am helpable. He so wants to equip and guide me; He has sent His Holy Spirit to lead me. I am redeemable. If Jesus conquered sin and death, He is able to conquer my problems, His way. These 4 -able statements make me remember I don’t serve a God who is unable. Instead, I serve a God who loves me and wants to help me. This changes everything. I am not a lost child, but a loved one. A cared-for daughter. God’s love never fails me. “…and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself].” (Eph. 3:19 AMPC) I am not left an unlovable, left to dry orphan, but I am a loved daughter of the Most High God. Intersecting Faith & Life: What -able statement means the most to you? Why do you think it is hard to own these truths? What do you feel able to do or to confront when you realize that God is able to love you this way? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Send us Fan MailJoin your host Clifton Pope as he is back with another solocast with the June 2026 installment of the Spiritual Enlightment Series making its grand return!In this month's episode, Clifton Pope breaks down how The Most High GOD favors wisdom overall and how not every tradition defines GOD, truth, or salvation the same way!The key is that wisdom helps us humans move from confusion to clarity, bondage to insight, and from chaos to alignment!Don't miss any conversation or details by staying in tune via Apple/Spotify Podcasts/Rumble!Receive your copy of the Fitness Mirage on Amazon now with link below and leave a review so more people can tune in!https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GY1FZZPKIf you love the show, please leave a rating/review so more people can tune in!Thank you for the love and support!Thank you for the love and support!Support the showhttps://athleticism.com/HEALTHFWEALTHBhttps://coolgreenclothing.com/HEALTHFITNESSWEALTHBUSINESShttps://normotim.com/HEALTHFIThttps://www.portablemeshnebulizer.com/pages/collab?dt_id=2573900official affiliates of the HFWB Podcast SeriesPlease support the mission behind each product/services  as it helps grow the HFWB Podcast Series to where the show can continue to roll along!

We are adopted children of the Most High God. --Jeff Friesen, speaking at Christian Fellowship Church in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota on 6-21-2026.

In this powerful conclusion to the two-part series "Like Father, Like Son," Pastor Andrew explores the reciprocal relationship between the Father and the Son, specifically challenging men to rise as "Kingdom Men" who lead their families and communities with an eternal perspective. Centered on the baptism of Jesus in Matthew 3:17, the message reveals that divine approval is inherited rather than initiated, meaning our identity is firmly found in whose we are, not in what we can achieve. Through the narrative of David's anointing in 1 Samuel 16:11-13, listeners are encouraged to stay consistent in their current assignments, allowing their anointing to mature into the character required for their future destiny. By looking at the mission mandate in Luke 4:18, Pastor Andrew illustrates how a clear spiritual assignment unlocks one's purpose to "hold the line" and pour into the next generation. Ultimately, this sermon serves as a call to level up in responsibility, reminding us that while sons eventually become fathers, a true Kingdom Man must remain forever a son of the Most High God, resting in his "beloved" identity.

What if the key to understanding God's love is realizing you've been adopted into His family?In this powerful Father's Day message, Pastor Greg Sukert walks through Ephesians 1 and reveals the breathtaking reality of spiritual adoption. No matter your past, your family background, or your current circumstances, God offers redemption, inheritance, and security through Jesus Christ.Drawing from his own personal journey through infertility and adoption, Pastor Greg shows how the doctrine of adoption transforms the way we view suffering, identity, and our relationship with God.You'll Discover: Why adoption is at the heart of the Gospel  What Ephesians 1 teaches about God's love for His children  How God redeems us from spiritual orphanhood  The inheritance every believer receives in Christ  Why your identity is secure in God's family  How the Father's love sustains us through life's hardest seasons No matter what you're facing today, you are not undesired by God. Through Christ, you can become a son or daughter of the Most High God.Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-14

