Podcasts about Nazareth

Jesus is rejected by the people of his home town of Nazareth because their personal bias fosters a lack of faith. (Lectionary #405) August 1, 2025 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com  

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Read OnlineJesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?” Matthew 13:54Today's Gospel goes on to say that the people in Jesus' hometown of Nazareth took offense at Him, which led Jesus to say, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.” It is somewhat surprising that they took offense at Jesus after witnessing His wisdom and mighty deeds. Jesus was very familiar to the townspeople, and it seems that that familiarity led them to doubt that Jesus was someone special.It should be noted that, in many ways, the people who knew Jesus for many years should have been the first people to see His greatness. And most likely there were some from His hometown who did. They would have known Jesus' mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and she would have given daily witness to incredible virtues. They would have known Joseph as a truly righteous and just man. And Jesus would have exuded every human virtue to perfection as He grew. And again, that should have been easily noticeable. But many failed to see the holiness of Jesus and the Holy Family.This experience of our Lord should remind us that it is easy to miss the presence of God all around us. If those who were closest to Jesus did not recognize Him as a man of exceptional virtue and holiness, then how much more might we fail to see the presence of God in the lives of those we encounter every day? For some reason, perhaps because of our struggles with pride and anger, it is easier to look at the faults of another than at their virtues. It's easy to be critical of them and to dwell upon their perceived weaknesses and sins. But this Gospel story should encourage us to do all we can to look beyond the surface and to see God present in every life we encounter.On the most fundamental level, God dwells within each and every person He has created. Even those who remain in a state of persistent mortal sin are still made in the image of God and reflect God by their very nature. And we must see this. And those who are in a state of grace carry the presence of God, not only within themselves by nature but also through God's action in their lives. Every virtue that every person has is there because God is at work in them. And we must work to see this divine activity in their lives.Begin by thinking about the people with whom you are closest. When you think about them, what comes to mind? Over the years, we can build habits of dwelling upon others' faults. And those habits are hard to break. But they can only be broken by intentionally seeking out the presence of God in their lives. As noted, if Jesus' own townspeople had a difficult time doing this with Him Who was perfect, then this should tell us that it will be even harder for us to do with those who lack perfection. But it must be done and is a very holy endeavor. Reflect, today, upon the important mission you have been given to see the presence of God in the lives of those all around you. What if Jesus had grown up in your town? As your neighbor? And though the Incarnate Son of God does not live next door as He did in Nazareth, He does live in each and every person you encounter every day. Honestly reflect upon how well you see Him and commit yourself to the holy mission of seeing Him more clearly so that you can rejoice in His greatness which is truly manifest all around you. My Lord of true greatness, You are truly present all around me. You are alive and living in the lives of those whom I encounter every day. Please give me the eyes of faith to see You and a heart that loves You. Help me to overlook the faults and weaknesses of others. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: See page for author, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

From a purely secular historical viewpoint, does Jesus of Nazareth fall within the category of Great Men? A unique 19th-century approach to the study of history was known as the 'Great Man' view of History, according to which history can be largely explained by the impact of great men, or heroes: highly influential and unique individuals who, due to their natural attributes, such as superior intellect, heroic courage, extraordinary leadership abilities or divine inspiration, have a decisive historical effect. Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/M6uQTPoAp_s which has accompanying visuals including maps, charts, timelines, photos, illustrations, and diagrams. Douglas Murray books available at https://amzn.to/3K4gkxz ENJOY Ad-Free content, Bonus episodes, and Extra materials when joining our growing community on https://patreon.com/markvinet SUPPORT this channel by purchasing any product on Amazon using this FREE entry LINK https://amzn.to/3POlrUD (Amazon gives us credit at NO extra charge to you). Mark Vinet's HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICA podcast: www.parthenonpodcast.com/history-of-north-america Mark's TIMELINE Video channel: https://youtube.com/c/TIMELINE_MarkVinet Website: https://markvinet.com/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.vinet.9 X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HistoricalJesu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denarynovels Mark's books: https://amzn.to/3k8qrGM Audio credit: Uncancelled History podcast with Douglas Murray (The Conclusion episode). Audio excerpts reproduced under the Fair Use (Fair Dealings) Legal Doctrine for purposes such as criticism, comment, teaching, education, scholarship, research and news reporting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The notion that man is meant to become divine may strike the modern mind as madness—and indeed, it is—but it is a divine madness, a holy paradox at the very heart of Christianity. The Church does not merely say that man should be good, or even that he should be better; she dares to say that he is called to be like God. Not in pride, as the serpent whispered, but in humility. Through the astonishing mercy of a God who stooped so low as to become man, so that man might be lifted to the heights of and become like Him. It is not that our humanity is abolished, but that it is completed, transfigured. The carpenter from Nazareth builds not only tables, but saints. --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian's homilies are shared freely thanks to generous listeners like you. If his words have blessed you, consider supporting this volunteer effort. Every gift helps us continue recording and sharing the hope of Jesus—one homily at a time. Give Here: https://frbriansoliven.org/give

Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) gives us one of the first historical treatments of the life of Jesus in his pioneering book (1906) that reviews all prior work on the question of the "historical Jesus" and points out how Jesus of Nazareth's image has changed with the times—while offering his own synopsis and interpretation in this seminal work of biblical criticism. Quest of the Historical Jesus by A. Schweitzer at https://amzn.to/4jwQoJm New Testament versions available at https://amzn.to/43KBXN9 ENJOY Ad-Free content, Bonus episodes, and Extra materials when joining our growing community on https://patreon.com/markvinet SUPPORT this channel by purchasing any product on Amazon using this FREE entry LINK https://amzn.to/3POlrUD (Amazon gives us credit at NO extra charge to you). Mark Vinet's HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICA podcast: www.parthenonpodcast.com/history-of-north-america Mark's video channel: https://youtube.com/c/TIMELINE_MarkVinet Website: https://markvinet.com/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.vinet.9 Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoricalJesu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denarynovels Mark's Books: https://amzn.to/3k8qrGM Audio Credit: The Quest of the Historical Jesus by Albert Schweitzer (LibriVox, read by JoeD).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matthew describes two very different ways of wielding power.  In this episode we examine the death of John the Baptist and a comparison between Herod and Jesus.I misspoke and said Sepphoris is near Jerusalem but I meant to say Nazareth 

Daily Dose of Hope July 29, 2025   Scripture – Luke 1:26-56   Prayer:  Almighty God, We rejoice in your holy name.  We give you glory.  Thank you for a new day.  May we experience you, today, Lord.  May we hear your voice and hear you when you call us.  We want to do your will.  We want to say yes.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back, friends, to the Daily Dose of Hope, a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are covering part 2 of 3 in Luke 1.  We are reading about Mary.   We read that the Angel Gabriel appears to Mary and tells her that she is highly favored. She is immediately troubled with this greeting.  Think about this – Mary was a poor, humble girl, probably around age 14.  Why in the world would an angel greet her this way?  But we soon find out.  Gabriel tells Mary that she will become pregnant and her son will be called the Son of the Most High; she is to call him Jesus.   Some context is helpful here.  Mary was engaged to be married to Joseph. In those days, girls were married very young. As soon as they became able to have children, they were betrothed. It could have been as young as 12, as old as 15. (Life expectancy was low.) And once the marriage was arranged (by the parents), the betrothal was marked by a party, which would be followed up by another party a year later, and it is at that time that the couple would start to live together as husband and wife. It was definitely more formal thatn what we think of as engagement. A divorce was required to end it, and if the groom died during the year, the woman was considered a widow.   I say all this to show how serious an engagement was during the first century.  And now the angel is telling Mary that she would become pregnant.  Mary would have known that this kind of incident put her in real danger. Virgin births were no less unusual two thousand years ago than they are today. And Mary, despite her young age, would have known where babies come from. She knew that to be pregnant meant that she had to be impregnated. She supplies half the genetic material. Someone else had to supply the other half and Joseph would have know that he did not do it.   We probably don't read between the lines as quickly as someone in the first century. Probably one of the first things to go through Mary's head was “Umm...this could get me in some real trouble.” And I don't mean it would just upset her parents. This threatened all her plans. She risked losing her upcoming marriage. She risked being ostracized by her family. She risked being the butt of the gossip mill in little Nazareth, being called names and being subjected to hardship. She even risked being killed by the Jewish authorities. The consequence for adultery was death according to Jewish law and although this wasn't always carried out, it certainly could be, and a young, unmarried, poor girl from Nazareth would sure be an easy target.   So, you would think this information would make Mary hesitant.  But after the first question of “well how in the world could this be,” Mary responds with “I am the Lord's servant...May your word to me be fulfilled.”  I've often wondered what went on in Mary's mind between “how can this be” and “I am the Lord's servant.”  She had every excuse in the book to say, “NO! Not me!” But she doesn't.  She trusts God and allows him to use her.    God is telling us a lot about his character and what he values. We know that God uses and God values the meek, the humble, and the lowly. He uses a poor, young girl from a poor little town to be the mother of the savior of the world. We know that, over and over again, God identifies with the poor, the weak, and the oppressed. This ends up being a central theme in Jesus' ministry as well. God values meekness and humility and because of that, so should we. It also shows that God chooses to work in places and through people that the world would not choose. He is more concerned with someone's willingness to say yes than their pedigree or resume.  That is certainly the case with Mary.    So what can we learn about God through the person of Mary? The reality is that God sometimes calls us to do things that are hard. God calls us to things that aren't on our agenda, things that might derail our hopes, plans, dreams.  He may even call us to do things that are dangerous and be with people we don't want to be with or go places we don't want to go.  This is the hard truth – Just as he did with Mary, God may call us to make sacrifices, to give up things we would prefer to do, all because he asked us to do it.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki

A review of a Steven Furtick sermon from Elevation Church, compliments of Pirate Christian Radio - Why Elevation: Trapped in Nazareth 

Israel Now Portrayed As Enemy Of Christians - PM Netanyahuhttps://osazuwaakonedo.news/israel-now-portrayed-as-enemy-of-christians-pm-netanyahu/28/07/2025/#Issues #Gaza #Iran #Israel #US ©July 28th, 2025 ®July 28, 2025 8:44 pm Barely ten days after Israeli soldiers bombed the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza, Benjamin Netanyahu, the state of Israel Prime Minister has said that Israel is now being portrayed as the enemy of Christians, stating that, Israel has a thriving Christian community, “the only thriving Christian community in the broad radius of the Middle East, where Christians are not “tolerated”, they're cherished”, adding, “You can light Christmas trees in Nazareth – but in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, when Israel left and the Palestinian Authority came in, the Christian majority shrank from 80% to under 20%, because there was no more Israel to protect them, though, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not mention the bombing of the Catholic Church in Gaza that led to the killing of three persons and injuring to several people including the Parish Priest, it could be recalled that the Israel Defense Forces, IDF action against the Christian Holy place in Gaza sparked global condemnations, with the Head of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV in a statement on Sunday July 20, 2025 while speaking after his Angelus prayer, read out the names of those killed in the incident and said; “I appeal to the international community to observe humanitarian law and respect the obligation to protect civilians as well as the prohibition of collective punishment, of indiscriminate use of force and forced displacement of the population”. #OsazuwaAkonedoThailand, Cambodia Denies Shelling In Lao As War Enters 4th Day NonStophttps://osazuwaakonedo.news/thailand-cambodia-denies-shelling-in-lao-as-war-enters-4th-day-nonstop/27/07/2025/#Issues #Thailand #Cambodia #EmeraldTriangle #Lao #Trump #US ©July 27th, 2025 ®July 27, 2025 12:57 pm Royal Thai Army and the Cambodia National Ministry of Defense have both denied firing the 10 projectiles that destroyed civilian houses and properties at Emerald Triangle, a city in Lao on Thursday, just as both government establishments confirmed early in the morning on Sunday that fighting continued through Saturday night to Sunday morning night despite President Donald Trump of the United States, US statement on Saturday that he has spoken on phone with both the Prime Minister of Cambodia and the acting Prime Minister of Thailand, asking the two parties to agree on immediate ceasefire and failure to do so, according to Trump, US will not make any business deal with both countries, in his words, Trump said; “We happen to be, by coincidence, currently dealing on Trade with both Countries, but do not want to make any Deal, with either Country, if they are fighting, and I have told them so, the call with Thailand is being made momentarily, the call with Cambodia has ended, but expect to call back regarding War stoppage and Ceasefire based on what Thailand has to say, I am trying to simplify a complex situation, many people are being killed in this War, but it's very much reminds me of the Conflict between Pakistan and India, which was brought to a successful halt.” #OsazuwaAkonedo30 Killed As Thailand, Cambodia Continues Heavy Military Campaignhttps://osazuwaakonedo.news/30-killed-as-thailand-cambodia-continues-heavy-military-campaign/27/07/2025/#Issues #Thailand #Asia #Cambodia ©July 27th, 2025 ®July 27, 2025 4:32 am Asia is apparently becoming a continent of war as hope of achieving peace in the continent appeared slim since 2023 when  fresh wars broke out in the Middle East Asia after Hamas attacked Israel, forcing Israel to launch a multi front wars in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Yemen, this occurred as Russia that has parts of its territory in Asia had in 2022 launched a full-scale war against its neighbouring European country, Ukraine which the multiple wars have led to millions of deaths, with many in the world expecting an end soon, but, while many in the world hoped for permanent end to the deadly wars, another fresh war broke out during the week on Thursday in the South East Asia between Cambodia and Thailand after soldiers from Royal Thai Army of 14th Infantry Battalion on Wednesday stepped on a landmine at Huai Bon, Chong An Ma, Nam Yuen District, Ubon Ratchathani Province, within the Thai-Cambodia border area causing severe injury to one Thailand soldier while four other soldiers sustained some level of injuries, making the acting Prime Minister of Thailand, Phumtham Wechayachai to recall the country's ambassador from Phnom Penh and expelled Cambodia's ambassador to Thailand, leading to heavy military confrontations starting next day morning, which, Cambodian News Agency on Saturday reported that tens of thousands of innocent Cambodians, including children, pregnant women, and the elderly have been forced to flee the military aggression along the border areas, including Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, and Pursat, and the Royal Thai Army also on Saturday released a video of its men hoisting the Thai flag at a location and stated that the Thai national flag was raised atop Phu Makhuea, following Thai military operations to assault and seize the Phu Makhuea area, where it said the Cambodian forces had been heavily positioned, adding that the area was successfully captured during the evening of war on Friday, while the Prime Minister of Thailand, Paetongtarn Shinawatra who is currently on suspension blamed the cause of the war on alleged powerful criminals in Cambodia, saying, the conflict stems from the Thai government's efforts to crack down on call center crimes, dismantling a network of immense financial interests linked to influential groups in Cambodia, notwithstanding, the Prime Minister of Cambodia, Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet in a statement called on Cambodians not to attack businesses and citizens of Thailand living in Cambodia, adding that, after the Prime Minister of Malaysia and the Rotating Chairman of ASEAN, Anwar Ibrahim intervened in the matter on Thursday, both countries agreed to a ceasefire slated to sart on Friday by 12:00am, but, an hour after Malaysia Prime Minister told him that Thailand has agreed to the ceasefire, Thailand rescinded its decision and continued military actions against Cambodia, and the Cambodia Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson, Lieutenant General Maly Socheata in an operational updates on Saturday, said that Thailand has continued to expand its military; including its infantry Forces, heavy weaponry into Cambodia territory.  #OsazuwaAkonedoBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/osazuwaakonedo--4980924/support.

