Podcasts about nazarite

Jewish Faith & Jewish Facts with Rabbi Steven Garten. Aired: June 15, 2025 on CHRI Radio 99.1FM in Ottawa, Canada. For questions, email Rabbi Garten at rabbishg@templeisraelottawa.com For more CHRI shows, visit chri.ca

Samson, whose name means “brilliant sunshine”, goes to view Timnah (the inheritance ie of his tribe). There ‘he saw a woman' of the uncircumcised – uncovenanted – Philistines, who was ‘right in his own eyes' – his problem was characteristic of the entire nation (14 verse 7; 17verse 6; 21verse 25). In the vineyards of his inheritance, a place to be avoided by a sworn Nazarite. We read that a lion – representing the ravaging Philistines – roared against Samson. And he rips the beast asunder with no apparent effort. Several days later Samson returns to see the ‘ruin' (AV ‘carcass') of the lion only to find that miraculously and uncharacteristically a swarm of bees had made their hive in the putrid carcass. It was God's sign to Samson that by trusting in the Almighty the Philistines could be overthrown and sweet deliverance come for the Covenant people. Samson is deceived time and time again by the enemy and he engages tit for tat with them throughout these two chapters. Samson declares on each occasion that after avenging himself just once more against the Philistines he will leave the matter there. However this is not the intention of the Almighty – the Philistines need to be weakened. Notice how the LORD escalates the conflict: in 14verse 19 he slays 30 men at Ashkelon; then in 15verse 15 at Lehi a 1,000 are slain. Also observe the recurring of multiples of 3, as troubles escalate. Samson's mighty acts should have inspired his people to follow him as he could have been God's instrument for victory. But his own people reject him just as they had rejected Moses centuries earlier. Instead as the pressure of the Philistines grew stronger upon God's people 3,000 men of Judah come to plead with Samson for his surrender and then they bind him and hand him over to the Philistines. Surely we are reminded by this of the Lord Jesus being bound in the Garden of Gethsemane; being eventually sent to the Roman authorities to be tried and crucified. Samson, like our Lord, was thirsty after his great victory. In Isaiah 38 faithful God cures Hezekiah of the leprous boil, which threatened to end his life and which was preventing him from worshipping in the Temple. At this time of Hezekiah's and his nation's greatest need, when everything seemed hopeless, their Sovereign delivered them. However in spite of his recovery Hezekiah later becomes lifted up in pride as we will learn tomorrow in chapter 39. Nonetheless at this time the faithful prayer of a faithful man availed greatly (James 5verse 16). Hezekiah's prayer is a model prayer for us. It shows an elevation of king Hezekiah's God. The prayer gives glory to God. It also praises Yahweh's loving kindness in saving Hezekiah and delivering the people of Judah. His prayer states our lack of power to help ourselves and pleads for our Omnipotent Creator to show mercy for His children. It acknowledges our need to respond to God's love in praise and thanksgiving every day of our life. We too, like king Hezekiah, have been blessed and delivered from the gates of sheol (the grave): Matthew 16 verse 18-19; Revelation 1verses17-18. Marvel at the wonderful metaphors and imagery that Hezekiah uses to describe the frailty of humanity. Meditate on the significance of his exhortation to us in verses 19-20. King Hezekiah is given a sign that he will recover in Isaiah 38:21. 2 Peter is also written to the dispersed Jews in Asia Minor ie Turkey. It commences in the same way as the first letter. The time of writing is in 66-67 AD and the persecution by Nero is now at its fiercest. According to tradition, the two foremost leaders of the believers, Paul and Peter, were both executed in 67 AD. Clues in Peter's 2nd epistle indicate that the most likely date of the epistle is 67 AD. Believers in Christ Jesus had attained to the same precious faith as the great Apostle to the Jews. From verses 3-15 these disciples are urged to make their calling and election ie selection by God sure. Peter tells them in verses 2-4 that our Father has given them all things that are necessary for a godly life; and that these great promises, which they now share, are graciously granted them offering believers a sharing of the Father's character and life. From verses 5-7 Peter enumerates the virtues being developed by God in their lives. These virtues are not sequential, but rather they are a group of traits befitting saints, and to be cultivated simultaneously. They summarise the character of our Lord Jesus Christ, outlined in Matthew 5:1-12. Great blessings accompany such saints who, in measure, develop the character of their Lord Jesus Christ. These divine virtues are called by brother Marshall – “The Portrait of a Saint”. Belief is the foundation upon which the faithful build (and that foundation is Christ Jesus see 1 Corinthians 3 verses 10-15 and Ephesians 2:19-22. Peter elaborates further on this theme at the start of chapter 2). The last 2 are at the apex of the developing saint's life – brotherly kindness (Philadelphos) and love (agape, self-sacrificing love); embody both of these fully exemplified in our Head, the Lord Jesus Christ. Where these qualities abound fruit is produced in the disciple. But a short-sighted approach stultifies the life of a disciple; and is the product of forgetting and neglect. In the practising of these qualities the disciples will attain the glory and the kingdom, which they seek. Peter would strive with his last breath to remind them of this. The Apostle speaks of “departure” (Greek “exodus” verse 15). The Tabernacle; of “the ecclesia in the wilderness” (Acts 7:44). This was emblematic of the LORD going with them. Peter talks of the entrance (“eisodus”) into the kingdom. How frequently is the theme stated, “Yahweh BROUGHT you out of Egypt, that He might BRING you into the land promised to the fathers (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob). Verses 16-21 speak of Christ's incomparable glory and the transcending greatness of the prophetic Word of our God (compare 1 Peter 1 verses 22-25). There can be no mistaking what we (Peter, James and John) saw on the Mount of Transfiguration – compare with Luke 9 verses 28-38. The glory of Moses and Elijah paled into insignificance alongside the glory of the Son of God – John 1 verses14-15. And that glory was reminiscent of the Father's own glory (Hebrews 1-1-4). As great as the prophetic Word was when spoken through Moses and Elijah the Father's Word from heaven boomed, “This is my Beloved Son, HEAR HIM”. If this witness was not enough, we have the added testimony of the prophetic Word centred on, and embodied in our Lord Jesus Christ. The prophetic Word shines more brightly as we see its fulfilment day by day. (Proverbs 4 verses 18-19). Prophecy never originated from the prophet's own mind. Instead the inspired Word of God found its source in holy men of God being “impelled”, or “driven along” by God's power. And so although the style of the prophet is individual, the message is infallibly that of the Almighty (see 2 Timothy 3 verses 14-17). In chapter 2 Peter deals with the tragedy of false teaching. Peter uses Biblical history to show that those who would attempt to deflect God's elect are always active among the believers. The Apostle Peter uses 3 historical examples. These examples are similar to those in Jude's letter – one from before the flood; one from the era of Abraham; and another from the time of the Wilderness wanderings in Moses' epoch. Peter explains the inevitability of false teachers arising from their midst (compare Acts 20 verses 29-32). Peter says that the errorists are not genuine – the words that these false teachers use are called “feigned” (Greek “plastos”) – taught for effect, with no concern for truth. The doctrine is moulded to fit the teacher's designs (2 Timothy 4 verses 1-5). But God has long ago decided to destroy people like this (See Revelation 22verses 15). The first example is in verse 5 and speaks of the gainsayers opposing Noah (cp Jude verses 14-16). The second is from the era of faithful Abraham (2 Peter 2verses 6-10). These verses tell of total detesting by God of homosexuality. And lastly, verses 10 (the second half) to verse 11. Here Peter deals with the rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram against Moses (also in Jude verses 5-7; the original account being in Numbers 14). All of those historical events highlight two Divine principles – 1) Yahweh demonstrated His capacity to deliver the righteous out of their trial; and, 2) that the ungodly have been earmarked by the Almighty for judgment and destruction (Acts 17verses 30-31). Verse 17 uses metaphors to describe these vain talkers. Verses 18-19 reveal the true motives of those apostates. And verses 20-22 a further two metaphors describe their sickening behaviours. Those who once knew God's truth, but chose to turn away are described in two tragic pictures which illustrate God's perspective. These reprobates are like dogs eating their own vomit; or like washed pigs returning to their miry muddy past. Audio Player      

Judges 16 commences by reiterating Samson's, as well as our own problem- “he saw”. Samson failed in letting his heart follow his eyes. This was a problem for his entire life: surely each of us knows this struggle. We are told that Samson ‘saw a harlot' and was enticed. Other scriptural examples of being enticed by the desire of our eyes are Eve, Lot, Achan etc – it is desire driven by covetousness. Samson at midnight separates himself from his foolishness – and typical of the Abrahamic Covenant Seed – he takes possession of “the gate of his enemy”, on this occasion in Gaza, and carries that gate towards Hebron (meaning ‘fellowship'). After this Samson strayed in the vineyards of the notorious Sorek grape, where he fell in love with the well favoured harlot, whose clientele included the lords of the earth and the merchants (Revelation 17). This Nazarite is failing to honour any part of his vow. Delilah was that notorious woman. Delilah sorely pressed him until he reveals that the secret of his strength lies in the Nazarite Vow which bound him to his God. Samson was ironically blinded: a metaphor of his problem. The Philistines made Samson to serve his enemies in public humiliation. He served the enemies he had once afflicted. In his downcast condition he reflects upon his folly and seeks once again for the fellowship with his God that he had lost and now longs for. As a symbol of his renewed status his hair grew. The Nazarite who had broken his vow was to shave his head before allowing his hair to grow back (Numbers 6verses 9-12). If we did not have the record of Hebrews 11verses 32-34 we may have questioned whether Samson was a faithful man. Certainly he was! We can only endorse Yahweh's gracious forgiveness to this man and how encouraging is this to us. Samson slew more in his death than throughout the entire 40 years of his judgeship. After the destruction of the mighty Assyrian army and Hezekiah's miraculous recovery from a fatal leprosy Babylon (Nineveh's rival) sent its ambassadors to congratulate king Hezekiah. These envoys carried gifts and sought to discover the extent of Judah's wealth. Hezekiah was lifted up in pride and he showed and told them everything about his kingdom. 2 Chronicles 32 verses 23-31 provides details about this. Read these verses and compare them with the lessons that the Apostle Paul may have drawn from these events in 1 Timothy 6verses 17-19. Read these verses carefully and ponder what it teaches us about how we must live today. Chapter 3 completes Peter's 2nd letter. The first 13 verses tell of the coming day of judgment. Verses 1-5 speak of the wilful ignorance – ie by deliberate choice – of the coming judgments upon the wicked. The Apostle shows that despite warnings given to Noah and to those of his generation for 120 years (see also Hebrews 11 verse 7) those who had once been believers had chosen to abandon their faith. Though punishment seemed slow in coming it was certain. The slowness was to give time for people to repent and turn to God. Our God is not willing that any should perish (verses 8-9). Opportunity must be seized now as there will not always be opportunity. Like unsuspecting individuals those who are unready for the Lord's return will find themselves suddenly ensnared (like a thief in the night surprises those who are not prepared). Our Lord Jesus Christ describes this in Luke 21verses 34-36. Paul likewise speaks of this time in 1 Thessalonians 5 verses 1-9. The dissolution of the Mosaic order is described as the heavens and earth being dissolved. This is a common Biblical figure of speech (see Deuteronomy 32 verse 1 and Isaiah 1 verses 2 and 10). Seeing we are certain of the coming of the heavenly kingdom (Revelation 4 and 5 describe this time) Peter quotes from Isaiah 65verses 17-25) that we must live righteously and in readiness for our Lord's return. So the life and behaviour of the believer must be fashioned in conformity with our desire to be part of the kingdom of our Lord and Christ (Revelation 11:1-9). Final words from Peter finish the letter in verses 14-18. The Apostle commends them to pay heed to the writings of Paul. The two great Apostles – Peter and Paul – stand shoulder to shoulder in their teachings and in their believing of and living the Truth. Peter's concluding words in verse 18 should be read aloud slowly and pondered.

