Podcasts about o king

"I have a secret message from God for you O King..."

BG 11.9-13Sañjaya said: O King, having spoken thus, the Supreme Lord of all mystic power, the Personality of Godhead, displayed His universal form to Arjuna. Arjuna saw in that universal form unlimited mouths, unlimited eyes, unlimited wonderful visions. The form was decorated with many celestial ornaments and bore many divine upraised weapons. He wore celestial garlands and garments, and many divine scents were smeared over His body. All was wondrous, brilliant, unlimited, all-expanding. If hundreds of thousands of suns were to rise at once into the sky, their radiance might resemble the effulgence of the Supreme Person in that universal form. At that time Arjuna could see in the universal form of the Lord the unlimited expansions of the universe situated in one place although divided into many, many thousands.Please feel free to join our Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Telegram group chat (for both prabhujīs and mātājīs): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://t.me/iskmnews⁠

This uncontrolled mind is the greatest enemy of the living entity. If one neglects it or gives it a chance, it will grow more and more powerful and will become victorious. Although it is not factual, it is very strong. It covers the constitutional position of the soul. O King, please try to conquer this mind by the weapon of service to the lotus feet of the spiritual master and of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Do this with great care. (https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/5/11/17/) ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/ https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/ https://thefourquestionsbook.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality #spiritualusachannel #whybhaktiisimportant #whyspiritualityisimportant #vaisesika #spiritualconnection #thepowerofspiritualstudy #selfrealization #spirituallectures #spiritualstudy #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualquestions #spiritualquestionsanswered #trendingspiritualtopics #fanthespark #spiritualpowerofmeditation #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #spiritualteachersonyoutube #spiritualhabits #spiritualclarity #bhagavadgita #srimadbhagavatam #spiritualbeings #kttvg #keepthetranscendentalvibrationgoing #spiritualpurpose

Jesus Christ is King, now, over every nations and ethnicity. He is the ruling and reigning monarch of all, including those in rebellion to Him, like the Jews and atheists and Moslems. This understanding must re-enter the Church; our Judeo-Christian pastors have surrendered without shots being fire.     "Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? Indeed it is Your due! For among all the wise men of the nations And in all their kingdoms, There is none like You. " Jeremiah 10:7   “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed." Daniel 7:14 Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession. ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware.'” Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth. Worship the Lord with reverence And rejoice with trembling. Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! Psalm 2:8-12 "In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever." Daniel 2:44 "Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth." Revelation 1:15   "And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.  And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.” . . . (21) And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh." Revelation 19:11-21   Fritz Berggren, PhD Colorado 27 April 2025 A.D.

This holy martyr was a married man, living in Cappadocia. During the reign of Julian the Apostate he, along with some other Christians, destroyed the pagan temple to the goddess Fortuna. (The Prologue says that it was his wedding day). For this he and his companions were cruelly tortured, then beheaded.   At that time St Basil the Great governed the Church in that part of Cappadocia. When the apostate Emperor, going to fight the Persians, came to the town in which Eupsychius was martyred, St Basil went to meet him, bringing three barley loaves as a sign of honor and welcome. The Emperor, ever hostile to Christians, ordered that the bishop be given a fistful of hay in return. Saint Basil said to the Emperor 'You ridicule us now, O King; we bring you bread, by which we are fed, and you give us miserable food that you, with all your power, are unable to turn into nourishment for men.' The Emperor perished in the Persian campaign.

ŚB 5.16.4The great ṛṣi Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear King, there is no limit to the expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead's material energy. This material world is a transformation of the material qualities [sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa], yet no one could possibly explain it perfectly, even in a lifetime as long as that of Brahmā. No one in the material world is perfect, and an imperfect person could not describe this material universe accurately, even after continued speculation. O King, I shall nevertheless try to explain to you the principal regions, such as Bhūloka, with their names, forms, measurements and various symptoms.Please feel free to join our Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Telegram group chat (for both prabhujīs and mātājīs): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://t.me/iskmnews

“O King, as I repeatedly recall this wondrous and holy dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna, I take pleasure, being thrilled at every moment.” (Sanjaya, Bhagavad-gita, 18.76)

These [144,000] have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, 5 and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7 And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”8 Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.”9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” 16 So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped.17 Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse's bridle, for 1,600 stadia.2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,“Great and amazing are your deeds,     O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways,     O King of the nations!  4 Who will not fear, O Lord,     and glorify your name? For you alone are holy.     All nations will come     and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”1.     Does ‘keep your bubble of aware