Israel Now Portrayed As Enemy Of Christians - PM Netanyahuhttps://osazuwaakonedo.news/israel-now-portrayed-as-enemy-of-christians-pm-netanyahu/28/07/2025/#Issues #Gaza #Iran #Israel #US ©July 28th, 2025 ®July 28, 2025 8:44 pm Barely ten days after Israeli soldiers bombed the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza, Benjamin Netanyahu, the state of Israel Prime Minister has said that Israel is now being portrayed as the enemy of Christians, stating that, Israel has a thriving Christian community, “the only thriving Christian community in the broad radius of the Middle East, where Christians are not “tolerated”, they're cherished”, adding, “You can light Christmas trees in Nazareth – but in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, when Israel left and the Palestinian Authority came in, the Christian majority shrank from 80% to under 20%, because there was no more Israel to protect them, though, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not mention the bombing of the Catholic Church in Gaza that led to the killing of three persons and injuring to several people including the Parish Priest, it could be recalled that the Israel Defense Forces, IDF action against the Christian Holy place in Gaza sparked global condemnations, with the Head of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV in a statement on Sunday July 20, 2025 while speaking after his Angelus prayer, read out the names of those killed in the incident and said; “I appeal to the international community to observe humanitarian law and respect the obligation to protect civilians as well as the prohibition of collective punishment, of indiscriminate use of force and forced displacement of the population”. #OsazuwaAkonedoThailand, Cambodia Denies Shelling In Lao As War Enters 4th Day NonStophttps://osazuwaakonedo.news/thailand-cambodia-denies-shelling-in-lao-as-war-enters-4th-day-nonstop/27/07/2025/#Issues #Thailand #Cambodia #EmeraldTriangle #Lao #Trump #US ©July 27th, 2025 ®July 27, 2025 12:57 pm Royal Thai Army and the Cambodia National Ministry of Defense have both denied firing the 10 projectiles that destroyed civilian houses and properties at Emerald Triangle, a city in Lao on Thursday, just as both government establishments confirmed early in the morning on Sunday that fighting continued through Saturday night to Sunday morning night despite President Donald Trump of the United States, US statement on Saturday that he has spoken on phone with both the Prime Minister of Cambodia and the acting Prime Minister of Thailand, asking the two parties to agree on immediate ceasefire and failure to do so, according to Trump, US will not make any business deal with both countries, in his words, Trump said; “We happen to be, by coincidence, currently dealing on Trade with both Countries, but do not want to make any Deal, with either Country, if they are fighting, and I have told them so, the call with Thailand is being made momentarily, the call with Cambodia has ended, but expect to call back regarding War stoppage and Ceasefire based on what Thailand has to say, I am trying to simplify a complex situation, many people are being killed in this War, but it's very much reminds me of the Conflict between Pakistan and India, which was brought to a successful halt.” #OsazuwaAkonedo30 Killed As Thailand, Cambodia Continues Heavy Military Campaignhttps://osazuwaakonedo.news/30-killed-as-thailand-cambodia-continues-heavy-military-campaign/27/07/2025/#Issues #Thailand #Asia #Cambodia ©July 27th, 2025 ®July 27, 2025 4:32 am Asia is apparently becoming a continent of war as hope of achieving peace in the continent appeared slim since 2023 when  fresh wars broke out in the Middle East Asia after Hamas attacked Israel, forcing Israel to launch a multi front wars in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Yemen, this occurred as Russia that has parts of its territory in Asia had in 2022 launched a full-scale war against its neighbouring European country, Ukraine which the multiple wars have led to millions of deaths, with many in the world expecting an end soon, but, while many in the world hoped for permanent end to the deadly wars, another fresh war broke out during the week on Thursday in the South East Asia between Cambodia and Thailand after soldiers from Royal Thai Army of 14th Infantry Battalion on Wednesday stepped on a landmine at Huai Bon, Chong An Ma, Nam Yuen District, Ubon Ratchathani Province, within the Thai-Cambodia border area causing severe injury to one Thailand soldier while four other soldiers sustained some level of injuries, making the acting Prime Minister of Thailand, Phumtham Wechayachai to recall the country's ambassador from Phnom Penh and expelled Cambodia's ambassador to Thailand, leading to heavy military confrontations starting next day morning, which, Cambodian News Agency on Saturday reported that tens of thousands of innocent Cambodians, including children, pregnant women, and the elderly have been forced to flee the military aggression along the border areas, including Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, and Pursat, and the Royal Thai Army also on Saturday released a video of its men hoisting the Thai flag at a location and stated that the Thai national flag was raised atop Phu Makhuea, following Thai military operations to assault and seize the Phu Makhuea area, where it said the Cambodian forces had been heavily positioned, adding that the area was successfully captured during the evening of war on Friday, while the Prime Minister of Thailand, Paetongtarn Shinawatra who is currently on suspension blamed the cause of the war on alleged powerful criminals in Cambodia, saying, the conflict stems from the Thai government's efforts to crack down on call center crimes, dismantling a network of immense financial interests linked to influential groups in Cambodia, notwithstanding, the Prime Minister of Cambodia, Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet in a statement called on Cambodians not to attack businesses and citizens of Thailand living in Cambodia, adding that, after the Prime Minister of Malaysia and the Rotating Chairman of ASEAN, Anwar Ibrahim intervened in the matter on Thursday, both countries agreed to a ceasefire slated to sart on Friday by 12:00am, but, an hour after Malaysia Prime Minister told him that Thailand has agreed to the ceasefire, Thailand rescinded its decision and continued military actions against Cambodia, and the Cambodia Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson, Lieutenant General Maly Socheata in an operational updates on Saturday, said that Thailand has continued to expand its military; including its infantry Forces, heavy weaponry into Cambodia territory.  #OsazuwaAkonedoBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/osazuwaakonedo--4980924/support.

The "Digging Deeper" series is category of episodes where CC Broadcast Radio Preacher, Tim Boettger, further discusses topics and ideas raised during his radio sermons, but in a conversational interview format. As you'll notice, the title of each episode mirrors the title of the radio sermon on the CC Broadcast that it corresponds with. It is our hope that these supplemental conversations will help listeners grow even deeper in their Christian faith and their understanding of God's Word than is possible by only listening to a sermon. For more information about Christian Crusaders, the ministry under which CC Podcasts are produced: Conversations is produced, visit https://christiancrusaders.org.Also, check out our other podcasts:To listen to The CC Podcast: Daily Dose Devotions, where we're currently going through an overview of the Bible, click here: https://christiancrusaders.org/ccpod-daily-doseTo listen to our weekly radio broadcast, The CC Broadcast, which has aired since 1936, and which features a 30 minute worship service, including music and preaching, click here: https://christiancrusaders.org/the-cc-broadcastTo listen to Homer Larsen Live, an archive of Pastor Homer Larsen's sermons preached live at Nazareth Church, click here: https://christiancrusaders.org/homer-larsen-live (Pastor Larsen was radio preacher for CC for over 50 years, and also served as Senior Pastor at Nazareth -- many of his radio broadcasts, dating back to the early 2000s, are archived on The CC Broadcast, but this set of sermons are the ones he preached live from the pulpit.)Thanks to Terri, our intro/outro announcer!Music by Lesfm from Pixabay

The man Christ Jesus stands at the center of the faith of hundreds of millions of people. His very existence, along with the words and actions of his life, creates a remarkable tapestry that truly provides a strong foundation for believers. Sometimes questions arise about how and why Jesus did all that he did. Was his life scripted? This question can have several layers. First, did Jesus do the things he did in a mechanical way, solely for the purpose of fulfilling Old Testament prophecies? Second, and on a much deeper level of skepticism, could Jesus have fulfilled the prophecies he fulfilled just as a show, to gain followers and notoriety? Could his life have been a collection of events designed to merely draw attention to himself and create a movement? To emphatically answer these questions, we will just examine 14 of the hundreds of prophecies that Jesus actually fulfilled in his life. We will find they were all fulfilled in ways that were far beyond human orchestration. Was Jesus just "checking boxes"? First, it is important to establish that Jesus absolutely desired to do the will of his Father in heaven. One could argue that such a desire might lead to mechanically “checking boxes” to show his compliance. As we review these prophecies, we will see this objection become irrelevant. Here is a small sampling of prophecies that Jesus was part of but could not control. First, we begin with his birth and childhood: He was born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), obviously not a self-directed event. He was born in Bethlehem Ephrathah, not Bethlehem of Galilee (Micah 5:2). This was fulfilled by way of Roman census laws. He was raised in Nazareth, fulfilling the theme of a humble Messiah (Isaiah 11:1–2). As an adult, Jesus knew the Scriptures, but he still could not force their fulfillment. John the Baptist prepared the way for him (Isaiah 40:3–5). Jesus could not control John's ministry. He entered Jerusalem triumphantly on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). While Jesus could request the colt, he could not force the crowd's reaction. He was betrayed by a friend and for 30 silver pieces (Psalm 41:9, Zechariah 11:12–13). He was mocked at the crucifixion (Psalms 22:7–8). He was buried with the rich (Isaiah 53:9), and Joseph of Arimathea unknowingly fulfilled this prophecy. Was Jesus' life scripted to fulfill prophecy? The only logical conclusion to all of this is that Jesus' life wasn't scripted by manipulation, but rather fulfilled divine foresight through personal submission, love for the Father, and the actions of others guided by God's plan.

Sunday 20th July - Central AMSunday 27th July - West and North SitesSpeaker - Alice MeadsAlice continues with our Summer series "Questions Jesus Asked", looking at the story of Bartimaeus in Mark 10 v 46-52.____________Mark 10 v 46-5246) Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed Him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. 47) When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”48 “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him.But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”49) When Jesus heard him, He stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.”So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, He's calling you!” 50) Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.51) “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.“My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”52) And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.____________Recorded at the North site - 27Jul2025

Israel Now Portrayed As Enemy Of Christians - PM Netanyahuhttps://osazuwaakonedo.news/israel-now-portrayed-as-enemy-of-christians-pm-netanyahu/28/07/2025/#Issues #Gaza #Iran #Israel #US ©July 28th, 2025 ®July 28, 2025 8:44 pm Barely ten days after Israeli soldiers bombed the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza, Benjamin Netanyahu, the state of Israel Prime Minister has said that Israel is now being portrayed as the enemy of Christians, stating that, Israel has a thriving Christian community, “the only thriving Christian community in the broad radius of the Middle East, where Christians are not “tolerated”, they're cherished”, adding, “You can light Christmas trees in Nazareth – but in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, when Israel left and the Palestinian Authority came in, the Christian majority shrank from 80% to under 20%, because there was no more Israel to protect them, though, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not mention the bombing of the Catholic Church in Gaza that led to the killing of three persons and injuring to several people including the Parish Priest, it could be recalled that the Israel Defense Forces, IDF action against the Christian Holy place in Gaza sparked global condemnations, with the Head of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV in a statement on Sunday July 20, 2025 while speaking after his Angelus prayer, read out the names of those killed in the incident and said; “I appeal to the international community to observe humanitarian law and respect the obligation to protect civilians as well as the prohibition of collective punishment, of indiscriminate use of force and forced displacement of the population”. #OsazuwaAkonedoBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/osazuwaakonedo--4980924/support.

Mark 1:21-28 21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, 24 "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are - the Holy One of God!" 25 "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" 26 The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. 27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching - and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and then obey him." 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.  NIV 84 Lesson Notes Capernaum It is a town on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee and is most likely the hometown of Peter, Andrew, James, John, and Matthew. It is fitting then that it becomes kind of their headquarters for ministry to the region of Galilee. Synagogue It is a place where Jews would gather for instruction. They formed during the time of exile after the temple was destroyed. Wherever there were 10 Jewish men above the age of 12 a synagogue could be formed. Good Theology "Even the demons ace their theology exam." The evil spirit recognizes the humanity of Jesus, the mission of Jesus, and the divinity of Jesus. The Calming of the Storm 39 He rebuked the wind said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" 41 They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? That even the wind and waves obey Him." Three Ways to Respond to Instruction 1 To perceive a sound (hearing) 2 To pay attention (listening) 3 To position under (obeying) - obedience literally means to "hear under" Response to the Instruction of Jesus In order to understand the teaching of Jesus Christ, you have to stand under the teaching of Jesus Christ. The only way to over-come the world is to place yourself under the authority of Jesus Christ. Discussion Questions 1 Icebreaker: For fun: If I asked your friends or family to name a subject of which they thought you were an authority, what might they say and why? 2 In verse 22, the people are impressed because Jesus teaches as an authority. In verse 27, the people are unsettled because Jesus teaches with authority. What is the difference between being an authority and having authority? 3 Read Mark 4:35-41 and compare the interaction between Jesus and the storm with our text this morning. What stands out the most to you as you compare them?  4 There are three different ways to respond to instruction listed in the notes. Discuss the differences between the three responses. How have you seen each of these responses in your own life when it comes to following Jesus?