The paradox of the Nazarite vow presents one of Judaism's most fascinating spiritual riddles - why would someone who successfully fulfills a voluntary commitment to holiness need to bring a sin offering?Through a masterful analysis of Nachmanides' commentary, we unpack this contradiction to reveal a profound truth about human potential: once we demonstrate what we're capable of, we establish a new standard against which our future actions will be measured. The Nazarite's "sin" isn't failing their commitment but rather returning to ordinary life after proving they could achieve something greater. This insight fundamentally reshapes how we understand spiritual growth and personal development.Yet there's remarkable comfort within this challenging perspective. Even after the Nazarite period ends, the Torah continues referring to the person as "a Nazir" - suggesting that achievements, once attained, become part of our permanent identity. Like what we might call a "one-hit wonder" in contemporary culture, the experience of reaching a peak, however briefly, changes us forever and cannot be taken away.This teaching invites us to reconsider our approach to personal growth. Every time we exercise discipline, overcome a challenge, or reach a new height in any area of life, we simultaneously earn an indelible achievement and create a new responsibility. The person who manages to learn with focus for three days, who prays with perfect concentration once, or who masters a difficult concept has genuinely acquired something permanent that becomes woven into their identity.Are you ready to pursue your own version of the Nazarite journey? Consider what peaks you might reach, even temporarily, knowing that the experience will forever change how you understand your own potential. The burden of greatness comes paired with the beauty of permanent achievement - a paradox worth embracing in our spiritual lives.Support the showJoin The Motivation Congregation WhatsApp community for daily motivational Torah content!Elevate your impact by becoming a TMC Emerald Donor! Your much-needed backing is crucial for our mission of disseminating the wisdom of the Torah. Join today for just $18.00 per month. (Use your maaser money!) https://buy.stripe.com/00g8xl5IT8dFcKc5ky------------------Check out our other Torah Podcasts and content! SUBSCRIBE to The Motivation Congregation Podcast for daily motivational Mussar! Listen on Spotify or 24six! Find all Torah talks and listen to featured episodes on our website, themotivationcongregation.org Questions or Comments? Please email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

In this powerful message from Judges 14, Pastor Dorrell explores the tragic character of Samson—a man chosen by God yet ruled by his appetites. Through the story of Samson's impulsive pursuit of a Philistine woman, his disregard for his Nazarite vow, and his manipulation of others for personal gain, we see a sobering picture of what happens when indulgence overtakes discipline. Pastor Dorrell contrasts Samson's life with the biblical call to temperance, warning that a character shaped by unchecked desire is always vulnerable to sin. This episode challenges believers to cultivate spiritual discipline and self-control as marks of godliness in an age of self-gratification.Eastland is a Place to Belong Eastland Baptist Church is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We are a welcoming and close-knit family community that loves to care for each other through the Church. We strongly believe in loving and supporting each other and our neighbors. Our members don't just attend our Church; they feel a strong sense of belonging. Join Us Find service times and our location at https://www.eastlandbaptist.org/join. Connect with Us Website: https://www.eastlandbaptist.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eastlandbaptisttulsa Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eastlandbaptist To support the ministry of Eastland Baptist Church, tap here: https://www.eastlandbaptist.org/give.

In this week's episode Rabbi Kohn discusses the benefits of becoming a self made spiritual millionaire. He brings out from the mitzvah of the Nazarite how an indidvidual can reach great levels of holiness. He also teaches how the money you have in your bank account is not yours and how money you give away can be yours forever. Subscribe to The Practical Parsha Podcast. For questions or comments please email RabbiShlomoKohn@gmail.com. To listen to Rabbi Kohn's other podcast use this link- the-pirkei-avos-podcast.castos.com/    Chapters (00:00:00) - The Practical Parasha Podcast(00:00:42) - Parshas Naso(00:05:01) - The Torah Parasha(00:12:35) - What's Real in Our Life?(00:14:31) - Nazirite Mitzvah(00:19:56) - The Svasemus

We are now ready for chapter six in the book of Numbers, which the first part of this chapter. In fact, most of this chapter is very unique. It deals with a biblical command, a command known as a Nazirite vow. Now, that word for Nazarite is one of separation, and it reminds us, if we're going to be used by God and we're going to receive from God, we need to be different. We need to come out of this world now, we need to be very careful, because there are two words that sound similar, but they mean two entirely different things.To donate please visit us at:https://loveisrael.org/donate/Checks may be sent to:LoveIsrael.org6355 N Courtenay ParkwayMerritt Island, FL 32953Feel free to download our MyBibleStudy App on telephonehttps://get.theapp.co/yjjqwe don't know how long we can post the teachings on YThttps://www.instagram.com/mybiblestudyofficial/ To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1256/29

We are now ready for chapter six in the book of Numbers, which the first part of this chapter. In fact, most of this chapter is very unique. It deals with a biblical command, a command known as a Nazirite vow. Now, that word for Nazarite is one of separation, and it reminds us, if we're going to be used by God and we're going to receive from God, we need to be different. We need to come out of this world now, we need to be very careful, because there are two words that sound similar, but they mean two entirely different things.To donate please visit us at:https://loveisrael.org/donate/Checks may be sent to:LoveIsrael.org6355 N Courtenay ParkwayMerritt Island, FL 32953Feel free to download our MyBibleStudy App on telephonehttps://get.theapp.co/yjjqwe don't know how long we can post the teachings on YThttps://www.instagram.com/mybiblestudyofficial/ To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.lightsource.com/donate/1255/29

By Lewis Vanausdle - This sermon discusses the biblical story of Samson and the significance of vows made to God, particularly focusing on the Nazarite vow. It highlights the cyclical nature of Israel's faithfulness and unfaithfulness, emphasizing the importance of remaining committed to God's instructions.

By Jason Musgrove - This sermon, rooted in Proverbs 16:3 and the Nazarite vow from Numbers 6, challenges graduates—and all believers—to commit their lives to God by embracing a set-apart, holy calling. Using the vow's conditions as spiritual metaphors, it emphasizes living differently from the world, sacrificing self