March 9, 2025Preparation for WorshipTime for GatheringOpening Hymn “Lead On O King Eternal”Lead on O King Eternal the day of march has comeHenceforth in fields of conquest Thy tents shall be our homeThro' days of preparation Thy grace has made us strongAnd now O King eternal We lift our battle songLead on O King Eternal till sin's fierce war shall ceaseAnd holiness shall whisper the sweet Amen of peaceFor not with swords loud clashing nor roll of stirring drumsWith deeds of love and mercy the heav'nly kingdom comesLead on O King Eternal we follow not with fearsFor gladness breaks like morning where'er Thy face appearsThy cross is lifted o'er us we journey in its lightThe crown awaits the conquest lead on O God of mightAmen!Prayer of PraiseSong of WorshipPrayers of the Church and the Lord's PrayerOffering and DoxologyScripture Lesson Matthew 13:16-23Sermon Face Like FlintClosing Hymn “Reckless Love”Before I spoke a word You were singing over meYou have been so so good to meBefore I took a breath You breathed Your life in meYou have been so so kind to meChorusO the overwhelming never-ending reckless Love of GodO it chases me down fights 'til I'm found leaves the ninety-nineI couldn't earn it and I don't deserve it still You give Yourself awayO the overwhelming never-ending reckless Love of GodWhen I was Your foe still Your love fought for meYou have been so so good to meWhen I felt no worth You paid it all for meYou have been so so kind to me (Chorus)There's no shadow You won't light up mountain You won't climb up coming after meThere's no wall You won't kick down lie You won't tear down coming after me (2x's)(Chorus)BenedictionFellowship• Sunday Morning Study: Experiencing God | 9 AM in the Sunshine Room• Sunday Prayer | 9:30 AM in the Sunshine Room• Tuesday Bible Study with Emil & Anneke| Everyone 12 PM, Ladies 6PM in the Sunshine Room and via Zoom• Wednesday Issues Hour | 11 AM in the Sunshine Room and via Zoom• Fellowship Cruise: Thursday, March 13th | 550 Port O Call Way. Boarding at 5:30 PM. Tickets $50, please see KarenBoatright to get your tickets.• F3 Ladies Luncheon: Tuesday, March 18th | 12 PM at Fish. Individual checks, please sign up.• F3 Book Club: Friday, March 21st | 10 AM at 7515 Pelican Bay Blvd. The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins.• Funeral Service for Ed Wilcox: Saturday, March 22nd | 11 AM here at the church.• Free Men's Steak Cookout: Thursday, March 27th | 4:30 PM at Falconer's home. Please sign up.• Ladies Dinner: Thursday, March 27th | 5:30 PM at Bellini. Please sign up, individual checks.• Justin's Place Graduation: Thursday, March 27th | 6 PM at Covenant Church of Naples.• Member Spotlight: Sunday, March 30th | Join us after service as we learn more about Ray & Fran King.• Thank you to Sue Cheslik for providing the cookies today.

“O King, as I repeatedly recall this wondrous and holy dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna, I take pleasure, being thrilled at every moment.” (Sanjaya, Bhagavad-gita, 18.76)

“O King, as I repeatedly recall this wondrous and holy dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna, I take pleasure, being thrilled at every moment.” (Sanjaya, Bhagavad-gita, 18.76)