Audio Transcript All right, well, beautiful singing and happy Father's Day to the fathers here. And it's a very important job that you have. And I hope that it's something that you're really striving to do faithfully and to really serve your children well in many ways, but particularly by pointing them to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Okay, so if you have a Bible with you, if you turn on to the Gospel of Luke, there texture studies will be Luke 8, 26, 39. If not mentioned. My name is Aaron. I'm the preaching pastor here. And we're really glad that you're with us today. So Luke 8, verses 26 to 39. And if you don't have a Bible with you, that's on the pew Bible, it's on page 500. There we go, page 505. And if you're visiting. So we do a style of preaching called expository preaching. So I'm going to read us the text and I'm going to pray and then we're going to walk ourselves right back through the text. So if you open your Bible, please keep your Bible open. Okay, so Luke 8, 2639, please hear the words of our God. That's what Luke wrote. Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite of Galilee. When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, what have you to do with me, Jesus, son of the most High God, I beg you, do not torment me. For he commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles. But he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert. Jesus then asked him, what is your name? And he said, legion, for many demons have entered him. And they begged him to not command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered. The pigs and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told the city and the country. Then people went out to see what had happened. And they came to Jesus, found the man from whom the demons had Gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed in his right mind. And they were afraid. And those had seen it told them how the demon possessed the man had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the garrisons asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, return to your home. Declare how much God has done for you. He went away proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him. Okay, so that's God's word for us this morning. Would you please pray with me? Lord, I pray that you would bless this time. Please help me to be a good communicator of your word. Please help me to not stumble. Please keep me from error. Help me to speak truth. Lord, please be with the congregation. Please give them ears to hear what you're saying to us through your spirit, through the power of your word. It's in Jesus name we pray. Amen. Okay, so if you've been here at Red Village for some time, you know that we're in the midst of a long sermon series to the Gospel of Luke, which is a series that we hit the brakes on a few weeks back for us to look at a portion of the life of Moses found in the book of Exodus, where we have been looking at Moses life from his birth to the start of his ministry, a ministry of leading God's people out of the bondage of slavery in Egypt to take them on a journey to the promised land. You should remember that from birth to the start of this ministry actually covered like 80 years of Moses life. Now today as we gather together, we're actually hitting the brakes on that sermon series on Moses, mainly because Ben, who is scheduled to preach today from the end of Exodus 4, which is a kind of a wild passage, got sick at the end of the week, so unable to talk, therefore unable to preach. So we're hitting the brakes on that series of Moses to reengage in the Gospel of Luke, to go back where we left off in our study there before. Lord willing, we will once again hit the brakes on Luke next week to re engage in Exodus. We were planning to be for the next few weeks after that before, yes, we hit the brakes on Exodus, the life of Moses, to reengage the end of summer back in Luke. That's where we're going today. So because it's been a little bit since we've been in Luke, I thought Today might be a good for us to maybe spend a little bit of time reminding us where we've been in this study, particularly maybe some of the strong information of the Gospel of Luke. So the Gospel of Luke is one of four accounts that have in Scripture of the life, death, resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. So there's Matthew, Mark and John being the other accounts. This account to be referred to as Luke is because it's written by a man named Luke, who we see in other parts of scripture was a doctor as well as a missionary and it seems likely he was a Gentile, which refers to someone who is not Jewish. Where it seems likely that Luke came to faith through the ministry of the Apostle Paul. Sometime around the details of Acts 16, which you may remember Acts is also written by Luke. So it says part two, Acts is part two of a two volume work. So Gospel of Luke 18. In Acts there are two books of two volumes of this basically same work which we see in beginning of Luke was written first to a man named Theophilus, who Luke addressed in chapter one as like most excellent Theophilus. Now we don't know anything about this man, but because of his name, Theophilus was most likely a Gentile as well. And because he referred to as most excellent Theophilus seems likely he was a man of importance, of influence, maybe some type of political or military leader. And as Luke wrote to Theophilus, the contents of the book where we can seem to conclude is that Theophilus either was like strongly considering the Christian faith, strongly considering putting his trust in Jesus, or that perhaps maybe he was like brand new to the faith and now Luke is trying to like disciple him in the faith through this book. Furthermore, for the sake of review, as Luke wrote this book or this letter to Theophilus, he did so with the desire to give an orderly account of things that took place concerning the life, the ministry, the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which Luke did by interviewing eyewitnesses, those who were like physically present when the Lord Jesus walked the earth in his incarnation. It seems likely probably would interview other Gospel writers, particularly Matthew and Mark. It seems likely that Luke also would have interviewed like disciples who were there for the public ministry of Jesus, including our text today. To me it seems likely that Luke even interviewed Jesus's mother Mary, among others, who Luke interviewed who were present during the life of Christ, maybe even the man in our text today who's on the receiving end of incredible life changing work of Jesus. Perhaps Luke like interviewed him to get this story and there's obviously a lot more I could say here, but before we dive back in, just let me remind us where we were when we stopped our study, when we hit the brakes. So if you may remember, this is several weeks back, but we were in chapter eight and we walked through a story where Jesus got into a boat with his disciples and they were set to cross the Sea of Galilee, seemingly headed to where our text tells takes place today. But as you may remember, as he started to cross the sea, a huge storm basically came out of nowhere, a storm while Jesus was actually asleep in the boat. And at first, disciples tried to like get through the storm on their own strength, their own wisdom, their own experience, their own power. However, in time, they realized there's really nothing they could do to save themselves from the storm. They were helpless, they were hopeless. They needed Jesus to save them, which is really the truth for all of us in every situation that we're in, particularly when it comes to our own sin. We can't save ourselves. Only Jesus can save Pastors last time the disciples finally realized, accepted their helpless, hopeless state. They turn to Jesus, they woke him up, whereas he got up, calm the storm and saved him simply by the power of His Word, which caused the disciples to marvel at Jesus, to have like great fear and awe as they began to worship him and the power that he alone holds. As mentioned today, we're going to pick up where we left off, where Jesus and disciples are still in the boat, still headed to the other side of the lake, where once again our text today we can see the power of Jesus Christ on display. Power that once again will cause others to marvel at him and worship him, which I hope is true for all of us here this morning. Okay, so if that was an intro, please look back with me at the text starting in verse 26. And so he's going to walk right back through. So we see that after Jesus calmed the storm, so he and his disciples were still in the boat, setting sail for the country of the Gerasenes, which is the opposite side of the Sea of Galilee. As mentioned, this seemed to be like the intended destination when they got in the boat. In the previous text, our passage today, as the ship landed on the shore, we see that Jesus got up out of the boat and Luke tells us that he stepped out of the boat onto the land, which for us, at least for me, you know, Luke including this detail of Jesus, like getting out of the boat and as it hit shore, stepping on the land, to me this almost feels like, almost like an unnecessary Detail for Luke to include, of course, Jesus did that. That's what you do when the boat comes ashore. You get up and you walk on on land. But for me, I actually think the more I thought about it, I think this is actually kind of important detail, important enough for Luke to write. Write it down here for us to read. And the reason being is this country on the other side of the leak of Lake of Galilee, the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus landed. So this was Gentile land, a place where no culturally respectable Jew would ever like intentionally go. So I think Jesus like actively getting out of the boat into Gentile land. This is actually significant. This, this is a detail that Luke wants us to see. I think it's important for maybe a couple related reasons. So as mentioned at the start, so Luke was a Gentile. Theophilus, who this book was written to, most likely was a Gentile. In our text today and really throughout the Gospel of columns, we see Jesus continuing to minister to Gentiles. Now for us, this might not seem like a big deal, but we need to remind ourselves the incredible tension behind between Jews and Gentiles in this time period. So this is significant. This is Jesus showing that he's calling Jews and Gentiles to himself. This is part of the reason of the plan of why Christ came from heaven to save Jews and Gentiles. May remember way back in the early parts of our study of Luke Luke 2, on the first Christmas, the angels let the shepherds who were out watching their flock by night know that Christ was born. Remember how they sang the heavenly chorus like glory to God in the highest and on earth, like all people on earth, peace among whom he is well pleased. Then a few days after his birth, you may remember as Jesus presented at the temple, there was righteous Simeon met the Christ child and then he declared this. For my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. So again, this here Jesus getting out of the boat, actively getting out of the boat in Gentile land. This is important. This is Jesus showing how he is actively fulfilling the Scriptures so that Jew Gentile, all nations of the earth would be blessed through him. So all nations would taste of his salvation, which is something promised in the Old Testament scripture. Promise that is even present during the life of Moses. Second, Jesus doing this, getting out of the boat to fill the scripture kind of mentioned this kind of passing. But this is, this is intentional by Jesus. This is part of his plan he was intentionally seek them out. Meaning this wasn't a Gentile who just so happened to be around Jesus, who just so happen to be hearing Jesus proclaim about the kingdom of God, and so he just so happened to come by faith? No. So again, this is Jesus intentionally with thought, with plan, going to the Gentiles to proclaim his kingdom, intentionally sailing to Gentile land, intentionally getting on a boat, intentionally walking out on the land to go and minister now for us with application. This is important for us to see Jesus do here one to remind us this is actually how it always works. Jesus is the one who actually intentionally comes to us like we do not go and seek after Him. He is the one who in his grace and his kindness seeks after us. And that was that. If we're going to be Christ, like this is something we too must do, right? We must be intentional to make plans to intentionally go to others, to minister to others, to tell others about Jesus and His saving power, even if those others might be not respectable for us to minister to. If you're kind of wondering maybe a very practical way to apply this, it's actually kind of the hope that we have for like these summer socials that we're trying to get going here, where all of us are intentionally making plans to go to others, to bring others into our lives with hopes that we can love on others with the love of Jesus Christ. Back to the text, keep going. As Jesus gets out of the boat, we see that there is a strange, odd welcoming for him. With odd actually being a theme that we're going to circle on the rest of the passage where we see in the text that there's a man from the city who had demons there to meet our Lord. Now we don't know how the man got the demons. So in scripture it appears that for some they're under the power of demons because like of sin, where they like open up doors for the demonic to enter in. But also maybe appears that sometimes some are under the power of demons because of like situations that they're in, perhaps because they were born in some type of occult type practices in the area. Although I will say if one is a Christian, while a demonic can have like influence over us in ways that they can deceive us, demons have like no power in terms of some type of like possession. Like the man in the text had he was possessed by demons, says if you are a Christian, you have the spirit of Christ living inside and his power is the only power of possession over you where you are sealed to Be his. So we don't know how the man got the demons, but at the start of the story, we do know that he was not someone who is trusting in Christ. And I think from our vantage point, seem really unlikely ever to do so. This man was seemingly way too far gone to ever come to faith in Jesus Christ. Well, keep going to the text. Because of demonic activity in this man's life, this man is clearly being tortured by. By the demons. And he was not in his right state of mind. So we read in the text that for a long time he was, like, removed from society where he, like, walked around having, like, no clothes, like, literally running around, like, naked. Where Mark's gospel tells us that this man was like, like cutting himself, crying out in constant pain. We're seeing our text in Luke that he was homeless. He was simply living among the tombs. Not for everyone, us, not everyone we meet who's not in the right minds. Not because they're being like, tortured or possessed by a demon. But I also think we should not be, like, quick to eliminate a possibility of that which actually circle back to that at the end, verse 28, even though this man was not in his right mind, this man still had enough of his mind that when he saw Jesus step out on the land, he recognized him and he cried out to him, falling at the feet of Jesus. Not for us already. This story is, like, a little odd to us, you know, this odd welcoming that Jesus received from this man. Well, buckle up, it's going to get more odd. Middle of the verse, we see what the man said to Jesus, which he said with a loud voice, what do you have to do with me, Jesus, son of the Most High God, I beg you, do not torment me now. Why? This is odd, at least to me. I mean, it's not necessarily. It's odd because this man is wondering if Jesus came to torment him in ways like maybe the demons were also tormenting him. Rather, it's odd to me, it appears the reason why the man was able to recognize Jesus as the son of the Most High God was because of the demons. And while it's hard to know who is actually speaking here, there's some debate within church history. To me, I actually think the demons are speaking through this man to Jesus. As the demons are worried Jesus came to torment them. This is pretty odd. Verse 29 we read. For he, Jesus, had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For many times, the demon, or better said, demons, had seized the man. As the demons tortured and tormented this man as he ran naked, living among the tombs. The text, as this man was being possessed by the demons, like he was doing really odd things. So we see in the text that others would like capture him and they place him under guard, presuming to protect him maybe for himself, but more likely to protect him from, from others. And as they captured him, our text tells us they would like bind him with chains and shackles. But seemingly through some type of like demonic power and strength, the man were able to like break the bonds. The text tells he would like then flee, driven by the demon into the desert, which for this man this had to be just an awful, awful life to live. There's a reason why he spent his life like crying out, in pain, in torment, awful. Let me also mention here, just, let's just consider what this man would have been like for those who are around him, who lived around him in the region. I mean, they had to be like terrified of this individual. I mean, they would go great lengths to avoid him for many, many reasons. If no respectable Jew would talk to a Gentile, no respectable person would dare engage with this man. Yet that is what the Lord Jesus is doing here in the text. Verse 30. After demons spoke to Jesus or the man, we see Jesus respond back by asking, demons, what's your name? Only for the demon to respond back as they said, Legion. The word legion, this is a military term of the day to describe the military unit of like 6,000 men. For some they interpret this name Legion like Exactly to mean 6,000 demons were present tormenting this man, which is possible interpret that way. But most think this is actually a name. Maybe it's more symbolic to communicate just a vast number, a large number of demons were present and most things how the verse ends, for many demons had entered or injured him. Now for us, whether that's an exact number, it's more of symbolic number. The main point is this was an incredibly tormented man with many powerful demons who had possessed his life. However, as powerful as the many demons were, as Legion was in the text, even they understood what they were up against when it came to Jesus Christ, the son of the Most High God. As they were confronted by the power of Jesus in the text, Legion understood they were no match. And so we see them begin to like, plead with the Lord Jesus, which even that feels a little odd to me. Demons pleading, although as we keep going, it does make sense why they would plead and beg with Jesus as they begged him to not command him to depart into the abyss, which here the abyss seems a Reference to, like, a place of death, justice and judgment that Satan and all of his demons would be forever banished to when the Lord returns to judge the living and the dead. So while it does feel odd that demons are begging Jesus, it does make sense. Even demons have fear of the judgment of God to fall upon them. Which, by the way, on this side, if you're not a Christian, say this humbly, you should fear as well. I want to say this with my own pleading to you to turn to Jesus Christ, the one who saves us from judgment. Verse 32. As the demons pleaded with the Lord Jesus, we see that there's a large herd of pigs nearby, feeding on the hillside. And this detail here of the pigs, this underscores that this was a gentile land. In the Old Testament dietary law, the Jewish people were forbidden to eat pork. So this is a very gentile setting of this text. We see the text that the demons pointed out. The large herd of pigs began to beg Jesus that rather than sending them into the abyss of judgment and justice, they begged that they could enter into the pigs instead. To which Jesus actually gives them permission to do. Now, why did Jesus give them permission? Was this like an act of, like, grace and mercy on demons? I don't think so. I actually think this is an act of grace and mercy, not only on the man who's being tortured by the demons, but even like the Gentile herdsmen who are on the scene and others who are about to hear about this powerful work of Jesus. Get to that more in just a bit. But back to demons. Jesus gave them permission to enter. The pigs the demons came out of. The man entered into the pigs, causing the herd to, like, rush down the steep bank into the lake where they were drowned. Which there's some irony here if you see where the lake is basically an abyss, and scripture often waters a picture of judgment. So while perhaps the demons are spared that day from the final abyss, they still ended up in judgment. Now, that's all this was happening. If you take your eyes to verse 34, the herdsmen, they're still there, and they're watching this incredible, odd scene take place. And if this story feels odd to you and me, imagine being there, being them. What started out just like a very normal day, minding their own business, simply watching the herd of pigs. And now all this in the passage. As the herdmen saw this odd scene play out, they did the thing that I think we all would do. They got out of Dodge as quickly as they could. They fled the scene. I'm sure Running as fast as they could. However, they fled. The scene we see did not flee in silence. Rather they fled, doing so in ways that they're telling everyone in the city, throughout the country, of all the odd things that have just taken place. Just guessing. For those who heard this from the herdsmen, I'm sure they felt the herdsmen had lost their minds. Clearly they were delusional. Just a little bit too much time around the hogs, too far isolated from others. However, if that was the case, there was enough that the herdsmen said that piqued the interest of the people. As they heard the report, curiosity still kind of grabbed them, maybe in ways like the old freak shows at the circus when you draw like huge crowds. 35. After hearing all these odd things, the people decide what they need to do. Let's go see what happened. So they leave and they arrive on the scene. And as they arrive, they find Jesus with the man, this man with the many demons who I'm sure they all knew was mentioned before, all would avoid at all cost. But now they see this man with Jesus very different than they had before. Now he's sitting at the feet of Jesus, all the demons are gone, he's clothed and amazingly he's now in his right mind a complete radical life change. Which I did wonder for the people at the scene if perhaps this is like the oddest thing of all to see this one who is so far gone now there in his right mind with Jesus because of the power of Jesus. As people saw this, the text tells us they became afraid. Now for me, all the things took place. A demon, talking demons rushing into a herd of pigs who's proceeded to rush down into the lake to drown. Like this life changing reality that Jesus gave this man, this is what grips their hearts with fear, this and their hearts were gripped with fear, I'm sure being wondering, like what happened? How did this come to be? So verse 36, they went to those who were there who saw all this take place. They asked them again, like, okay, say it again like, how did all these events take place? Yeah, yeah, sure, we can do that. So we know every good story starts out with the word. So there we were, right? So there we're just normal day hanging out with the pigs by the cliff. They're just eating like they always do. We're sitting there, we see the boat land ashore. We see this one get out of the boat, one named Jesus particularly, grabs our eye. And from there all this happened. And this is why you see like the dead pigs floating in the lake. And this is why the demon possessed man is now healed in his right mind. It's all because of Jesus, this man who the demons declared to be the son of the Most High God. And as the people heard all this, they became even more afraid of Jesus and the power and the authority that he has, even over demons, the power and authority that Jesus has to change someone's life. So rather than falling down in worship of Jesus, verse 36 or 37, take your eyes there, all the people from all over the surrounding country of the garrisons came together and with one voice they asked Jesus to depart from them as they were seized by fear of him. This story here, this odd story, this is actually really sad here, maybe even this feels just odd. I mean, here's this group. They heard these incredible things about Jesus Christ. They just saw all that Jesus did for this man changed him. As mentioned, I think even like the drowning pigs was an act of grace for these people, as God in his power is like taking things from them in ways that should have led them to see how in Jesus they would have all that they need. However, rather than responding by faith to Jesus, by coming to him to sit at his feet like this man was sadly, oddly, they rejected him. They pushed Jesus out of their presence, giving Jesus like even out of the surrounding country, just get away, get out of here. Which by the way, is also a warning for those who may be here, have yet to come to Christ. This is part of my plea to you. As you hear about the Lord Jesus, you hear about all the things he has done, particularly in his death and resurrection. As you see the testimony of others who have had their lives changed by Jesus Christ. And maybe even you're wondering, like, why are all these things being taken from me? See these things as a grace in your life. Do not follow the example of the people in the text and push Jesus away. Rather follow the example of the man, the once demon possessed man, and come to Jesus, trust in Jesus, cling to Jesus, worship Jesus. The end of verse 37, as the people rejected the Lord, we see it, in short, Jesus, like dust off his feet, gets back in the boat, sets sail across the lake to return back to where he started at the beginning of chapter 8. However, in verse 38, as the Lord is making his way off of dry land back onto the boat, we see this once demon possessed man pursue the Lord in ways. He started to beg and plead with Jesus, but this time a very different begging and pleading from what the demons had earlier in the text as they begged Jesus to allow them to flee from his presence here. This man who had his life changed, begged and pleaded that Jesus would not leave his presence, they say, begging that he get in the boat with Lord. However, in the text, even though the man begged and pleaded, prayed to Jesus that he could come with him, we see in the passage that Jesus actually had different plans for this man, plans to use him in really great sweet ways. So Jesus, we see, sent the man away, saying to him, in verse 39 of the passage which ends our text, man, I'm telling you, return home. Yeah, that very home that you've been away from a very long time. And now I want you to return home in your right mind and declare to everyone there how much God has done for you. Tell them about me. Tell them how I change your life. Be my witness. Which at the start of the story, this would have felt so odd. This naked, homeless demon possessed man who everyone was afraid of, who everyone would avoid, who was a menace to society, would be changed so much by Jesus Christ. In short order, he basically become like a missionary or an evangelist who would be used by the Lord to declare his glory to others. Some of you may remember last spring we had a short little sermon series titled Unlikely Evangelist that we see in the Bible. This man, he certainly was that as the Lord commissioned him to be his witness. Which ends our passage with him going away, joyful obedience to the call of the Lord, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus has done for him, for us. That's where we're going to end this odd story this morning. But before we close, I just want to give us just maybe a few things just to ponder today and this week from this text. So first, in light of this passage, friends, it actually would be odd to not recognize the reality of spiritual warfare and the demonic in this present life. Now, this does not mean that we blame everything negative that happens, like, on the demons or is like, because of the devil. We're almost like there's a demon hiding under every rock ready to attack us. But scripture is also clear that there's a spiritual war at hand. There are demons on the attack. And the reality is that until we come to Christ, we actually are following after the prince. The power of the air, the spirit is now at work on the sons of disobedience. So it would be odd for us to deny the reality of the spiritual warfare. So in Luke's Gospel, there are actually multiple passages, some we've already gone through on the demonic. So not just this one, multiple passages So I keep saying it's odd for us if we don't recognize spiritual warfare, spiritual warfare that is at hand. This is why the scriptures, New Testament book Ephesians tells us we're to be diligent, to put on the armor of God. That's why we're to be mindful, like sober mindful or sober minded, so we don't fall into, like, spiritual traps. Spiritual traps often, like, divide us or to like, sinfully question and doubt God and His goodness in our life. We're to seek to build each other up in love. We're to be intentional, to hide God's Word in our hearts. This is how we fight spiritual war. By the way, the best way to do it is honestly just to be here every Sunday at church, actively engaging with God and His Word and with others in the church family. I actually think a lot of spiritual warfare that's there is trying to keep us, or at least keep us away or at least unengaged, like on Sunday mornings. Let me also mention before I move on on this note of spiritual warfare and the reality of demons. So if you're looking for a good book to read this summer, I just recommend to you the screwtape letters by C.S. Lewis. So it's a fictional book, but I think it's actually really helpful just to consider the spiritual war at hand. That's the first thing. Second, the work of Jesus in His text should feel odd. Not odd in terms of like, almost like grotesque in how the Lord is at work, but odd at just how different Jesus is from us. We're in the text, we see how different, odd he, his power is than ours. It's so far greater than we could ever imagine that here a legion of demons is terrified before the Lord Jesus Christ, his power, his authority over them. This is an odd power. This is not a power like we have. So much different. Likewise, it's not just his power that's odd, different from us, but so is his compassion and his mercy and his love, which are also hard for us to comprehend. So far different, odd from us. By the way, for me, this actually sticks out the most to me from this passage. Just the compassion, the mercy, the love that Jesus had toward this man, this man that everyone else wanted to avoid, this menace to society who seemed too far gone. Yet Jesus got in a boat, traveled across the shore to come to him with his overwhelming compassion, mercy, love. According to his intentional plan, Jesus came to save him, friends, in the most glorious ways. His compassion, the mercy, the love of Jesus. It's Just odd to us. Odd that Jesus would do this for a sinner. Which, by the way, was even more gloriously odd concerning Jesus Christ and the depths by which he would go to save sinners. It's not simply that he's like, willing to cross the lake, but in time, Jesus was actually nailed to a cross. We're in his great compassion and love and mercy, where he would take on the punishment of our sin, the judgment of God in our place. We're in his incredible love. He died for us, to call us to Himself, who were at enmity with him only for his great power to bring him back from the dead on the third day. So, yes, keep saying it. Odd story, no doubt. Odd on so many fronts, but that's kind of the point. The oddness reminds us that Jesus is so gloriously different from us, which is why we have to be like the man in the text and worship him and long to be in the presence of Jesus Christ, which actually I invite you and plead with you to do again, even right now, to pour out your life in the worship of him, to make Jesus the greatest desire, the greatest treasure of your life, where you long to be in his presence. Which, by the way, when we're truly in our right mind, this is always where our desire will be. Last thing third. So if you're here and you have faith in Jesus, it would be odd to keep silent about him and the work that he has done in your life. And yes, as we tell others about Jesus, some will think we're odd for doing so, for believing in Him. Like Eden, like Jesus in the text, they could reject us, push us away because of our witness. But church, Red Village for the sake of Jesus, for the good of others, let's be odd. Let's be like this man, and let us tell others what Jesus has done for us, how in his grace and in his power, he came to save us. So by intentionally going to them, we go with the hope that they will have their life changed by the Lord Jesus as well, saved by Him. So for us, yesterday we hit the brakes in Exodus to get back to Luke. But if we once again hit the brakes on Luke, Lord willing next week to get back to Exodus. But church, may we never hit hit the brakes when it comes to the worship of Jesus Christ. May we never hit the brakes in our longing to be with him in his presence. And may we never hit the brakes when it comes to our witness about him and what he has done in our life. Rather, may we always be intentional with these things. All of our days. Let's pray. Lord, thank you that you are so far different than us. And Lord, by the power of your spirit, I do pray that you would capture our hearts afresh this morning in the worship of you. Lord, please stoke our affections for you. Help us to long to be with you in your presence found in your word. And Lord, please help us to be faithful, to testify to all those around of the work that you have done for us, not only on the cross and in the resurrection, but also the work that you've done in our own lives. Or may we be faithful witnesses and may you use our witness to change the lives of many. Pray so. In Jesus name, amen. The post Jesus Heals a Man with a Demon – Luke 8: 26-39 appeared first on Red Village Church.