For most of my life, I thought I knew Jesus. My image of Him came from pop Catholicism, Easter sermons, and Hollywood movies where He looked untouchable, glowing, and serenely above it all. I imagined Him like Superman in sandals, tossing miracles around as easily as a magician pulls rabbits from a hat. He seemed immune to doubt, unaffected by the atmosphere around Him. But after a year of listening daily to the Gospels on the Hallow app, I started meeting a very different Jesus: a Jesus who is deeply human, relational, and, most shockingly, vulnerable.The scene that changed everything for me is in Nazareth. Matthew 13:53–58 describes how Jesus returned to His hometown synagogue to teach. The people were amazed but sneered, “Isn't this the carpenter's son?” Their familiarity blinded them. The passage concludes: “He did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.” Mark 6:5–6 is even more stark: “He could not do any miracles there, except lay His hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.” Luke 4:28–30 shows their hostility escalating until they drove Him out and nearly threw Him off a cliff.The Gospels are crystal clear. This is not Jesus deciding not to waste His power. This is Jesus unable to act because the atmosphere itself suffocated His miracles. The room's disbelief severed the connection. Divine power flows only where faith breathes life into it. Without faith, there is no circuit, no current, no oxygen. He came ready to give, but the air was dead.That realization floored me. Jesus wasn't punishing anyone. He wasn't holding back out of pride. He entered Nazareth wide open, prepared to heal, but the faithless atmosphere rendered Him powerless. Like a flame starved of oxygen, the miracles simply died. This doesn't make Him less divine; it makes His humanity even more real. Even knowing who He was—the Messiah, the Son of God—He felt the sting of rejection. He healed a few, then walked away, not because He was offended, but because there was nothing left to work with.Faith here isn't about earning God's favor. It's the medium through which His power moves. In Nazareth, the room was barren, and so the miracles stalled. Where faith existed, the current flowed. The disciples provided that faith, breathing life into His mission. They amplified His power, and He poured authority into them to heal and preach. His divinity was never hoarded; it multiplied where belief made space.This moment also reframes His thirty hidden years. Pop culture makes it seem like Jesus simply appeared at thirty and started tossing miracles. But those decades of study, prayer, and humility were preparation for this: a ministry completely dependent on relational power, not raw force. Even after all that, Nazareth still saw only Joseph's boy. Their disbelief blinded them to who stood before them.Nazareth is not just a story; it's a warning. If the disbelief of His childhood friends could hobble the Son of God, how much more does unbelief drain us? We need people who keep the current alive, who breathe faith into our lives. Jesus needed that. So do we.This scene should be central to how we understand Him. It shows a Messiah who bleeds emotionally, whose power dies in dead rooms, and who walks away not out of anger but because the grid is down. The Gospels don't sanitize this. They show us a God whose power is not over us, but with us—power that only lives where faith gives it breath.Maybe that's the miracle. And maybe—just maybe—He's still walking into rooms today, searching for oxygen.

Going home is typically an experience you don’t live to regret. There are exceptions of course. In Luke 4:14-30, Jesus went home to Nazareth and worshipped in the synagogue, only to be run out of town and have his life threatened by angry townsfolk. So what happened? Why did what should have been a welcome […]

Nick Hansen - July 27th, 2025 - Calling All Disciples 1Co 3:12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 1Co 3:13 each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. 1Co 3:14 If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 1Co 3:15 If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Reading John 1:29-51 Joh 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Joh 1:30 "This is He on behalf of whom I said, `After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.' Joh 1:31 "I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water." Joh 1:32 John testified saying, "I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. Joh 1:33 "I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, `He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.' Joh 1:34 "I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God." Joh 1:35 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, Joh 1:36 and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" Reading John 1:29-51 Joh 1:37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Joh 1:38 And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, "What do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?" Joh 1:39 He said to them, "Come, and you will see." So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. Joh 1:40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. Joh 1:41 He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which translated means Christ). Joh 1:42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter). Joh 1:43 The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, "Follow Me." Joh 1:44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. Reading John 1:29-51 Joh 1:45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Joh 1:46 Nathanael said to him, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Joh 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" Joh 1:48 Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Joh 1:49 Nathanael answered Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel." Joh 1:50 Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these." Joh 1:51 And He said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

In the final episode of our Belonged All Along summer series, we're ending with a name we all know—but a story we often rush past. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was young, overlooked, and living in an ordinary town. Yet through her surrender, history shifted.This episode is a deep, reflective look at Mary's journey—from angelic announcement to the foot of the cross—and how her life invites us to say yes to God even when it's unclear, uncomfortable, or costly.We'll explore:Why God so often chooses the overlookedWhat obedience looks like when you don't have the full pictureHow faith can carry both deep joy and deep sorrowScripture References:

The Poem of the Man God is a retelling of the Gospel story of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the private revelations of Maria Valtorta. In this episode, we see the Virgin Mary takes up her abode with John at Gesthemane; John foretells her Assumption (into heaven). Original music by Angela Marie (Mohammed). Easter Season. Holy Week. Crucifixion. Sacrifice. Messiah. Savior. Passion of Christ. Death and Resurrection. Religion. Wisdom. Suffering. Catholic Christian. Theology. Apostles.Disciples. Believers. Followers.

Hai Wonder Kids, kembali dalam renungan anakGKY Mangga besar. Judul renungan hari ini adalah HANYA SATU TUJUAN Mari kita membaca Firman Tuhan dari MARKUS 10: 45Karena Anak Manusia juga datang bukan untukdilayani, melainkan untuk melayani dan untuk memberikan nyawa-Nya menjaditebusan bagi banyak orang." Wonder Kids, tahukah kamu salah satu kehebatanTuhan Yesus? Tuhan Yesus sangat fokus pada tujuan hidup-Nya. Dia selalu tahuapa yang harus dilakukan dan tidak pernah keluar jalur. Tuhan Yesus punya banyak pilihan untuk masadepan-Nya. Dia bisa menjadi prajurit yang melawan tentara Roma. Dia juga bisamenjadi guru di Bait Allah. Tapi, Tuhan Yesus memilih untuk menjadiJuruselamat, menyelamatkan semua manusia dari dosa. Tuhan Yesus berkata, "Anak Manusia datanguntuk mencari dan menyelamatkan yang hilang." (Lukas 19:10). Sejak TuhanYesus meninggalkan toko kayu di Nazareth, Dia memiliki satu tujuan—salib. MARI KITA BERTUMBUH DI DALAM ANUGERAH TUHANWonder Kids, apa tujuan hidupmu? Apakah kamuingin sekolah di tempat tertentu? Atau punya pekerjaan yang kamu impikan?Cobalah tuliskan semuanya! Tapi ingat, tujuan yang paling penting adalahmenjadi seperti Tuhan Yesus.   Mari kita berdoaTUHAN, ajari aku untuk melayani orang lainseperti Engkau melayani kami. Tolong aku menunjukkan kasih-Mu setiap hari.Dalam nama Tuhan Yesus aku berdoa, Amin. Wonder Kids, LAYANILAHORANG LAIN SEPERTI TUHAN YESUS MELAYANI KITA. TUNJUKKAN KASIH DALAM TINDAKANMUSEHARI-HARI. Tuhan Yesus memberkati

Where You Are From Doesn't Dictate Where You Can GoJohn 7:40-41 “ When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, “This is really the prophet.” Others said, “This is the Messiah.” But some asked, “Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he?”When I was looking for a scripture verse today, I opened my Bible and just started reading. I was reading about how Jesus was telling people if they were thirsty, they could come to Him. He was talking about living waters flowing from the hearts of those who believed in Him. Then I read these two verses. “ When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, 'This is really the prophet.” Others said, “This is the Messiah.” But some asked, “Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he?” As soon as I read that last line, I felt like the Holy Spirit stopped me and said, “That right there, that is what you need to talk about today.”Have you been feeling called to do something and yet not feeling qualified to do it? Did you know Jesus couldn't perform any miracles in his hometown? Not because He didn't have the ability, but because no one would believe that Jesus, the little boy that grew up in their town, could be the Messiah. The town Jesus grew up in wasn't special, and Jesus was just a carpenter's kid. He wasn't special. There is no way that the Savior of the world could be born in Bethlehem or grow up in Nazareth, a small village in the region of Galilee.What I feel the Holy Spirit putting on my heart is that some of you are letting other people's opinions of you hold you back or keep you down. You know you are made for great things, and yet you are allowing the voices of others to get in your head. You are allowing your family to decide who you are. Your family has always seen you one way, and no matter how much you change, they can't change how they see you, so you stay stuck. The same can be true with your friends or with your work. They know you as one person, and no matter how much you have changed, they still see you as that person.I remember I was doing this to my friend Kath. Not intentionally, but when I knew her, she was Kathleen. Then at some point, she started going by Kath. I knew her as Kathleen, so I called her Kathleen for the longest time. I am not sure if someone said something to me, or if I just came to my senses, but I realized that if she wanted to be Kath now, I should call her Kath. I know this may be a silly example, but it is to demonstrate how we might not be letting those we know change in ways that they want to. Look at those around you. Are you allowing them to change and grow, or are you treating them the same way you did 20 years ago or 10 years ago?Jesus fulfilled so many prophecies. Jesus did all the signs and wonders. People knew just by hearing Him talk that He was the Messiah. Everyone knew there was something different about Jesus. Yet, even with all that evidence, some people couldn't get past the fact of where He grew up. This might happen to you. You might be doing all the things Jesus is asking you to do. You might be giving all the talks or praying over all the people and yet some people might not be able to get past the fact that you are just so and so's son or daughter. They might not be able to get over the fact that you did not come from some spectacular place or that your family wasn't super religious when you were growing up.We live in a world that tends to judge us by arbitrary standards. They want you to have these credentials, or this upbringing, or their socioeconomic class or background. People don't want to listen to you unless you have a doctorate in whatever it is you are talking about. However, if you are called by the Lord to teach on something, then He will give you all the knowledge you need on that subject. When my mind starts to tell me that I am not qualified, which it definitely tries to do, I look to the Saints. When I am telling myself that I need a theology degree to talk about the Bible, I am reminded of St. Catherine of Sienna, who is a doctor of the Catholic Church, and yet she could not read and write for most of her life. She had no formal education, at least not past grade school.She spent time with the Lord, and He told her everything she needed to know. St. Terese of Lisieux is the patron saint of missionaries, even though she was too sickly to ever go on a mission trip. Don't let those negative voices in your head try to convince you that you are a nobody, so God couldn't possibly use you. Don't listen when those around you tell you that you are not special enough to have a calling from God. Imagine how different life would be for us if Jesus had given up when those in his hometown didn't believe in Him. Imagine if he had listened to all those who said nothing good comes from Nazareth.Where you are from does not dictate where you can go. There are endless possibilities as to where you can go and what you can do. Just follow the Lord, and He will take you wherever you want to go. You don't have to know the way. He is a Way Maker. All you have to do is say yes to his calling and then take the next right step. God will guide you to where He wants you. Your job is just to keep listening to the Lord and ignoring all the negative comments and those who wish to slow you down or stop you from fulfilling your mission. Trust the Lord and His plan for you. You are special in His eyes, and He picked this mission specifically for you!Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening to this episode. Lord, help us to listen to you and block out those who wish to discourage us or stop us from doing what you are calling us to do. Lord, give us the grace to see ourselves through your eyes. Help us to love ourselves the way you love, unconditionally and without judgment. Please help us to see in ourselves what you see in us, what you put in us. Help us to be strong, persistent, and resilient enough to fulfill our mission. We love you, Lord, and we ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus's holy name, Amen!Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus. I want to remind everyone of my upcoming retreat in Oct. It is 11 weeks away, which means there is still plenty of time to plan for it and yet it is not so far away that we need to wait forever. In case you missed the discription, here it is again. In a world that constantly tells us who we should be—based on status, appearance, success, or past mistakes—it's easy to lose sight of who we truly are. This retreat is an invitation to step away from the noise and return to the heart of your Creator. Through Scripture-based teaching, worship, journaling, and authentic community, you'll begin to uncover the truth of your identity—not as the world defines it, but as God declares it. You are not your past. You are not your failures. You are not what others have said about you. You are who God says you are: loved, chosen, redeemed, and called for a purpose.
Whether you're seeking healing, clarity, or simply a deeper understanding of your worth in Christ, this retreat is a sacred space to rediscover your God-given identity and walk boldly in it. The retreat is October 11-12th. I hope you can join me. CLICK HERE for all the details. I look forward meeting you here again tomorrow. Remember, Jesus loves you just as you are, and so do I! Have a blessed day.Today's Word from the Lord was received in January 2025 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email CatholicCharismaticPrayerGroup@gmail.com. Today's Word from the Lord is, “Today is the day the Lord has made. Today is the day the Lord is blessed with his mercy and love. Abide in and live from this mercy and great love.” www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