Title: A Time to Reason and A Time to Leave Text: Acts 19:8-10 FCF: We all struggle doing what God has commanded to grow His church. Prop: Because God will gather and grow His church, we must make disciples of those who are willing to hear. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Acts chapter 19. In a moment we'll read from the Legacy Standard Bible starting in verse 8. You can follow along in the pew bible or whatever version you prefer. Last week Paul arrived in Ephesus to find Jews whose profession was somewhat questionable. Paul searched for evidence of the Holy Spirit's indwelling presence, and discovered that the 12 men before him were not yet believers in Jesus as their Messiah. After sharing the gospel with these men, they believed and submitted to baptism in His name. The Spirit descended upon them afterward confirming that even Baptistic Jews could become part of the assembly of Christ. Today we will have the first two years of the third missionary journey summarized for us in only a couple scenes. Luke is not recording the book of Acts as an exact history but rather evidence that the faith Theophilus received was genuine and trustworthy. Luke then is describing more how the gospel spread throughout the Roman Empire rather than giving all the details of its expansion. So please stand with me to give honor to and focus on the reading of the Word of God. Invocation: Sovereign Lord, we approach You today to meet You again in Your word. We ask that You will be with us, and that You will send Your Spirit among us to grow our faith through the means of grace found in Your word preached. We ask that You will show us Your providential control of Your church and our place in its gathering and growth. Help us Lord to play our parts well, not for our glory and not even for the sake of those to whom we minister, but for Your glory and Yours alone. We ask this in the name of Your dear Son… Amen. Transition: [Slide 2] In the game of pool, you use a cue ball to strike other billiard balls into pockets along the table. If after you pocketed a ball, I asked you what knocked the ball in, you could reply in a number of different ways. To some degree you could say that the cue ball knocked in the ball. This is somewhat true, but in reality, we all know that cue balls don't spontaneously begin moving. As Newton observed, objects at rest tend to stay at rest unless an outside force acts upon them. So, you wouldn't be wrong that the cue ball pocketed the other ball – but you wouldn't really be right either. It would be the same if you said the cue stick pocketed the ball. Surely the cue stick and the cue ball played their part, but ultimately, we'd all have to agree at some point that the player… you… knocked it in. We have observed many times in the book of Acts that the Lord is at work to expand and guide His church. We've seen this over and over again, and news flash, we'll see it again today. But alongside that truth we have also seen that God often uses human agents to accomplish His purposes. God is gathering and growing His children and preparing them for the kingdom that is coming. He does this often by using His own people. It may be the player that knocks in the ball, but the cue ball doesn't let that get in the way of doing its job to the best of its ability. Ok, bad example, the cue ball doesn't make choices on its own. But if you understand the analogy – why would we want to be anything else other than God's cue ball… Let's look at verse 8. I.) God is still gathering and growing His church, so we must share the gospel cogently and compellingly. (8) a. [Slide 3] 8 - And after he entered the synagogue, he continued speaking out boldly for three months, i. Luke continues to record the key events that took place as the third missionary journey began. ii. Paul arrives in Ephesus and after seeing 12 men come to Christ from Baptistic Judaism, he immediately goes to the Jew first with the gospel of their own Messiah. iii. He enters the synagogue and continues to speak boldly for three months. iv. There are a number of details we should notice here. 1. First, Ephesus is the capital city of the Roman province of Asia. It is the center for trade in the eastern part of the empire. It boasted around 250,000 citizens, which does not include slaves. Not to mention the number of people who used this city for travel throughout the empire. This was a massive city. At any given time, it would not be a stretch to think there could have been a million people roaming the streets. 