Send us Fan MailThe Gospel of Mark presents us with a profound challenge: we cannot truly understand the New Testament without first knowing the Old. This shortest of the four Gospels moves at a breathtaking pace, immediately plunging us into Jesus' ministry with demon exorcisms, healings, and miracles. Yet each of these powerful acts carries deep Old Testament symbolism that we might miss if we don't know the backstory. The demons in the land represent foreign nations oppressing Israel. The healings from fever, leprosy, and lameness reverse the covenant curses of Deuteronomy 28. When Jesus calms the storm on the Sea of Galilee, He's fulfilling Psalm 107 where only Yahweh can still the waters. The irony is striking: while the disciples ask 'Who is this that even the wind and sea obey Him?' the demons immediately recognize Jesus as the Son of the Most High God. Mark is showing us that Jesus is the fulfillment of everything Israel has been waiting for, the One who can remove covenant curses and restore God's people. As we read this Gospel, we're invited to move beyond simply marveling at the miraculous events and ask ourselves: What is the inspired author trying to teach us through these historical moments? Understanding Mark requires us to see how the entire biblical story connects from Genesis to Revelation.Support the showStay engaged with new and up-to-date content, including newsletters, articles, podcasts, etc. Download the Teach Me the Bible App from any app store or Apple TV/Roku device.

Romans 8:16 anchors the believer’s identity in a powerful truth: through the Holy Spirit, we are affirmed as children of God. In this devotional, Cindi McMenamin unpacks what it means to live from that identity rather than slipping back into fear, anxiety, and emotional chaos. When life feels overwhelming, it’s easy to function as if we are spiritually alone, but Scripture reminds us that believers are fully adopted, fully known, and fully secured in God’s family. Highlights Romans 8:16 confirms believers are children of God through the Spirit. Stress and anxiety often reflect a forgotten identity in Christ. In Christ, believers are adopted, forgiven, and fully secure. God’s love is unshakable and cannot be separated from His children. Identity in Christ replaces an “orphan mindset” with confidence. Believers are complete in Christ, not unfinished projects. Our daily behavior reflects what we believe about God’s care. Living as God’s child produces peace, trust, and spiritual stability. Join the Conversation Have you experienced a time when God reminded you that He saw your pain, needs, or circumstances? How does knowing that God is El Roi—the God who sees you—change the way you approach difficult seasons? Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/ Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: No Longer an OrphanBy Cindi McMenaminBible Reading:“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16 NKJV). Do you realize that when we worry and fret and start living a drama-filled life, we are forgetting who we really are? We are, in a sense, starting to live like orphans. After all, when you are trusting Christ alone for the forgiveness of your sin and for eternal life, you have become His adopted child (John 1:12; Romans 8:14-17). And in that relationship as His child, you have a new identity that does not include the corruption or chaos of your past, or the problems in your present, or the fears of your future. Your drama or problems don’t define you either. In your new role, God calls you: His child – John 1:12 says: “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” His friend – Jesus said “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15). A saint – In Ephesians 1:1, believers in Christ are called saints. Yeah, but I’m not a saint, you may be thinking. Your actions may not always say it. But your position in Him says it. You are seen as perfect by Him because You are covered in the righteousness and goodness of Christ. Forgiven – Colossians 1:14 says you have been redeemed (bought back) and forgiven of all your sins—past, present, and future. So your past sins—or your past wounds—can no longer define you. Your slate is wiped clean. Complete – Do you feel like a “work in progress”? Many people describe themselves this way, referring to how they are not yet what God desires of them. But God’s Word is the final authority, and it says “you are complete in Him” (Colossians 2:10). The work has already been done. You just need to live in that truth and wear it. Secure – both eternally and daily, in Him. You are free from condemnation (Romans 8:1-2), free from condemning charges (Romans 8:31-34), and free from the possibility of abandonment (Hebrews 13:5). Unconditionally loved – Romans 8:35-39 says “nothing” will be able to separate you from the love of God – not death, life, circumstances, sin, poor choices, a season of rebellion, nothing! His temple – that means He lives within you. Your heart is His home. And He dwells with you daily (1Corinthians 6:19). Royalty – He says you are seated with Him in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). His masterpiece –created in Him for good words which He prepared for you before you were ever born (Ephesians 2:10 NLT). Fully capable by His power –You are able to accomplish “all things” through Christ, who gives you strength (Philippians 4:13). His possession –You are not your own, you belong to Him because you were “bought at a price” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). That means He protects you and provides for you as His own. That also means nothing can touch you that hasn’t first gone through His loving hands. Intersecting Faith & Life: So, why do we stress about our needs, our problems, our finances, our health, and our relationships? Is that our way of saying God has forgotten us and He won’t really be a good Father to His child? Through our stress and striving, are we saying to others around us, “I’m on my own because God won’t—or can’t—help me.” How you and I live day to day is evidence of what we truly believe. An orphaned child says, “I am all alone. I have no one to help me.” A child of God lives confidently in the words: “My Father is with me. And He will help me.” The more you reaffirm who you are in Christ, the more your behavior will reflect your true identity—a loved, well-cared-for child of the Most High God who never needs to stress or worry. Why would you want to live any other way? Further Reading:Romans 8:12-17 For more on living like a loved child of God, see Cindi’s book, Drama Free: Finding Peace When Emotions Overwhelm You. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

“No One Else Would Go There”Mark 5:1-201 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God's name don't torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.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/

Our Sovereign God May Not Return to Us If Jesus Followers Do Not Lead America's Return to God; You Are Here for These Times MESSAGE SUMMARY: If enough of us get serious with God, then, perhaps, God will heal us and this land. When we, as both individual Jesus Followers and as a country, turn to the Lord, will we hear God's call and answer as in Isaiah 6:8: “And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.'”. As Jesus Followers but in our non-Christian behavior: we are mean; we are angry; we are judgmental; and we are selfish and self-centered. Also, in our non-Christian behavior, we are often in bondage to debt, drugs, and extramarital sex. In all these non-Christian behaviors, we are not different from the unbeliever next door. Therefore, we are not very different from God's people in the time of Hosea described in Hosea 11:7,10-11: “My people are bent on turning away from me, and though they call out to the Most High {God}, he shall not raise them up at all . . . They shall go after the LORD; he will roar like a lion; when he roars, his children shall come trembling from the west; they shall come trembling like birds from Egypt, and like doves from the land of Assyria, and I will return them to their homes, declares the LORD.". We need to ask ourselves: “Am I being faithful to Jesus Christ and what needs to change in me and my life? Also, we need to ask ourselves “how am I disobeying the Lord?”. Will you then say to God: “Here am I! Send me.” If NOT ENOUGH “Self-Identifying Christians” answer God's call to lead America in our “return to God”, then God, in His sovereignty, will not return to America – you are here for times like these!   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, I come this day inviting you to cut those deeply entrenched chains that keep me from being faithful to my true self in Christ. In doing so, may my life be a blessing to many. In Jesus' name, amen.      Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 44). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, because I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Heartlessness. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit's fruit of Kindness. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV):  Hosea 11:1-11; Isaiah 6:8-13; Matthew 13:13-17; Psalms 13:1-6. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Our Awesome God -- Part 2: Trinity; Our Father” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

AI, Spiritual Deception & Learning to Ask God the Right Questions | KIB 533 Kingdom Intelligence Briefing Description Are we asking God the wrong questions in this generation? In Episode 533 of the Kingdom Intelligence Briefing, Dr. Michael and Mary Lou Lake examine the growing spiritual deception surrounding AI, data centers, propaganda, counterfeit spirituality, and the coming pressures of Mystery Babylon. This powerful briefing challenges believers to move beyond shallow Christianity and learn how to seek the Kingdom of God with discernment, covenant faithfulness, and spiritual maturity. Dr. Lake explores how believers have often been trained to pursue comfort, prosperity, and escape rather than asking God how to walk in Kingdom purpose, holiness, discernment, and spiritual authority in the last days. Mary Lou shares urgent insights regarding spiritual warfare, mind control technologies, AI systems, occult influences, and the need for believers to trust fully in God's protection and covenant promises. This episode is a wake-up call for the Remnant: • Learn to discern truth in an age of deception • Understand the spiritual dangers behind counterfeit systems • Discover the power of asking God the right questions • Learn how the Holy Spirit develops true Kingdom maturity • Be encouraged that God's power has not diminished The days ahead will require discernment, covenant fidelity, spiritual endurance, and unwavering trust in the Most High God. "Teach me what to ask, Lord." ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Welcome to Day 2874 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2874 – “Freedom From Bondage”  based on Luke 8:22-39 Putnam Church Message – 05/03/2026 The Good News According to Luke: “Freedom from Bondage”   Last week's message was: “Where Are You in This Picture?” We reflected on what type of soil our lives represent and whether we are hiding the light of Christ rather than sharing it with others. Today, we continue with our twenty-first message from Luke's narrative of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Today's message is: “Freedom from Bondage.” Our core passage today is Luke 8:22-39, which is found on page 1606 of your pew Bibles. Jesus Calms the Storm 22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. 24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we're going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man 26 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes,[a] which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torture me!” 29 For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places. 30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. 32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. 33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. 34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35 and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus' feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him. Opening Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for Your living Word and for the Gospel of Luke, which continues to show us more clearly who Jesus is. Thank You that You did not leave this fallen world to sink under the weight of sin, fear, and evil, but You sent Your Son into our darkness. As we come to this passage today, open our eyes to the power of Christ, open our hearts to trust Him more fully, and open our lives to the freedom only He can give. Calm what is storming within us. Break what has held us captive. Strengthen what has grown weak. And let us leave today with a deeper confidence that Jesus is Lord over every force that terrifies us. In His name we pray, amen. As we continue with our twenty-first message in this Luke series, we come to a dramatic turning point. Up to this point, Luke has shown Jesus healing diseases, cleansing lepers, forgiving sins, raising the dead, and receiving the broken. We have watched Him touch individual lives with compassion and power. But in Luke 8:22–39, the curtain pulls back even farther. Here, Jesus does not merely ease suffering. / He confronts the larger powers behind suffering. / He speaks to the wind and the waves. / He commands demons. / He crosses into hostile territory. / He delivers a man no one else could help. / And then He sends that healed man home as a witness. This is not just a story about weather and one troubled man. This is a revelation of the King who has come to reclaim enemy-held ground. The world we live in is not the world God originally made it to be. Genesis tells us that God created a good world, ordered, fruitful, beautiful, and fit for human flourishing. But because of sin, our world has become a place of storms, sorrow, chaos, fear, bondage, disease, death, and decay. We all know this, not just from theology, but from experience. We have all ridden through storms. We have all seen chaos. We have all known people in bondage. And if we are honest, some of us know bondage from the inside. So, this passage asks us a very important question: When the forces of chaos and darkness rise, who is Jesus really? Luke's answer is clear:   He is Lord over the storm. He is Lord over the demons. He is Lord over the broken human heart. And He is Lord over the mission that turns the delivered / into witnesses. A Simple Object Lesson Hold up a small chain connected to a padlock and a set of keys. “This is what bondage looks like. Sometimes it is visible, sometimes invisible. Sometimes it is addiction. Sometimes fear. Sometimes bitterness. Sometimes shame. Sometimes torment of mind.” Hold up the keys and say, “Chains are strong, but keys represent authority. The chain may look powerful, but the one with the key has the final word.” Luke 8 shows us a man whom everyone else tried to bind with chains. Those chains failed. But when Jesus arrived, no chain, no demon, no storm, and no chaos could stand against Him. Christ has the key. That leads us to our first of four truths. Main Point 1: Jesus has authority over the chaos that terrifies us. Luke tells us that Jesus said to His disciples, “Let's cross to the other side of the lake.” So, they got into a boat and set out. Then, as they sailed, Jesus fell asleep. A fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat began to fill with water. The disciples panicked and woke Him, crying, “Master, Master, we're going to drown!” Now pause there and feel the scene. These were not children afraid of a little rain. / Several of these men were seasoned fishermen. / They knew this lake. / They had read the sky before. They had handled boats before. But the Sea of Galilee could turn violent in moments. Sitting far below sea level, surrounded by hills, and cut by sudden winds, it could quickly become dangerous. Ancient people often saw the sea not merely as water, but as a symbol of disorder and threat. To them, the sea represented what could not be controlled. The mighty sea serpent. So, when experienced men panic, this was no small inconvenience. And where is Jesus? / Asleep. That detail matters. It reveals both His humanity and His calm. He is weary enough to sleep through danger, and secure enough to rest in the middle of it. Then Jesus rises and rebukes the wind and the raging waves. Immediately, the storm stops, and the lake becomes calm. What a moment that must have been. One instant: shrieking wind, crashing water, frantic bailing, shouted voices, terror in the eyes. The next instant: stillness. Silence. Water settling. Hearts pounding. The disciples staring at Jesus in stunned fear and wonder. And then Jesus asks, “Where is your faith?” / Not, “Why were there waves?” / Not, “Why were you surprised that life got hard?” / But, “Where is your faith?” This passage does not teach that real...