Jesus Delivered Us (7) (audio) David Eells – 7/23/25 Saints, I'm going to pick up where we left off last time, how Jesus delivered us and gave us authority over demons. People may argue with me about speaking with new tongues, but the Bible says, (Mar.16:17) And these signs shall accompany them that believe … they shall speak with new tongues. I am not saying a person who is not filled with the Holy Spirit cannot cast out demons, but it is more powerful to be filled with the Holy Spirit. God has shown me by experience that a person needs to be filled with the Holy Spirit, otherwise demons will take advantage of you. As I have said before, the only condition is faith. Because of their religious theology, some want to put conditions on the people who are casting out demons. (Mar.9:28) And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, [How is it] that we could not cast it out? (Many people think, “See, there's another condition here!”) (29) And he said unto them, This kind can come out by nothing, save by prayer. The King James Version reads, “This kind can come out by nothing, save by prayer and fasting,” but neither the ancient manuscripts nor the Numeric English New Testament have the words “and fasting.” There is no numeric pattern in “and fasting” here because those words were added in, and your Bible probably has a footnote regarding it. Fasting is not a law. You can't find it in the Scriptures concerning casting out demons. The Pauline Epistles, NIV, NASV, ASV, and the Amplified Bible all go back to the ancient manuscripts, and they do not have the words “and fasting” in Mark 9:29, nor do the texts of the three most ancient manuscripts. “Fasting” does not belong in the “casting out” verses because Jesus is not making deliverance from demons dependent on our works. If we have a short opportunity to cast a demon out we haven't got time to fast. Of course, fasting is good. Jesus said, (Mat.6:16) Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen of men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward. (17) But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face; (18) that thou be not seen of men to fast, but of thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall recompense thee. He said, “when you fast,” but He did not command fasting at certain times. He did not make it a requirement of the Law. He is not saying, “Here is a condition,” because then you would never know if you had fasted enough. The devil could come along and say, “Hey, you didn't fast enough!” or “You need to pray more!” I have actually cast out condemning demons that were making God's servants constantly have to fast or pray until they were worn out. Fasting and praying are good, but salvation of any kind is not by works. If you seek it by works instead of a free gift that was already given, you may not receive it. So while there's nothing wrong with fasting, the words “and fasting” are not in the ancient manuscripts in Mark 9. (Mar.9:29) And he said unto them, This kind can come out by nothing, save by prayer. The prayer He's talking about here is a prayer to be delivered from unbelief, which is what the epileptic child's father prayed. (Mar.9:24) Straightway the father of the child cried out, and said, I believe (He's making a good confession there, isn't he?); help thou mine unbelief. There is no place in the Scriptures where anybody prayed devils out; they always commanded them to come out. You are not asking a devil to do anything, and you are not asking God to do anything. You are just fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and casting out devils as the Bible says to do. In Mark 9 Jesus is not talking about praying to cast the devil out; He is talking about praying to cast the unbelief out. Here's another example. (Mat.17:19) Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast it out? (20) And he saith unto them, Because of your little faith: 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. You do not have to fast. You do not have to pray. You just have to know your authority. Tell them, “Come out in the Name of Jesus!” However, praying that God would put confidence and faith in you is a good way to prepare you for casting out demons. (Eph.2:8) For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; (9) not of works, that no man should glory. So, praying to God for faith is legal, but is praying to God to cast out demons legal? I do not see that it's according to Scripture because there's no example of Jesus or the disciples doing it. I just do not see that this is what He is talking about. One train of thought about casting out demons is that you just sit there and wear them out. You keep repeating “Come out in the Name of Jesus!” until they come out. It might be hours or days later. Some people do what they call “praying through.” They pray and pray and pray until they see something happen, but that's not the spiritual way to do it. People who “pray through” concerning demons do not pray and speak by faith because they pray and speak until they see something happen. The other train of thought is just to say, “Come out in the Name of Jesus!” trusting that the words you have spoken must be obeyed. This same phrase is used in Mark 11:23. When you pray, believe you have received and thank God for it. Rejoice in it and praise God! Then you will see it happen. (Mar.11:23) Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it. (24) Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye received them, and ye shall have them. If you speak by faith, then you can say something and walk away without seeing results. I gave you an example of the time we cast the demons out of my mother because they were bringing our house under the curse. As fast as the names of the demons came to us, we commanded those spirits to come out and then we just left her room, not waiting to see anything. When we returned the next morning, we learned that she had rolled around on the floor all night, struggling with those demons until she was delivered. In the past, I have repeated, “Come out in the Name of Jesus,” but the Lord showed me a better way: believe the word that you spoke has the authority of God and that demons have to obey it. The term “unclean spirit” is a broad name that covers all the different types of demons. In Luke 13, though, we have a spirit called a “spirit of infirmity.” We just looked at an epileptic spirit (Mark 9:17) and a dumb and deaf spirit (Mark 9:25), and both are called “unclean spirits,” but they were also “spirits of infirmity.” (Luk.13:11) And behold, a woman that had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years; and she was bowed together, and could in no wise lift herself up. (12) And when Jesus saw her, he called her, and said to her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. (13) And he laid his hands upon her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. (14) And the ruler of the synagogue, being moved with indignation because Jesus had healed on the sabbath… Notice that He cast out a spirit of infirmity, but the text still calls it “healing.” She was healed after the spirit of infirmity had come out from the bound-up and doubled-over woman. There was nothing physically wrong with her. (Luk.13:14) And the ruler of the synagogue, being moved with indignation because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, answered and said to the multitude, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the day of the sabbath. (15) But the Lord answered him, and said, Ye hypocrites, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? Some cases are like this; there is actually nothing physically wrong with the person. It's the demon that is causing the problem. There may be times when the Holy Spirit would have you cast out a spirit and pray for healing, because a spirit in that instance has done damage that he hasn't repaired; he just left it there, but when you pray for that person to be healed, they will be healed. We read how all the people out of whom Jesus was casting demons were God's Covenant people. (Luk.13:16) And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham (It was a condition that she be a “daughter of Abraham,” otherwise, He would not have said it.), whom Satan had bound, lo, [these] eighteen years to have been loosed from this bond on the day of the sabbath? It says Satan bound this woman for eighteen years, yet it was a spirit of infirmity that was binding her. Well, all of these spirits, including spirits of infirmity, are under the authority of Satan. If a person repents, then that person is under the Blood and in Covenant with God, which we see is necessary in order to receive deliverance. Jesus told a group of Jews who were arguing with Him and claiming their father was Abraham, but Jesus said their father was not Abraham. He said in (Joh.8:44) Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do… They were doing his works; Jesus was judging them according to their works. If Satan bound a person for eighteen years, then the problem was not flesh; the problem was the devil. The Bible says, (Act.10:38) [Even] Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. It says, “healing all.” The reason they needed healing was that they were oppressed of the devil. Sickness is not just physical. Psychiatrists think that a problem is psychological, and physicians think that the problem is of the flesh. The Bible says that the problem is the devil and man's affinity for the devil. The problem is spiritual. God's Word says He “went about … healing all that were oppressed of the devil.” Most people want to treat the problem from the area of the physical, but this was not Jesus' method. He never “treated” anybody; He commanded them healed. He took authority over the devil. Even though sickness may not be a spirit of infirmity dwelling in the flesh, it still comes from the devil. For instance, Jesus went into Peter's house when his wife's mother was sick with a fever. (Luk.4:39) And He stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she rose up and ministered unto them. He rebuked the fever as though it were a “somebody.” While the fever was only a physical thing, there was a spiritual authority behind it that obeyed Jesus' command. It does not matter whether the demon causing the infirmity is on the outside or the inside; it still comes from the devil and needs to be treated spiritually. The reason why most people do not get their healing is because they are attacking it from a physical, rather than spiritual, direction. They have been deceived into thinking there is a physical answer to their problem, but God wants them to look for the spiritual reason behind the oppression and to receive the spiritual answer. Satan is called the “prince of the powers of the air.” (Ephesians 2:2) That's the first heaven, our realm. From the beginning, he has come in and out of the second-heaven realm to test us and to take captives, although he doesn't have a free will. God is the only Sovereign, but Jesus gave authority to His disciples and passed that authority on to us through them. (Mat.28:18) And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. (That doesn't leave the devil any authority or right to use power.) (19) Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations … (20) teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you… (Notice that we were given the same authority as they had.): and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. He will be with us in this authority to the end of the world, or “age.” The disciples He first spoke to are no longer here; we are the ones here at the “end of the world” and He delegated this authority over the enemy to all His brethren. (Luk.9:1) And he called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. Some say this power was only given to the apostles but in (Mat 28:19) Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations… 20  teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. So this is to us too.  (Luk.10:19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. We see that by the command of Jesus, the early disciples have passed this on to us. Satan only has the authority that God and His children give him. You can see from the pattern in Job chapters 1 and 2 that God is very particular as to what authority He has given the devil. On the other hand, God's children are very foolish in some ways. They give Satan authority that he shouldn't have through their disobedience, fear, and spoken words. Job admitted this, saying in (Job 3:25) For the thing which I fear cometh upon me, And that which I am afraid of cometh unto me. (26) I am not at ease, neither am I quiet, neither have I rest; But trouble cometh. God knew all of this and He does all things according to law, but He wanted and needed to test Job. God had perfect faith that Job would endure because He upheld Job and controlled Satan. The benefits were that Job learned some things about himself that he was quick to repent of and be delivered of. The testing of Job was extreme so that you may know that in your smaller tests, the Father can give you victory, too. (Job 1:7) And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. (8) And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil. (9) Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? (10) Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath, on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. (11) But put forth thy hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will renounce thee to thy face. (12) And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thy hand. (Notice this was a controlled test.) So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. (Job 1:13) And it fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house, (14) that there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them; (15) and the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away: yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. (16) While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. (17) While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have taken them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. (18) While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house; (19) and, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. (Job 1:20) Then Job arose, and rent his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped; (21) and he said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. (22) In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. (Job 2:2) And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. (3) And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil: and he still holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. (4) And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. (5) But put forth thy hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will renounce thee to thy face. (6) And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thy hand; only spare his life. (Job 2:7) So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. (8) And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself therewith; and he sat among the ashes. (9) Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still hold fast thine integrity? renounce God, and die. (10) But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. (Job 2:11) Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place: Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, and they made an appointment together to come to bemoan him and to comfort him. These so-called “friends” were the worst test, with their slander and railing against Job. God told them they had not spoken the truth in (Job 42:7) And it was so, that, after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends; for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. Like Joseph and David, and Jesus, Job was tested and came out blessed above measure. What are some principles we can take from Job's experience? First, do not fear Satan, his demons, or the people they use. (Mat.10:28) And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Second, do not release Satan by living in willful sin (Heb 10:26,27). He has authority to administer the curse to those who do this. Third, do not release Satan by your words against God's Word, and the other side of that is, do not release him by your words of faith in Satan and his power. (Mat.12:36) And I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. (37) For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Many preachers put fear in God's people through their reporting about the enemy's works because they do not let their words always be seasoned with grace to give faith to the hearer. (Col.4:6) Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one. We have been delegated authority from the Lord, but it is useless if we ignore these principles shown in Job. (Mat.18:18) Verily I say unto you, what things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (19) Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven. Since Satan has sown deceit, he is therefore reaping deceit. He thinks he can win against God, or he wouldn't even try. Through things that can be seen, Satan is threatening you with what he will do because carnal men believe what they can see. We know “The Destroyer” to be a demon called “Apollyon” (Revelation 9:11), but the Egyptians recorded that they looked up and saw a planet that they called “The Destroyer.” Satan attempts to make you fear and take full advantage of you. Because when you have fear, you are having faith in him and the curse. The powers-that-be are Satanists who know this principle of instilling fear in the heart of their victims, and so they tell us beforehand what they will do. Satan is saying through them that through technology such as microwave mind control and HAARP and other experiments, he is going to be able to torment you. When you believe him, he has authority. To some extent, we do need to know what the plans of the powers-that-be are; however, far more importantly, we need to know our authority over the devil and his works. We are not to stop the trial or test because our Lord has ordered it, but as with Job, we are to show that through faith in the Gospel, we are justified and given authority over all the power of the enemy. Just as Jesus did, we have authority to give people the gifts of God when they believe the Word. Now let me share a testimony from an anonymous sister in Christ.   Corrected from Researching Evil I am thanking God for the message about separation and sanctification called “Sanctification Before Blessing.” [This book is available on our website under UBM Books and in audio in our One-Hour archives.] Before I was born from above, I had been attacked in this area. I was considered “popular” in the world and the worldly church. Now in this time of seeking the Lord, learning how to be a disciple, there has been a lot of separation of people from us. First, it was people of the world separating from me. Then it was people of the worldly church. It is freeing to know that the LORD is doing this. It is biblical. I also thank God for the admonition to turn from NWO (New World Order) research. I had been getting snared in that research a lot lately. During prayer and confession with a sister, I heard the words, “Knowledge does not save. I save.” I had been having a battle against this lust of my carnal mind to know and to learn things. This lust brings a lot of rotten fruit, like paranoia, anxiety and fear. I was hearing, “There must be infiltrators in UBM. The Illuminati is everywhere.” I started getting cynical. You can't trust anyone! It was all a downward spiral into depression, irritation and despair. I felt myself getting puffed up. I was acting proud with people who didn't know what I knew, considering myself superior to the “sheeple.” Although I knew this attitude was pride and not of Christ, ingesting so much New World Order information kept overcoming the spirit man. This opened the door to other torments. It was destroying my faith. I would feel anxiety, worry, and fear. I would turn to other things to comfort me. The flesh would only grow so big. It was consuming me. So when I heard the teaching last night, I was listening to UBM on one window of my computer and reading some conspiracy information on another. I felt convicted. I closed the NWO research window when you, David Eells, spoke, feeling as if God had caught me red-handed. I repent! I understand now that I was feeling an uncleanness in my spirit because of learning what the wicked do in secret. (Eph.5:12) For the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of. What a trap and deception NWO research is! I thank the Lord for revealing and slaying this sin in me. By faith, I say I am freed from this lust! I am confessing this to the elders and the body, so that you will agree with me in prayer that this temptation is conquered. Bless you all in Jesus' Name. Thank you for being faithful to the Lord to rebuke and save us from death. Godly correction is a great blessing. It is a very peaceful feeling when you repent. You feel joyful, peaceful and unburdened. Amen! Researching the good Word has power to impute the Nature of Christ. Constant research of evil brings the opposite. We are not to study evil in any depth, like this testimony. It brings fear, and you cannot study evil enough to know every form of evil that Satan can throw at you. We are to study good so we will know evil when we see it and be able to do something about it. (Rom.16:19) For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I rejoice therefore over you: but I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple unto that which is evil. We don't need to know evil much, but we need to know the Good News much. The Lord says, (Isa.8:12) Say ye not, A conspiracy, concerning all whereof this people shall say, A conspiracy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be in dread [thereof]. [See more on conspiracies and conspiracy theories on our site: http://www.ubm1.org/?page=conspiracy.] Does all this mean that we are not to be concerned that the mad scientists and their handlers will open the gates of hell? What does Scripture say about this? (Mat.16:13) Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Who do men say that the Son of man is? (14) And they said, Some [say] John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. (15) He saith unto them, But who say ye that I am? (16) And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (Peter had just been given the foundational revelation that, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”) (17) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven. (18) And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church (The Greek word for church means the “called-out ones.”); and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Those who come out of the worldly church and its “mind of the flesh” will have a renewed mind and victory over the gates of Hell. We need to realize that it is not these men or their physical machines that bring Satan, the prince of the powers of the air, and his demons to fight against us. It is Our Father Who is bringing this so that we will overcome the devil as we defeat our flesh. We can see in Revelation that to beat him we must deny ourselves and be holy. (Rev.12:6) And the woman (the Church) fled into the wilderness (Tribulation), where she hath a place prepared of God, that there they (This is the Man-Child and Bride ministries.) may nourish her a thousand two hundred and threescore days (This is the Church in first half of the tribulation). (Rev.12:7) And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels [going forth] to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels; (8) And they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. (9) And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him. (10) And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuseth them before our God day and night. (11) And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death. (12) Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe for the earth and for the sea: because the devil is gone down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time. (Rev.12:13) And when the dragon saw that he was cast down to the earth, he persecuted the woman that brought forth the man [child]. (14) And there were given to the woman the two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness unto her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. (Here the Church will learn that when they conquer their flesh through faith in the Blood, they conquer and cast down Satan.) (15) And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman water as a river (flood of delusion), that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream. (16) And the earth (the worldly people) helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon cast out of his mouth. (The “earthly” bought the lies. We know if they buy it, it's wrong.) (17) And the dragon waxed wroth with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, that keep the commandments of God, and hold the testimony of Jesus. Notice that Satan failed against the true “come-outers.” He had to go after the latecomers to test them. Before the first three-and-a-half years of the Tribulation starts, which is when the Woman goes into the wilderness, Satan in the worldwide body of the dragon makes war against the worldwide body of the Man-Child, who is caught up to David's throne of authority over the Church. The Man-Child body is the first-fruits of those who will have the fullness (Colossians 1:27) … Christ in you, the hope of glory … by the Word and Spirit that lives in them. (Rev.12:3) And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads (These are the seed of all seven world-ruling empires.) and ten horns (the kings of all ten continental divisions of the earth in the end), and upon his heads seven diadems. (4) And his tail draweth the third part of the stars of heaven (the seed of Abraham), and did cast them to the earth (They lost their heavenly position in Christ.): and the dragon standeth before the woman that is about to be delivered, that when she is delivered he may devour her child. (5) And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne. (6) And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that there they may nourish her a thousand two hundred and threescore days. (3 ½ years.) Before the Tribulation, Satan is already in his dragon body and making a “Job's-friends” type slander-assassination war against these Man-Child “Davids,” because by conquering them, he may “devour” the Bride. However, he is failing now and will fail to “devour” them; he will fail to bring them into his body of the dragon on earth. As in the Book of Esther, the Bride is a small portion of the Church who was deemed more beautiful to the King (Esther 2:17) because she listened to His chamberlain, representing the Holy Spirit (Esther 2:15), and put on the “clothing,” or works, of Christ. Mordecai (whose name means “Little Man” or “Man-child”) and Esther, the bride overcame to conquer Haman and his army of Jew-haters as a type of Christian-haters to save God's people from this beast (Esther 6:13,7:10,10:3). David Wilkerson prophesied of this slander war, and we also received many warning dreams years before its coming. The Bride and Man-Child, as was Esther in the king's house, were the first-fruits to escape the beast. Then the Bride and Man-Child were used to give the rest of the Church authority from the King to stand for their lives against the antichrist assault (Esther 9:1-5,16). (Rom.13:12) The night is far spent, and the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. (Rom.13:14) But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts [thereof]. Put on the armor of God and stand for your lives, saints.

Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) gives us one of the first historical treatments of the life of Jesus in his pioneering book (1906) that reviews all prior work on the question of the "historical Jesus" and points out how Jesus of Nazareth's image has changed with the times—while offering his own synopsis and interpretation in this seminal work of biblical criticism. Quest of the Historical Jesus by A. Schweitzer at https://amzn.to/4jwQoJm New Testament versions available at https://amzn.to/43KBXN9 ENJOY Ad-Free content, Bonus episodes, and Extra materials when joining our growing community on https://patreon.com/markvinet SUPPORT this channel by purchasing any product on Amazon using this FREE entry LINK https://amzn.to/3POlrUD (Amazon gives us credit at NO extra charge to you). Mark Vinet's HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICA podcast: www.parthenonpodcast.com/history-of-north-america Mark's video channel: https://youtube.com/c/TIMELINE_MarkVinet Website: https://markvinet.com/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.vinet.9 Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoricalJesu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denarynovels Mark's Books: https://amzn.to/3k8qrGM Audio Credit: The Quest of the Historical Jesus by Albert Schweitzer (LibriVox, read by JoeD).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this podcast episode we examine Jesus Christ's departure from Nazareth. Although he grew up there, he had to make a dificulte decision to move on. In Nazareth they tried to kill him. Conflicted with loyalty to the past, he made a decision to go to Capernaum. Capernaum became the base of his ministry and success. In Nazareth they tried to throw him off of a cliff, in Capernaum they tore the roof off to get to his gifting. All of us must make a decision to move to Capernaum. In Nazareth they sabotage greatness, in Capernaum they support greatness. It is time to made Capernaum our home.

In this podcast episode we examine Jesus Christ's departure from Nazareth to Capernaum. Although Jesus grew up in Nazareth, they were not tolerate of his ministry and even tried to kill him. He made the difficult decision to move his basis of ministry to a city more accepting. Although he made a major investment into Nazareth, he had to move on to bigger and brighter things in Capernaum. In Nazareth they tried to throw him off of a cliff, in Capernaum they tore the roof to get to his gifting. It is time for you to move to Capernaum. In Nazareth they sabotage, in Capernaum they support.

Jesus Set Us FreeIsaiah 61:1-3 “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,  to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”While searching for verses on joy, I came across Isaiah 61:3. However, upon reading it, I could tell it was missing context. When I started with verse 1, I knew we all needed to hear all three of these verses. Let's start at the beginning. The prophet Isaiah is prophetically speaking for the Messiah, and the Messiah is letting the people know that he is blessed and empowered by the Spirit of the Lord God. I looked up these verses on enduringword.com's commentary page. I am so glad I did because it gives such a deeper understanding of this verse. I didn't know this was talking about Jesus.Reading this verse on its own, I did not remember that this was the verse Jesus read in Luke 4. In Luke 4:16-22, Jesus spoke in the synagogue of Nazareth, His hometown. He opened up the scroll to Isaiah 61 – perhaps an assigned reading, perhaps chosen by Him – and read from the beginning of the chapter through the first line of verse 2. When He sat down, He simply said Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. Jesus is the person described in Isaiah 61:1-3, and He is the one the Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon.The commentary goes on to say that “as Christians under the New Covenant, we also have an anointing: But you have an anointing from the Holy One (1 John 2:20). In the New Testament sense, anointing has the idea of being filled with, and blessed by, the Holy Spirit. This is something that is the common property of all Christians, but something we can and should become more submitted and responsive to.” This is reminding us that we all have the Holy Spirit living inside of us. This means we are all anointed and we have an anointing on our lives. How many of us know this? How many of us are attentive to the Holy Spirit living inside of us? Are you listening to it? Are we responding to it? Are we letting it lead us in our everyday lives?We do not all have the same anointing on our lives. We are all called to do different things. We are all blessed with different talents and different personalities, and God uses us accordingly. However, He sometimes also uses us for things that don't align with our talents or personalities. Like when He asked Moses to lead his people out of Egypt, even though Moses wasn't good at public speaking. If God is calling you to do something, he will equip you with all you need to do it.The next part of these verse is showing us the ministry or mission of the Messiah. Jesus came to:To preach good tidings to the poor. Jesus came to announce that he is hear to heal the damage that sin brings. Sin has done a lot of damage over the many years since Adam and Eve, and so there needs to be a great work of redemption.He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted because sin breaks hearts, when he redeems us he will heal the brokenhearted.To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound. Jesus sets us free from the captivity that we find ourselves in when we sin. Jesus takes that sin to the cross with Him. Freeing us from the chains of the evil one. I had at first written forever freeing us, but then I thought about it. Jesus definitely defeated evil once and for all; however, it may still be a daily battle for us. We still need to choose to live in that freedom. The devil is really good at convincing us not to live in that freedom. He convinces us that we don't deserve that freedom, and when we let the enemy convince us that we don't deserve this freedom, then we live in captivity. We live in the prison that Jesus died on the cross to save us from.To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God. This part I will read right from the commentary as I am learning right along side you. It says, “Significantly, Jesus stopped reading before this sentence. He stopped in the middle of the prophecy, because to proclaim…the day of vengeance of our God is relevant to His Second Coming, not to His first coming. The comma in year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance has stood for almost 2,000 years. This shows us something of the nature of Biblical prophecy: it may “shift gears” and time frames quickly and without warning.ii. We can compare a whole year of grace to a single day of vengeance.”One thing I do want to point out is that this is a Jubilee Year. It talks about how Jesus came to proclaim it an acceptable year to the Lord, or a year of the Lord's favor. Well, the year I am writing this episode has also been declared a Jubilee year. A Jubilee year is a holy year of the forgiveness of sin, conversion, and joyful celebration. Jubilee years typically come around every 25 or 50 years. This is a special year and we are called to participate in it.Here is what the commentary says about this last part. “The extent of the comfort and restoration is beautifully described. Instead of the ashes of mourning, He gives His people beauty. Instead of the mourning itself, He gives His people the oil of joy. Instead of the spirit of heaviness, He gives His people the garment of praise. Why do we sit in the ashes? Why do we mourn? Why do we indulge the spirit of heaviness when Jesus gave us something so much better?The word "beauty" evokes a beautiful crown or head ornament. It is translated exquisite hats in Exodus 39:28 and headdresses in Isaiah 3:20. In mourning, ashes would be cast upon the head (2 Samuel 13:19). Here, the ashes are replaced with a beautiful crown.That they may be called trees of righteousness: The restored place of God's people is glorious. They are as strong, beautiful, and useful as trees – and trees of righteousness at that. Most wonderfully, when people look at the trees, they see they are the planting of the LORD.Well, that certainly wasn't what I thought I would be talking about today. However, I think we all needed this reminder as to why Jesus came to us. It is good to be reminded of what His mission was because we are all tasked with that same mission. What can we do to help carry out His mission? Is there a way we can set someone free today? Is there some way we can remind them that Jesus has already set them free and all they need to do is accept his gift? Can we remind people they are loved and they have already been set free from their sin? They no longer have to be held captive by what they did or didn't do. All they need to do is remind themselves that Jesus's sacrifice was enough to cover all they have done.I love when the commentary asks, “Why do we sit in ashes? Why do we mourn? Why do we sit in the spirit of heaviness when Jesus gave us so much more? I will leave you with these questions to reflect on and pray about today.Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening to this episode. Lord, we love you and we ask that you bless us and remind us that you have already saved us. Lord, help us to understand that this is a jubilee year and that we can make the most of it. Lord, help us to accept your forgiveness and to live in the freedom that you won for us. We love you Lord and we ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus's holy name, Amen!Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus. I think I forgot to add the link to register for my retreat in the show notes yesterday. I will make sure it is there today so you can check out all the details. I hope you can join me. This may be the last year at this location, and it is a great location. I hope you don't miss out. I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow. Remember, Jesus loves you, just as you are, and so do I! Have a blessed day!Today's Word from the Lord was received in January 2025 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email CatholicCharismaticPrayerGroup@gmail.com. Today's Word from the Lord is, “My word is powerful, life-giving, eternal, changing hearts. It will not return to me void. Spread my word.” www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

Chris Timson // Nathanael didn't hide his doubts—he voiced them openly, questioning if anything good could come from Nazareth. But when he met Jesus, he was met not with shame, but with grace that saw him fully and invited him into something far greater than he expected.Visit Our Website summitchurchfl.org Follow Us on Social Media Facebook // InstagramWatch Online Services and More YouTube Subscribe for weekly sermon podcasts!

Join us as we rank and review every single Sleep Token album! Hear our wildly differing opinions on the band as we discuss everything Sleep Token, from Vessel's unique voice to their attempts at genre fusion, the lore, and more. Surely, the feedback to this episode will be very level-headed and rational!Join our Patreon for bonus content and more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the discourse!TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DiscogDiscourse⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discog_Pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠discog.discourse⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Time Codes:0:00 - Intro2:35 - Shoutouts12:17 - 5th place 27:57 - 4th place48:38 - 3rd place1:01:27 - 2nd place1:24:58 - 1st place1:39:05 - Patreon ListsSongs used in this episode:Alkaline, Chokehold, Emergence, Look To Windward, Nazareth, The Offering, The SummoningSleep Token's albums are:One (EP), Two (EP), Sundowning, This Place Will Become Your Tomb, Take Me Back To Eden, Even In Arcadia

Discover the transformative power of being truly seen. This message explores how Jesus' interaction with a skeptical Nathanael reveals God's intimate knowledge and love for each of us. Nathanael initially questioned whether anything good could come from Nazareth—but his skepticism dissolved when Jesus demonstrated supernatural knowledge of his private moment under a fig tree. That personal recognition led to Nathanael's immediate confession of faith. The message dives into how Jesus sees past our carefully constructed masks to our authentic selves—and how the experience of being fully known yet fully loved can change everything. It explores the difference between seeking Jesus and being seen by Him, and offers practical guidance on how to position ourselves to receive God's love. This teaching connects Nathanael's story to Jacob's ladder in Genesis, showing how Jesus fulfills the ancient promise of connection between heaven and earth. It addresses common struggles with authenticity, fear of rejection, and the challenge of believing we are truly loved by God. Whether you're a skeptic like Nathanael or a longtime believer, this message offers fresh insight into how Jesus meets us exactly where we are, sees our true selves, and loves what He sees. Learn how to create space for divine encounters, recognize God's voice of love in your daily life, and extend that same seeing and loving to those around you.This sermon was recorded at a Sunday morning gathering at Church of the Lookout in Longmont, Colorado.Visit our websiteFollow us on FacebookFollow us on Instagram