2. Paul is said to go to a synagogue, singular. But with a city this large, and if Josephus is to be believed, with such a large Jewish population, it is more than likely that there were several synagogues in the city. 3. Why then would Paul only go to one of them? 4. It is possible that Luke uses the word synagogue to speak of the system itself and not one particular building. 5. It is also possible that Paul only went to the synagogue closest to him. Synagogues tended to divide along certain perspectives on the Jewish faith. It may be that this particular synagogue would have been the one closest to the teachings of Christ and most likely to receive Him in true faith. 6. In any case, Paul goes to this synagogue in the city of Ephesus and speaks for 3 months. 7. This detail in and of itself is an anomaly to all the book of Acts. 8. Paul has never been able to continue long in preaching in the synagogues before he was run out and rejected. 9. 3 months is easily the longest he's been able to continue to speak. 10. And Luke points out to us that it isn't because he was being slow to reveal the truth or softspoken about it either. Instead, he spoke boldly about the truth of the gospel… b. [Slide 4] reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. i. Paul boldly engaged them with the gospel from a logical and persuasive level. ii. Paul, although the first to admit that it is the Spirit's power that regenerates and enables men to receive faith in Christ, does not take that to mean that he can be flippant or unpolished in his presentation of the gospel message. iii. Paul uses logic to assert that the gospel is a valid and reasonable conclusion based on the Old Testament Scriptures. iv. Paul uses sound arguments to prove that this Jesus is the Messiah prophesied of old. v. From an epistemological standpoint, Paul attacks the strongholds of false belief and false thinking while defending the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. vi. Paul is an example to all of us, that though the triune God leads to the conversion of a man's soul – the human agent must be faithful to present a cogent and compelling argument for the gospel. c. [Slide 5] Summary of the Point: If anyone ever had a reason to utterly give up on a people group, it would have been Paul. How many times has he been run out of synagogues? How many times have his own people rejected the gospel? How many times have the Jews chased Paul out of town? Yet here he is, once again, sharing the gospel with the Jews. But the Lord blessed him in Ephesus. Many were persuaded. Many believed what Paul taught about the kingdom of God. Paul didn't give up. Why? Because he knew that God is still gathering and growing His church from all the nations of the earth. To the Jew first and also to the Greek. Because he knew this, Paul did all he could to reason and persuade his countrymen of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He gave a message that was cogent and compelling. Not because that is what wins people to faith in Christ… but because that is what pleases our Lord Jesus. To speak well of the hope we have in us. And guess what CBC? God is still gathering and growing His church today. In Columbus, in Michigan, in the USA, and in all the world, the Lord is still gathering and growing His church. We are part of that grand plan. What is our part to play? Well certainly some of our part is to share the gospel cogently and compellingly. We must present a well-reasoned, logical, powerful, and persuasive gospel of Jesus… because that is what the gospel of Jesus Christ is. The gospel itself is well reasoned, logical, powerful, and persuasive. Transition: [Slide 6 (blank)] But this is not the whole responsibility placed on us as God continues His plan to gather and grow His church. We have more to do than simply to present the gospel in a logical and persuasive manner. Let's look at what happens when Paul encounters resistance. II.) God is still gathering and growing His church, we must use our time and energy efficiently for the growth of Kingdom citizens. (9-10) a. [Slide 7] 9 - But when some were becoming hardened and were not believing, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, i. After three months of reasoning and persuading many about the kingdom of God with Jesus as the head of this Kingdom, eventually Paul met familiar resistance. ii. Something is happening here in the text that we need to see in order to really understand what these Jews are doing. iii. In quick succession Luke uses an imperfect passive verb, followed by an imperfect active verb, followed by a present active participle. iv. Perhaps you think I just spoke in tongues