Title: Chains and Afflictions Text: Acts 21:27-36 FCF: We often struggle responding well to slander and persecution for Christ's sake. Prop: Because of the offense of the gospel we will be slandered and reviled, so we must be ready to give a defense for the hope we have in us. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Acts chapter 21. In a moment we will read beginning in verse 27 from the Legacy Standard Bible. You can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer. Last week we saw the powder keg situation that Paul and his 8 gentile companions walked into as they brought a gift for the Jerusalem church from several churches in gentile lands. Tension between Jews and the Romans continues to mount and along with that the pernicious rumor that Paul is anti-Mosaic law and advising new Jewish believers to forsake circumcising their children and the laws and customs of Moses. The Elders wisely advised Paul to demonstrate that he is not against the law of Moses by submitting to purity rituals with 4 other men who are doing so. Paul humbly discarded any liberty he may have assumed and willingly submitted to help ease tensions between Jewish Christians and the non-believing Jews. But we know the future. It has been confirmed by many witnesses. Paul will suffer with chains and afflictions in Jerusalem. Although it was wise advice and although Paul humbly submitted, we know that things will implode quickly. But even in this difficult situation, we will find vital lessons for we who claim Christ and face uncertain days. Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the reading of the Word of God. Invocation: Mighty God and Lord of Hosts. You are holy, holy, holy. You have sent the Son to claim Your people for Your Kingdom and You have sent Your Spirit to dwell in us and seal us and preserve us until the Day of Judgment. As You are Alpha and Omega, You have written and decreed the end from the beginning. No one can tell You “no” and no one can slap away Your mighty hand from doing as You please. In these truths Lord, we must rest, especially when we are slandered, maligned, ridiculed, reviled, and persecuted for Your name. Without the truth that all this is according to Your Immutable Will, we would surely flounder and fall. Impress upon us, Your Children, the greater truth that when these days of trouble come upon us, we must rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for when we suffer for Your name, we have a great reward in the Kingdom which we will share with a great cloud of witnesses. Help us to see this and be encouraged in this text this morning. And use this encouragement to turn us away from despairing in trouble. Turn us instead to being ready to give a defense for the hope we have in us. We pray this in Jesus' name… Amen. Transition: Let us once again dive right into the text this morning. I.) Because of the offense of the gospel, men will falsely accuse us of evil things, so we must be ready to give a defense for the hope we have in us. (27-30) a. [Slide 2] 27 - Now when the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon noticing him in the temple, began to throw all the crowd into confusion and laid hands on him, i. Ok, so right off the bat there are some contextual clues we need to unravel to understand what is happening here. ii. First, the seven days here is referring to the general process of purification that would need to be endured for these men and for Paul. 1. We aren't exactly sure why these men performing the Nazarite vow were going through purification, because that isn't normally part of it, but the process itself took a week. 2. In that week's time, any seeking purification would have to be ritually washed on the third and the seventh day. No doubt Paul is in the temple on the seventh and final day of his purification. 3. This means that generally speaking, people who had ill intentions toward Paul would know on which day he would be in the temple next. iii. Second, we see that there are Jews from Asia present here in Jerusalem. Well, who are these folks and what are they doing here? 1. We might be tempted to think that these Jews have followed Paul to Jerusalem to harm him. This is possible, but there is a far simpler explanation for why these folks are here. Do you remember? 2. Yep! It is Pentecost, the Jewish feast commemorating the harvest. Shavuot (Sha-voo-ot) is one of the three pilgrimage feasts that are required for Jewish males to attend. 3. Anyone who was a Jew that took seriously the law of Moses would have made every effort to be in Jerusalem for this festival. 4. So, it shouldn't be a big surprise for us to find Jews from Asia in Jerusalem at this time. iv. Third, how would they recognize Paul and what had Paul done that infuriated them so much? 1. Although Luke only mentions the province in which they are from, the capital city of the province of Asia was the great city of Ephesus. A city in which Paul spent three years ministering. 2. Later, we find out that these people recognized one of Paul's companions who was from the city of Ephesus. This almost certainly confirms that these Jews were from or at least very familiar with the city of Ephesus and Paul's 3 year ministry there. 3. So why are they so opposed to Paul? 4. Well Paul preached in Ephesus and many Jews became disciples of Christ. He actually lead them out of the synagogue and took them to the hall of Tyrannus where he continued to teach and preach the gospel. 5. Needless to say, the Jews from Asia were not big fans of Paul. v. In Ephesus and in other cities around the empire, it has been clear thus far that the Jews were not always trusted, liked, or respected by the gentile communities in which they lived. vi. Although their faith was granted a special status as being allowed to be practiced within the empire, it still did not mean that the pagans around them respected them. vii. But here, the non-believing Jews clearly had numerical and ideological superiority over the Jewish Christians. viii. If there was ever a chance to stamp out Paul and his teachings – this is it. ix. So, these Asian Jews take this chance, grab hold of Paul and stir up the crowd against him. x. How? b. [Slide 3] 28 - crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches to everyone everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides, he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 - For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. i. These Asian Jews bring two charges against Paul. ii. The second charge is far more inflammatory to the crowd than the first. iii. The first charge is the accusation that Paul teaches against the Jewish people, against the law of Moses and against the temple of Yahweh, and he does so throughout the Roman Empire. iv. Ironically, this was the same charge levied against Stephen which led to his execution by stoning. Paul once saw things the same way these folks did. But for the grace of God yes? v. Such an accusation could be easily explained away. In fact, Paul's very presence in the temple that day going about his sacrifices and the end of his purity rituals would actually serve to counter their claim. vi. But the second charge is what gets the crowd stirred. vii. They claim that Paul has brought Trophimus, a man they would know to be a gentile, into the temple with him. viii. [Slide 4] As we know the temple mount could be entered by Gentiles. They could actually get fairly close to the temple itself. But Gentiles could not pass into the court of women or the court of the Israelites. ix. [Slide 5] Many scholars make much of the archeological evidence, like the sign on the screen, that warned gentiles with death if they entered into the temple grounds. And we even have speeches from Roman officials which seem to have allowed for the Jews to execute people who did violate such laws. x. But as I studied this, my mind wondered what Old Testament teaching or law is in view with the prohibition of gentiles entering the temple grounds. xi. Especially since they are under the impression that doing so would defile it. xii. What Old Testament law do they base this on? 1. [Slide 6] The closest thing I could find is Ezekiel 44:6-9 a. In reading this text, we can see very clearly that God judges Israel for allowing worshippers to come into the temple and even serve as priests who were neither circumcised in heart nor circumcised in flesh. b. God issues a command that no one shall enter His temple who is uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh. 2. [Slide 7] But what do we do with the 5th gospel of Isaiah, who says in Isaiah 56:6-8… a. Here we see… explicitly… that Gentiles should not be strictly forbidden to come into the temple to make sacrifices. b. Why? c. Because God will be the one bringing them to do that one day! 3. So how do we harmonize these two texts? a. How can God bring foreigners into the temple if those uncircumcised in heart and flesh cannot enter? b. How did the Jews of this time harmonize this? i. The Jews of this time, completely ignore the Isaiah passage. ii. Even if a Gentile converted and became a Jew, even becoming circumcised… they would still not be permitted, even into the court of women. c. So how do we harmonize it? i. While we could be accused of exploiting a loophole, the fact of the matter is that there are many prophetic riddles throughout the scriptures. God expects us to think as we read His Word. ii. [Slide 8] What two conditions must be met in order to reject a foreigner from the temple according to Ezekiel 44? They must be both uncircumcised in heart and in flesh. iii. Trophimus was a gentile, uncircumcised in flesh, but circumcised in his heart. Therefore, he does not meet the conditions of Ezekiel 44 but DOES meet the conditions of Isaiah 56. xiii. [Slide 9] Added to this – These Jews raise issue with Paul and grab hold of him and will drag him out and attempt to kill him even though… 1. He is a Jew 2. He is enduring purification rights under the Mosaic Law 3. Even if he brought a gentile into the temple… the Gentile is the one that should be killed according to their law, not him. He would certainly be punished perhaps even severely. 4. But Paul should not be killed for this infraction even if it were exactly as they said it was. xiv. The fact of the matter is, the Jews, because of their national pride and racial prejudice, have so perverted the Word of God that they have determined that the exact opposite of what He has revealed is true. xv. And now they are going to kill Paul, an apostle of their Messiah and Everlasting King, because of their rebellion and their racism. c. [Slide 10] 30 - Then all the city was stirred, and the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut. i. As we pointed out last week, this time period was right in the middle of the escalation of hostility between Jews and the Roman Empire. ii. Although we are still 13 years away from the fall of Jerusalem, the conflict begins in AD 66 which is only 9 years away. iii. Not only that but Festus, a character we will meet in a few chapters, will actually spend two years making peace with the Jews and effectively kick the can of the revolt down the road… iv. Adding all this together we can see that even though the fall of Jerusalem is 13 years away, it is not a stretch for us to consider that at the moment Paul walks in the temple of Jerusalem, the divide between Jews and the Romans was nearing its peak. v. Knowing this, we can see quite easily why the crowd would respond to Paul the way they did. vi. Loyalty to the temple was closely tied to patriotism and Jewish Nationalism. An attack on the temple was an attack on Judaism. vii. And Paul is the lightening rod for all of this. viii. They took him out of the temple, because they could not commit violence and shed blood within the temple courts ix. To avoid this the guards close the doors. x. The temple guards could have stopped the violence. Instead, they closed the doors. d. [Slide 11] Summary of the Point: Throughout the book of Acts Luke has portrayed the Jesus movement as the next step in Judaism. To confess Jesus of Nazareth to be the Messiah of God and eternal heir to the throne of David is to take the next and final step in the redemptive history of Israel. In Acts we've seen many Jews embrace this New Covenant, which was ratified in the death and resurrection of Jesus proving Him to be the Messiah. He is the Son of Man prophesied in Daniel. He is the suffering Servant prophesied in Isaiah. And yet, as clear as this was to many, it remained repulsive and offensive to many more. The offense of the gospel drives natural man to terrible things. Jesus predicted that the disciple is no greater than the master. Meaning that what they did to Him, we can expect the same to be done to us. Paul is actually living out that experience in the pages of the passage we just saw. They accused Jesus of blaspheming the temple. And here Paul is accused of defiling it. We can expect the same to come to us. If we are to preach the gospel, we should both expect it to be offensive to the world and that we will be falsely accused of doing evil things because of it. So, what is our response? Our text this morning does not include Paul's response to all of this. Mainly because his response is quite lengthy. But generally speaking, we can see as Paul raises his defense of the gospel and his ministry, that we too must be ready to give a defense for the hope we have in us. Transition: [Slide 12 (blank)] But surely someone in the crowd will have the sense to question Paul as to whether these things are true? Surely someone will have the courage to say – yes but Paul is still a Jew and can go into the temple himself. So surely he doesn't deserve to die? Let us see if anyone among them will do this. Perhaps the Romans will if the Jews won't? II.) Because of the offense of the gospel men will revile and persecute us, so we must be ready to give a defense for the hope we have in us. (31-36) a. [Slide 13] 31 - While they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the commander of the Roman cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 - At once he took along soldiers and centurions and ran down to them; and when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. i. Luke doesn't tell us who took the report to the commander. Perhaps one of Paul's companions or the church reported this to the Roman officer? ii. A Roman cohort consists of 1000 men. It is roughly 1/6 of a Roman Legion. iii. Within each cohort there were there were Centuries which would be 100 men, and each of them would be lead by a Centurion. iv. As a Roman officer in Judea, your one job is to make sure that these generally rebellious Jews paid their taxes and didn't revolt. v. During festivals, when Jerusalem was full of Jews on pilgrimage, it would be all hands on deck. vi. We see that this commander wastes no time, at once taking soldiers and their centurions down to where the beating was happening. vii. The Anatolia fortress was located on the Western side of the northern wall of the temple mount. Two stair cases down led to the outer courts. viii. So they were probably there quickly. ix. It is hard to know how many men he took with him, but we can assume at least a couple hundred since he took centurions (plural) with him. x. Assuming that is the case, 200 fully armed Roman soldiers running down the steps to the temple would be quite an intimidating sight. xi. No wonder the Jews stopped beating Paul when they came marching down. xii. But if the relations of the Romans and the Jews are so strained, how would the Roman Commander make sure that this doesn't look like the Romans are once again coming in to tell them how they should practice their religion? b. [Slide 14] 33 - Then the commander came up and took hold of him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; and he began asking who he was and what he had done. i. The Roman Commander has Paul bound in chains, probably to two separate guards. He then asks who the man was and what he has done. ii. The concept of innocent until proven guilty is not a universal ideal. iii. The Romans certainly did not consider prisoners innocent until proven guilty. iv. In fact, as we've seen in the study of the book ok Acts, their subjects especially those who were not Roman citizens, could be beaten and imprisoned, and in some cases even killed without charge. v. This Roman commander shrewdly assumes that the man being beaten is guilty and asks the crowd for the information regarding his guilt. vi. If the answer he got was that clear – that Paul had defiled the temple – the Roman officer probably would have let them kill Paul. c. [Slide 15] 34 - But among the crowd some were shouting one thing and some another, and when he could not find out the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. i. This is the very definition of mob mentality. ii. Most of these people had no idea why they were hitting this man, they just knew that he had done something worth hitting him for. iii. When emotionalism and extreme rhetoric wins, the most natural thing we humans do, is follow the crowd of people who scream the loudest. iv. We'll always find something to be outraged about, and if it isn't what the crowd is outraged about – that's ok – we'll just vent our frustration in the convenient opportunity the mob has provided. v. Like when we burn a city when a football team wins… or also if they lose the big game???? vi. Such in the case here. vii. Seeing that the crowd has no idea who this person is or what he did, the commander chooses to escort the man to safety so that they could interrogate the prisoner himself. Which we will see him attempt to do in a few weeks. d. [Slide 16] 35 - And when he got to the stairs, he actually was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd; 36 - for the multitude of the people kept following them, shouting, “Away with him!” i. Even today, tactically speaking, stairs are what are called fatal funnels. ii. They are essentially hallways forcing you to change altitude and keeping you from flanking to safety. iii. These stairs are probably the first flight of stairs up to the Anatolian fortress. They would have been quite wide, but would have been difficult to navigate especially with a large crowd of people following them trying to get at their prisoner. iv. The Roman soldiers are forced to pick up and carry Paul up the stairs because the crowd continued to try to assault Paul on the way up. v. They call out “away with him” which is a great literal translation of the words, but idiomatically this certainly was their cry for Paul to be put to death. vi. We are reminded of the crowds call to “crucify” someone after He too entered the temple offering something that no one wanted. vii. Scholars sometimes press the similarities too far, but I think it is obvious that Luke sees the similarity of Christ's experience in Jerusalem during his passion week and Paul's experience here. Although they do not end the same of course. e. [Slide 17] Summary of the Point: Although Luke makes it clear in the book of Acts that the Romans saw no threat posed to the empire by the Christians, we should note that that doesn't mean that the Romans would always ride in and save Christians from persecution. In fact, this particular Roman commander not only arrested Paul without any idea what Paul did, he also, as we will see in the following weeks, intends to beat Paul some more in order to find out what happened in the temple. And these Jews, while not being in agreement as to why Paul was being beaten, all agreed on one thing… he needed to die. Again, we compare Paul's experience to our Lord Jesus'. He too was not rescued by the Romans. And the people cried out for Him to be killed too. Paul is suffering the same way Jesus suffered. If it can happen to Paul, and all the apostles, and countless others throughout the church's history, then it most certainly can… and will happen to us. If we faithfully preach the gospel men will revile us and persecute us. Why? Because the gospel is offensive. But again, what do we do when this happens? We must be ready to give an answer for the hope we have in us. Conclusion: So CBC, what have we learned today and how shall we live? Basic Concepts for Faith and Practice: [Slide 18] The gospel is by nature offensive to natural man. The religiously zealous Jews and the Roman pagans alike, both despise what Paul teaches and seek to silence it. And the world goes about silencing those who speak the gospel in two ways presented in this passage. They falsely accuse those who preach the gospel of evil things. They accused Paul of defiling the temple and teaching against the law of Moses. They will also revile and persecute those who preach the gospel. We see them beat, arrest, and call for the execution of Paul, to silence his teaching of the gospel. What does that mean for us? They will hate us too. Even if we are nice. Even if we are kind. Even if we are loving. They will still hate us. They will falsely accuse us of some of the most terrible things. And they will revile us and persecute us. What then should we do? We must be ready to give an answer for the hope we have in us. Even as they usher us through the door to that hope. These are the basic concepts of faith and practice in this text – but let's us dive a little deeper into them today. 1.) [Slide 19] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that the gospel is offensive to natural man. a. Why is it offensive? b. It teaches that every single person, whether they are moral, immoral, religious, irreligious, wealthy, poor, powerful, powerless, strong, weak, regardless of nationality, tribe, language, political party, every person is spiritually dead in their sin. c. They are… as the bible calls them… children of wrath. d. Slaves to sin. e. Every single person lacks all agency to do anything to save themselves or even to seek God to save them. f. This is what Paul says in Romans chapter 3 and this is what Augustine of Hippo defended in his treatise On Grace and Free Will against the Pelagian heresy. g. Mankind is not naturally equipped in their will to choose God or pursue Him in any way. They are given commands by God but are unable to accomplish them without God giving them grace to do so. h. There are two things I have found in my life that seem to be universally true of we humans. i. We hate being told we are wrong ii. And we hate being told we can't do anything about it. iii. Not only do we hate being told these things… we reject these things entirely. i. But the gospel tells us both and to the most extreme degree. i. It isn't just that we are wrong… we are dead wrong. So wrong that we have committed treason against the highest court of the highest kingdom on whose throne sits the highest God, Yahweh. ii. And we not only can't do anything about it… we don't even want to. Men love darkness and hate the light because their deeds are evil and they want to keep doing them. iii. There are none righteous and there are none who seek God. You are children of wrath of your father the devil and slaves to sin. iv. Just to quote a few j. All of this is the preamble of the gospel. k. It's funny – to the world that doesn't sound like good news at all. l. But to we who have been made alive in Christ… To know we are sinners and deserve nothing but judgment and wrath… That truly is good news. m. Why? n. Because Christ died for sinners! Just like you. Just like me. o. But until God gives a new heart and enables a person to see their own wickedness, they will continue to hate the gospel and fundamentally disagree with its accusations against them. p. As Matthew Henry once said, “Men hate Christ because they love their sin.” q. From our discussion last week – fear that the gospel may be right leads them to hate it. And what do we humans do with things we fear? We either flee them or we fight them. r. And that leads us to something we must deny. A lie we must dismiss especially now in the culture we are in… 2.) [Slide 20] Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We must deny that religious toleration for the true gospel is normative. a. Although it is a much easier sell today than it would have been a few decades ago, because we still have relative freedom to continue to worship God in the way that He has commanded us to, we tend to find it difficult to connect with warnings about coming persecution. b. One other general human trait that I have observed is that we as humans tend to believe that all of life will continue as it has. We assume that because we live in a country where we are free from constant persecution against our beliefs that this will always be true. c. However, we know from the words of Christ that if we are His disciple then we should not expect anything less than the same rejection He experienced. d. If Men hate Christ because they love their sin – it stands to reason that they will hate any who follow Christ and are calling them to repent of their sin. e. This is why the “God loves you and is just wanting you to love Him back” gospel message is so popular today. Because it doesn't actually call anyone to abandon their sin. Instead, the message conveys the idea that God would be really lucky to have you if you would just say yes. f. And because of this message being out there, the real gospel message of God calling all men to repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord – is reviled and despised. g. And just like Paul was accused of blasphemy against the temple and even betrayal toward his own kinsmen, we too will be slandered. i. We spoke last week how the church is seen as homophobic or transphobic because we agree with God about sexuality and gender. ii. We are accused of hating democracy and freedom because we advocate for our laws to be based on God's moral will. iii. We are accused of intolerance because we believe Jesus when He says He is the only way to the Father. iv. We are accused of hating women because we believe God's word when it tells us of gender roles and authority structures within the home. v. In short, the world will rebrand us as arch villains because we have the audacity to see, through the lens of ancient Scripture, that their cherished practices are sin. vi. And we may, in the most loving and compassionate way we can, call them to repent and trust on Christ for the forgiveness of sin and new life… vii. But remember men love darkness rather than light for their deeds are evil. viii. God must give them a new heart in order for them to receive the gifts of repentance and faith. h. And unfortunately, men's hatred of the gospel and those who preach it will not just stop at slander. As it did with Paul, slander was the vehicle used to harm, revile, and persecute Paul. We too should expect the same. i. It is only a small step from where we are to where many other countries are in relation to persecution. ii. We may be tempted to think that such things could never happen in our country or that if they do, we are decades away. iii. But my friends, it would not surprise me to wake up tomorrow and learn that it is no longer legal to preach certain scripture passages or certain interpretations of scriptures passages. iv. It seemed like overnight governors of states were commanding churches not to sing to God in their services. v. And there isn't a party that exists today that has a biblical worldview. So just like Paul could not look to the Romans to save him, so too we cannot look to the Republicans to save us. vi. We will be persecuted on all sides. Not just from liberals. We will be persecuted by people who call themselves Christians. Perhaps even some in this very room will be the ones turning us in to the authorities. i. I don't know when the hammer will fall. I don't know how long God will allow for us to worship Him in peace with the culture around us. But I do know that from where the country started to where we are – our trajectory is on a nose dive headed straight for persecution. j. It does us no good to put our heads in the sand and continue to deny that such things would or could happen. k. We must even now ready ourselves by counting the cost and whether we are willing to pay it. l. But what is our response to persecution? Should we resist? Should we fight back? 3.) [Slide 21] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must take every opportunity to give a defense of the hope that is in us. a. Interestingly, in this text, there is not a single example positively of what we are to do, nor is there a direct command in this passage associated to what is happening in the text. b. Before the end of this chapter Paul will respond. c. And originally in my sermon planning I did include verses 37-40. d. But in order to understand Paul's response we would need to look into what he says which would mean looking at MANY more verses. e. Paul actually begins his first of 6 defenses of his faith and ministry that are recorded in the last 7 chapters of the book of Acts starting in chapter 22. f. Now without looking at the first defense in its entirety let alone looking at all 6 defenses, we can still draw a very general application from what we know of the remainder of the book of Acts. g. And quite simply that is that we should take every opportunity we are given, in the midst of persecution, in the midst of slander, in the midst of opposition and hardship from all sides, we should take the opportunity we are given to give a defense for the hope that is in us. h. We cannot afford to fight back, resist, or get even when persecution comes. Why? Because we always have a responsibility to be ambassadors for Jesus Christ. i. Paul was gravely assaulted by these people, but he will stand before them and 5 more hostile audiences in the next 7 chapters, and will boldly decare the gospel of Jesus Christ. j. We must do the same. k. And maybe you are thinking… wow. I don't think I can do that. l. That is just not my default setting. Someone takes a swipe at me, my natural impulse is going to be to swipe back. m. So, the real discussion is, how do you fight that natural impulse and do what Jesus commands you to do? n. I think it starts with what Jesus says should be our perspective on persecution in general. 4.) [Slide 22] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must rejoice and be exceedingly glad when we are persecuted for Christ's sake. a. Although you'll have to forgive me for going outside of our text this morning to snag this application, because the scriptures are one, I don't think I am doing any disservice to Luke's account by tossing this little aside in. b. [Slide 23] Matthew 5:11-12 c. After reading this text, tell me you don't see Paul's experience all over Christ's teaching here in the sermon on the mount! d. Paul was slandered. Paul was reviled. Paul was persecuted for Christ's sake. So, what should Paul's response be? What should our response be? e. We must rejoice and be exceedingly glad. f. What? Why? g. Because we are blessed. We are favored of God when this happens. h. How does that compute? How does this comfort us? 5.) [Slide 24] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” Our reward in heaven is great and we are in good company. a. God's kingdom and His righteousness is constantly opposed by a kingdom that is perishing. b. In the Old Testament, God's prophets were treated this way. And time proved that they were right. c. In the New Testament, His apostles were treated this way and time has proved out that they were right. d. My friends, if you are truly slandered, reviled, and abused for the sake of Christ and His gospel… You are blessed. e. You are blessed because your reward will be great in the Kingdom and in that kingdom there will be many, just like you, who were hated for the gospel. f. So, rejoice and be exceedingly glad. g. You are in good company. [Slide 25 (end)] Let me close with a word of prayer from the English Reformer Thomas Cranmer Merciful God, you grant all peace. You are the giver of all good gifts, the defender of all nations. And you desire us to count all people as neighbors, to love them as ourselves, and not to hate our enemies. Rather, you want us to wish them well, and also to do them good if we can. Look down upon us and see this small portion of earth where the name of Jesus Christ is proclaimed. Give to all of us the desire for peace, unity, and calm. Make us weary of all war and hostility, weary of bitterness toward those we call enemies. May we and they praise your holy name with one heart. May we all remake our lives according to your way. Grant, O Lord, that our children's children may know the benefit of your great gift of unity. May you discredit all those who work against it. Diminish their strength and punish those who interrupt godly peace-or rather, convert their hearts to the better way, and make them embrace unity and peace, which will be for your glory. Put away from us all war and hostility. But if we are driven to it, be our shield and protection as we seek peace. Do not look on our sins, Lord, or the sins of our enemies. Do not give us what we deserve, but remember your abundant, infinite mercy. Do this, O Lord, for your Son's sake, Jesus Christ. Amen. Benediction: May the God Who changes not, Who has no shadow of turning, And Whose compassions fail not, Preserve you by His loving kindness, So that you might know, Great are His faithful acts, they are new every morning. Until we meet again, go in peace.