A Sermon for the Fifth Sunday after Trinity St. Luke 5:1-11 by William Klock Our Gospels during these first few Sundays of Trinitytide—so far—have all had us following Jesus as he made his way to Jerusalem to observe the Passover for the last time.  But today's Gospel—from the Fifth Chapter of Luke—takes us back to the beginning of Jesus' ministry—those early days when he was travelling around the region of Galilee a long way from Jerusalem.  Luke gives a series of vignettes in Chapter 4.  Every sabbath, he writes, Jesus was teaching in the synagogues.  He read from Isaiah one sabbath in his hometown synagogue in Nazareth and then he told the people, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your own hearing!”  The people were so angry that they tried to stone him and he fled from the town.  So he went to Capernaum and taught in the synagogue there.  That's where a demon-possessed man stood up and shouted at Jesus: “I know who you are.  You're God's holy one!”  And just to prove it, Jesus then cast out the demon and word went out throughout the whole region.  On another sabbath, after preaching in the synagogue, he was invited to the house of Simon Peter.  Peter's mother-in-law was sick with a high fever.  Jesus rebuked the fever and straightaway she recovered and served them lunch.  Pretty soon everyone who was sick or who had a demon showed up and Jesus healed them all.  And because of that, no matter where Jesus went, Luke writes, the crowds hunted for him.  And that's how today's Gospel begins.  One day Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret.  Finally a moment of peace.  An early morning walk on the beach.  He found a little cove.  The shores of Gennesaret (or Galilee as it's otherwise known) are full of little coves.  He watched as the fishermen dragged their boats ashore after a night of hard work.  But then someone came down the trail to the beach.  And he saw Jesus.  And he went running back up the trail out of sight shouting, “He's here!  He's here!  I've found him!”  And others began to follow the man back down the trail to the beach.  And more and more until another crowd had gathered and was pressing in on Jesus.  They had seen for themselves or they had heard the stories of the amazing things the God of Israel was doing through Jesus and they wanted to see more.  They wanted to hear more of the good news that Jesus was proclaiming. But it was no good trying to preach from the middle of the crowd.  People kept interrupting them with their problems.  Even if he could get a few words out, the crowd just couldn't hear him.  So Jesus had an idea.  Sound travels wonderfully over water and the little beach cove was a perfect amphitheatre.  So he made his way down to the water where he'd seen the two boats, and got into one of them, and standing there, he called to one of the fishermen.  Jesus recognised the man.  It was the same fellow who'd invited him to lunch after the synagogue service.  It was the same fellow whose mother-in-law he'd healed.  “Hey you!  Was it Simon or Peter or Simon Peter.  Yes, this is your boat isn't it?  Row me out a little way from the land.”  Maybe Peter felt like he owed Jesus something or maybe he was flattered that Jesus had chosen his boat and remembered him from the other day.  Whatever the case, Peter set aside his net, got in the boat, and rowed Jesus out into the middle of the cove.  And Luke says that Jesus sat down in the boat and began to teach the crowd. It was probably some version of Jesus' favourite sermon.  Luke has preserved one version of that sermon that we sometimes hear called “The Sermon on the Plain”—because Jesus preached it in a flat, open place, but mostly because it contrasts with the version preserved by Matthew, where Jesus preached from a hillside.  We call that version “The Sermon on the Mount”.  That's the sermon where Jesus preaches about the kingdom of God.  It's the sermon in which he calls the people of Israel to trust in the Lord because he never fails to provide.  He clothes the flowers of the field that wither tomorrow.  He feeds the birds so that they have no need to worry.  How much more important are you—the Lord's elect, chosen, called covenant people—than flowers and birds?  So stop worrying and trust him.  Pursue, seek his kingdom above everything else, and trust him to take care of you.  Israel had struggled for forever with idolatry—in one form or another—instead of trusting in and giving her full allegiance to the Lord.  That's what got them exiled to Babylon.  The Pharisees were right.  That idolatry and fickle faith was what kept them in a sort of in-house exile in their own time.  So, in other words, Jesus is saying to the people of Israel: Give the Lord your allegiance.  Give your all to his agenda: to holiness, to being light in the darkness, stop being so fickle.  You do that and, just as he promised, the Lord will take care of you—he'll even pour out his blessings on you. And Peter sat there right in front of Jesus, holding the oars, keeping the boat in position and Jesus facing the shore, and he listened.  The Bible doesn't tell us anything about Peter's past, but just like anyone else, he had one.  I don't think Peter was any great or notorious sinner or anything like that.  Reading between the lines, I think it's safe to conclude that he was just your ordinary, average Judean who obeyed torah as best he could, who celebrated Passover with his family every year, who went to the temple in Jerusalem as required—at least most of the time.  But he knew he wasn't perfect.  He could be impetuous at times.  He could fly off the handle.  But most of all, as Jesus preached, I think Peter was convicted of his own fickleness.  He tithed, but sometimes he did so grudgingly.  He kept the sabbath, but sometimes he worried where the money was going to come from when he took off that one day a week from fishing.  Some days, especially in the summer, sunset on Saturday just couldn't come soon enough for Peter so he could get back to work. Jesus got Peter thinking.  Did he really trust in the Lord?  Or did Peter trust in Peter?  Had he really given his full allegiance to the God of Israel or was Peter really serving Peter?  And Peter mulled on these things as Jesus finished speaking and said to him, “Put out into the deeper part, and let down your nets for a catch.”   Peter was still playing through in his head what Jesus had been saying about trusting the Lord and giving him his full allegiance.  This snapped him out of it.  No more introspection.  It's like Jesus knew what he was thinking.  Peter didn't really want to let down his nets.  He'd fished all night and they hadn't caught anything.  They certainly weren't going to catch anything in the daylight.  That's because they fished with nets made of linen.  The fish could see them in the day, but they'd swim right into them in the dark at night.  And Peter had just finished cleaning and mending his nets.  Now he'd have to clean them—and if they hit a snag, maybe mend them too—all over again.  Peter was born and bred to fishing.  He knew everything there was to know about it.  He knew the habits of fish, he knew about nets, he knew about the seasons, the time of day, and the play of light in the water.  He knew about boats.  He knew about marketing and selling fish.  He was a fisherman!  And if First Century fishermen were anything like Twenty-first Century fishermen, the last thing you'd want to do with Peter is start an argument over fishing—especially if you're not a fisherman.  And, of course, Jesus was not.  His father had taught him the carpentry and the building trade. Peter really, really didn't want to cast his net into the water again and he wouldn't have for anyone else.  But this was Jesus.  Just like everyone else, Peter wasn't quite sure exactly what to make of him, but he'd not only heard the stories; he'd seen it for himself.  His mother-in-law had been on the verge of death, but Jesus made her well—so well that virtually instantly she was up serving them lunch.  And so he says to Jesus, “Master”.  Let me pause there.  Master is okay, but it might not be the best translation.  In the Gospels people address Jesus as “teacher” or “rabbi” or even as “lord”, but unique in Luke's Gospel, people occasionally address him as epistata.  An epistates is someone in charge, someone with authority.  The ten lepers address Jesus as epistata.  The disciples, when they were in the boat being tossed around by the storm, addressed him as epistata.  That's how Peter addresses Jesus here.  “We were working hard all night and caught nothing.  But okay, Master.  You're the boss, you're calling the shots here.  So if you say so, I'll let down the nets.”   Peter sounds like he's letting down his nets grudgingly.  I wonder if that's how it really was.  He's been convicted in his own heart of how he's been half-hearted in serving the Lord.  He's just been hearing Jesus preach about God taking care of flowers and birds.  Or something along those lines, because we know Jesus liked to preach on that topic.  It was exactly what fickle, half-hearted Israel needed to hear.  So Peter probably didn't want to go through the hassle of letting down his nets again, but I think he wanted to trust that through Jesus, the God of Israel really would look after him.  Jesus might not know anything about fishing, but Peter had seen that Jesus had authority and that he took charge of things—whether demons or blindness or sickness or even the fish in the sea.  He could see, plain as day, that the God of Israel was working through Jesus.  Peter was thinking on those words: “Seek first the kingdom of God and all these thing will be added to you.” I think the main reason Luke records these words from Peter about having fished all night and caught nothing is that he wants to remind us that this is the way the Lord works.  Jesus is telling Peter to fish at the worst possible time to fish.  Jesus does this throughout the Gospels.  He hears that Lazarus is sick and near to death, but then he waits three days before going—time enough for Lazarus to be well and truly dead.  So instead of healing Lazarus from sickness, he raises him from the dead and calls him out of his tomb.  Or think of the woman who was bleeding for twelve years or the man who was blind from birth.  In that last instance Jesus had the opportunity to explain why these things happened.  The disciples with their conventional wisdom assumed that either the man or his parents were great sinners and that the Lord had punished him with blindness.  But Jesus said that, no, the man was born blind that God might reveal his glory.  Because that's how the God of Israel works and Israel is the chief example.  The Lord allowed his people to become slaves in Egypt so that he might display his glory both to them and to the watching nations.  In the events of the Exodus the God of Israel exposed the king and the gods of Egypt as frauds, totally lacking the great power and authority they claimed to have.  The God of Israel single-handedly beat the gods of Egypt at their own games and humbled mighty Pharaoh—the greatest king on earth—and drowned his army in the sea.  And at the same time, in Israel, he created a people who would forever be singing his praises and announcing his glory to the nations.  All because they had watched him do the impossible.  Every newborn baby boy was circumcised and, in that, he was given the sign of God's covenant promise.  And every year the fathers of Israel led their families as they ate the Passover meal and recalled the Lord's promises and the glory he displayed on their behalf in the Exodus. Jesus was doing the same thing.  He had come to lead the people in a new exodus and along the way, he was acting out that exodus, that divine deliverance as he did the impossible—and the more impossible the better, because the more power and authority it displayed.  Why had Peter (and James and John, his partners) why had they been skunked that night?  I don't know.  Maybe Peter said something unkind to his wife before leaving that night.  Maybe he'd shorted the Lord in his tithing that week.  Maybe he'd dallied too long with that dancing girl the day before.  Maybe Peter thought his empty nets were punishment for some sin.  But if he'd asked Jesus, “Why did I toil all night and catch nothing?  Did I sin?”  Jesus would have said, “No, Peter.  It was so that the Lord, the God of Israel, would be glorified.” And that's exactly what happens.  Luke writes, beginning at verse 6 that when they let down their nets, they caught such a huge number of fish that their nets began to break.  Usually they'd fish all night for a catch that wouldn't break their nets, but now Peter let down his net and before he could even pull it back into the boat to keep from becoming over-full of fish, the catch was so great that it strained the integrity of the net.  I assume it was just he and Jesus in the boat and he and Jesus were, themselves, straining to pull the net in.  They signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, Luke writes.  So they came, and filled both the boats, and they began to sink.   And right there, in a sinking boat, with fish wriggling all around them, Luke writes that Peter took stock of everything that had just happened.  He fell down at Jesus' knees.  “Depart from me, Lord!” he said, “Because I'm a sinful man!”  James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon Peter's partners were just as amazed, Luke writes.  But being in the other boat, they couldn't kneel at Jesus' knees.  But Peter knelt there convicted of his sins by this amazing display of God's glory.  I found myself asking this week why Peter didn't have this same reaction when Jesus healed his mother-in-law.  Why was Peter's mother-in-law sick?  For the same reason: so that Jesus could display the glory of the God of Israel.  Presumably Peter was impressed when he saw the healing.  But it didn't impact him the way the multitude of fish did.  And maybe that's because Peter was a fisherman, not a doctor.  It highlight the fact that God gets to each of us in different ways to convict us of sin and to move us to faith.  Every one of us has a different story of how God got hold of us.  That, too, is how he works.  But one way or another, each of us has been amazed and captivated by the glory of God. Our reactions to that revelation are often different too.  Some people encountered God's glory and were moved to faith as Jesus wiped away their tears.  Peter, however, is met by that glory and is moved to tears.  He knew how the prophets had preached about the coming judgement of Israel for her sins.  He'd heard Jesus preach—not just the warm-fuzzies, but also the announcement of soon-coming judgement.  And when he saw the glory of God, when he experienced the presence of the holy, Peter found himself overwhelmed by his own sinfulness.  He knew he didn't belong in the presence of the holy.  He knew he belonged with those people who would find themselves in the outer darkness weeping and gnashing their teeth.  He responded just like Isaiah when he found himself in the presence of the holiness of God.  Remember Isaiah.  He cried out, “Woe is me!  For I am lost.  For I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.  For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:5).  But it was just as Isaiah acknowledged his sinfulness that an angel flew down to touch his lips with a cleansing and holy fire.  The angel announced that his guilt had departed and that his sin had been blotted out.  And when the Lord called out, “Whom shall I send?  Who will go for us?  Who will proclaim my message to Israel?”  Isaiah cried out, “Here I am!  Send me!” And it's that scene all over again in that sinking fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee with fish wriggling all around.  Peter knelt there shaking at Jesus kneels and Jesus said, “Don't be afraid.  From now on you'll be catching men!”  Jesus is, himself, the holy fire who purifies us from our sins. Now, it doesn't come across in our English translations, but when Jesus says that Peter will be catching men, that “catching” isn't usually a word associated with fishing.  It has the sense of catching someone or something alive—like a warrior catching an enemy, but sparing his life.  There's a reason behind Jesus' odd choice of words.  What he's doing is echoing the words of Jeremiah 16.  There, through the Prophet, the Lord announced the judgement that was about to come on the people of Judea for their unfaithfulness and their idolatry.  The Babylonians would come and none would escape.  The Lord says, “I am sending for many fishers, declares the Lord, and they shall catch them…For my eyes are on their ways.  They are not hidden from me, nor is their iniquity concealed form my eyes.”  Jesus draws on the common Greek translation of the prophet.  He uses the same word: catch.  The people of Judea in those days wouldn't be killed, but neither would they escape the judgement of exile.  But now Jesus flips the imagery around.  The people of Judah are still in their long exile, still experiencing the punishment brought by their sins, but now the Lord will send fishers again, this time to catch sinners and to rescue them alive from the coming judgement.  What was in Jeremiah's day an image of the Lord's judgement on sinners, Jesus now turns into an image of God's mercy for them.  As Jesus says in John's Gospel, “God did not send the son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world could be saved by him.”  That's what Jesus has come to do.  And even though only he can go to the cross to accomplish the redemption of sinners, he's not going on this fishing trip alone.  He's calling Peter (and James and John and eventually a whole host of men and women that we call the church) to go fishing with him, to catch men and women that they—that we—might be delivered from our sins and from the coming judgement. How much of this did Peter understand that day?  Probably not much.  But what he did know is that in Jesus the God of Israel was at work.  He knew that judgement was inevitable and he knew that somehow and in some way the Lord was making deliverance possible through Jesus.  He had seen the glory of the Lord and there was no going back.  And so, Luke writes, They brought their boats to land, then they abandoned everything and followed him.   Peter walked away from all of it.  The boats, the net, the sea, the fish.  They had been his source of security.  That's what he'd trusted.  But he heard that reminder from Jesus: Seek first God's kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.  If the Lord could fill his nets to bursting just to make this point, Peter was ready to trust him with everything—to give his full allegiance to Jesus the Messiah.  If God could do this, he could do anything.  And so Peter gave his allegiance to the Lord Jesus.  And he knew hardship and he knew persecution and eventually he would even come to know martyrdom.  His faith and his love for Jesus would eventually lead him from Jerusalem all the way to Rome and all along the way he proclaimed the glory of God.  All the way he proclaimed the good news that Jesus died to forgive sins and rose to restore God's life to us and to the world, and that this Jesus is the Lord of all who shows us the glory of his Father.  Peter went out into the world to challenge the fake gods and the fake kings in whom we trust, and proclaimed the crucified and risen Lord so that everyone would know the glory of the one, true God.  Peter eventually died for that message.  But Peter knew that his risen Lord was master over death itself, just as he'd been master over all those fish that one morning years before.  And so he trusted Jesus' promise: Seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness—even if it means martyrdom—and he will take care of you. Let's pray: Father, you have called us and made us your people.  You send us out, like Simon Peter, to fish for people that they might know the life of your kingdom.  When we're tempted to protest, thinking that we are unworthy of the task, that we are too sinful, that we aren't up to it, remind us that in Jesus you have forgiven us, that you have made us holy, that you have filled us with your Spirit, and that you have given us this remarkable and irresistible story to tell the world, this story of your goodness, your love, your grace, your mercy, and your faithfulness.  Your glory.  Give us the grace to do the work of your kingdom as we trust in your faithfulness to us and to all who hear it.  Amen.