“O King, as I repeatedly recall this wondrous and holy dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna, I take pleasure, being thrilled at every moment.” (Sanjaya, Bhagavad-gita, 18.76)

ਧਨਾਸਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ॥ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹਾ ਮੈ ਹਰਿ ਦਰਸਨ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਹਮਰੀ ਬੇਦਨਿ ਤੂ ਜਾਨਤਾ ਸਾਹਾ ਅਵਰੁ ਕਿਆ ਜਾਨੈ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਸਾਚਾ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਸਚੁ ਤੂ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹਾ ਤੇਰਾ ਕੀਆ ਸਚੁ ਸਭੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਝੂਠਾ ਕਿਸ ਕਉ ਆਖੀਐ ਸਾਹਾ ਦੂਜਾ ਨਾਹੀ ਕੋਇ ॥੧॥ ਸਭਨਾ ਵਿਚਿ ਤੂ ਵਰਤਦਾ ਸਾਹਾ ਸਭਿ ਤੁਝਹਿ ਧਿਆਵਹਿ ਦਿਨੁ ਰਾਤਿ ॥ ਸਭਿ ਤੁਝ ਹੀ ਥਾਵਹੁ ਮੰਗਦੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹਾ ਤੂ ਸਭਨਾ ਕਰਹਿ ਇਕ ਦਾਤਿ ॥੨॥ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਤੁਝ ਹੀ ਵਿਚਿ ਹੈ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹਾ ਤੁਝ ਤੇ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਕੋਈ ਨਾਹਿ ॥ ਸਭਿ ਜੀਅ ਤੇਰੇ ਤੂ ਸਭਸ ਦਾ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹਾ ਸਭਿ ਤੁਝ ਹੀ ਮਾਹਿ ਸਮਾਹਿ ॥੩॥ ਸਭਨਾ ਕੀ ਤੂ ਆਸ ਹੈ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਸਭਿ ਤੁਝਹਿ ਧਿਆਵਹਿ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹ ॥ ਜਿਉ ਭਾਵੈ ਤਿਉ ਰਖੁ ਤੂ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਸਚੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੇ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹ ॥੪॥੭॥੧੩॥ ਅਰਥ: ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਮੇਹਰ ਕਰ) ਮੈਨੂੰ ਤੇਰੇ ਦਰਸਨ ਦਾ ਆਨੰਦ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਹੋ ਜਾਏ। ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਮੇਰੇ ਦਿਲ ਦੀ ਪੀੜ ਤੂੰ ਹੀ ਜਾਣਦਾ ਹੈਂ। ਕੋਈ ਹੋਰ ਕੀ ਜਾਣ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ?।ਰਹਾਉ। ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਤੂੰ ਸਦਾ ਕਾਇਮ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਮਾਲਕ ਹੈਂ, ਤੂੰ ਅਟੱਲ ਹੈਂ। ਜੋ ਕੁਝ ਤੂੰ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈਂ, ਉਹ ਭੀ ਉਕਾਈ-ਹੀਣ ਹੈ (ਉਸ ਵਿਚ ਭੀ ਕੋਈ ਊਣਤਾ ਨਹੀਂ) । ਹੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਸਾਰੇ ਸੰਸਾਰ ਵਿਚ ਤੈਥੋਂ ਬਿਨਾ) ਹੋਰ ਕੋਈ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ (ਇਸ ਵਾਸਤੇ) ਕਿਸੇ ਨੂੰ ਝੂਠਾ ਆਖਿਆ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ।੧। ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਤੂੰ ਸਭ ਜੀਵਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਮੌਜੂਦ ਹੈਂ, ਸਾਰੇ ਜੀਵ ਦਿਨ ਰਾਤ ਤੇਰਾ ਹੀ ਧਿਆਨ ਧਰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਸਾਰੇ ਜੀਵ ਤੇਰੇ ਪਾਸੋਂ ਹੀ (ਮੰਗਾਂ) ਮੰਗਦੇ ਹਨ। ਇਕ ਤੂੰ ਹੀ ਸਭ ਜੀਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਦਾਤਾਂ ਦੇ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈਂ।੨। ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਹਰੇਕ ਜੀਵ ਤੇਰੇ ਹੁਕਮ ਵਿਚ ਹੈ, ਤੈਥੋਂ ਆਕੀ ਕੋਈ ਜੀਵ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ। ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਸਾਰੇ ਜੀਵ ਤੇਰੇ ਪੈਦਾ ਕੀਤੇ ਹੋਏ ਹਨ, ਤੇ, ਇਹ ਸਾਰੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਵਿਚ ਹੀ ਲੀਨ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ।੩। ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਤੂੰ ਸਭ ਜੀਵਾਂ ਦੀ ਆਸਾਂ ਪੂਰੀਆਂ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈਂ ਸਾਰੇ ਜੀਵ ਤੇਰਾ ਹੀ ਧਿਆਨ ਧਰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਹੇ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੇ! ਜਿਵੇਂ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਚੰਗਾ ਲੱਗਦਾ ਹੈ, ਤਿਵੇਂ ਮੈਨੂੰ (ਆਪਣੇ ਚਰਨਾਂ ਵਿਚ) ਰੱਖ। ਤੂੰ ਹੀ ਸਦਾ ਕਾਇਮ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਹੈਂ।੪।੭।੧੩। DHANAASAREE, FOURTH MEHL: O my King, beholding the Blessed Vision of the Lord's Darshan, I am at peace. You alone know my inner pain, O King; what can anyone else know? || Pause || O True Lord and Master, You are truly my King; whatever You do, all that is True. Who should I call a liar? There is no other than You, O King. || 1 || You are pervading and permeating in all; O King, everyone meditates on You, day and night. Everyone begs of You, O my King; You alone give gifts to all. || 2 || All are under Your Power, O my King; none at all are beyond You. All beings are Yours—You belong to all, O my King. All shall merge and be absorbed in You. || 3 || You are the hope of all, O my Beloved; all meditate on You, O my King. As it pleases You, protect and preserve me, O my Beloved; You are the True King of Nanak. || 4 || 7 || 13 ll

Fathers gathered in their masses Just like witches at black masses Evil minds that plot dadstruction Sorcerer of dads construction Tonight, the dads get metal, as they chat with the wrestling prince of darkness himself, Ozzy Killmeister. Tonight we discuss his life both in the ring and out! Come rock with us!

12/25 (Isaiah 28:16) O King of Nations, come. The hope and cornerstone Who makes from many, one, You fashioned us in Eden – Your earthly vessels, save.

David Mathis | Real peace during the holidays may seem like a far-off dream, but remember, the one who came will come again, and establish himself as King of Peace.