Deuteronomy 26 contains the offering of the first fruits and the tithes. The first fruits of the land are always Yahweh's and they needed to be humbly and thankfully presented to the priest with an acknowledgment of Israel's great debt for the Almighty delivering them. Speaking of Jacob's, ie Israel, history they were to recite the words of verse 3. Following the priest's response they were then to answer with the words of verses 5 to the first half of verse 10. Slowly read those verses and reflect how feeble and insignificant we are; and yet how great is our Sovereign's redeeming hand that has been outstretched for us. Verses 11-12 tells us that they were to give their tithes joyfully and acknowledging God's gracious provision to the Levite, the widow and the fatherless. Then they were to recite the words of verses 23-15 in thankfulness to their Creator for the privilege that He has provided in His evident care and compassion for all classes within His nation. The last words of their invocation are a prayer for divine acceptance. Do we give help from a bountiful and generous heart? Verses 16-19 declares that this spirit of obedience is essential and when it is shown will become a preserving blessing for each individual and for the entire nation. In Song of Solomon 6 verse 1 we hear of the bride's companions offering to go with her to seek for the groom. The bride's response is recorded in verses 2-3. Here she says that he has probably gone to his spice garden and that she expects to find her beloved among the lilies. The bride proclaims her intense love for her husband. In verses 3-11 we have the bridegroom's declaration of love for his perfect and magnificent spouse. In a succession of grand metaphors the bride is described. Her presence is awesome and takes his breath away. Her eyes are striking and have captivated her groom. The hair of the bride is thick and shimmering. Her teeth are perfectly formed and matching from top to bottom. The bride's cheeks flush with a healthy rosy glow. When Solomon compares this loved one her beauty excels that of 60 his queens, 80 of his concubines and unnumbered virgins from his realm. In her and in her alone does king Solomon find perfection. The groom's metaphors conclude in verse 4 in the same way that they commenced. His bride is in every way formidable and a worthy companion of her king. Verses 11-12 tell of the bride's response. She sees herself with her incomparable husband transported into a location of many great delights to her senses. She sees herself in Solomon's chariot and her powerful prince the master of every situation. In verse 13 the companions of the bride ask her to come back to them as they are missing her peaceful and calming presence. The song concludes with the groom's endorsement of the pacific qualities of the bride and find those qualities a match with his, ie Solomon's, own character. Acts 21 records Paul's journey to Jerusalem. The Apostle comforts and encourages many groups of disciples as he heads to Jerusalem. An old prophet, named Agabus, attempts to persuade Paul to go no further. Paul will not, like his lord, be dissuaded from going. The first thing Paul does on his arrival is to see James who advises him of the best course of action to be taken so as to avoid trouble. The Apostle is advised to complete his Nazarite vow and to cover the expenses of four other brothers who are completing their vows. James reiterates to Paul that the only binding requirements on Gentile believers are the keeping of the four matters agreed upon at the Jerusalem Conference. However, Paul cannot peacefully complete his vow since he is arrested in the temple by Asian Jews. These hostile Jews mistakenly believe that Paul has profaned the temple by bringing Trophimus, a Gentile Ephesian into the temple. A Tribune from the Roman fort of Antonia rescues Paul and commands that he be chained. The crowd clamours for the Apostle's blood, just as they had for his Lord's some three and a half decades earlier. In the barracks Paul speaks with the Tribune dismissing many of the fanciful thoughts as to who Paul might be. Paul asks for permission to address the crowd from the steps of the fort and his speech is recorded in chapter 22. Paul gives his defence in Hebrew and initially the crowd pays close attention. The aged Apostle describes his own education in the Pharisaic tradition under Gamaliel and his zeal for the Law. After this he tells of his experiences on the Damascus road, his conversion to a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul says that he is warned by Jesus his Lord to immediately leave Jerusalem since his testimony will not be accepted. The Jews attentively listen until Paul speaks of being sent to the Gentiles. Once again uproar follows and the Tribune commands that Paul be scourged that the Tribune might understand why the multitude were so angry with the Apostle. Paul, on this occasion, uses his Roman citizenship to avoid a pointless flogging. The chapter concludes with the Tribune intending to have Paul examined by the Jewish Sanhedrin on the next day.

Acts 21 records Paul's journey to Jerusalem. The Apostle comforts and encourages many groups of disciples as he heads to Jerusalem. An old prophet, named Agabus, attempts to persuade Paul to go no further. Paul will not, like his lord, be dissuaded from going. The first thing Paul does on his arrival is to see James who advises him of the best course of action to be taken so as to avoid trouble. The Apostle is advised to complete his Nazarite vow and to cover the expenses of four other brothers who are completing their vows. James reiterates to Paul that the only binding requirements on Gentile believers are the keeping of the four matters agreed upon at the Jerusalem Conference. However, Paul cannot peacefully complete his vow since he is arrested in the temple by Asian Jews. These hostile Jews mistakenly believe that Paul has profaned the temple by bringing Trophimus, a Gentile Ephesian into the temple. A Tribune from the Roman fort of Antonia rescues Paul and commands that he be chained. The crowd clamours for the Apostle's blood, just as they had for his Lord's some three and a half decades earlier. In the barracks Paul speaks with the Tribune dismissing many of the fanciful thoughts as to who Paul might be. Paul asks for permission to address the crowd from the steps of the fort and his speech is recorded in chapter 22. Paul gives his defence in Hebrew and initially the crowd pays close attention. The aged Apostle describes his own education in the Pharisaic tradition under Gamaliel and his zeal for the Law. After this he tells of his experiences on the Damascus road, his conversion to a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul says that he is warned by Jesus his Lord to immediately leave Jerusalem since his testimony will not be accepted. The Jews attentively listen until Paul speaks of being sent to the Gentiles. Once again uproar follows and the Tribune commands that Paul be scourged that the Tribune might understand why the multitude were so angry with the Apostle. Paul, on this occasion, uses his Roman citizenship to avoid a pointless flogging. The chapter concludes with the Tribune intending to have Paul examined by the Jewish Sanhedrin on the next day.