So say the Founding Fathers of this great country in 1776, the Creator of all and all things endowed every human being so born with unalienable rights. Those rights, God-given, could not be changed or eliminated in any way by mankind. They were part of the DNA, the genetic inheritance of every man and woman at birth and through all of life. Those unalienable rights were the cornerstone of the new nation, that which made America the shining light on the hill, an example to all mankind and all nations, making America both different and better, a model of hope and understanding for all.LIFE. The Declaration of Independence prioritized life, that all should live life to the fullest. The Great Creator, God the Father, fully agreed. The Son of that Father was the epitome of that life. Even as the Founding Fathers were concerned with life here, and the natural laws which protected that life, then came a higher law, the highest moral law, in the person of Jesus Christ. He told us that whoever finds Him, finds life, real life, a life which no natural law can give. He told us that He was the Bread of Life, that partaking of the Bread and Blood would transform any human life and bring it to the next level.The Founding Fathers took their inspiration for life, at least to some extent, from Him. But the life promised by Jesus Christ was not only for here and now, but for eternity:ETERNAL LIFE.To be sure, life here should be an abundant life, so He said, “And the Christ of Glory, Jesus of Nazareth, was concerned that our joy might be full, again, here and hereafter.” The resurrection promised us that new life, a saving proposition which formed the belief of many of the Founding Fathers. There was, said to Christ, the BOOK OF LIFE in which the name of all who believe would be written. That was the written indication of the guarantee of life eternal. Natural law and all that was envisioned by the Founding Fathers was taken to the next level, the highest possible moral level, by Jesus Christ. What a blessing to have a life abundant here, but much more importantly, to firmly and confidently expect life eternal THERE, and with Him.LIBERTY/FREEDOM. The great revolutionary Patrick Henry said:“GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH.”For him, not to live free was worse than death. To live forever under British rule and yoke was intolerable, as bad or even worse than death. No matter the cost, all colonists, all Americans, had to live free no matter what. But there was a higher freedom. Then came the Son, the only one who can really set anyone FREE. No human being could live to the fullest without absolute freedom of:CHOICETHOUGHTACTIONBELIEFThey, all of them, were part of the unalienable rights of the Declaration of IndependenceNo man or woman could live without the Truth. But, with the higher law, the Christ of Glory promised all that HE was the way, and the TRUTH, and the life. He not only brought joy through salvation, here and now, but freedom, here and eternally, from all transgressions and sin. His spirit, the Holy Spirit, came to strengthen, admonish, and encourage us as we lived and walked with Him. Real freedom, the only liberty, which was total and complete, was only found in the:SAVING GRACE OF JESUS CHRIST.HAPPINESS. There was the necessity for full life, there was the necessity for liberty, and there was the necessity for every human being to engage for his or her life in the:PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.Happiness as that individual defined it. That was the unalienable right of every human being. But then came the higher law, through the Holy Person.Then came the One who brought real joy, real happiness, and showed the way to life abundant here, and with the promise of even more hereafter. This man, our Lord, was so determined to teach us the meaning of happiness and life abundant that He gave His life for that purpose. He admonished us to be cheerful, happy, we were to have fun, and joy, the very best of this life, knowing that the ultimate joy, the higher law, that which was above the natural law, was yet to be fulfilled, but would be so for all eternity. Ultimate joy and happiness would only be accomplished as we live with Him eternally. Some, perhaps many of the Founding Fathers, believed this.We who believe in our Lord Jesus Christ and His higher laws of life, liberty, and happiness can well sing the song HAPPY AM I, JESUS LOVES ME. We can also sing I AM HAPPY IN THE SERVICE OF THE KING because we are in that service and it does provide ultimate fulfillment and happiness.We then should be extremely grateful, thankful, to those revolutionaries, those Founding Fathers, who gave us the great Declaration of Independence and, the Constitution of 1787, our Founding Documents, and the freedoms, the unalienable rights, which they granted to colonists then, and to all of us Americans here and now. Thank you, all 56 of those great men who gave us the Declaration of Independence.We, their heirs and successors, have received and lived the fruits of those blessings and we owe them the highest debt of human gratitude. But there is more, and we have that. There are laws and rights higher than the natural laws of 1776. There is life, there is liberty, and there is happiness and joy, all from HIM and we who believe in Him can partake of the very best here and now, this life, but with far greater expectation of what is to come in the next life.WITH HIM!

Discipleship is about pursuing people intentionally with the love of Christ and helping them move toward spiritual transformation. The call is to invest deeply in individuals, often one at a time, and to meet both spiritual and physical needs. Evangelism is not reserved for special events but happens in everyday moments. “We just give away what we have. We just give away Jesus Christ of Nazareth. I don't have a dime, but you can give them Jesus,” Mike said, emphasizing […] The post We Are Disciple Makers appeared first on Revival Life Church Boca Raton, FL.

Father Edward Looney reads and comments on The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich.Day 59Volume 1JESUS BEGINS HIS PUBLIC TEACHINGChapter 14: Jesus in NazarethChapter 15: Jesus Rejects Three Rich Youths. He Confounds Many Learned Men In The Synagogue Of NazarethLEARN MORE - USE COUPON CODE ACE25 FOR 25% OFFThe Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations: From the Visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich Four-Book Set -https://bit.ly/3QVreIsThe Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich - https://bit.ly/4bPsxRmThe Life and Revelations of Anne Catherine Emmerich Two-Book Set - https://bit.ly/3yxaLE5The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich -https://bit.ly/3wTRsULMary Magdalen in the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich - https://bit.ly/4brYEXbThe Mystical City of God Four-Book Set - https://bit.ly/44Q9nZbOur Lady of Good Help: Prayer Book for Pilgrims -https://bit.ly/3Ke6O9SThe Life of Jesus Christ in a Year: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich is a podcast from TAN that takes you through one of the most extraordinary books ever published. Follow along daily as Father Edward Looney works his way through the classic four-volume set, The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations, by reading a passage from the book and then giving his commentary. Discover the visions of the famous 19th-century Catholic mystic, Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, a nun who was privileged by God to behold innumerable events of biblical times.Anne Catherine's visions included the birth, life, public ministry, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as the founding of His Church. Besides describing persons, places, events, and traditions in intimate detail, she also sets forth the mystical significance of these visible realities. Here is the infinite love of God incarnate and made manifest for all to see, made all the more striking and vivid by the accounts Blessed Anne has relayed.Listen and subscribe to The Life of Jesus Christ in a Year: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich on your favorite podcast platform or at EmmerichPodcast.com.And for more great ways to deepen your faith, check out all the spiritual resources available at TANBooks.com and use Coupon Code ACE25 for 25% off your next order.

Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) gives us one of the first historical treatments of the life of Jesus in his pioneering book (1906) that reviews all prior work on the question of the "historical Jesus" and points out how Jesus of Nazareth's image has changed with the times—while offering his own synopsis and interpretation in this seminal work of biblical criticism. Quest of the Historical Jesus by A. Schweitzer at https://amzn.to/4jwQoJm New Testament versions available at https://amzn.to/43KBXN9 ENJOY Ad-Free content, Bonus episodes, and Extra materials when joining our growing community on https://patreon.com/markvinet SUPPORT this channel by purchasing any product on Amazon using this FREE entry LINK https://amzn.to/3POlrUD (Amazon gives us credit at NO extra charge to you). Mark Vinet's HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICA podcast: www.parthenonpodcast.com/history-of-north-america Mark's video channel: https://youtube.com/c/TIMELINE_MarkVinet Website: https://markvinet.com/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.vinet.9 Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoricalJesu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denarynovels Mark's Books: https://amzn.to/3k8qrGM Audio Credit: The Quest of the Historical Jesus by Albert Schweitzer (LibriVox, read by JoeD).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Children are contrasted to a blind beggar while an unnamed rich ruler is contrasted to a rich tax collector. The problem: This man named Zacchaeus, meaning “righteous”, does not measure up to righteousness. Luke affirms this by telling us that the man is short in stature. This is not just height, but even morality or significance.As Jesus approaches Jericho on the way to Jerusalem, he has two significant encounters. Two men encounter Christ. First, there is a blind beggar who cannot see, but perceives that Jesus is not from Nazareth, but he is the Son of David. He is blind, but correctly perceives that Jesus is the promised redeemer king who was covenanted to David in 2 Samuel 7.The other figure is a wealthy tax collector. This man parallels the poor man in the sense that the crowd is a barrier; they tell the tax collector to be silent, but the blind man and the rich tax collector correctly perceive Christ. They perceive that Christ is the messiah, the giver of true life, and the great equalizer. It is not about what one owns, but it is about being identified as a Son of Abraham. That is, one who is in Christ by faith in the power of the Spirit.The stage of this encounter cannot be ignored. The city is identified as Jericho. This is the first city that the Lord put before Israel on their campaign to seize the land in full holy war. They marched around the walls, they entered the city, and carried out the picture of final judgment. They destroyed everything except the one unclean prostitute who followed God over man.When Christ enters this city, we see a different campaign. Jesus is the new Joshua. In fact, Jesus is the Greek or New Testament name for the Hebrew name Joshua. It means Yahweh saves. Israel, the pedagogue, teaches us about final judgment, but also that man will not subdue this creation. The mission is a failed mission that ends in multiple exiles and God's people being pragmatic sellouts rather than victorious warriors. This is the fate of fallen man.There is only one way for the Lord to secure his glorified kingdom. It is in the Son of Man/Son of David who must go to the cross. It is in his people emptying themselves as the true sons of Abraham. The true children of the promise who sojourn by faith, in the power of the Spirit, seeing their identity in the true heavenly vision of peace. The earthly Jerusalem is destroyed, and now we sojourn through this age as suffering pilgrims. Our lives are grounded in Christ, we seek to live a peaceful and quiet life honoring him, and we wait for his return. This is why Christ comes as the suffering son of man and returns as the glorified Son of David.Our call is to journey through this age in the power of the Holy Spirit, who grants us heaven's power, orients us in the true vision of peace (Jerusalem), and grounds us in our savior. Let us empty ourselves of significance in his age and find our significance in our savior. It is truly a joy that he can commune with a sinful people. He does not get contaminated, unlike the priests of old, but he sanctifies his citizens.

Mike Mulligan and David Haugh were joined by Nazareth Academy baseball coach Lee Milano to share a scouting report on outfielder Jaden Fauske, whom the White Sox selected in the second round of the MLB Draft.

On this interview edition of FutureSox Podcast, Elijah Evans is joined by Lee Milano (Head Coach) and Joe Milano (Head Scout) of Nazareth Academy to talk about White Sox 2nd round pick Jaden Fauske. They first discuss the unique connection between Elijah and the Milano family before diving into Fauske's development, offensive upside, defensive fit, future projection, leadership skills, and more. Get all the info you need on the recent draft pick!

In this episode of 'When Women Preach,' hosts Cris Otonari and Young Lee Hertig engage with Dr. Kay Higuera-Smith, who discusses her extensive research on Mary of Nazareth. The conversation explores the importance of a gynocentric interpretive lens in biblical hermeneutics, the active role of women in the Bible, and the implications of these insights for modern women leaders in faith communities. Dr. Higuera-Smith emphasizes the need to recognize the agency of women in scripture and challenges traditional patriarchal interpretations, advocating for a more inclusive understanding of biblical narratives.--Co-Hosts: Young Lee Hertig & Cris Otonari Sound Producer: Joana Choi Music: Paul Choi ISAAC // @isaacfellowship // www.isaacweb.org Disclaimer: The views, actions, and affiliations of guests invited to this podcast do not always reflect ISAAC'S official stances; they belong to the guests. This podcast is a platform for voices to be shared and perspectives to be discussed.