Today's antiphon: O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: come and save man, whom you formed from the dust! (Isaiah 9:5; 2:4) A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 1:39-45) "Blessed are you among women,  and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" At the Visitation, Elizabeth responds to Mary's greeting with these words and with a question. She tells Mary that at the sound of her greeting, the infant John leaped in her womb. And then she asks a question, which is direct and at the same time full of meditation and wonder. Elizabeth is undoubtedly one of the first to ponder how it is that the Blessed Virgin, the mother of the Lord . . . . --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lectio-divina-daily/support

  The daily Hukamnama Sahib from Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar including English and Punjabi translation audio   ਧਨਾਸਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ॥ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹਾ ਮੈ ਹਰਿ ਦਰਸਨ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਹਮਰੀ ਬੇਦਨਿ ਤੂ ਜਾਨਤਾ ਸਾਹਾ ਅਵਰੁ ਕਿਆ ਜਾਨੈ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਸਾਚਾ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਸਚੁ ਤੂ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹਾ ਤੇਰਾ ਕੀਆ ਸਚੁ ਸਭੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਝੂਠਾ ਕਿਸ ਕਉ ਆਖੀਐ ਸਾਹਾ ਦੂਜਾ ਨਾਹੀ ਕੋਇ ॥੧॥ ਸਭਨਾ ਵਿਚਿ ਤੂ ਵਰਤਦਾ ਸਾਹਾ ਸਭਿ ਤੁਝਹਿ ਧਿਆਵਹਿ ਦਿਨੁ ਰਾਤਿ ॥ ਸਭਿ ਤੁਝ ਹੀ ਥਾਵਹੁ ਮੰਗਦੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹਾ ਤੂ ਸਭਨਾ ਕਰਹਿ ਇਕ ਦਾਤਿ ॥੨॥ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਤੁਝ ਹੀ ਵਿਚਿ ਹੈ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹਾ ਤੁਝ ਤੇ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਕੋਈ ਨਾਹਿ ॥ ਸਭਿ ਜੀਅ ਤੇਰੇ ਤੂ ਸਭਸ ਦਾ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹਾ ਸਭਿ ਤੁਝ ਹੀ ਮਾਹਿ ਸਮਾਹਿ ॥੩॥ ਸਭਨਾ ਕੀ ਤੂ ਆਸ ਹੈ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਸਭਿ ਤੁਝਹਿ ਧਿਆਵਹਿ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹ ॥ ਜਿਉ ਭਾਵੈ ਤਿਉ ਰਖੁ ਤੂ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਸਚੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੇ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹ ॥੪॥੭॥੧੩॥ਅਰਥ: ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਮੇਹਰ ਕਰ) ਮੈਨੂੰ ਤੇਰੇ ਦਰਸਨ ਦਾ ਆਨੰਦ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਹੋ ਜਾਏ। ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਮੇਰੇ ਦਿਲ ਦੀ ਪੀੜ ਤੂੰ ਹੀ ਜਾਣਦਾ ਹੈਂ। ਕੋਈ ਹੋਰ ਕੀ ਜਾਣ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ?।ਰਹਾਉ।ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਤੂੰ ਸਦਾ ਕਾਇਮ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਮਾਲਕ ਹੈਂ, ਤੂੰ ਅਟੱਲ ਹੈਂ। ਜੋ ਕੁਝ ਤੂੰ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈਂ, ਉਹ ਭੀ ਉਕਾਈ-ਹੀਣ ਹੈ (ਉਸ ਵਿਚ ਭੀ ਕੋਈ ਊਣਤਾ ਨਹੀਂ) । ਹੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਸਾਰੇ ਸੰਸਾਰ ਵਿਚ ਤੈਥੋਂ ਬਿਨਾ) ਹੋਰ ਕੋਈ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ (ਇਸ ਵਾਸਤੇ) ਕਿਸੇ ਨੂੰ ਝੂਠਾ ਆਖਿਆ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ।੧।ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਤੂੰ ਸਭ ਜੀਵਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਮੌਜੂਦ ਹੈਂ, ਸਾਰੇ ਜੀਵ ਦਿਨ ਰਾਤ ਤੇਰਾ ਹੀ ਧਿਆਨ ਧਰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਸਾਰੇ ਜੀਵ ਤੇਰੇ ਪਾਸੋਂ ਹੀ (ਮੰਗਾਂ) ਮੰਗਦੇ ਹਨ। ਇਕ ਤੂੰ ਹੀ ਸਭ ਜੀਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਦਾਤਾਂ ਦੇ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈਂ।੨।ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਹਰੇਕ ਜੀਵ ਤੇਰੇ ਹੁਕਮ ਵਿਚ ਹੈ, ਤੈਥੋਂ ਆਕੀ ਕੋਈ ਜੀਵ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ। ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਸਾਰੇ ਜੀਵ ਤੇਰੇ ਪੈਦਾ ਕੀਤੇ ਹੋਏ ਹਨ, ਤੇ, ਇਹ ਸਾਰੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਵਿਚ ਹੀ ਲੀਨ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ।੩।ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਤੂੰ ਸਭ ਜੀਵਾਂ ਦੀ ਆਸਾਂ ਪੂਰੀਆਂ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈਂ ਸਾਰੇ ਜੀਵ ਤੇਰਾ ਹੀ ਧਿਆਨ ਧਰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਹੇ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੇ! ਜਿਵੇਂ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਚੰਗਾ ਲੱਗਦਾ ਹੈ, ਤਿਵੇਂ ਮੈਨੂੰ (ਆਪਣੇ ਚਰਨਾਂ ਵਿਚ) ਰੱਖ। ਤੂੰ ਹੀ ਸਦਾ ਕਾਇਮ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਹੈਂ।੪।੭।੧੩।DHANAASAREE, FOURTH MEHL:O my King, beholding the Blessed Vision of the Lord's Darshan, I am at peace. You alone know my inner pain, O King; what can anyone else know? || Pause || O True Lord and Master, You are truly my King; whatever You do, all that is True. Who should I call a liar? There is no other than You, O King. || 1 || You are pervading and permeating in all; O King, everyone meditates on You, day and night. Everyone begs of You, O my King; You alone give gifts to all. || 2 || All are under Your Power, O my King; none at all are beyond You. All beings are Yours—You belong to all, O my King. All shall merge and be absorbed in You. || 3 || You are the hope of all, O my Beloved; all meditate on You, O my King. As it pleases You, protect and preserve me, O my Beloved; You are the True King of Nanak. || 4 || 7 || 13 ll 