Deuteronomy 24 verses 1-4 speak of the divorce laws for the Israelites. Divorce was permitted on the grounds of a groom finding in his betrothed some evidence of indecency. The Septuagint Greek version uses the word “pornea” to describe this situation. This word speaks of all kinds of perversions as well as unfaithfulness prior to marriage. When the accused woman was sent away with an annulment of the marriage she was forbidden to remarry. This prohibition also meant that her former husband was not allowed to take her again as a wife. Divorce was to regulate behaviour within the nation of Israel. The Lord Jesus Christ reveals this point to us in Matthew 19 verses 3-9. Divorce is abhorrent to the Lord GOD Almighty as Malachi 2 verses 13-16. Shows. Verses 5-22 speak of several miscellaneous laws. Verse 5 tells of a married man being exempted from warfare for one year after his marriage. Verse 6 is about care and compassion for the poor. Verse 7 prescribes death to be the penalty for kidnapping. Verses 8-9 instruct Israel to faithfully follow the Levitical rules relating to leprosy. Verses 10-15 speak of fair dealing among members of God's people. Every member of Israel were to show care and compassion – ie love for one's neighbour. The day labourer was to receive his wages on the same day as the work had been done. Verse 16 teaches the principle that we alone are answerable for our own sins. Ezekiel 18 clearly elaborates that principle. Verses 17-18 speak of the dispensing of justice to be free from bias and to be carried out with integrity. Verses 19-22 tells of the love of the widows and the fatherless children in a generosity of spirit that is seen in their harvesting practices: not stripping their fruit trees. Psalm 68 verses 1-6 and James 1verses 27 reinforce the message of the love and care to be shown to widows, and fatherless children. In so acting the Israelites were imitating their Heavenly Father. Verse 22 of Deuteronomy 24 states the premise for why they must behave as the LORD commanded. The people of the LORD were responding to the redeeming love that underlies their deliverance from Egypt. The entire chapter 4 of the Song of Solomon concerns the bridegroom's words to his beloved spouse. Verses 1-5 present a cascade of magnificent metaphors in which the groom describes the alluring beauty of his bride. In verses 6-7 he claims to be intoxicated by her love and his passionate desires for her love. Verse 8 expresses his desire to take her to the places where the wild scenery of the natural world causes romantic minds to become elevated in their feelings. Verses 9-15 present sparkling images of his intense desire to be with his captivating companion. The song closes in verse 16 with a wish for the fragrant north wind to stir up the aromatic fragrances of Solomon's spice garden. All of this speaks of the intense love of the groom for his bride, ie the Lord Jesus Christ's love of us. Acts 18 tells of Paul's arrival in Corinth. He chooses to live with Priscilla and Aquila, who had recently arrived in Corinth because the Emperor Claudius had expelled all the Jews from Rome, accusing them of being troublesome. Paul lodges with Priscilla and Aquila because they, like himself, are tent makers. This fine couple are mentioned 6 times in the New Testament, and 3 times Aquila's name is given first, and 3 times Priscilla's is mentioned first. This shows that they are partners who work together in everything – including the teaching of the gospel to private individuals. Some scholars believe that the letter to the Hebrews may have been written by Priscilla. Paul teaches in the synagogue at Corinth every sabbath day – that Jesus is the Christ (Israel's long promised Messiah). When the Apostle is fiercely opposed by the Jews Paul shakes the dust from his clothes as the Lord Jesus Christ had commanded in Matthew 10. Paul hires the house owned by Titus Justus, who accepts the gospel and lives next door to the synagogue. From this house Paul continues his preaching. This preaching results in the conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ of Crispus, who is the ruler of the synagogue, and many others including Crispus' family accept Christ. The atmosphere around the preaching is obviously tense and Paul becomes fearful and the Lord Jesus Christ appears in a night and says: “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people” (Vv9-10 ESV). For eighteen months the preaching continues successfully. During the Consulship of Gallio the Jews make a united attack on Paul bringing him before Gallio. Gallio summarily dismisses their claims and drives them from his presence. The Jews take out their frustration and anger on Sosthenes, the then newest ruler of the synagogue. This avails nothing as we see in 1 Corinthians 1verse 1. Sosthenes accepts the gospel and becomes a baptised believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. After this Paul shaves his hair in Cenchrea and sails from Ephesus to Antioch in Syria to complete his Nazarite vow. After spending time with the brethren in Syria Paul resumes his preaching in Galatia. The chapter concludes with the conversion of Apollos, an eloquent Alexandrian Jew – who had known only the baptism and preaching of John the Baptist. Priscilla and Aquila instruct him in the gospel and baptise him into the Lord Jesus Christ. It becomes obvious from this chapter that any who have not been baptised without a complete understanding of the gospel require to be baptised into the “whole counsel of God”: Acts 20verses 18-27. Acts In Acts 19 Apollos comes to Corinth (this was obviously very shortly after his conversion to Christ). Paul arrives in Ephesus and finds there disciples who had only known the baptism and teaching of John the Baptist. Those disciples, 12 in all, are likewise taught the full truth about the salvation in Christ Jesus and are baptised into that understanding. For three months Paul boldly speaks in the synagogue, until sustained resistance from Jewish foes causes Paul to seek other rooms for preaching. The Apostle hires the rooms of a local philosopher – one Tyrannus. Preaching from Tyrannus' rooms continues for two years so that all who live in the province of Asia hear the gospel. God through Paul supports the preaching by many miracles. Seven sons of an itinerant Jew by the name of Sceva attempt an exorcism on a man who attacks and wounds them – the sons of Sceva flee naked from the house where the attempted exorcism had occurred. God by that means shows Sceva's sons to be frauds. The testimony to the gospel causes many practicers of the dark arts (or magic) to forsake their craft and burn their books to the value of approximately $10,000,000. The chapter next says that craftsmen led by Demetrius, a silversmith himself, cause a riot – believing that Paul's preaching is endangering the sale of the miniature figurines of Diana (also known as Artemis) of the Ephesians. Some of Paul's companions are dragged into the arena by men wanting revenge. Paul attempts to go and answer them but is prevented from doing so by his friends. The riotous crowd take out their anger on a Jew named Alexander. The town clerk dismisses the rioters and disperses the crowd. The town clerk says that Rome may very well want to investigate the cause of the riot. Penned by Warwick Rosser and his team, produced by Christadelphianvideo.org

Enjoy this podcast, as Pastor Donny Smith teaches the word of God.Check us out on our website at AscensionChristianCenter.com or our Facebook and Instagram @AscensionChristianCenter.

In this Bible Story, Samson battles with a lion, breaks his vow as a Nazarite, and marries a Philistine woman. His foolishness costs him greatly, and his wife marries another man. This story is inspired by Judges 14. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Judges 14:14 from the King James Version.Episode 67: Samson, now a grown man, was walking around in the city of Timnah one day. He caught sight of a beautiful woman and immediately went back to his home to ask his parents to fetch her for him as a wife. On the way there a lion attacked Samson, but the Spirit of the Lord was upon him and he defeated the lion with his bare hands. In his pride, this became the perfect excuse to set up a riddle to place a bet and win himself 30 new garments at his wedding party. But we should be careful with what we say or do in moments of pride because just like Samson we might end up losing more than we imagine instead.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Delilah's spirit lurks in the flattery and charm, enticing those destined for greatness. Closing out his Men's Month series, Dr. Gabe warns listeners about the seductive spirit of Delilah, urging them to recognize and guard against anything that distracts from their God-given destiny.With the story of Samson and Delilah as a backdrop, Dr. Powell illuminates how the spirit of Delilah seeks to lead us astray not only through overt temptations but also through subtle flattery and charm. This spirit is crafty, targeting those with divine calling, whether prophets, leaders, or worshipers, aiming to derail their destiny.Support the showText encounteratl to 94000 to stay up-to-date on all things Encounter.Worship with EncounterSundays at 9 AM ET | Wednesdays at 7:30 PM ETSupport EncounterText egive to 77977 Connect with EncounterFacebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | WebsiteConnect with Dr. GabeInstagram | YouTube | Website

Ever wonder why the Bible includes so many detailed instructions? In today's episode, God gives the Israelites specific jobs for carrying the Tabernacle, rules for staying pure, and a beautiful blessing over His people. At first glance, it might seem like a lot of rules—but when we dig in, we see something deeper. These chapters show us God's holiness, His order, and His care for His people. And the best part? It all points to Jesus.   In this episode, we're talking about: How the Levites carried God's presence with reverence Why purity and holiness mattered (and still do!) The Nazarite vow and how it connects to Jesus The famous Priestly Blessing ("The Lord bless you and keep you…") — and what it means for us today!   Plus, I'll share how reading the Bible chronologically with The Bible Recap and watching The Bible Project videos in order has been a total game-changer and how I believe it will be for each of you as we continue our studies together on OOBT!   For the full episode show notes, please go to https://mfahring.com/numbers-4-6/.

Clinton, AR, 2021

Two Spirits: Welcome to this week's sermon podcast! Today, we're exploring a powerful message about the two competing spiritual influences in our lives and how we can walk in the power of God's Spirit.Episode OverviewIn this episode, we'll examine the stark contrast between living by the Spirit of God versus the spirit of the world, using the dramatic story of Samson as our case study.Key Scripture* 1 Corinthians 2:10-13* Judges 16:1-30* Romans 8:11* John 20:22* Luke 23:46Sermon OutlinePart 1: Understanding God's Breath (Spirit)* The Greek word "pneuma" means breath or spirit* Heath Ledger analogy: How he studied the Joker's breathing to understand the character* To know God's breath is to know God's character and disposition* Scripture is "breathed out by God" (2 Timothy 3:16)* Only the Spirit of God knows the thoughts of GodPart 2: Samson's Story - Power and Promises* Background: God raised judges to free Israel from enemies* Samson's Nazarite vow and its meaning* The Spirit of God rested on Samson, giving him supernatural strength* Delilah's deception and Samson's poor choices* The devastating consequence: "The Lord had left him"* Samson's final prayer and redemptionPart 3: Jesus as the Greater Samson* Both died surrounded by enemies* Samson died with his enemies; Jesus died for His enemies* Jesus "breathed His last" to give us new spiritual breath* Jesus breathed on the apostles: "Receive the Holy Spirit"Part 4: Living in the Power of God's Spirit* Two competing spirits: the world's vs. God's* We will all die for a spirit - which one will we choose?* The Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in believers* What needs to "die" in our lives for God's Spirit to fully operate?* Our communities don't need us - they need God's Spirit in usReflection Questions* What is the Spirit of God doing in your life right now?* What might God be asking you to let "die" so His Spirit can work more powerfully through you?* How can you better distinguish between the world's influences and God's Spirit?* In what areas of your life do you need to stop giving "CPR" to things that need to die?Closing ThoughtsWe all face a choice: Will we die giving ourselves to the spirit of this world, or will we allow things to die in us so we can fully live by God's Spirit? Remember, the same Spirit that empowered Samson and raised Jesus from the dead lives in you. Don't wait until it's too late to discover the power of living by God's breath.Next WeekJoin us as we continue our series on spiritual empowerment with "Recognizing God's Voice in a Noisy World." Subscribe to make sure you don't miss it!If this message resonated with you, please share it with others who might need this encouragement. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe to our podcast for more weekly spiritual insights. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amenpodcast.substack.com

What was the Nazarite vow? In today's episode, Emma Dotter explains what the Nazarite vow was and how Samson's vow was broken repeatedly, and yet, God did not disqualify him from being used for God's purposes. Additional References:2 Corinthians 12:9

Two Spirits: Welcome to this week's sermon podcast! Today, we're exploring a powerful message about the two competing spiritual influences in our lives and how we can walk in the power of God's Spirit.Episode OverviewIn this episode, we'll examine the stark contrast between living by the Spirit of God versus the spirit of the world, using the dramatic story of Samson as our case study.Key Scripture* 1 Corinthians 2:10-13* Judges 16:1-30* Romans 8:11* John 20:22* Luke 23:46Sermon OutlinePart 1: Understanding God's Breath (Spirit)* The Greek word "pneuma" means breath or spirit* Heath Ledger analogy: How he studied the Joker's breathing to understand the character* To know God's breath is to know God's character and disposition* Scripture is "breathed out by God" (2 Timothy 3:16)* Only the Spirit of God knows the thoughts of GodPart 2: Samson's Story - Power and Promises* Background: God raised judges to free Israel from enemies* Samson's Nazarite vow and its meaning* The Spirit of God rested on Samson, giving him supernatural strength* Delilah's deception and Samson's poor choices* The devastating consequence: "The Lord had left him"* Samson's final prayer and redemptionPart 3: Jesus as the Greater Samson* Both died surrounded by enemies* Samson died with his enemies; Jesus died for His enemies* Jesus "breathed His last" to give us new spiritual breath* Jesus breathed on the apostles: "Receive the Holy Spirit"Part 4: Living in the Power of God's Spirit* Two competing spirits: the world's vs. God's* We will all die for a spirit - which one will we choose?* The Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in believers* What needs to "die" in our lives for God's Spirit to fully operate?* Our communities don't need us - they need God's Spirit in usReflection Questions* What is the Spirit of God doing in your life right now?* What might God be asking you to let "die" so His Spirit can work more powerfully through you?* How can you better distinguish between the world's influences and God's Spirit?* In what areas of your life do you need to stop giving "CPR" to things that need to die?Closing ThoughtsWe all face a choice: Will we die giving ourselves to the spirit of this world, or will we allow things to die in us so we can fully live by God's Spirit? Remember, the same Spirit that empowered Samson and raised Jesus from the dead lives in you. Don't wait until it's too late to discover the power of living by God's breath.Next WeekJoin us as we continue our series on spiritual empowerment with "Recognizing God's Voice in a Noisy World." Subscribe to make sure you don't miss it!If this message resonated with you, please share it with others who might need this encouragement. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe to our podcast for more weekly spiritual insights. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amenpodcast.substack.com

Send us a textIn this third episode, Arnie and Glenn continue discussing what the Bible says about John the Baptizer. We begin by noting that John, according to Jesus, was come to fulfill all righteousness. Part of that work was to identify Jesus as the Christ or Messiah. There are two sections of scripture that tell us of the duration of John's baptism. We discuss both of those sections which is very important to know. John's background, his birth and early life is what is noted next. John had righteous parents, and it is noted that his father, Zacharias, was a priest who served in the temple and his mother, Elizabeth, was a daughter of Aaron. Zacharias had been praying for his wife to have a child and was visited by the angel Gabriel while he was serving in the temple. Gabriel told him that Elizabeth would have a child, told him the name to call him and a number of other important facts that we discuss. Jesus' mother Mary was Elizabeth's cousin, and she went to visit her. We look at that visit and what occurred. This episode closes with John's birth, his naming and Zacharias's prophesy. Take about 30-minutes to listen in on our discussion. Have your Bible handy so you can verify what we are saying. There is a transcript of this Buzzsprout episode provided for your convenience.