“There's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's no place like home.” Dorothy Gale That classic line from the movie, The Wizard of Oz, has become iconic - representing the familiarity and comfort of home. As Dorothy wakes up in her own bed at the end of the movie, still murmuring those words, it reinforces the meaning of coming back to a place of safety, where you are known, loved and welcomed. Dorothy has had her grand adventure, but there's nothing better than coming home and sleeping in your own bed again.  This week, in our sermon series, Upside Down Kingdom: The Gospel According to Mark, we find Jesus returning home after some extended traveling. But his experience of coming home is nothing like Dorothy's. Sure, Nazareth is familiar, but not safe; and Jesus is certainly not welcomed. His family and friends aren't exactly impressed by the boy from the 'hood, now that he's all grown up. And His teaching definitely rubs them the wrong way. Just who does He think He is? I invite you to join us this Sunday at 11 AM. You'll find us online by clicking the "Join Us Sunday" button on our website or connect with us via our YouTube channel. Or, better yet, come worship with us in person!  Enjoy coffee, cookies and conversation with friends, old and new, in the Lobby before the service. We would love to get to know you. We do know that 11 AM on Sunday doesn't work for everyone. If that's you, the service will be available on-demand, so you can watch at a time that works better for your schedule. We look forward to seeing you this Sunday! ----------------------------------- TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP ----------------------------------- Let us know that you were watching with us and you will be entered to receive a free prize by completing our Connection Card: http://dsf.church/ecard   Give Online: https://www.simplechurchgiving.net/App/Giving/dsf Message Notes: https://www.dayspringfellowship.com/messages   Like, comment & subscribe to stay updated!   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dayspringkeizer Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DayspringKeizer YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/dayspringfellowship Website: http://dsf.church   #dayspringkeizer #dayspringfellowship #2025sermon ___________________ Thanks for watching Dayspring Fellowship's worship service! At Dayspring Fellowship, we believe there is nothing more important than your spiritual growth.

On February 17, 2024 Dr. Andrew Michel, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Belmont University, presented "Toward a Neo-Salesian Spirituality for Students of Medicine." In it, he hopes that DeSales, the doctor of divine love, might inflame a Neo-Saleisan Pentecost in contemporary medicine. He invites healers to take a posture of humility and others-centered surrender in their practice of healing. In so doing, healers could also become agents of social change sent out as apostles into the contemporary healthcare ecosystem. He goes on, "In the solidarity of missional friendship, such a Neo-Salesian physician-apostle might reawaken justice alongside healing in a land parched and fragmented by inequities, caught up in the spirit of a neocapitalist age that has forgotten the true ends of healing and wholeness for all people. In becoming physician-apostolates in these secular spaces, each Neo-Salesian medical practitioner would be a little brother or sister of Jesus of Nazareth–heart on fire, with divine love, in mission to reenchant medicine like yeast worked all through the dough." Andrew Michel, M.D. is Associate Professor of Psychiatry in the Department of Integrated Medical Education at the Frist College of Medicine at Belmont University, where he currently serves as the curriculum committee chair. Dr. Michel earned his M.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and completed the Harvard Longwood Psychiatry Residency Training Program; Dr. Michel is a board-certified psychiatrist. Dr. Michel's scholarship has focused on the interface of philosophy (virtue ethics), theology, contemplative spirituality, and clinical psychiatry. Dr. Michel's academic ventures are heavily informed by clinical experience in caring for persons who suffer with a range of mental health challenges, including trauma, addiction, and disruptions of mood and cognition. Dr. Michel's style of practice has a contemplative foundation, centered in being deeply present in solidarity with persons who suffer with psychiatric illness, with the aim of healing and flourishing in the context of vulnerability.

Welcome to the Christmas series! In this episode, we meet Joseph, the strong, silently noble, carpenter from Nazareth. His character is put to the test, when his betrothed has some unexpected news to share. Sign up for special devotionals at StoriesoftheMessiah.com. As we dive deeply into iconic Bible heroes' enthralling narratives, we find more than just stories of faith and miracles. We discover a recurrent theme, a spiritual undertone that connects each tale to the grandeur of the Gospel. They're not just standalone legends; they're threads in a divine tapestry, weaving a story that foreshadows Jesus Christ, the ultimate hero, the promised Messiah who brings light to the darkest corners of history. For more Bible stories download the Pray.com app.  To learn more about Rabbi Schneider visit https://discoveringthejewishjesus.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today's shout-out goes to Tom Ludy from Tutle Lake, WI. Thank you for your partnership with us through Project23. You're helping spread God's Word to hearts that are hungry for truth. This one's for you. Our text today is Mark 10:46-52: And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. — Mark 10:46-52 Bartimaeus had one shot. One moment. He couldn't see Jesus—but he had heard the stories. So he cried out: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And what did the crowd do? They told him to shut up. That's how the world responds to visible, verbal faith. They don't mind if you stay quiet about your beliefs. But start crying out to Jesus—start declaring your need for him—and people get uncomfortable. They'll try to shame you. Silence you. Pressure you to tone it down. But Bartimaeus wouldn't be silenced. He cried out even louder. Because real faith breaks through cultural pressure. Real faith speaks when others say, “Be quiet.” Real faith refuses to blend in. And here's what's beautiful: Jesus stops. Right there in the noise, the crowd, the pressure. He hears the cry of faith and calls Bartimaeus forward. Then he asks: “What do you want me to do for you?” It's not a trick question. Bartimaeus doesn't hesitate. “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus heals him. But more than that, he makes him a follower. Bartimaeus leaves the roadside and joins Jesus on the road to Jerusalem. Faith in Jesus will set you apart. And that will make people uncomfortable. And good! The world will tell you to stay quiet. Stay polite. Stay private. But Jesus isn't looking for silent believers. He's calling out to those who cry out. So don't let the world mute your worship, your convictions, or your witness. Speak up. Cry out. Follow boldly. Because Jesus stops for those who won't stay silent. #BoldFaith, #SpeakUpForJesus, #Mark10 ASK THIS: When have you felt pressured to keep your faith quiet? What would “crying out” look like for you this week? Who in your life needs to see bold, unapologetic faith? What's keeping you from following Jesus fully, like Bartimaeus? DO THIS: This week, speak openly about your faith at least once. Don't hide it—declare it. PRAY THIS: Jesus, give me the courage to speak up when the world wants me to be silent. Let my faith be louder than fear or pressure. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Gratitude."

Father Edward Looney reads and comments on The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich.Day 56Volume 1JESUS BEGINS HIS PUBLIC TEACHINGChapter 10: Jesus In A Shepherd Village Near NazarethChapter 11: Jesus With Eliud, The EssenianLEARN MORE - USE COUPON CODE ACE25 FOR 25% OFFThe Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations: From the Visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich Four-Book Set -https://bit.ly/3QVreIsThe Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich -https://bit.ly/4bPsxRmThe Life and Revelations of Anne Catherine Emmerich Two-Book Set -https://bit.ly/3yxaLE5The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich - https://bit.ly/3wTRsULMary Magdalen in the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich - https://bit.ly/4brYEXbThe Mystical City of God Four-Book Set - https://bit.ly/44Q9nZbOur Lady of Good Help: Prayer Book for Pilgrims -https://bit.ly/3Ke6O9SThe Life of Jesus Christ in a Year: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich is a podcast from TAN that takes you through one of the most extraordinary books ever published. Follow along daily as Father Edward Looney works his way through the classic four-volume set, The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations, by reading a passage from the book and then giving his commentary. Discover the visions of the famous 19th-century Catholic mystic, Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, a nun who was privileged by God to behold innumerable events of biblical times.Anne Catherine's visions included the birth, life, public ministry, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as the founding of His Church. Besides describing persons, places, events, and traditions in intimate detail, she also sets forth the mystical significance of these visible realities. Here is the infinite love of God incarnate and made manifest for all to see, made all the more striking and vivid by the accounts Blessed Anne has relayed.Listen and subscribe to The Life of Jesus Christ in a Year: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich on your favorite podcast platform or at EmmerichPodcast.com.And for more great ways to deepen your faith, check out all the spiritual resources available at TANBooks.com and use Coupon Code ACE25 for 25% off your next order.

Friday, 11 July 2025   And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. Matthew 11:23   “And you, Capernaum, the ‘until heaven you having been elevated,' until Hades, you will be descended. For if in Sodom they occurred – the miracles, the ‘having occurred in you' – it remained, if until the day” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus referred to the difference between Tyre and Sidon and Chorazin and Bethsaida on the day of judgment. Next, He says, “And you, Capernaum.”   More miracles of Jesus are recorded in Capernaum than in any other city. It was essentially His staging area, going and returning to it while ministering to other cities. So notable were His miracles there that in Luke 4:23, it says –   “He said to them, ‘You will surely say this proverb to Me, “Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.”'”   In other words, the word about His miracles in Capernaum had extended beyond there, filling the ears of people in other cities. It is 52 miles from Capernaum to Nazareth, indicating that what the people saw in Capernaum was more than a curious event spoken by a couple of friends, but a word that was conveyed with such excitement that it was passed on until many were made aware of what transpired. Of Capernaum, Jesus next calls it, “the ‘until heaven you having been elevated.'”   Here, Jesus introduces the word hupsoó, to exalt. Specifically, it means to raise high or lift up. Metaphorically, the idea of exaltation is then seen.   The meaning is that because of Jesus' ministry there, the people had been provided the highest form of God's favor. They saw Jesus' miracles, they witnessed His perfection, they heard His instruction, etc.   The incarnate Word of God made that city His dwelling and focal point for ministering to the nation of Israel. No greater favor could ever be imagined. What they saw and heard was more of a revelation of God's favor and call upon the nation than that of any prophet before, including Moses. But because of their hardened hearts, Jesus says, “until Hades, you will be descended.”   Though they had the keys to heaven itself extended to them in the Person of Jesus and the ministry He conducted among them, they chose to reject Him and continue life apart from His saving grace.   Instead of continuing to be exalted to heaven, they would be cast down to Hades, meaning Sheol, the place of the dead, awaiting the final judgment. Unfortunately for the city, their judgment will not be a happy one. Jesus next says, “For if in Sodom.”   Without going any further, it is a note of utter contempt. Capernaum is being contrasted to the city representative of the epitome of wickedness in the Old Testament. The story of Sodom is recorded in Genesis, but it is referred to almost twenty times elsewhere in the Old Testament.   The city was so wicked that its misdeeds reached the ears of the Lord in heaven. It was judged and destroyed by fire. However, Jesus continues, saying that if “they occurred – the miracles, the ‘having occurred in you' – it remained, if until the day.”   About two thousand years had passed since the time of Sodom's destruction, and yet, Jesus says that if the miracles that were performed in Capernaum were performed in Sodom, the wicked city would have turned and been so affected by what He had done that they would have remained, without destruction, until that day.   Having said that, the destruction of Capernaum eventually came about in approximately the 7th century AD. The town was completely abandoned in the 11th century.   Life application: To this day, the stories concerning Jesus' ministry are read and remembered by Christians. We believe, by faith, that what is recorded in the New Testament is a true account of what Jesus did as He ministered among the people.   Stories have been written, songs have been sung, plays have been presented, and movies have been made concerning the great things Jesus did. The church has been founded on the deeds of the Messiah, and it has proclaimed this message throughout the world.   In nations and cultures of people throughout the world, tears have been shed and hearts have been converted through the words about Jesus, just as He said would happen. During this same time, the name of Jesus has been used as a curse among the people of Israel.   There has been a wall of enmity put up against Him that seemed impenetrable. However, that wall has slowly but steadily been broken open over the past century. With each passing year, more Jews hear and accept the word concerning Jesus Christ.   Someday, as incredible as it seems at this point, the entire nation will proclaim that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God. Seeing the state of affairs in the world and the alignment of the nations in relation to biblical prophecy, it doesn't seem like it will be a long time until these things come about.   Keep sharing the word! Keep studying the Bible! The message of Jesus is what changes the course of history for the lives of people. Their eternal destiny goes from condemnation to salvation upon the acceptance of the gospel. So be ready to share it at all times!   Heavenly Father, help us to be diligent in our study and in our sharing of Your word. May we be faithful to this calling and willing to get the word out. The world needs Jesus. Each person in the world needs Jesus. May we be willing to share this wonderful story of hope and redemption. Amen.

The Shroud of Turin is a length of linen, believed by many to be the burial cloth of Jesus of Nazareth. Its most famous feature is the blurry imprint of a man's face, which resembles the pictures of Jesus that have passed down to us over the centuries.  Revered by millions, the Shroud is the most scientifically studied object in the world, but why does its recorded history only reach back to the 1350s? Where did it go in the intervening centuries? And will we ever be able to prove whether it's a real relic, or medieval forgery? This is a Short History Of The Shroud of Turin. A Noiser Production. Written by Nicola Rayner. With thanks to Nora Creech, a Shroud educator and the leader of Othonia in North America, a church-affiliated organisation dedicated to sharing knowledge about the Shroud of Turin.    Get every episode of Short History Of... a week early with Noiser+. You'll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows across the Noiser podcast network. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ⇒ Join the MMM Prayer Team: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/PrayerTeam ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Mark 10:46–52 - [46] And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. [47] And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” [48] And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” [49] And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” [50] And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. [51] And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” [52] And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/ ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate.

If you've heard of the mysterious and often controversial Apocryphal Gospels, you may have been told that they weren't important, or useful; that they 'didn't make the cut' to be included in the Canonical Bible. Not at all, these early Christian texts were hugely significant and influential as well as completely fascinating.Tristan Hughes is joined by Catherine Nixey to hear stories including the Infancy Gospel of James, where a midwife's hand is burnt off after doubting Mary's virginity, and the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, portraying a young Jesus with startling powers and a fiery temper. Together they discuss how these writings reveal the radical thoughts of some early Christians - from alternative crucifixion narratives to magical texts showing Jesus using a wand - and shed light on the vibrant diversity and theological debates of early Christianity.MOREThe Wise Menhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/30JcS3z8gUODOvbR8k47mhJesus of Nazarethhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/6qFWoLLNQFgL0FmBhUoKe2Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor and producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music courtesy of Epidemic SoundsThe Ancients is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on