December 1, 2024 Preparation for Worship Time for Gathering Opening Hymn “O Come O Come Emmanuel” O come O come Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear Refrain: Rejoice rejoice Emmanuel Shall come to thee O Israel O come Thou Wisdom from on high and order all things far and nigh To us the path of knowledge show and cause us in her ways to go [Refrain] O come O key of David come and open wide our heavenly home Make safe for us the heavenward road and bar the way to death's abode [Refrain] O come O King of nations bind in one the hearts of all mankind Bid all our sad divisions cease and be Yourself our King of Peace [Refrain] Prayer of Praise Song of Worship Prayers of the Church Offering and Hymn “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” Come Thou long expected Jesus born to set Thy people free From our fears and sins release us let us find our rest in Thee Israel's Strength and Consolation hope of all the earth Thou art Dear Desire of every nation joy of every longing heart Born Thy people to deliver born a Child and yet a King Born to reign in us forever now Thy gracious kingdom bring By Thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone By Thine all sufficient merit raise us to Thy glorious throne Scripture Lesson Luke 1:5-25 Sermon Can I Be Sure? The Lords Supper (The bread is gluten-free and the cup is alcohol free) Prayers of Thanksgiving and the Lord's Prayer Affirmation of Faith “The Apostle's Creed” I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church*, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen Closing Hymn “Prepare the Way O Zion” Prepare the way O Zion your Christ is drawing near Let every hill and valley a level way appear Greet One who comes in glory foretold in sacred story O blest is Christ that came In God's most holy name He brings God's rule O Zion He comes from heaven above His rule is peace and freedom and justice truth and love Lift high your praise resounding for grace and joy abounding O blest is Christ that came In God's most holy name Fling wide your gates O Zion your Savior's rule embrace And tidings of salvation proclaim in every place All lands will bow before Him their voices will adore Him O blest is Christ that came In God's most holy name Benediction Fellowship DECKING THE HALLS • Sunday Morning Study: Great Moments in Church History | 9 AM in the Sunshine Room • Sunday Prayer | 9:30 AM in the Sunshine Room • Monday Bible Study | 12 & 6 PM in the Sanctuary and via Zoom • Wednesday Issues Hour | 11 AM in the Fellowship Area and via Zoom • F3 Christmas Trolley: Thursday, December 5th | Trolley leaves the church at 5PM, $10/person to Kathy or Nancy. • Building Project Update: Sunday December 8th | After Sunday service join us as we have a brief update on our project. • Book Signing with Richard Diedrich: Sunday December 8th | After Service. “Painting Naples Architecture” • Christmas Eve Service: Tuesday, December 24th | 5PM here at the church. • Thank you to Tom & Mary for providing the cookies today. • The chancel flowers were given today by Tom & Mary Miller.