Fr. Mike explains the significance behind the Nazarite vow and the priestly blessing in Numbers 6. We also learn why the Great Command revealed in Deuteronomy 6 is the foundation of all other commandments. Today we pray Psalm 91. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Numbers 6 is a chapter in the Book of Numbers in the Bible that outlines the Nazirite vow and contains the well-known priestly blessing. Here's a breakdown of the key elements of the chapter: 1. The Nazirite Vow (Verses 1–21) The chapter begins with God's instructions to Moses regarding the Nazirite vow, a special commitment that an Israelite could make to dedicate themselves to the Lord for a specific period. This vow involved three key restrictions: •No consumption of wine or strong drink – This included any grape-related products, such as vinegar, juice, or even fresh or dried grapes. •No cutting of hair – The Nazirite was to let their hair grow long as a sign of their consecration to God. •Avoiding contact with the dead – Even if a close family member died, the Nazirite was not to come near a corpse, as this would make them unclean. If the vow was accidentally broken (e.g., by coming into contact with a dead body), the person had to perform a purification ritual and restart the vow. At the completion of the vow, the Nazirite had to bring offerings to the tabernacle, shave their head, and burn the hair as part of the sacrifice, symbolizing the end of their period of separation to the Lord. 2. The Priestly Blessing (Verses 22–27) The latter part of the chapter contains the priestly blessing, a beautiful and well-known passage where God instructs Aaron and his sons to bless the Israelites: “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24–26, NKJV) This blessing is a powerful prayer for protection, grace, and peace. It remains one of the most widely used benedictions in Christian and Jewish traditions today. Themes and Significance •Dedication to God – The Nazirite vow shows a special way of devotion beyond regular worship, illustrating how people could set themselves apart for God. •Holiness and Purity – The restrictions emphasize spiritual purity and separation from worldly influences. •God's Blessing – The priestly blessing highlights God's care, favor, and peace upon His people, showing His desire to be in relationship with them. Numbers 6 reminds us of the importance of commitment to God and the blessings that come from living under His favor. Would you like a deeper analysis or a reflection on how this chapter applies to modern faith and practice?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sendme-radio--732966/support.

Join Emma Dotter as she unpacks the Nazarite vow from Numbers 4-6—a voluntary act of consecration to the Lord, open to both men and women, with specific commitments and a sacrificial conclusion. Listen in and think through these questions: What does it mean to be set apart? How is your heart posture toward pursuing holiness? How are you intentionally living a holy life by surrendering to the Spirit's leadership?

12-29-24 PM "The Gracious Gift of a Nazarite" Sermon Text: Judges 13 I. The Nazarite - a temporary warrior priest. II. The Nazarite - a gift of sovereign grace. III. The Nazarite - a gift made possible by atonement. Rev. Ralph A. Pontier

An expository sermon from Numbers 6:1-21 on the vow of a Nazarite.

Pastor David MorrisonOur culture values strength, perhaps too much and maybe in the wrong way. Our culture's lie is that I can be strong enough on my own. Today, I will share a story that shows where absolute strength is found...that true strength is found by sight.Instructions for reading the Old Testament:1. The Old Testament highlights humanity's need for God, showing that even those who had God's law couldn't succeed by merely following rules - they needed something greater. 2. The Old Testament held significant value for its original audience, those who lived before the time of Jesus. 3. The Old Testament is full of imperfect people and is often descriptive instead of prescriptive. 4. The Old Testament ultimately points to one central hero - Jesus.Judges 13-16 (NLT)- What is a Nazarite? - A Nazarite would be someone who took an even greater vow, beyond the standard expectation, to keep the law of God out of a desire to be set apart and be used by God. - The Nazarite Vow: - Refrain from cutting their hair - Abstain from grapes and alcohol - Never touch a corpse of a human or animal- As a Nazarite, Samson was to be set apart for God's use. As he grows, he gets himself into trouble.- Just because God's Spirit is active doesn't mean God approves of everything that has happened.Ways I Am Like Samson:- I choose my own way, even though I know better.- God still uses me, even when I am imperfect.- I still think I am strong enough on my own.Judges 21:25 (NLT)- Samson reflected the people's attitudes. They did what was right in their own eyes.Jesus has some powerful words about Eyes.- Matthew 5:29 (NLT)- Matthew 6:22-23 (NLT)Where are you looking? What are you looking for?- Samson's story is a cautionary tale about a man with a calling on his life who allows the distractions around him to shift his perspective away from what matters the most. I have been praying an essential prayer for a few years now that I believe is the secret to true strength:- "Lord, give me eyes to see."When I pray this prayer, I am asking:- God help me to see things like You do.- God help me to see into the unseen.- God help me to turn my eyes away from things that would distract or destroy me.Isaiah 50:11 (NLT)- When I live according to my light, I will indeed find darkness. When I strive to be my strength and source, I will fall.In many ways, Samson's story was like Jesus; there was an angelic meeting before his birth, and he was set apart for God's purpose and sent to deliver God's people. The difference is that Samson kept his eye fixed on what he wanted. Jesus was the only one up to the task. Jesus is the only one who can walk the gauntlet of life and not allow His eyes to wander. He went to the cross, and instead of crying out for vengeance as Samson did, He cried out, "Father, forgive them."And He died so that we could live in freedom. And now He says, follow Me.Response:- If the temptations of this world have pulled you away from God's plan for your life, it's time to repent.- Have you been looking at yourself as your source of strength?- Are you willing to be set apart and replace your eyes with His?