When Souljah's sit at the table the conversation is different. There is a feast of messages from the Most High God filled with the Promise's from His Word as you hear iron sharpening iron with the power of the Sword.  Join the The Rev and Lady Shannon at the table on the Chatting With The Whitney's podcast. B4LM Theme Song written, Produced, and Performed by: Nineside/International Nine@https://linktr.ee/Nineside Books by The Rev & Lady Shannon Brave Scars - https://www.amazon.com/Brave-Scars-Min-Shannon-Whitney-ebook/dp/B083D95P8Q Love and Marriage 1 - https://www.amazon.com/Love-Marriage-Make-Last-Forever-ebook/dp/B0837YN34W Love and Marriage 2 - https://www.amazon.com/LOVE-MARRIAGE-Make-Last-Forever-ebook/dp/B083D7TBHT It Ain't Over Til It's Over - 3 It Ain't Over Til It's Over: Love & Marriage Make It Last Forever III: Whitney, Reverend D.A. and Lady Shannon: 9798359755399: Amazon.com: Books You Are What You Think! Peculiar Thoughts for Peculiar People (Volume 1 & 2) YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK Peculiar Thoughts for Peculiar People: Volume I: Whitney, Reverend D.A. and Lady Shannon: 9798359754989: Amazon.com: Books YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK Peculiar Thoughts for Peculiar People Volume II: Whitney, D.A. (The Rev) and Lady Shannon: 9798359755801: Amazon.com: Books Email: blessed4lifeministries@gmail.com NOTE: We do not own the rights to the great music you hear on the show. However, we hope you love it as much as we do!  Hey Now and thanks for checking us out!  We pray we do not say anything that will cause you to stumble; but only those things that will draw you closer to The Most High God.  That said, we are inspirational and motivational while maintaining authenticity as we keep it practical and simple; yet real.  We don't own the music rights to the music we play but we hope you love it as much we do!  Follow us on social media @ blessed4lifeministries on IG, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest!  Connect with us via email for B4LM merchandise, for links to our books on Amazon, to request pastoral services from The Rev, or to just keep in touch at  blessed4lifeministries@gmail.com

Welcome to Day 2870 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2870 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 131:1-3 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2870 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2870 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Song of Ascent – The Sanctuary of the Quiet Soul In our previous episode on this grand pilgrimage, we crawled through the dark, suffocating currents of the eleventh Song of Ascent, Psalm One Hundred Thirty. We stood at the very bottom of the spiritual abyss, De Profundis, crying out from the depths of personal and corporate guilt. We witnessed the hyper-vigilant sentry straining his eyes on the city battlements, waiting with absolute, unshakeable certainty for the first radiant rays of the dawn. We celebrated the staggering reality of Yahweh's celestial ledger-erasing forgiveness, and we anchored our lives to a redemption that completely overflows, buying our souls back from the legal custody of the dark powers. Today, we step forward onto the next section of the mountain pass, moving into the twelfth song of this ancient pilgrim collection. We are exploring Psalm One Hundred Thirty-One, verses one through three, in the New Living Translation. This masterpiece, written by King Solomon's father, King David, is one of the shortest psalms in the entire Bible, containing only three brief verses. Yet, what it lacks in length, it more than makes up for in profound, world-altering psychological depth. It provides the perfect, beautiful emotional resolution to the desperate cry of the previous psalm. Once a soul has been lifted out of the depths of the abyss, and completely cleansed by the overflowing mercy of the King, the frantic striving, the exhausting pride, and the paralyzing anxieties of this life simply melt away. Let us step onto this quiet, sunlit ridge of the trail, and learn the rare art of a quiet soul. The first segment is: The Abdication of Cosmic Hubris Psalm One Hundred Thirty-One: verse one. Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don't concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp. The song opens with an intimate, raw, and deeply transparent confession made directly to the Creator. “Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty.” To fully appreciate the staggering nature of this statement, we must look at the identity of the writer. This is King David speaking. David was not a quiet, sheltered monk living far away from the realities of the world. David was a towering giant of human history. He was a ruthless warrior who slaughtered tens of thousands on the battlefield, a brilliant political strategist who unified a fractured nation, and a wealthy monarch who established an empire. He was a man who possessed every earthly reason to be consumed by arrogance. Yet, as he walks the pilgrim road to Jerusalem, stripping off his royal robes and marching shoulder-to-shoulder with the lowliest peasants, he looks up to the heavenly throne room and declares, “Lord, my heart is not proud.” The Hebrew word for proud here implies being swollen, inflated, or lifted up above your proper station. David refuses to let his heart be infected by the toxic gas of self-importance. He adds, “...my eyes are not haughty.” Haughty eyes are visually raised eyes. It is the posture of a person who constantly looks down their nose at others, treating fellow image-bearers with condescension and contempt. We remember from our trek through Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Three how deeply the pilgrims suffered from the contempt of the proud and the arrogant proxies of the culture. David actively abdicates that posture. He refuses to participate in the competitive, status-driven games of the world. He then provides the practical, operational definition of his humility: “I don't concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp.” Other translations render this phrase, “Neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too wonderful for me.” The Hebrew phrase for “too awesome” or “too wonderful” is b'nifla'ot mimeni, which refers to things that are hidden, supernatural, or beyond human jurisdiction. We must view this through the lens of the Ancient Israelite divine council worldview, as masterfully taught by Doctor Michael S. Heiser. In the ancient Near East, the great temptation for human rulers was cosmic hubris. The rebel spiritual principalities—the fallen elohim of the nations—rebelled against Yahweh precisely because they wanted to overstep their assigned boundaries. They wanted to hoard forbidden knowledge, manipulate cosmic events, and ascend to heights that were reserved exclusively for the Most High God. They infected human empires with this same madness, driving pagan kings to perform dark, esoteric rituals to uncover the hidden secrets of the gods, frantically trying to control the future through sorcery and political manipulation. David looks at the chaotic, overreaching ambition of the rebel gods and their earthly empires, and he completely opts out. He says, “I am not an elohim. I am a human being made of dust. I am a servant, not the Master. I do not need to understand the hidden, complex mechanics of how Yahweh governs the unseen spiritual realm. I do not need to stay awake at night frantically worrying about the turning of the cosmic gears, or trying to decipher every single hidden mystery of the universe.” True wisdom lies in knowing your limitations within God's created order. It is the peace of acknowledging that you do not have to be omniscient, because you serve a King who is. David abdicates the burden of trying to run the cosmos, choosing instead to manage the small, specific territory of his own obedience. The second segment is:The Sanctuary of the Weaned Child Psalm One Hundred Thirty-One: verse two. Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother's milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me. Having cleared away the noisy, exhausting clutter of pride and cosmic anxiety, the psalmist introduces one of the most beautiful, tender, and emotionally resonant metaphors in all of Holy Scripture. “Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother's milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.” Notice the active verbs used here: “I have calmed and quieted myself.” This tells us that a peaceful soul is not something that happens to us automatically or accidentally. It requires aggressive, intentional self-discipline. The natural human heart is a raging storm of desires, appetites, and demands. Left to itself, your soul will scream for attention, throwing continuous tantrums for more control, more validation, and more security. To calm and quiet the soul means you have to actively take the reins of your inner life, speaking the authoritative words of the Creator over your own internal chaos: “Peace, be still.” To illustrate this quietness, David invites us to look at a mother and her child. But pay close attention to the specific stage of development he highlights: it is a weaned child. In the ancient Near East, a child was typically not weaned until they were three, or even four, years old. An unweaned, nursing infant operates on a purely transactional, high-stress relationship with its mother. When that tiny baby is hungry, it doesn't care about the mother's comfort, the time of night, or the surrounding environment. It experiences a physical craving, and it screams. It scratches, it claws, and it treats the mother not as a person to be loved, but as a utility to be consumed. The moment it gets what it wants, it falls asleep; the moment the milk is delayed, the frantic, red-faced panic returns. This is a profound, accurate description of how many of us naturally relate to the Creator. We live as spiritual infants, completely unweaned from the world. Our relationship with Yahweh is entirely transactional. We approach His throne room only when we want something, when we are desperate for a blessing, hungry for a breakthrough, or terrified of a crisis. We scratch and claw at His hand, demanding that He fulfill our immediate desires according to our precise timeline. And if the answer is delayed, or if the blessing is withheld, we immediately throw a spiritual tantrum, accusing God of abandoning us, and allowing our hearts to spin into a frenzy of anxiety. But look at the weaned child. This older child has gone through the painful, difficult process of having the immediate gratification of the milk removed. They have survived the transition. And now, they come to...

Welcome to Day 2868 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2868 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 130:1-8 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2868 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2868 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The Title for Today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Song of Ascent – Out of the Depths of the Cosmic Abyss In our previous episode on this grand pilgrimage, we traveled along the rugged trails of the tenth Song of Ascent, Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Nine. We confronted the gritty, painful reality of the survivor. We looked at the deep, bloody furrows plowed across the back of the covenant community by the wicked—the earthly agents of the rebel spiritual principalities. Yet, we celebrated the triumphant, sharp justice of Yahweh, who stepped onto the field and sliced the harnesses of oppression in half. We saw that while the haters of Zion look elevated, they are ultimately nothing more than shallow roof-grass, destined to wither into worthlessness under the heat of divine judgment. Today, we take our next deliberate, introspective steps up the mountain pass toward Jerusalem. We are exploring the eleventh song in this ancient collection: Psalm One Hundred Thirty, verses one through eight, in the New Living Translation. Historically, this deeply moving psalm has been known in the Christian tradition by its opening Latin words, De Profundis, which translate to, "Out of the Depths." The psalmist shifts our focus from the external persecution of worldly enemies, to the internal, suffocating weight of personal and corporate guilt. We are moving from the battlefield of physical survival, into the profound spiritual depths of the human soul, learning how to cry out for mercy when we are drowning in our own brokenness. Let us step onto the trail, and listen to the desperate cry for redemption. The first segment is: Crying from the Chaotic Waters of Despair Psalm One Hundred Thirty: verses one and two. Out of the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help. Hear my cry, O Lord. Listen to my prayer. The song opens not with a shout of triumph, but with a muffled, echoing cry from the dark. "Out of the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help. Hear my cry, O Lord. Listen to my prayer." To truly comprehend the terrifying weight of this opening, we must view the imagery through the lens of the Ancient Israelite worldview. The Hebrew word for "depths" is ma'amaqim. In the ancient Near East, the deep, dark, and churning waters of the ocean were not viewed merely as a geographic feature; they represented primeval chaos, the cosmic abyss, and the terrifying domain of death. The sea was the playground of Leviathan, and the watery throat of Sheol—the underworld. To be in "the depths" meant you were drowning, completely overwhelmed by cosmic forces, suffocating in total darkness, and entirely cut off from the land of the living. But what has dragged the psalmist down into this spiritual abyss? It is not the armies of Babylon this time; it is the realization of his own sin. The depths of despair represent the suffocating environment of guilt. When you recognize how far you have fallen from the cosmic blueprint of the Creator, the psychological weight can feel like a multi-ton tidal wave, pinning you to the ocean floor. Yet, look at the direction of his cry. Even from the bottom of the chaotic abyss, wrapped in the dark currents of his own failure, the pilgrim directs his voice straight upward. He calls out to the Name of Yahweh. He begs, "Hear my cry, O Lord. Listen to my prayer." This is an act of fierce, desperate faith. The rebel spiritual forces—the corrupt elohim of the Divine Council—want the guilty soul to believe that it is permanently abandoned, that the abyss has claimed them forever. But the psalmist refuses to listen to the blackmail of the enemy. He knows that the voice of the Creator can penetrate the deepest, darkest waters of the cosmic void. When you are drowning in your own brokenness, you must use your final breath to send an SOS straight to the heavenly throne room. The second segment is: The Celestial Ledger and the Scandal of Grace Psalm One Hundred Thirty: verses three and four. Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you. Standing before the cosmic courtroom of heaven, the psalmist poses a chilling, rhetorical question that seals the fate of all humanity. "Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive?" In the ancient Near Eastern worldview, it was believed that the gods kept rigorous, celestial ledgers. The rebel principalities kept meticulous books, recording every infraction, every mistake, and every failure of mankind, utilizing those records to extort, torture, and condemn human beings. They demanded absolute, flawless perfection, but provided absolutely no grace. If Yahweh operated on the same system, the cosmic trial would be over before it even started. The Hebrew word for "survive" here means to stand. If God brought out the unedited ledger of our hidden thoughts, our compromised motives, and our outright rebellions, every single human being, every angel, and every member of the council would instantly collapse under the weight of perfect justice. No one could stand. But then, the psalmist introduces a staggering, paradigm-shifting truth that completely shatters the cosmic legal system of the enemy. Verse four declares, "But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you." This is a beautiful, supernatural paradox. In our human way of thinking, we assume that if a judge lets a criminal off the hook, the criminal will lose all respect for the law. We think that punishment produces fear, and forgiveness produces carelessness. But in the economy of the Most High God, the exact opposite is true. The rebel gods of the pagan nations used fear and guilt to manipulate their followers into slavery. They never offered true, total forgiveness; they only offered temporary, expensive truces. But Yahweh performs a miracle of grace. He skims off the record of our sins, completely erasing the ledger through His covenant love. When a human being, drowning at the bottom of the abyss, experiences the overwhelming, unmerited release of divine forgiveness, it triggers a profound, holy shockwave in their soul. They don't become careless; they become utterly captivated. They develop a deep, trembling, and reverential awe—the true "fear of the Lord." They realize they are dealing with a King who is too good, too powerful, and too merciful to ever be trifled with. Forgiveness doesn't produce license; it produces absolute, unswerving loyalty to the true Sovereign of the cosmos. The third segment is: The Hyper-Vigilant Vigil for the Sun of Righteousness Psalm One Hundred Thirty: verses five and six. I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn. Having received the assurance of forgiveness, the psalmist transitions into a posture of patient, yet hyper-vigilant, waiting. "I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word." The Hebrew word for "counting on," or "waiting," is qavah, which carries the visceral idea of twisting cords together to make a strong rope. It implies an active, muscular tension. The pilgrim is not waiting passively, like a person sitting bored in a doctor's office. He is binding his soul tightly to the promises of God, bracing himself for the long watch. He has anchored his hope exclusively to the "word"—the cosmic decrees and covenant oaths of Yahweh. He illustrates the intensity of this waiting with a beautiful, hauntingly repetitive military metaphor in verse six. "I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn." To understand this, we must remember our previous treks through the Songs of Ascents, specifically Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Seven, where we learned about the vital role of the watchman guarding the city walls. Imagine a sentry stationed on the high stone battlements of Jerusalem during the ancient night watch. The darkness around him is heavy, absolute, and infested with hidden dangers. The enemy principalities and their human proxies do their most destructive work...