Welcome to Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran. Sharon has a passion for scripture that will motivate and challenge you to immerse yourself in God's Word and apply His message to your everyday life. Visit SeekingTruth.net to learn more about bringing Seeking Truth to your parish or to become an online learner. Today it's part two of the Gospel of Mark, chapter 1, verses 1 through 15. And now, Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran. Jesus, the anointed one. And when they were all waiting for the anointed one to come, and who was the anointed one? The Messiah. So God saves is what Jesus means. God saves. They're waiting for an anointed one. God saves anointed one. Jesus Christ, God's anointed one. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, then we get his identity. Son of capital G God. That's a bold proclamation. To the emperor of Rome, who is calling himself little g God, and he has a son too. So the son of God. Now, this is a striking title, a striking, bold proclamation of faith, because the world did not know that God had a son, because God had not revealed that yet. Even the Jews did not know God had a son, because they said every morning and every night, the Shema prayer, hear, O Israel, the Lord, our God is one Lord. All they knew was God was one. And they would pray at morning, night, morning, night, and they still do. From Deuteronomy chapter 6, the Shema Israel, hear, O Israel, the Lord, the Lord our God is one. They don't know God has a son. They don't know that he's one, two, and three, and one. They don't know anything about that yet. God has to reveal that through his God spell, through his gospel. Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one, and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your might. And these words, which I command you this day, shall be upon your heart, and you will teach them diligently to your children, and you shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. These are pretty important words. And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand. And so the Jews would bind them on their hands. And they shall be in the frontlets of your eyes, and they would put them in the frontlets of their eyes. These are tefillin or phylacteries, they're called. Tefillin or phylacteries, they're little small leather boxes, and they contain leather straps and scrolls of parchment inside with all the verses of the Shema prayer from Deuteronomy 6 in Torah. Bind it to your head, bind it on your hands, bind it on your arms, teach it to your children, and put it on the, write it on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. So if you have any Jewish friends, they have a mezuzah on their door and inside the mezuzah. And when we bought our house from the Katzes and it had a mezuzah in the door and we kept it because inside the little brass thing is a little scroll with the Shema on it. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your might. It's called a mezuzah on your doorpost to this day. So they didn't know that God had a son. They thought God was one. So this is a bold proclamation of identity, that God Almighty, our one God, has a son. So he is already in this short line. We've seen two people of the Trinity, God the Father and God the Son. And we're going to see the Spirit before these 15 verses are over. So he's going to reveal the whole Trinity in the first 15 verses. They didn't know anything about it. But they did know Isaiah the prophet had said that, behold, I send a messenger before thy face that shall prepare the way. The voice of one crying out in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. They knew Isaiah well. And since Genesis 3, 15 and the fall of Adam and Eve, they had been waiting for a Messiah, one who would bring them back into communion with God because they had lost that when they got expelled from the garden. So they're waiting. Everyone's waiting for a Messiah. And this one's going to come before him who's going to prepare the way. So no one's going to miss this because one's going to come before him to prepare the way. Isaiah said it. I will send my messenger before thy face. He will prepare the way. It's going to be a voice of one crying out in the wilderness. Prepare the way of the Lord. Make his path straight. Now, Isaiah, we studied Isaiah, and it is called the fifth gospel because there are so many fulfillments to be fulfilled in Isaiah by Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Let's read what that said in Isaiah 40. It's so beautiful. You'll all love this passage. Let's just see where this came from. Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. Would that be a good message? Yeah. See it together for the mouth of the Lord has done what? God spoke the word. The mouth of the Lord has spoken it. The mouth of the Lord and God said. God spoke and it was. The mouth of the Lord has spoken it. Now, if we go on to the last stanza of that beautiful Isaiah 40 and we think about St. Peter is really the one who Mark is writing for. Isaiah says this, cry, and I say, what shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the breath of the Lord blows upon it, and surely the people is grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but what will stand forever? The word of God will stand, And how long? Forever. That's what St. Peter said in 1 Peter 1. You who have been born anew, not of perishable seed, but imperishable through the living and abiding word of God for all flesh is like grass, all its glory like the flowers of grass. The grass withers, the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord abides forever. That word is the good news. news, the euangelion, the evangelium, the God spell, the good story that was proclaimed to you. Do you see an essence of St. Peter in Mark's gospel? Yes. Not only was the prophet Isaiah saying this, but the very final prophet of the Old Testament, the very last one, and then God was quiet for over 400 years. The very last prophet was Malachi. Malachi said something. Similar. Mary and Joseph bring him to the presentation and Simeon is outside and the Holy Spirit is so strong. Simeon's like, oh, he goes running into the temple after this baby and this young couple. They're so poor. They don't have a lamb. They just have the two little pigeon offering. Simeon takes that baby in his arms. He blessed God and he said, Lord, now let your servant depart in peace. I can die now according to what? Your word. According to your word, because my eyes have seen the salvation of all people, Gentile and Jew. This is him. This is the anointed one. This is Messiah. This is Jesus. God saves the anointed one, Jesus Christ. I know it by the power of the Holy Spirit. Anna the prophetess knew it too. She's in her 80s. She comes running in. She knows it. Mark's gospel, which is Peter's gospel, is not concerned with the infancy narratives. He is going to start with the ministry of Jesus that started when Jesus Christ was 30 years old. Peter didn't know anything about when Christ was a baby. Peter met Christ when Christ was 30 years old. How do we know that? Thank you, St. Luke, the careful historian, the doctor who's careful with his charting. He said that Jesus was 30 years of age in Luke chapter 3. Why is that important? That's important because in order to be a priest, guess how old you had to be? 30. Jesus won't be a Levitical priest. He will be a priest in the order of Melchizedek, but he's the the age of priesthood. Mark writes about Jesus from age 30 forward. And he says this, John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for what? The forgiveness of sins. So baptism for John had two components. There must be repentance. You must be sorry. You must humble yourself. You must go forward and repent with a contrite heart. And then what? You will be forgiven. You have to humble yourself, though, to repent. That's the hard part. That's where grace comes in. The Holy Spirit stirs us with grace. He acts on us. He acts on that sanctifying grace from our own baptism to get us to niggle enough that we want to go repent and be forgiven in the sacrament of confession. John the Baptizer appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Now, this is a picture of St. John the Baptist by El Greco. This is what Matthew said about him. Truly, I say to you, this is Jesus talking now. These are Jesus's own words in the gospel of Matthew. Truly, I say to you, among those born of woman, there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist yet. He who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than John. Who's Jesus talking about? Who could be more humble than John the Baptist? Jesus himself. Truly I say to you, among those born of woman, there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist, yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John. For all the prophets, Jesus is still talking, for all the prophets and the law prophesied about John the Baptist. And if, if you are willing to accept it, Jesus Christ said, he is Elijah who is come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. Everybody knew that someone had to come before Jesus. Remember on the cross when Jesus is crying out and some of the people say, is he Elijah? No, he's Jesus. Elijah was John the Baptist. Jesus told them that in Matthew 11, in his own words, for you with ears to hear, John is Elijah. This is a typology clue from Jesus. Jesus Christ himself said that John is Elijah. They dress alike. They talk alike. They look alike. Now, who is this John the Baptist? His dad was Zechariah. He was a priest. His mom was from the daughters of Aaron, another priestly family. Aaron's the brother of Moses. Elizabeth. And Elizabeth is barren, and they are old, old, old, old. They're advanced in years. She's never had a baby. She's sterile. She's barren. She's past menopause. There's no way they're having a kid, right? But his lot is drawn. And Zechariah goes into the temple that day, and I'm sure Elizabeth said, now make sure you pray that we have a baby. And he goes in, his lot is drawn, and he's in the Holy of Holies, the holiest place on the face of the earth. And an angel appears and says, don't be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayer has been heard. And your wife, Elizabeth, what is he praying for? He's every, any good priest, Levitical priest would be praying for the consolation of Israel, for the Messiah to come and save him from all the suppression of the Roman empire. And, and, and, oh yeah. And my wife wants a baby, but it's the same answer because the baby his wife is going to have is going to be the forerunner to the Messiah that has to come first before the Messiah. So it's a double dip. Don't you love when you get a double dip prayer? It's a double dip. And if you will have joy and gladness and many are going to rejoice at his birth. Why? Because he's the forerunner to the Messiah. And he's going to be great before the Lord, and he's not going to have any drink, no wine, no strong drink. That means he's going to take that Nazarite vow from the book of Numbers, and he's going to be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. This is a first. No one had an indwelling Holy Spirit because Jesus hadn't released the Holy Spirit yet on the face of the earth. John is an exception, the forerunner. He is going to be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment of conception on. That's how he knows inside her stomach to jump up and down when he's in front of the Messiah. He's full of the Holy Spirit. And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord. And he, now listen to this, he will go before him in the spirit and the power of who? Elijah. And what will he do? He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just to make ready for the Lord a people prepared. A people prepared for what? A people prepared to meet the Messiah with clean hearts. That's what John's going to do. These are the famous last words of Malachi chapter 4, the very final sentences of the Old Testament. Malachi wrote, Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day that the Lord comes. And what will he do? He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their Just what Zechariah said. Jesus is going to come. He's going to reverse all the curses of the fall and usher in all the blessings. He does just the opposite. He gives the greatest blessing, the gift of salvation, the gift of communion again with the Trinity that we lost in the garden. I will send you, Elijah, the prophet, before the Lord comes. He's going to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers. That's exactly what Zechariah was praying. It's a prayer of the church. The deacons say it. The Liturgy of the Hour is every morning you say Luke 1. You say Zechariah's prayer. He's going to go before him in the spirit of the power of Elijah. This is Malachi. His name means my messenger. He's the final prophet in the Old Testament. And his book was written about 400 years before the birth of Christ, about 430 years before Christ. And this was nearly 100 years after the Jews had come back from the Babylonian exile. Now, the only scripture Jesus had were the Old Testament scrolls. He had the law and the prophets. They were scrolls. They were written in Koine Greek at the time because Alexander the Great had changed everything into Greek. Now, everything Everything's Latin because Rome is the world power. But the final words of the final scroll that God revealed to humans was that of Malachi, that he was sending Elijah the prophet before the terrible day of the Lord. So everyone knows Elijah has to come first. At every Passover, they set a place for Elijah, the end of the Old Testament. That's it. That's it. Those are the last words. And then it's silent for over 400 years. And then God spoke. An incarnate word, Jesus Christ. These two boys, Jesus Christ and John the Baptist, they're six months apart in age, half a year, six months difference. God sent Gabriel, who we're celebrating today, the Feast of the Archangels. One is Gabriel. The angel Gabriel came to Mary with a message. Behold, your kin's woman. She's related to Elizabeth. She's in her her old age, and she has conceived a son, and she is in her sixth month, the one who was called barren. She's six months along. Mary in haste goes to see her. She wants to serve her kinswoman. She knows she's old. She's pregnant, too. She has a secret she'd like to share with Elizabeth. She'll get it. Elizabeth is six months along, six months ahead of Mary's newly pregnant. Mary will stay there the whole time till the birth of John the Baptist. They can't believe they're having a baby, And Mary's there to help, to see the baby. But what happens, ladies, at about three months on your first baby? You start to show. Like now, after having seven pregnancies, five kids, and now I look seven months pregnant all the time. But back then, on your first baby, you're not showing until about three months. So Mary's three months along. Guess what? She's in her first trimester. She's beginning to show. She's going to go back to Nazareth. And people are going to be like. Have you seen Mary? Have you seen Mary? Have you seen Mary? Do you think? Do you think? So she has to go back. But Elizabeth and Zachariah have a beautiful baby boy, and he's going to be the forerunner of the Messiah. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High. You will go before the Lord to prepare his way. Check, check, check. He will be the forerunner, John the Baptist. Now, in a triptych in the Russian Orthodox faith, they always put Mary, Jesus, and John the forerunner together. John often in icons has his own head on his platter because we'll see in Mark 6 how it ends with him. One of my favorite accounts of John is in Mark 6. And sometimes when it's not his head on a platter, he'll have Jesus in the chalice, baby Jesus, and he's pointing to him. In artwork, John the Baptist is always pointing to Jesus. So he sees Jesus, the true presence in the chalice there. Forerunner, why does he go before the Messiah? To soften their hearts so they can repent, be forgiven, have pure hearts when Messiah comes. Anytime you repent, the Holy Spirit just floods in. Jesus cannot resist repentance. I don't care what you've done. It can be the worst sin on the face of the earth. But if you repent and you have a contrite heart, you will be forgiven. There's nothing

There are things in our Christian life that are not optional, things that we must go through in order to be brought closer to Jesus. Jesus Himself had a path to follow, and your King James Bible takes careful note of the many things that "He must" accomplish. That word "must" is a funny word, it's not found in the Greek or the Hebrew. The word translated as "must" is G1163 in your Strong's concordance, and it is the word "dei". In the Hebrew the word is "Asah", Strong's H6213. So where does the King James word "must" come from? It's "advanced revelation" to be sure. It's from the Latin word "mustum", and according to Webster's 1828, it means "New wine; wine pressed from the grape but not fermented." Where is the first place that the phrase "he must" appears? In Numbers 6:21 talking about what "he must do" who takes the vow of the Nazarite. Jesus had the vow of Nazarite, how's that for a coincidence? John the Baptist tells us that Jesus must increase, while he, the biblical forerunner of the Messiah, must decrease. My message today centers around the confidence that we have in Christ as the Bible tells us of all the things that "he must" do. 

Saturday, 24 August 2024   And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.” Matthew 2:23   “And having come, he dwelt in a city being called Nazareth, that it should be fulfilled having been spoken through the prophets, that a Nazarene He will be called” (CG).   In the previous verse, Joseph was warned in a dream concerning where to live in the land of Israel, noting that he withdrew to the allotments of Galilee. Now, Matthew records, “And having come, he dwelt in a city being called Nazareth.”   Albert Barnes gives a brief description of Nazareth at the time of Jesus –   “This was a small town, situated in Galilee, west of Capernaum, and not far from Cana. It was built partly in a valley and partly on the declivity of a hill, Luke 4:29. A hill is yet pointed out, to the south of Nazareth, as the one from which the people of the place attempted to precipitate the Saviour. It was a place, at that time, proverbial for wickedness, John 4:46.”   Modern Nazareth is described in Wikipedia –   It “is the largest city in the Northern District of Israel. In 2022 its population was 78,007. Known as "the Arab capital of Israel", Nazareth serves as a cultural, political, religious, economic and commercial center for the Arab citizens of Israel, as well as a center of Arab and Palestinian nationalism. The inhabitants are predominantly Arab citizens of Israel, of whom 69% are Muslim and 30.9% Christian. The city also commands immense religious significance, deriving from its status as the hometown of Jesus, the central figure of Christianity and a prophet in Islam.”   Next, based on where Joseph decided to settle, Matthew records, “that it should be fulfilled having been spoken through the prophets.”   Here, Matthew notes the plural, prophets. Therefore, unlike almost every translation, the following words are not a quote. In fact, citing it as a quote causes a false sense of the words in the minds of readers, and it sets up a real, seemingly insurmountable, problem. Rather, something was fulfilled concerning Jesus, but it is not a specific prophecy, which is “that a Nazarene He will be called.”   The word hoti (that) continues to show that this is not a quote. If it was a quote, he would have said something like Matthew 1:22, “which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying...”   However, because it is supposed by many to be a quote, innumerable commentaries have been made trying to justify the name and specify what is being quoted. In other words, and to understand some of the attempts to justify the name as being connected to the Old Testament, the Pulpit Commentary says –   “First, it may be said Nazarene cannot = Nazarite: the word differs in form, and in no sense could Christ be called a Nazarite. Secondly, the quotation is probably not from a lost prophecy. One meaning of the word Nazoræus is an inhabitant of Nazareth, but the word either (1) recalls the Hebrew word netser a Branch, a title by which the Messiah is designated Isaiah 11:1, or (2) connects itself in thought with the Hebr. natsar, to save or protect (see above), and so has reference to the name and work of Jesus, or (3) is a synonym for “contemptible” or “lowly,” from the despised position of Nazareth. Of these (3) is perhaps the least probable explanation. The play upon words which (1) and (2) involve is quite characteristic of Hebrew phraseology. The sound of the original would be either (1) He whom the prophet called the “Netser” dwells at “Netser”—(for this form of Nazareth see Smith's Bib. Dict.), or (2) He who is called “Notsri” (my protector) dwells at “Natsaret” (the protectress).”   Such commentaries have completely missed the point of what is being conveyed. Because this is not a quote, the place Nazareth and the name Nazarene do not need to be discovered in a prophecy from the Old Testament. Rather, one such reference to what Matthew is saying is:   “Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, As when at first He lightly esteemed The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, And afterward more heavily oppressed her, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, In Galilee of the Gentiles. 2 The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.” Isaiah 9:1, 2   Nazareth is a town located within Naphtali. This is in the greater region of Galilee. In other words, Matthew wasn't citing Scripture in a quote, as translations imply (quote marks, etc.). Rather, he was making a point about the writings of Old Testament prophets, such as Isaiah 9:2. Isaiah is saying the light is Christ, being called a Nazarene is a fulfillment of this prophecy.   One can think of it this way. If a prophecy noted someone would be a noted surfer in Sarasota, and he was actually living on “ta Key, they may say, "He will be called a Siesta Surfer. As Siesta Key is a part of Sarasota, the prophecy would make complete sense to those who understood it.   This explains why the word hoti, that, is included in Matthew's words. If he was citing a prophecy, the word would not be needed. But it is an explanatory preposition. If Joseph had moved to Tiberius instead of Nazareth, the words of Matthew would still speak of the fulfillment of the words of the prophets. For example –   “...that it should be fulfilled having been spoken through the prophets, that a Tiberian He will be called.”   As for the other prophets that Matthew was referring to, there are enough references to the area of greater Galilee to form many pictures of the coming Christ. For example, the selection of Hiram, the son of a widow from Naphtali, to accomplish the building of the temple for Solomon provides pictures of the coming Christ (see 1 Kings 7).   Specificity is not necessary in pinpointing a single reference to the name Nazareth, and all of the unnecessary attempts to find a suitable Hebrew word to justify this inclusion by Matthew have proven meritless.   Life application: Speaking of Nazareth and Nazarenes, there is a modern couple, Nazarenes, who have helped bring the land of Israel to the attention of innumerable people. If you enjoy travel and life videos concerning Israel, including modern Nazareth, you can go to YouTube and search for Sergio and Rhoda in Israel.   These two intrepid trekkers have traveled throughout the country, meeting with archaeologists, travelers, and common folk to highlight the great variety of all types of life in the land. Take time to visit their channel and learn to experience Israel in unique and interesting ways that will inform you about this land selected by God to reveal to us the Messiah of the world, Jesus Christ.   Lord God, thank You for Your precious word that tells us about Your interactions with humanity in and around the land of Israel. Thank You for the innumerable examples of life, rebellion, restoration, intimate fellowship, and so much more that teach us how we can fully understand and appreciate who You are and what You have done for us. Thank You for Your wonderful word. Amen. Matthew 2   2 And Jesus, having been born in Bethlehem Judea, in days Herod the king: Behold, magicians from sunrisings – they came unto Jerusalem. 2 Saying, “Where is He having been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the sunrising, and we came to worship Him.”   3 And Herod the king, having heard, he was agitated, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And having convened all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ is born. 5 And they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus has it been written through the prophet: 6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are not-at-all least in the governors of Judah. For out of you will come forth – ruling, Who will shepherd My people Israel.'”   7 Then Herod, having called the magicians secretly, exacted of them the time of the appearing star. And having sent them to Bethlehem, he said, 8 “Having gone, exactingly inquire about the Child. And when you should find, report to me so I also, having come, may worship Him.”   9 And they, having heard the king, departed. And behold! The star that they saw in the sunrising, preceded them, until, having arrived, it stood above where the Child was. 10 And having seen the star, they rejoiced – joy exceedingly great. 11 And having come into the house, they found the Child with Mary His mother. And having fallen, they worshipped Him. And having opened their treasures, they offered Him gifts: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.   12 “And having been admonished in a dream not to return to Herod, through another way, they withdrew into their country.”   13 “And they having withdrawn, behold, a messenger of the Lord – he appears in a dream of Joseph, saying, ‘Having arisen, take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt. And you are there until if I should tell you. For Herod is about to seek the Child to destroy Him.'”   14 And having arisen, he took the Child and His mother – night, and withdrew to Egypt. 15 And he was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled, having been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt, I called my Son.”   16 Then Herod, having seen that he was mocked by the magicians, was exceedingly en raged and, having sent, he killed all the boys in Bethlehem and in all her borders, from two years and under, according to the time which he exacted from the magicians. 17 Then it was fulfilled that having been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying:   18 “A voice – it was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, and a wailing, and a mourning – great. Rachel sobbing – her children. And she would not be comforted, For they are not”   19 And Herod having died, behold, a messenger of the Lord in a dream appears to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Having arisen, take the Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for they have died – those seeking the soul of the Child.” 21 And having arisen, he took the Child and His mother and came to the land of Israel.   22 And having heard that Archelaus reigns over Judea instead of Herod his father, he feared to go there. And having been admonished in a dream, he withdrew to the allotments of Galilee. 23 And having come, he dwelt in a city being called Nazareth, that it should be fulfilled having been spoken through the prophets, that a Nazarene He will be called.  

This chapter highlights the Nazarite vow.

Yesterday we mentioned how that God speaks to His people and calls them while they are busy doing their daily task. Zacharias was busy at his appointed duty as a priest. In the previous verses we also read that he and his wife Elizabeth both were “righteous before God”. They were blessed with this testimony by being faithful to fulfill “commandments and ordinances of the Lord” in every aspect of their daily lives and in their worship of Jehovah. They were also “blameless” (v. 6). Not only did they have a testimony before the Lord, but they also had a testimony before the world around them.   What is amazing about this is as you study the Gospel accounts of the times in which Zacharias and Elizabeth lived, there was rampant corruption everywhere and especially in the religious world. Most of the leaders of the priesthood and religious teachers of Jesus day were very corrupt and misusing their position for both political and financial gain. Jesus accused them of turning the House of God into a den of thieves. I believe that Zacharias and his wife prayed daily for the Messiah to come in fulfillment of the Old Testament Scriptures. Their faith in His coming led them to live holy and “blameless” lives despite the corruption around them.   And God richly rewarded their faith and godly lives! May the Lord help us to do the same in these days of darkness! I love how verse 8 begins the next section of Scriptures, “So it was, that while….”! This when God does a supernatural miracle! “An angel of the Lord appeared to him…” (v. 11). Luke mentions angels twenty-three times in his Gospel. In Revelation 5:11 we read that there are innumerable angels, but only three of which are actually named in Scripture: Michael (Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9; Rev. 12:7), Gabriel (Dan. 8:16; 9:21; Luke 1:19, 26), and Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12). In Scripture, Michael appears to be a “warrior angel”. Gabriel appears to be a messenger angel. And Lucifer is a fallen angel who becomes know as the devil or Satan.   When Gabriel appeared by the altar, Zacharias was frightened, for the angel's appearance could have meant divine judgment. Gabriel assures Zacharias that he doesn't need to be afraid because he is a bearer of good news. "Fear not" or “Do not be afraid”, is a repeated statement in the Gospel of Luke (1:13, 30; 2:10; 5:10; 8:50; 12:7, 32). Imagine how excited Zacharias must have been when he heard that he and Elizabeth were to have a son! “Many will rejoice at his birth” (v. 14). "Rejoicing" is another key theme in Luke, mentioned at least nineteen times. Good news brings joy!   Gabriel instructed him to name his son John ("Jehovah is gracious") and to dedicate the boy to God to be a Nazarite all of his life (Num. 6:1-21). He would be filled with the Spirit before birth (Luke 1:41) and would be God's prophet to present His Son to the people of Israel (see John 1:15-34). God would use John's ministry to turn many people back to the Lord, just as Isaiah had promised (Isa. 40:1-5).   Today, these verses should encourage and remind us that our prayers may be answered very unexpectedly (v. 13). When the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, for thy prayer is heard," it was to him staggering news, although he had been praying many long years that a son might be given them. They were both now "well advanced in years" (v. 7), suggesting that he had continued this prayer long after the expectation had died away. If the Lord lays it on the heart to continue in prayer for any definite thing, is this not in itself an evidence that He desires so to bless us?   This also reminds us that the Lord is able to do far above what we ask. Zacharias not only would have a son born to him, but that son "would be great in the sight of the Lord and filled with the Holy Spirit" (v. 15). God is not unfaithful. Wait on the Lord. Though the vision tarry, wait. (Habakkuk 2:3).   Today we should pray, “Even so come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).   God bless!

It's a blessing. Your identity, spiritual, a body. He's got it all there for us. Now what's interesting is so I encourage you to do that today. Come clean, come honest, get help and walk in the holiness of God. Notice at the end of his ministry, Jesus declared himself a Nazarite when he said in Matthew 26 verse 29, but I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my father's kingdom. And walking in the closeness with the Lord begins to release the glory that already dwells within and lets the river begin to flow. As you confess, you have washed in the blood and grow, mature in Christ. Amen. So let me just close with John 17 verse 26. Let's read this. And I have declared to them your name, and will declare it, that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.

Revealing information modern churches don't; The "Word" of God; "logos" = right reason; Distorting Moses; Straightening out understanding; Bondage of Egypt; Kingdom of God; Melchizedek; "well-regulated"; Self-organization; "Militia"; Slavery; Employment; Mark: first gospel written?; Who was Mark?; Building altars of clay and stone; Republics; Social bonds; Living by faith vs force; Why people are suffering; Mark - shorted gospel - summary; Jesus the philosopher; Ten Commandments; Abundance of life; Aliens?; Uniqueness of Christ; Stories absent from Mark; "Carpenter"?; Socialists not getting the gospel; Sophistry; Sayings of Jesus; Mark 1:1 Title?; Christ the anointed; "patronus"; Son of God?; Pagan temples; Christ's "Way"; Bringing light to darkness; Caesar's welfare; John preparing the Way; Lk 3:3; John 1:23; Getting closer to God; Repentance?; Remission of sins; John's raiment; Magi?; Parthia; Offices of Caesar; Locusts = carob?; Date honey?; Caesar's baptism; "Nazareth"; Baptizing Jesus; Spiritual compelling; What Christ preached; Making Simon and Andrew fishers of men; Prominent families; Hearing the cries of your brother; Covetousness; Setting your neighbor free; Jesus' astonishing doctrines; Christ's "authority" (power of choice, free man); Self-governing; Synagogue; Tens; Teaching authority/liberty; "idiotes"; The Higher Liberty book; Unclean spirits?; "Legion"; "destroy"?; Casting out demons; Fearing the light; "torn" = drive/convulsion; Spirit of destruction; Healing Peter's mother; Possession by devils; Prayer; How did Jesus pray?; Preaching in synagogues; Humbling yourself; Moving with compassion; Vow of the Nazarite; Learning meaning and methods of Jesus Christ; Leprosy; Fear not.

Acts is heating up as Paul is preaching the Word late through the night in Troas and a young man named Eutychus gets sleepy and falls from a third story window, dies, and is raised from the dead.  We hear more about the pagan Artemis and how this little g god is related to Easter and what the Nazarite vow is.   Finally, Paul prepares to go to Jeruselum as many try to disuade him because it is too dangerous but Paul fears God more than man and knows that if God send him into the fire there is a great purpose!Join us as our special guest, Courtnay Suter (wife of Pastor Brian Suter) gives wisdom and insight into Acts 20 and 21.Want to be part of what God is doing through the Revelations Podcast? You can contribute here!ResourcesRevelations Podcast:WebsiteInstagramApple PodcastBranch Church: https://www.branchchurchmn.orgThis Episode is brought to you by Advanced Medicine AlternativesGet back to the active life you love through natural & regenerative musculoskeletal healing: https://www.georgekramermd.com/     

Today we're talking about the law of the Nazarite, the power of being separated for the Lord's purpose and the significance of the Aaronic benediction. This is one you don't want to miss!Be sure to SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a video from TFI! Donate to TFI: https://www.togetherforisrael.org/givingpageVisit our Website: https://www.togetherforisrael.orgJoin us for a tour: https://www.tfi.tours

Lesson 8 – Numbers 6 NUMBERS Lesson 8 – Chapter 6 Numbers chapter 6 consists of two major pieces: the first 21 verses establish the office of the Nazarite then the last 5 verses give us what has come to be called the Aaronic Blessing. Both subjects are worthy of being given sufficient time and […] The post Lesson 8 – Numbers 6 appeared first on Torah Class.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:1 Samuel 1-2; Psalms 66; 2 Corinthians 7 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome back to Daily Radio Bible. In today's episode, we invite Heather, our special guest, to explore the prevalent theme of longing for life as portrayed by the stories of seven women in the Bible. Heather draws parallels between the physical yearning for a child and our spiritual barrenness, emphasizing our own deep-seated desire for a life filled with purpose and freedom from our past. Through a moving reflection, she shares how this profound life we seek can only be conceived through a divine connection with God, and how Jesus of Nazareth, the Nazarite superior to all others, acts as our High Priest and Redeemer. Heather invites us to embrace the new life offered by Jesus, free from condemnation and full of love and freedom. Get ready to be inspired to live fully in the abundant life promised to us, right here, on Daily Radio Bible. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, they kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

In this Bible Story, Samson battles with a lion, breaks his vow as a Nazarite, and marries a Philistine woman. His foolishness costs him greatly, and his wife marries another man. This story is inspired by Judges 14. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Judges 14:14 from the King James Version.Episode 67: Samson, now a grown man, was walking around in the city of Timnah one day. He caught sight of a beautiful woman and immediately went back to his home to ask his parents to fetch her for him as a wife. On the way there a lion attacked Samson, but the Spirit of the Lord was upon him and he defeated the lion with his bare hands. In his pride, this became the perfect excuse to set up a riddle to place a bet and win himself 30 new garments at his wedding party. But we should be careful with what we say or do in moments of pride because just like Samson we might end up losing more than we imagine instead.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fr. Mike explains the significance behind the Nazarite vow and the priestly blessing in Numbers 6. We also learn why the Great Command revealed in Deuteronomy 6 is the foundation of all other commandments. Today we pray Psalm 91. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.