I have already raised the central concern that we should have concerning AI, which is the problem that I have identified as AI-dolatry. AI excels at role-playing and has no scruples about role-playing as the Most High God...When professional worriers express their concerns about the impact of AI, it is often the economic side of things that comes to the fore. As mentioned above, I don't think that is the main thing, but it is a thing, and so we should address it.For more from Doug, subscribe to Canon+: https://canonplus.com/  

Welcome to Day 2863 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2863 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 127:1-5 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2863 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2863 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Song of Ascent – The Architect, the Watchman, and the Warrior In our previous episode on this grand expedition, we climbed through the seventh Song of Ascent, Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Six. We stood in the tension of the “already, but not yet,” remembering the unbelievable, dream-like rescue of God's people from exile, while desperately praying for a fresh outpouring of His grace. We learned the profound, agricultural lesson of the sower. We discovered that in the contested territory of this fallen world, we often have to plant our seeds in tears, exhausted by the spiritual warfare around us. Yet, we anchored our souls to the unbreakable, cosmic guarantee that those who weep as they plant will eventually return singing, carrying a massive, joyful harvest. Today, we take our next deliberate steps upward on this ancient pilgrim trail. We are exploring the eighth song in this magnificent collection. We are turning our attention to Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Seven, verses one through five, in the New Living Translation. Interestingly, this specific psalm is attributed to King Solomon. Solomon was the ultimate builder of the ancient world; he built the glorious Temple, fortified cities, and amassed unprecedented wealth. Yet, in this psalm, he pauses to deliver a sobering warning about the futility of human ambition. He teaches us that building a physical empire, or a lasting family legacy, is entirely useless if the Architect of the cosmos is not the one holding the blueprints. Let us step onto the trail, and learn how to build a legacy that actually lasts. The first segment is: The Futility of Autonomous Ambition Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Seven: verses one and two. Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones. This magnificent stanza opens with a definitive, double-sided declaration of human limitation. “Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.” To truly grasp the weight of these words, we must view them through the lens of the Ancient Israelite worldview, specifically regarding the Divine Council and the cosmic rebellion. When human beings attempt to build a house, a dynasty, or a fortified city without the authorization and the active presence of Yahweh, they are essentially repeating the catastrophic sin of the Tower of Babel. At Babel, humanity sought to build a localized empire, a massive tower to reach the heavens, in order to make a great name for themselves, completely autonomous from the Creator. That act of autonomous ambition resulted in God disinheriting the nations, confusing their languages, and placing them under the jurisdiction of lesser, rebel spiritual principalities, the fallen elohim. Therefore, any city, or any human institution, built outside the cosmic order of God, is inherently vulnerable. It belongs to the chaotic, unstable realm of the rebel gods. You can hire the greatest architects, lay the thickest foundation stones, and post the most highly trained sentries on the walls, but if the Most High God is not the active Protector of that territory, the entire enterprise is spiritually bankrupt. It is destined to collapse into the dust. This reality brings us to the deeply psychological, and practical, observation in verse two. “It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.” The rebel gods of the surrounding pagan cultures demanded endless, anxious labor from their followers. The deities of Canaan, Egypt, and Babylon were viewed as cruel taskmasters, requiring constant sacrifices and frantic appeasement just to ensure the rains would fall, and the crops would grow. The kingdom of darkness thrives on human anxiety. It wants you waking up before dawn, terrified of failure, and going to bed late, exhausted and consumed by the stress of basic survival. But Solomon, the wisest king of Israel, calls this frantic, autonomous striving “useless.” It is vanity. It is chasing the wind. He draws a sharp, beautiful contrast between the oppressive systems of the world, and the loving economy of Yahweh. “For God gives rest to his loved ones.” Other translations say, “He provides for His beloved even in his sleep.” The God of the Bible is not a cruel taskmaster. He is the loving Father who provides Shalom—complete, restful wholeness. This does not mean that believers are called to be lazy. We are called to be diligent, responsible stewards of creation. But the motivation changes entirely. We do not work out of a suffocating, paralyzing fear of starvation, or a desperate need to build our own autonomous empires. We work from a place of profound rest, knowing that the Sovereign Lord is the ultimate Provider, and that He is intimately guarding the house we are building. The second segment is: The Divine Gift and the Rejection of the Fertility Cults Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Seven: verse three. Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Suddenly, the psalm pivots. Solomon shifts the metaphor from building a physical house out of stones and cedar, to building a household, a dynasty, made out of human lives. He declares, “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” In our modern culture, we might read this simply as a sweet, sentimental statement about the joy of parenting. But in the ancient Near East, this was a massive, aggressive theological claim. It was an act of profound spiritual warfare. The nations surrounding Israel were deeply entrenched in fertility cults. They worshiped gods like Baal and Asherah, believing that these localized, rebel deities controlled the womb, the rain, and the harvest. When a couple wanted to conceive a child, they would participate in the corrupt, often deeply immoral, rituals of the pagan temples, frantically trying to manipulate the gods into granting them fertility. By stating that “Children are a gift from the Lord,” the psalmist is explicitly stripping all power and authority away from the false gods of Canaan. He is reminding the pilgrims that Baal has absolutely no jurisdiction over human life. The womb is not controlled by the chaotic forces of nature; it is the exclusive, sovereign domain of Yahweh. Every single child is a direct, intentional inheritance, and a precious reward, handed down by the Creator of the universe. To build a family legacy, you do not turn to the frantic, anxious practices of the world; you look upward, to the Giver of all good things. The third segment is: The Warrior's Quiver and the Expansion of the Kingdom Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Seven: verses four and five. Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior's hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates. Having established the divine origin of the family, Solomon introduces one of the most striking, martial metaphors in the entire Psalter. “Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior's hands.” Why does he compare children to weapons of war? Because, in the biblical worldview, raising a family is not a neutral, passive activity. It is an act of strategic, generational combat. The world is contested territory, deeply infected by the lies, the injustice, and the chaotic rebellion of the dark spiritual principalities. When you raise children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, you are intentionally shaping imagers of God, preparing them to push back against the darkness. Consider the nature of an arrow. An arrow is not meant to be kept safely inside the quiver forever. A warrior carefully shapes the shaft, balances the weight, sharpens the arrowhead, and attaches the fletching. All of this meticulous, grueling preparation is done for one specific purpose: to launch the arrow outward, into enemy...

We walk through Daniel 3 and watch Nebuchadnezzar move from “Who is the god who can deliver you?” to blessing the Most High God. We wrestle with where we run when pressure hits and why real faith stays steady even when the outcome is unknown. • Nebuchadnezzar's gold statue as a picture of self-worship • The shift from lowercase g gods to the one true God • A personal gut-check on where we seek deliverance • Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's resolved refusal to bow • Faith as assurance plus conviction even if God says no • The furnace heated sevenfold and the cost of obedience • The fourth man in the fire and Jesus as the door • Why they have to be told to come out • The fire burning only the restraints  If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

Worship with us 9 + 11 AM 390 N 400 E Bountiful, UT 84010. For more information or to get connected, please visit: www.flourishinggrace.org/plan-your-visit What was Jesus' vision for His church and why does biblical community matter so much? In this powerful message from Ephesians 4, we continue the Why Church series by exploring one of the most important and challenging callings for followers of Jesus. Unity in the body of Christ. In a world shaped by division, isolation, and individualism, this sermon reminds us that Jesus did not design His people to follow Him alone. He calls us into deep spiritual community centered on Him. This teaching begins with a profound question. Is the version of Christianity we are living closer to Jesus' vision for His church or closer to a private and isolated faith shaped by culture? Drawing from Jesus' prayer in John 17 and Paul's words in Ephesians 4, this sermon reveals that God's desire is not simply individual spirituality but a people united together in Christ. Throughout this message, we see that unity is not something we create through personality, preferences, or agreement on every issue. True biblical unity is rooted in Jesus Himself. There is one body, one Spirit, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father over all. This changes how we see one another and how we live together as the church. This sermon also addresses the tension many believers feel when they hear about unity. It can seem impossible. People are different. Relationships are difficult. Pride, fear, selfishness, and hurt often stand in the way. Yet Paul reminds us that the Christian life is impossible apart from the power of God. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead is at work in His people, making possible what feels impossible to us. As the message unfolds, we are challenged to examine our posture toward others. Are we living with humility, gentleness, patience, and love? Are we eager to maintain unity or are we allowing culture to shape the way we relate to people? This teaching honestly confronts the reality that many Christians have unknowingly embraced an individualistic faith that stands in contrast to the vision Jesus prayed for. One of the central themes of this sermon is that the church is not meant to be a performance or a weekly event. It is a people being formed together into the likeness of Christ. God uses community, prayer, worship, communion, Scripture, and shared burdens to shape His people. Spiritual growth was never intended to happen in isolation. This message also provides practical encouragement for how believers can move toward deeper community. Read Scripture together. Pray with others. Invite people into your life. Move toward relationships instead of withdrawing from them. As believers gather together around Jesus, the church becomes a powerful witness to the world of God's love, grace, and reconciliation. You will also hear powerful reminders about identity in Christ. Followers of Jesus are chosen, redeemed, forgiven, adopted, and filled with grace. Before any role, career, title, or achievement, believers are sons and daughters of the Most High God. This truth reshapes how we live, work, love, and serve. If you have ever felt disconnected, isolated, frustrated with church, or unsure of where you belong, this sermon will encourage you to rediscover God's design for His people. Jesus is not building isolated individuals. He is building a united family that reflects His love to the world. Join us as we continue the Why Church series and discover the beauty, challenge, and hope of unity in the body of Christ.

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

Welcome to Day 2858 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2858 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 124:1-8– Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2858 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2858 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The Title for Today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Song of Ascent – Surviving the Raging Waters of Chaos In our previous episode on this grand expedition, we explored the fourth Song of Ascent, Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Three. We stood safely within the seamless walls of Jerusalem, yet we realized that our souls were still carrying the heavy, agonizing scars of the wilderness. We felt the crushing, suffocating weight of cultural contempt. In response, we adopted the posture of a hyper-vigilant servant. We chose to lift our eyes above the earthly mockery of the arrogant, and we fixed our gaze firmly upon the hand of the Master, waiting desperately for His unmerited, vindicating mercy. Today, we are exploring the fifth song in this ancient pilgrim collection. We are turning our attention to Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Four, verses one through eight, in the New Living Translation. The psalmist shifts our perspective dramatically. Instead of looking upward in exhaustion, he demands that we look backward, and stare directly into the terrifying abyss of what could have been. He forces the congregation to confront a chilling, hypothetical question, imagining a reality where the Creator had ignored their upward gaze. Let us step back onto the trail, and examine the raging waters from which we have been saved. The first segment is: The Horrifying Hypothetical and the Maw of the Underworld Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Four: verses one through three What if the Lord had not been on our side? Let all Israel repeat: What if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us? They would have swallowed us alive in their burning anger. The stanza opens with a dark, shuddering question: "What if the Lord had not been on our side?" The psalmist is not asking this lightly; he commands the entire gathered congregation of Israel to repeat the phrase. He wants the collective community to mentally strip away the protection of Yahweh for just a moment, and truly comprehend their own agonizing vulnerability. Imagine a universe where the Most High God was neutral, apathetic, or simply absent. Imagine facing the hostility of the surrounding pagan nations without the covering of the Divine Shield. The psalmist describes the attackers not merely as human politicians, or enemy soldiers, but as forces of cosmic destruction. He says, "They would have swallowed us alive in their burning anger." To fully grasp the terror of this imagery, we must understand the Ancient Near Eastern, and biblical, worldview. The language of being "swallowed alive" is heavily rooted in the mythology of the Canaanite god of death, Mot. In the ancient world, death was not just an inevitable biological event; death was a predatory, insatiable entity. The underworld, Sheol, was often depicted as a monstrous beast with a gaping maw, a throat that stretched from the dirt all the way up to the heavens, eager to swallow humanity whole. When the psalmist says the attacking armies would have swallowed them alive, he is revealing the spiritual reality behind the human conflict. The nations attacking Israel are the earthly proxies of the rebel elohim—the fallen spiritual principalities of the Divine Council. The ultimate goal of the kingdom of darkness is not just to win a military skirmish; it is to consume, devour, and entirely erase the imagers of God from the face of the earth. Without the intervention of Yahweh, the burning, demonic anger of the rebel gods would have dragged the entire covenant community down into the belly of the grave. The second segment is: The Torrent of Cosmic Chaos Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Four: verses four and five The waters would have engulfed us; a torrent would have overwhelmed us. Yes, the raging waters of their fury would have overwhelmed our very lives. The terrifying metaphors continue to escalate. The psalmist shifts from the gaping jaws of the underworld, to the devastating, unstoppable force of a flash flood. "The waters would have engulfed us; a torrent would have overwhelmed us." In the arid, rocky landscape of the Middle East, a sudden rainstorm in the distant mountains can create a deadly, roaring wall of water that completely floods a dry riverbed, or wadi, in a matter of minutes. Anyone caught in its path is violently swept away. But once again, the physical imagery points directly to a massive, cosmic reality. In the biblical worldview, stretching all the way back to Genesis Chapter One, the raging, untamed waters represent primordial chaos. The sea—known as Yamm in the ancient Ugaritic texts—was viewed as a hostile, chaotic deity, a dark, churning realm that constantly threatened to undo the beautiful, organized creation of Yahweh. The rebel spiritual forces use the chaotic waters as their primary weapon against the order of God. When the psalmist says, "the raging waters of their fury would have overwhelmed our very lives," he is describing a spiritual tsunami. Have you ever felt that sensation in your own life? Have you ever felt the toxic culture, the deceptive lies, and the sheer hostility of the world rising up like a dark flood, threatening to sweep you off your feet, and pull you under? That is the exact experience of the exile. The enemy does not just want to defeat you; they want to drown you in despair. They want to engulf your soul in chaos, until you can no longer breathe. And the chilling truth that the psalmist wants us to acknowledge is this: on our own, we are no match for the flood. Human willpower cannot hold back the raging waters of cosmic fury. If the Lord had not been standing as a breakwater on our behalf, the torrent would have absolutely overwhelmed our very lives. The third segment is: Escaping the Teeth of the Beast and the Fowler's Snare Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Four: verses six and seven Praise the Lord, who did not let their teeth tear us apart! We escaped like a bird from a hunter's snare. The snare is broken, and we are free! Suddenly, the dark, suffocating tension of the hypothetical question breaks, and the psalm explodes into a brilliant, breathless shout of triumphant gratitude. "Praise the Lord, who did not let their teeth tear us apart!" The psalmist looks back at the jaws of the predator, and he realizes that the mouth of the beast was forcibly slammed shut. Just as God famously shut the mouths of the lions for Daniel in the pit, Yahweh intervened for His people. The rebel gods bared their fangs, the chaotic nations moved in for the kill, but the Creator simply said, "No." He would not permit His beloved exiles to be torn to pieces. He then uses an incredibly delicate, beautiful metaphor to describe our deliverance. "We escaped like a bird from a hunter's snare. The snare is broken, and we are free!" Imagine a small, fragile bird, desperately fluttering its wings, caught tightly in a hidden net laid by a cruel fowler. The bird has absolutely no strength to break the thick ropes of the snare. It is completely helpless, exhausted, and awaiting its execution. This perfectly describes our condition when we are trapped by the deceptive, arrogant schemes of the wicked. But then, the massive, capable hands of the Divine Warrior reach down. God does not just untangle the bird; He violently snaps the trap in half. "The snare is broken!" This is the ultimate, cosmic rescue mission. The rebel spirits set their intricate traps of idolatry, fear, and cultural compromise, hoping to permanently bind the believers. But Yahweh shatters their mechanisms of control. And the result of that divine intervention is absolute, soaring liberty. "...and we are free!" In the biblical sense, freedom is not the ability to do whatever your sinful flesh desires. True freedom is the glorious release from the suffocating, chaotic traps of the enemy, allowing you to fly upward, and live joyfully within the safe, ordered boundaries of God's cosmic blueprint. You have been liberated from the snare of death, so that you can sing in the branches of the Tree of Life. The fourth segment is: The Cosmic Anchor of the Creator Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Four: verse...

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

You want to feel God's presence every day. Not just on Sunday when the worship is good and the message hits. You want to experience His power and peace in the middle of the hard Wednesday. In the middle of the crisis. In the middle of the ordinary overwhelming mess of daily life. And if you are honest, you have never said that out loud. But it is the truest thing you have felt in a long time. This episode is for you. This is the Word of God taught straight for the Christian woman who is done with the world's ways and ready to walk in the power and presence of God every single day. Inside this episode I am sharing: The real reason you feel God on Sunday but cannot find Him by Monday — and what the Bible says about that gap. What Ecclesiastes teaches us about the God-shaped void that hustle, self-help, and worldly wisdom can never fill. Why so many Christian women are living far below the anointing and authority God has already given them. T he truth about manifestation culture, prosperity preaching, and name it and claim it — and why Romans 1:25 calls us back to the real thing. What Luke 10:19, Romans 8:11, 1 John 2:27, and Acts 1:8 say about the power and authority already living inside you as a daughter of the Most High God. A personal story of standing on the Word of God in the middle of something hard — and the exact declarations I spoke over my situation.  This is not another self help system with Jesus sprinkled in. This is identity. Life in Christ. With the Word as your sword your shield and your strength. SCRIPTURES IN THIS EPISODE: Matthew 9:24 — She is not dead she is only sleeping Ecclesiastes 1 — Vanity and the God shaped void John 15:5 — Apart from me you can do nothing Luke 10:19 — I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy Ephesians 2:6 — Seated with Christ in heavenly realms Romans 8:37 — More than conquerors James 4:7 — Resist the devil and he will flee 2 Timothy 1:7 — Spirit of power love and a sound mind 1 John 2:27 — The anointing abides in you 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 — God anointed you and set his seal on you Romans 8:11 — Resurrection power living inside you Acts 1:8 — Dunamis power of the Holy Spirit 1 Peter 2:9 — Chosen royal priesthood holy nation Joel 2:28 — Your daughters will prophesy Romans 1:25 — Exchanging truth for a lie Isaiah 30:15 — In returning and rest is your strength Zechariah 4:6 — Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit Galatians 5:16 — Walk by the Spirit 2 Corinthians 6:17 — Come out and be separate Proverbs 3:5-6 — Trust in the Lord with all your heart Matthew 11:28-30 — Come to me all who are weary ARE YOU READY TO WALK IN HIS PRESENCE EVERY DAY? My brand new Living God's Way 4-Week Live Mentorship is open now with only 6 spots remaining. This is not a Bible study. Not a devotional. Not a self-help program with Jesus sprinkled in. This is 4 weeks of us walking together through a simple biblical framework — the 3S Path — so that feeling His presence every day becomes your new normal. Not just on Sunday. Only 6 spots left. Starts May 20th. Save your spot here: https://kimdolanleto.com/living-gods-way If this episode spoke to your heart today please share it with a friend who needs that same Christian lifestyle encouragement. You can also help me reach more women by leaving a five star review on Apple or Spotify. Every review helps someone else find hope healing and strength in Jesus. Remember — you are called chosen and set apart. And you were made to live God's way. With so much love, Kim Dolan Leto   LISTEN OR WATCH LIVING GOD'S WAY: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strong-confident-his-christian-fitness-health-and/id1504962677 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ymer79UOqIbItrwPJErxC  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/kimdolanletofit All Episodes: https://kimdolanleto.com/podcast CONNECT WITH ME: Newsletter: https://kimdolanleto.com/get-on-the-list Website: https://kimdolanleto.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/kimdolanleto Facebook: https://facebook.com/kimdolanleto YouTube: https://youtube.com/kimdolanletofit

Welcome to Day 2849 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2849 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 119:169-176 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2850 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2850 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The Title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Taw of the Summit – The Shepherd's Final Seal In our previous episode on this grand expedition, we hiked through the twenty-first stanza of Psalm One Hundred Nineteen, known as the "Shin" section. We stood our ground on a treacherous battlefield, facing the intense pressure of powerful earthly princes. We recognized that these human rulers were merely proxies, acting as the avatars for the rebel gods of the Divine Council. Yet, instead of surrendering to their terrifying threats, we chose to tremble exclusively before the Word of the Most High God. We discovered that when our hearts are captivated by the treasure of the cosmic blueprint, we are granted a profound, indestructible Shalom—a great peace that prevents us from stumbling, regardless of the chaos surrounding us. Today, my friends, we have reached the summit. After a long, arduous, and breathtaking climb, we are taking our final steps to the absolute peak of this magnificent, alphabetical mountain. We are exploring the twenty-second, and final, stanza. This is the "Taw" section, covering Psalm One Hundred Nineteen, verses one hundred sixty-nine through one hundred seventy-six, in the New Living Translation. In the ancient Hebrew alphabet, the letter "Taw," or "Tav," is the very last letter. In the oldest pictographic scripts, it was drawn as a cross, or a definitive mark. It represents a seal, a covenant signature, a monument, and the absolute culmination of a journey. As we stand at the summit of this colossal psalm, the writer does not offer us a boastful speech of human triumph. Instead, he places a final, humble mark upon his life, surrendering himself entirely to the rescue of the Divine Shepherd. Let us take these final steps together, and learn what it means to bear the seal of the King. The first segment is: The Culminating Cry in the Cosmic Throne Room Psalm One Hundred Nineteen: verses one hundred sixty-nine and one hundred seventy. O Lord, listen to my cry; give me the discerning mind you promised. Listen to my prayer; rescue me as you promised. The final stanza begins with an urgent, pressing petition. The psalmist stands at the very threshold of the heavenly throne room, and he lifts his voice: "O Lord, listen to my cry; give me the discerning mind you promised." The literal Hebrew translation paints a vivid picture of proximity. It says, "Let my cry come before Your face, O Yahweh." After traversing the valleys of affliction, surviving the traps of the wicked, and enduring the suffocating darkness of the night watches, the psalmist is finally presenting his accumulated grief directly to the Sovereign of the Divine Council. He is not shouting into the void; he is placing his petition right in front of the face of the Creator. And what does he ask for in this ultimate audience? He does not ask for vengeance against the princes who harassed him. He asks for a "discerning mind." He knows that the spiritual warfare of this world is fought, and won, on the battlefield of the intellect. The rebel principalities thrive on human ignorance, confusion, and deception. To survive their relentless campaigns, the believer desperately needs the supernatural discernment that only the King can provide. He immediately pairs this request for internal understanding with a plea for external deliverance. "Listen to my prayer; rescue me as you promised." Once again, the literal text says, "Let my supplication come before Your presence." He is piling his prayers upon the altar. Notice that both of these requests—the plea for a discerning mind, and the cry for rescue—are anchored directly to the covenant. He repeats the phrase, "as you promised." He is holding God to His own cosmic contract. He is reminding the Creator that He has given His word to protect, and to guide, the loyal members of His earthly family. The second segment is: The Eruption of the Living Fountain Psalm One Hundred Nineteen: verses one hundred seventy-one and one hundred seventy-two. Let praise flow from my lips, for you have taught me your decrees. Let my tongue sing about your word, for all your commands are right. As the psalmist stands in the presence of Yahweh, anticipating the fulfillment of those promises, something beautiful happens. His desperation transforms into an uncontrollable eruption of worship. "Let praise flow from my lips, for you have taught me your decrees." The Hebrew word for "flow" is naba, which means to bubble up, to gush forth, or to pour out like a geyser. This is not a manufactured, rigid, or forced religious exercise. When you truly understand that the Maker of the universe has personally stooped down to teach you His cosmic decrees, praise becomes the natural, unavoidable byproduct. It bubbles up from the deepest reservoirs of the soul. The heavy, stagnant waters of exile are suddenly flushed out by a rushing, living spring of gratitude. This bubbling spring quickly becomes a resounding, melodic anthem. "Let my tongue sing about your word, for all your commands are right." In the biblical worldview, singing is not merely an emotional release; it is an act of spiritual warfare, and theological declaration. The pagan nations sang songs to glorify the chaotic, bloodthirsty exploits of their rebel gods. They sang of power, domination, and selfish indulgence. But the faithful exile sings a completely different tune. He sings about the inherent, flawless righteousness of God's instructions. He declares that "all your commands are right," or perfectly just. By singing the truth into the atmosphere, he is actively pushing back the darkness. He is using his voice to reclaim the contested territory of the earth, announcing to the unseen realm that the laws of Yahweh are supreme, beautiful, and worthy of total adoration. The Third segment is: The Open Hand and the Deliberate Choice Psalm One Hundred Nineteen: verses one hundred seventy-three and one hundred seventy-four. Stand ready to help me, for I have chosen to follow your commandments. O Lord, I have longed for your rescue, and your instructions are my delight. Having poured out his praise, the psalmist turns back to the practical, daily reality of his survival. "Stand ready to help me, for I have chosen to follow your commandments." Literally, the text asks, "Let Your hand become my help." We saw earlier in this grand psalm how the psalmist recognized that he was carefully fashioned by the hands of God. Now, he asks those same, powerful, creative hands to remain open, and ready to intervene on his behalf. He justifies this bold request with a profound statement of human agency. "For I have chosen to follow your commandments." In the cosmic rebellion, neutrality is a myth. Every human being must make a definitive choice. The rebel spiritual forces constantly tempt humanity to choose the path of autonomy, offering the illusion of freedom in exchange for spiritual slavery. But the psalmist has exercised his free will, and he has deliberately, consciously selected the precepts of the Creator. He has drawn a line in the sand, and he is asking God to defend the territory he has chosen. He emphasizes this loyalty in verse one hundred seventy-four. "O Lord, I have longed for your rescue, and your instructions are my delight." The Hebrew word for rescue here is Yeshua, meaning salvation, deliverance, and ultimate victory. He is homesick for the consummation of God's kingdom. He longs for the day when the Divine Council will finally execute justice, completely overthrowing the rebel principalities, and restoring the earth to its Edenic perfection. But as he waits for that final Yeshua, he does not sit in idle misery. He finds his present, sustaining delight in the instructions of the King. The cosmic blueprint is the joyful map that keeps him moving forward, even while he longs for his final home. The fourth segment is: The Lost Sheep and the Enduring Mark Psalm One Hundred Nineteen: verses one hundred seventy-five and one hundred seventy-six Let me live so

Welcome to Day 2845 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2845 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 119:145-152 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2845 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2845 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The Title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Qoph of Calling – The Nearness of the King in the Dark Watch In our previous episode on this grand expedition, we climbed through the eighteenth stanza of Psalm One Hundred Nineteen, the “Tsadhe” section. We found a massive, unyielding anchor for our souls in the absolute, unbending justice of the Creator. We learned that when the pressure and stress of this hostile world bear down upon us like a vice grip, we do not have to panic. Instead, we can retreat into the thoroughly tested, perfectly refined promises of Yahweh, finding a supernatural, defiant joy in His eternal righteousness. Today, we take a deep breath, adjust our packs, and continue our ascent into the nineteenth stanza of this magnificent, alphabetical mountain. We are exploring the “Qoph” section, covering Psalm One Hundred Nineteen, verses one hundred forty-five through one hundred fifty-two, in the New Living Translation. In the ancient Hebrew alphabet, the letter “Qoph” was often depicted as the back of a head, or the eye of a needle. It carries the imagery of calling out, of drawing near, and of things coming full circle. This stanza is intensely atmospheric. The psalmist takes us into the darkest, most vulnerable hours of the night. He is surrounded by the approaching footsteps of his enemies. He is exhausted, and he is crying out with every ounce of strength he has left. But in the midst of this terrifying darkness, he makes a breathtaking discovery about the proximity of God. Let us step onto the trail, and learn how to call out to the King when the shadows close in. The first segment is: The Wholehearted Cry for Rescue Psalm One Hundred Nineteen: verses one hundred forty-five and one hundred forty-six. I pray with all my heart; answer me, Lord! I will obey your decrees. I cry out to you; rescue me, that I may obey your laws. The stanza opens with an intense, raw explosion of spiritual desperation. “I pray with all my heart; answer me, Lord!” We must remember the context of the previous stanzas. The psalmist has been hunted by the arrogant, smeared with lies, and pushed to the absolute limits of his endurance. When you reach this level of exhaustion, polite, casual prayers evaporate. You do not offer God a half-hearted request. You cry out with the totality of your being. To pray “with all my heart” means that his intellect, his emotions, and his will are entirely unified, and laser-focused on the throne of Yahweh. Notice the beautiful symmetry in his bargaining. He says, “Answer me, Lord! I will obey your decrees. I cry out to you; rescue me, that I may obey your laws.” Many times, when human beings are in pain, we cry out for rescue simply because we want the pain to stop. We want relief, comfort, and an easy life. But the psalmist elevates his prayer far beyond mere self-preservation. He is asking for deliverance with a highly specific, cosmic goal in mind. He wants to be rescued, precisely so that he can continue his mission as an obedient imager of the Most High God. He is saying, “Lord, if my enemies destroy me, my voice of obedience is silenced in this world. Save my life, cut the ropes of the wicked, and deliver me from this trap, so that I can get back to the business of walking in Your cosmic blueprint. My rescue is tied directly to Your glory.” The second segment is: The Vigil of the Night Watches Psalm One Hundred Nineteen: verses one hundred forty-seven and one hundred forty-eight. I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in your words. I stay awake through the night, thinking about your promise. The psalmist details the grueling, physical reality of his spiritual vigil. He is caught in a cycle of sleepless desperation. He declares, “I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.” Literally, the Hebrew text says, “I anticipate the dawn.” Before the first rays of light crest the horizon, before the rest of the camp is awake, the psalmist is already on his knees. He beats the sun to the battlefield. He knows that if he waits until the chaotic noise of the day begins, his mind might be hijacked by fear. So, he preemptively anchors his soul, crying out for help in the predawn stillness, and forcibly attaching his hope to the solid rock of God's words. But the battle is not just in the morning; it consumes his nights as well. “I stay awake through the night, thinking about your promise.” In the ancient world, the night was divided into military watches. It was the time of greatest vulnerability. The darkness was considered the domain of chaos, the hunting ground of predators, and the operational hour of the dark, rebellious spiritual forces of the Divine Council. The wicked, who operate under the influence of these rebel gods, do their best work in the dark. The psalmist cannot sleep because the threat is so imminent. His eyes are wide open through every single watch of the night. But instead of letting his mind spin into a vortex of anxiety, he engages in active, defensive warfare. He stays awake, “thinking about your promise.” Other translations say, “meditating on your word.” He uses the quiet, terrifying hours of the darkness to chew on the eternal promises of the Creator. He weaponizes his insomnia, turning his midnight terror into a sanctuary of deep, theological reflection. The third segment is: The Plea for Hesed and the Approaching Threat Psalm One Hundred Nineteen: verses one hundred forty-nine and one hundred fifty. In your unfailing love, hear my prayer; Lord, revive me by your justice. Lawless people are coming to attack me; they live far from your instructions. As the night drags on, the psalmist makes his ultimate appeal. “In your unfailing love, hear my prayer; Lord, revive me by your justice.” Once again, we encounter the bedrock word of the Old Testament: Hesed. The psalmist does not demand a hearing based on his own perfect performance; he asks for an audience based entirely on God's loyal, covenant-keeping affection. He is exhausted, and his spirit is fainting, so he asks Yahweh to “revive” him. He needs the breath of life—chayah—to be pumped back into his collapsing lungs. And he trusts that God's justice, His unbending commitment to making things right, will act as the defibrillator for his dying hope. The urgency of this revival is suddenly made clear in verse one hundred fifty. The abstract fears of the night have materialized into a terrifying, physical reality. He whispers, “Lawless people are coming to attack me; they live far from your instructions.” Literally, the Hebrew says, “They draw near who follow after wickedness.” The footsteps are getting louder. The shadows are moving. The enemy is closing the distance. Notice how the psalmist describes these attackers. They are not just political opponents; they are “lawless people.” They have severed themselves from the Torah of God. To live “far from your instructions” is to live in the chaotic, rebellious wasteland of the fallen world. By rejecting the cosmic blueprint of the Creator, these individuals have become willing agents of the dark principalities. They are bringing the chaos of the void directly to the psalmist's doorstep. The threat is imminent, and the trap is about to spring. The fourth segment is: The Ultimate Proximity and the Eternal Foundation Psalm One Hundred Nineteen: verses one hundred fifty-one and one hundred fifty-two. But you are near, O Lord, and all your commands are true. I have known from my earliest days that your laws will last forever. In the very moment when the lawless attackers draw near, when the tension is at its absolute peak, the psalmist experiences a stunning, supernatural revelation. He looks past the approaching shadows, and he declares a massive, paradigm-shifting truth: “But you are near, O Lord, and all your commands are true.” The wicked are drawing close, but Yahweh is...

Welcome to Day 2843 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2843 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 119:137-144 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2843 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2843 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Tsadhe of Righteousness – Unbending Justice in a Crushing World In our previous episode on this grand expedition, we climbed through the seventeenth stanza of Psalm One Hundred Nineteen, the “Pe” section. We witnessed a profound, emotional outpouring. We learned what it means to open our mouths and pant for the life-giving oxygen of God's instructions. We asked the Creator to turn His radiant, smiling face toward us, establishing our footsteps so that evil would not gain dominion over our lives. And finally, we allowed our hearts to break for the brokenness of the world, shedding rivers of tears because humanity has so violently rejected the cosmic blueprint of the King. Today, we wipe the tears from our eyes, and we take our next firm, unyielding step upward. We are entering the eighteenth stanza of this magnificent, alphabetical mountain. We are exploring the “Tsadhe” section, covering Psalm One Hundred Nineteen, verses one hundred thirty-seven through one hundred forty-four, in the New Living Translation. In the ancient Hebrew alphabet, the letter “Tsadhe,” or “Tsade,” is the first letter in the Hebrew word for righteousness, which is tsedeq. It carries the imagery of a fishhook, or an anchor, pulling things back into their proper alignment. This entire stanza is a masterful, towering monument to the absolute, unbending justice of Yahweh. After weeping over the chaotic rebellion of the world, the psalmist needs to anchor his soul to something that will not move. He finds that anchor in the flawless, tested, and eternal righteousness of the Creator. Let us step onto the trail, and learn how to stand firm when the pressure of the world threatens to crush us. The first segment is: The Bedrock of Cosmic Justice Psalm One Hundred Nineteen: verses one hundred thirty-seven and one hundred thirty-eight. O Lord, you are righteous, and your regulations are fair. Your laws are perfect and completely trustworthy. The stanza opens with a foundational, cosmic declaration: “O Lord, you are righteous, and your regulations are fair.” To truly appreciate the magnitude of this statement, we must view it through the lens of the Ancient Israelite worldview. The surrounding pagan nations believed that the universe was governed by a pantheon of erratic, selfish, and deeply flawed deities. The rebel gods of the Divine Council did not operate on a standard of objective fairness; they operated on a system of bribery, appeasement, and chaotic whims. If a famine struck, or a plague broke out, the people assumed the gods were simply throwing a temper tantrum. But the biblical worldview presents a radical, stabilizing alternative. Yahweh, the Most High God, is inherently, immutably righteous. His justice is not a mood; it is the very core of His character. Because the Lawgiver is perfectly righteous, it naturally follows that “your regulations are fair.” The Hebrew word for “fair” implies straightness, or uprightness. God does not have a crooked legal system. He does not show favoritism to the wealthy, nor does He accept bribes from the powerful. The psalmist continues to build on this bedrock in verse one hundred thirty-eight: “Your laws are perfect and completely trustworthy.” Other translations render this, “You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness and in all faithfulness.” When God decreed His cosmic blueprint, He did not do it as a haphazard experiment. He appointed His laws with absolute precision, and unshakeable fidelity. In a world where human governments are constantly shifting, and where cultural morality changes like the wind, the believer possesses a massive, strategic advantage. We can anchor our lives to a set of laws that are completely trustworthy. They will never mislead us, they will never betray us, and they will never collapse under the weight of human history. The second segment is: The Consuming Fire and the Refined Word Psalm One Hundred Nineteen: verses one hundred thirty-nine and one hundred forty. I am overwhelmed with indignation, for my enemies have disregarded your words. Your promises have been thoroughly tested; that is why I love them so much. As the psalmist reflects on the perfect justice of God, his emotional state shifts dramatically. In the previous stanza, he was weeping rivers of tears. Now, those tears have evaporated into a burning, blazing zeal. “I am overwhelmed with indignation, for my enemies have disregarded your words.” The literal Hebrew translation is incredibly intense: “My zeal consumes me, because my foes forget your words.” This is not a petty, personal anger. This is righteous, holy indignation. It is the exact same consuming zeal that drove Jesus Christ to overturn the tables of the moneychangers in the temple courts. Why is he so consumed? Because his enemies have “disregarded,” or forgotten, the words of the Creator. In the biblical framework, forgetting the Word of God is an act of spiritual treason. These enemies, acting as the earthly proxies for the rebel spiritual forces, are actively ignoring the cosmic boundary lines. They are treating the perfect, trustworthy laws of the King as if they are entirely irrelevant. To a heart that fiercely loves the Creator, watching the world vandalize His beautiful design triggers a profound, protective fury. But how does he channel this consuming zeal? He does not lash out in violence. He turns his intense focus directly back to the purity of the Scriptures. “Your promises have been thoroughly tested; that is why I love them so much.” The imagery here is drawn directly from the ancient metallurgical process of smelting. The Hebrew text literally says, “Your word is exceedingly refined.” Just as raw silver or gold is placed into a blistering hot furnace to burn away all the dross, the impurities, and the slag, the Word of God has been subjected to the ultimate heat. It has been tested by centuries of human rebellion, tested by the fires of cultural opposition, and tested by the mocking laughter of the rebel gods. And after all that testing, what is the result? The Word emerges from the furnace absolutely pure. There are no flaws, no contradictions, and no empty promises. It is solid, refined,, and infinitely valuable. The psalmist looks at the pristine beauty of this tested truth, and his heart overflows: “...that is why I love them so much.” His righteous anger toward the world is perfectly balanced by his blazing romance with the Word. The third segment is: Insignificance in the Shadows of Eternity Psalm One Hundred Nineteen: verses one hundred forty-one and one hundred forty-two. I am insignificant and despised, but I don't forget your commandments. Your justice is eternal, and your instructions are perfectly true. Having declared his love for the refined Word, the psalmist makes a stark, vulnerable confession about his social standing. “I am insignificant and despised, but I don't forget your commandments.” In an honor and shame culture, this is a painful reality to admit. The Hebrew word for “insignificant” means small, young, or of little account. The word for “despised” means held in contempt, or considered worthless. The world looks at this believer, clinging to his invisible God, and it laughs. The wealthy, powerful elite—the people who compromise with the pagan systems—view him as a pathetic, naive fool. He has no political leverage, no massive army, and no impressive social status. Yet, despite being pushed to the absolute margins of society, he refuses to surrender his spiritual memory. “...but I don't forget your commandments.” While his enemies actively disregard the truth, he stubbornly retains it. He knows that true significance is not determined by the applause of a corrupt culture; true significance is determined by your alignment with the Creator. He justifies his stubborn loyalty in verse one hundred forty-two: “Your justice is eternal, and your instructions are perfectly true.” This is the ultimate perspective shift. The psalmist may be small and despised in the present moment, but he belongs to a legal system that outlasts the stars. The...

Welcome to Day 2840 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2840 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 119:121-128 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2840 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2840 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Ayin of Anticipation – Eyes Straining for Cosmic Justice In our previous episode on this grand expedition, we navigated the fifteenth stanza of Psalm One Hundred Nineteen, the “Samekh” section. We witnessed the psalmist draw a hard, unyielding boundary line in the sand. He declared his absolute hatred for divided loyalties, and he begged the Creator to prop him up, acting as a sturdy pillar and a protective shield against the relentless pressure of a compromised culture. We learned what it means to tremble in the holy, bristling awe of God's justice, realizing that the Sovereign Lord will ultimately skim the wicked off the earth, just like dross is skimmed from a boiling crucible of silver. Today, we take our next courageous step forward, transitioning from the imagery of a sturdy shield, to the piercing reality of human vision. We are entering the sixteenth stanza of this magnificent, alphabetical mountain. We are exploring the “Ayin” section, covering Psalm One Hundred Nineteen, verses one hundred twenty-one through one hundred twenty-eight, in the New Living Translation. In the ancient Hebrew alphabet, the letter “Ayin” was originally depicted as an eye. It represents seeing, perceiving, understanding, and even weeping. This visual imagery is woven perfectly into the very fabric of this stanza. The psalmist is standing on the edge of his endurance. He is looking out at a world that is deeply broken, straining his eyes to see the promised rescue of Yahweh. He is begging for the spiritual vision, the discernment, to understand the cosmic blueprint, and he is watching, with righteous indignation, as the rebel forces violate the Creator's laws. Let us step onto the trail, open our eyes, and learn how to watch for the intervention of the King. The first segment is: The Plea for a Cosmic Guarantor Psalm One Hundred Nineteen: verses one hundred twenty-one and one hundred twenty-two. Don't leave me to my enemies, for I have done what is right and just. Please guarantee a blessing for me. Don't let the arrogant oppress me! The stanza opens with a bold, legally framed petition. The psalmist stands before the throne of the universe, and he submits his record for inspection: “I have done what is right and just.” This is not a boast of sinless perfection. In the Ancient Israelite worldview, doing what is “right and just” meant maintaining covenant loyalty. It meant that, despite the overwhelming pressure to adopt the idolatrous practices of the surrounding pagan nations, the psalmist had maintained his integrity. He had refused to participate in the corrupt, oppressive systems governed by the rebel gods of the Divine Council. Because he has maintained his allegiance to Yahweh, he asks for the reciprocal protection of the covenant: “Don't leave me to my enemies.” He then makes a fascinating, highly specific request: “Please guarantee a blessing for me.” The Hebrew word translated as “guarantee” is 'arab, which means to act as a surety, to pledge, or to co-sign. In the ancient commercial world, if a person owed a massive debt they could not pay, or faced a powerful opponent they could not defeat, a wealthier, stronger individual could step in as their surety. The guarantor would place their own reputation, and their own assets, on the line to protect the vulnerable person. The psalmist realizes that he is completely outmatched by his enemies. The “arrogant” individuals oppressing him are not just schoolyard bullies; they are the wealthy, powerful proxies of the dark spiritual realm. Therefore, he looks up to the Most High God, and essentially prays, “Lord, I need You to co-sign my life. I need You to step in as my cosmic Guarantor. Put the infinite weight of Your reputation between me and my oppressors, so that they cannot destroy me.” The second segment is: The Exhaustion of the Watchman Psalm One Hundred Nineteen: verse one hundred twenty-three. My eyes strain to see your rescue, to see the truth of your promise fulfilled. Here, we encounter the direct connection to the Hebrew letter “Ayin,” the eye. The psalmist confesses, “My eyes strain to see your rescue.” Other translations render this, “My eyes fail, looking for your salvation.” This paints a vivid, heartbreaking picture of spiritual and physical exhaustion. Imagine a watchman standing on the high wall of a besieged city. The enemy army has surrounded the gates, the food supplies are running out, and the watchman is staring out at the distant horizon, looking for the dust cloud of a rescuing army. He stares for hours, days, and weeks, until his eyes burn, blur, and literally begin to fail from the sheer intensity of the vigil. This is the agonizing reality of living in the “already, but not yet” phase of God's redemption. The psalmist knows that God has promised deliverance. He knows the character of Yahweh. But the waiting is taking a devastating toll on his physical body. He is straining to see the truth of the promise materialize in real time. It is a profound comfort to realize that the Bible does not gloss over the fatigue of the faithful. It is incredibly tiring to live a life of integrity in a world that rewards corruption. It is exhausting to keep your eyes fixed on the horizon of God's justice, when the present moment is filled with the taunts of the arrogant. Yet, even as his eyes fail, the psalmist refuses to stop looking. He will not lower his gaze to the mud; he keeps his vision locked on the heavens, anticipating the arrival of the King. The third segment is: The Privileges of the Servant Psalm One Hundred Nineteen: verses one hundred twenty-four and one hundred twenty-five. I am your servant; deal with me in unfailing love, and teach me your decrees. Give discernment to me, your servant; then I will understand your laws. In the midst of his exhaustion, the psalmist re-establishes his identity. Twice in these two verses, he declares, “I am your servant.” In our modern, democratic culture, we often view the title of “servant” as something degrading, or lowly. But in the ancient Near East, to be the direct servant of a sovereign king was a position of immense privilege, authority, and protection. A king was legally and morally obligated to provide for, and protect, the members of his royal household. By claiming the title of “servant,” the psalmist is invoking the royal obligations of Yahweh. He is saying, “Lord, I belong to Your administration. I work for Your kingdom. Therefore, deal with me in unfailing love.” Here is our bedrock, anchor word once again: Hesed. He is not asking God to deal with him based on his own merit, or his own strength, because his strength is currently failing. He asks God to treat him according to His loyal, stubborn, covenant-keeping affection. And what does this weary servant request from his Master? He does not ask for gold, silver, or an immediate, magical escape from his problems. He asks for education. “...and teach me your decrees. Give discernment to me... then I will understand your laws.” The psalmist realizes that his physical eyes might be failing, but his spiritual eyes desperately need to be sharpened. The Hebrew word for discernment means to separate, to distinguish, or to perceive with clarity. He wants the ability to look at the chaotic, confusing events of his life, and perceive the underlying, cosmic architecture of God's plan. He knows that true comfort does not come from a change of circumstances; true comfort comes from a deep, profound understanding of the Creator's laws. The fourth segment is: The Courtroom Demand for Cosmic Justice Psalm One Hundred Nineteen: verse one hundred twenty-six. Lord, it is time for you to act, for these evil people have violated your instructions. This single verse is one of the most remarkable, audacious prayers in the entire Psalter. The psalmist shifts from the posture of a weary servant, to the posture of a prosecuting attorney in the divine courtroom. He looks up at the throne, and declares, “Lord, it is time for you to act.” This is a direct, legal petition to the Divine Council. The psalmist is not being disrespectful; he is being intensely prophetic. He is surveying the cultural landscape, and he sees that the rebellion of the arrogant has reached a critical, unsustainable tipping point. He presents his evidence: “...for these evil people have violated your instructions.” Literally, the Hebrew says, “They...

Welcome to Day 2838 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2838 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 119:113-120 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2838 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2838 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The Title for Today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Samekh of Support – An Undivided Loyalty In our previous episode on this grand expedition, we navigated the dark and treacherous trails of the fourteenth stanza in Psalm One Hundred Nineteen, the “Nun” section. We learned that to survive the suffocating darkness of a hostile world, we must carry the lamp of God's Word. We discovered that the Creator does not typically give us a massive searchlight to illuminate the next twenty years, but rather, a small, flickering clay lamp that provides just enough truth for the very next step. We promised to keep walking, carefully avoiding the tripwires of the wicked, and we claimed the eternal testimonies of the Lord as our greatest, permanent heritage. Today, we take our next courageous step forward, transitioning from the imagery of a lamp, to the reality of a fortress. We are entering the fifteenth stanza of this magnificent, alphabetical mountain. We are exploring the “Samekh” section, covering Psalm One Hundred Nineteen, verses one hundred thirteen through one hundred twenty, in the New Living Translation. In the ancient Hebrew alphabet, the letter “Samekh” was originally depicted as a prop, a pillar, or a sturdy shield. It represents something that you can lean your entire weight against when you are utterly exhausted, knowing that it will not collapse. This imagery forms the absolute backbone of this entire stanza. The psalmist is tired of the spiritual compromise around him. He is drawing a hard line in the sand, rejecting the cultural pressure to mix his faith with the idolatry of the world. He is declaring an undivided loyalty to Yahweh, and in return, he is asking the Creator to prop him up, and shield him from the fallout. Let us step onto the trail, and learn how to lean on the pillar of truth. The first segment is: The Hatred of the Divided Heart and the Divine Shield Psalm One Hundred Nineteen: verses one hundred thirteen through one hundred fifteen. I hate those with divided loyalties, but I love your instructions. You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope. Get out of my life, you evil-minded people, for I intend to obey the commands of my God. The stanza opens with a jarring, absolute declaration: “I hate those with divided loyalties.” Other translations render this as, “I hate the double-minded.” To modern ears, this sounds harsh, perhaps even unloving. But to understand this, we must look through the lens of the Ancient Israelite worldview. In the ancient Near East, the greatest threat to Israel was not atheism; it was syncretism. Syncretism is the blending of different religions. The surrounding pagan nations, governed by the rebel gods of the Divine Council, constantly pressured the Israelites to compromise. The temptation was to worship Yahweh on the Sabbath, but then sacrifice to Baal on Tuesday to ensure a good harvest, or pray to Asherah for fertility. A person with "divided loyalties" is someone who limps between two opinions. They want the blessings of the Creator, but they also want to participate in the corrupt, chaotic systems of the rebel principalities. The psalmist hates this double-mindedness, because it is spiritual treason. It is a fundamental betrayal of the cosmic order. You cannot serve two masters. In stark contrast, he declares, “...but I love your instructions.” He refuses to mix his devotion. He wants the pure, unadulterated blueprint of the Most High God. Because he refuses to compromise, he immediately makes himself a target. The culture does not tolerate exclusive loyalty to Yahweh. So, he runs to his defense: “You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope.” Here is the “Samekh” in action. A refuge is a place to hide, and a shield is a mobile defense that deflects incoming arrows. The psalmist realizes that his own human willpower is not a sufficient defense against the spiritual warfare of his culture. If he is going to stand firm against the pressure of double-mindedness, he must hide his mind behind the massive, impenetrable shield of the Creator. This fierce loyalty leads to a drastic, practical boundary. “Get out of my life, you evil-minded people, for I intend to obey the commands of my God.” Literally, the Hebrew says, “Depart from me, you evildoers.” The psalmist recognizes that bad company corrupts good character. The “evil-minded people” are those who have fully embraced the chaotic rebellion of the world. They are the agents of compromise. The psalmist is not just being antisocial; he is executing a spiritual quarantine. He knows that if he allows these voices of compromise to constantly whisper in his ear, his own heart might become divided. He draws a firm, unyielding boundary, protecting his environment so that he can fulfill his singular intention: obeying the commands of his God. The second segment is: The Plea to be Propped Up Psalm One Hundred Nineteen: verses one hundred sixteen and one hundred seventeen. Lord, sustain me as you promised, that I may live! Do not let my hope be crushed. Sustain me, and I will be rescued; then I will meditate continually on your decrees. After boldly drawing his boundaries and evicting the evildoers, the adrenaline fades, and the psalmist feels his own profound human weakness. He cries out, “Lord, sustain me as you promised, that I may live!” The Hebrew word used here for “sustain” is samakh, which is the exact verbal root of the letter “Samekh.” It literally means to lean your hand heavily upon something, to prop up, to uphold, or to brace. Think of a timber pillar holding up the collapsing roof of a mine shaft. The psalmist feels the crushing, gravitational weight of the world pressing down on his shoulders. He has chosen the hard path of undivided loyalty, and the pressure is threatening to cave his chest in. He begs Yahweh, “Step under this weight with me. Be my pillar. Prop me up, because if You do not uphold me, I am going to collapse, and my life will be extinguished.” He anchors this desperate plea to the covenant, asking God to intervene “as you promised.” He adds a poignant, emotional request: “Do not let my hope be crushed.” Or, “Do not let me be ashamed of my hope.” He has bet everything on the invisible reality of the Creator's kingdom. He has alienated the powerful, evil-minded people of his community to stay true to the Torah. If God fails to support him, his entire worldview will shatter, and the mockers will have won. He repeats the plea for emphasis: “Sustain me, and I will be rescued; then I will meditate continually on your decrees.” Notice the cause and effect. He does not say, “I will meditate, and therefore I will rescue myself.” He acknowledges that salvation comes entirely from the external, upholding power of God. The rescue must happen first. When Yahweh steps in and braces the collapsing walls of his life, it frees the psalmist's mind. Once he is secure, leaning safely against the pillar of grace, he can return to his favorite occupation: meditating continually on the eternal decrees of the King. The Third segment is: The Dross of the Earth and the Purity of Justice Psalm One Hundred Nineteen: verses one hundred eighteen and one hundred nineteen But you have rejected all who wander from your decrees. They are only fooling themselves. You skim off the wicked of the earth like scum; no wonder I love to obey your laws! From the safety of his divine refuge, the psalmist looks out at the fate of the double-minded. He makes a sobering, objective observation about cosmic justice: “But you have rejected all who wander from your decrees. They are only fooling themselves.” The rebel gods promise freedom and power to those who wander off the path, but the psalmist reveals the ultimate, tragic reality: wandering leads to rejection. The Most High God will not permit the universe to remain in a state of chaotic rebellion forever. The people who think they are outsmarting the system, playing both sides with divided loyalties, are entirely deceived. The literal translation is, “their deceit is falsehood.” They are living in an illusion, a house of cards that is destined to fall. The psalmist then uses a startling, industrial metaphor to describe God's judgment: “You skim off the wicked of the earth like scum.” The Hebrew word here is sig, which refers to dross, or slag. In the ancient metallurgical process of refining silver or gold, the raw ore was placed in a...