We are approaching what some call ‘the silly season'!  This time next month the largely foolish frivolity of Christmas will be in full swing!   In contrast our readings today in Nehemiah describes an event of true joy.  All the efforts to make Jerusalem secure and safe to live in had been completed and Nehemiah and Ezra arrange a great celebration in which the Levites take the leading role because, as the priestly tribe, this is their responsibility.  We read on in Nehemiah how he and Ezra “sought the Levites in all their places to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgiving and with singing, with cymbals, harps and lyres.” [v.27] Nehemiah “appointed two great choirs to give thanks” [v.31] who went in different directions on the walls after which “both choirs of those who gave thanks stood in the house (Temple) of God” [v.40]  “And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced.  And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away,”[v.43]    This was a time of re-establishing the practice of the past “for long ago in the days of David and Asaph there were directors of the singers and thanksgiving to God.” [v.46]  But as we look forward, we also look back to see how some events foreshadow the time to come, and how wonderful to contemplate the future remembering the words of Jesus in the Temple which he called “My Father's house” [John 2 v.16] and says, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations” [Mark 11 v.17] Our minds go forward to the visions of the coming kingdom recorded in the book of Revelation when the redeemed “will be priests of God and of Christ and reign with him for a thousand years” [ch.20 v6] The singing reflects the joys in the time of Moses. In Revelation we also read,  “And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!  Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” [Rev. 15 v.3,4] Do you recall yesterday's closing thought?  Those who “are on the Lord's side” now – will be there,  Make sure you are on his side.

Compline by Candlelight provides peace and stillness as one week ends and another begins. Set in the tranquility of St. Paul's Chapel, one of the oldest buildings in New York City, guests find a seat and hold a candle, while 30 minutes of improvised music by The Choir of Trinity Wall Street fill the space. There's nothing to do but listen. O King all glorious – Healey Willan

Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________Opening Words:“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”Psalm 19:14 (ESV) Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Venite (Psalm 95:1-7)Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. Come, let us sing to the Lord; * let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, * and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, * and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice! Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. The PsalterPsalm 69Salvum me fac1Save me, O God, *for the waters have risen up to my neck.2I am sinking in deep mire, *and there is no firm ground for my feet.3I have come into deep waters, *and the torrent washes over me.4I have grown weary with my crying;my throat is inflamed; *my eyes have failed from looking for my God.5Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head;my lying foes who would destroy me are mighty. *Must I then give back what I never stole?6O God, you know my foolishness, *and my faults are not hidden from you.7Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, Lord God of hosts; *let not those who seek you be disgraced because of me, O God of Israel.8Surely, for your sake have I suffered reproach, *and shame has covered my face.9I have become a stranger to my own kindred, *an alien to my mother's children.10Zeal for your house has eaten me up; *the scorn of those who scorn you has fallen upon me.11I humbled myself with fasting, *but that was turned to my reproach.12I put on sack-cloth also, *and became a byword among them.13Those who sit at the gate murmur against me, *and the drunkards make songs about me.14But as for me, this is my prayer to you, *at the time you have set, O Lord:15“In your great mercy, O God, *answer me with your unfailing help.16Save me from the mire; do not let me sink; *let me be rescued from those who hate meand out of the deep waters.17Let not the torrent of waters wash over me,neither let the deep swallow me up; *do not let the Pit shut its mouth upon me.18Answer me, O Lord, for your love is kind; *in your great compassion, turn to me.'19“Hide not your face from your servant; *be swift and answer me, for I am in distress.20Draw near to me and redeem me; *because of my enemies deliver me.21You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor; *my adversaries are all in your sight.”22Reproach has broken my heart, and it cannot be healed; *I looked for sympathy, but there was none,for comforters, but I could find no one.23They gave me gall to eat, *and when I was thirsty, they gave me vinegar to drink.31As for me, I am afflicted and in pain; *your help, O God, will lift me up on high.32I will praise the Name of God in song; *I will proclaim his greatness with thanksgiving.33This will please the Lord more than an offering of oxen, *more than bullocks with horns and hoofs.34The afflicted shall see and be glad; *you who seek God, your heart shall live.35For the Lord listens to the needy, *and his prisoners he does not despise.36Let the heavens and the earth praise him, *the seas and all that moves in them;37For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah; *they shall live there and have it in possession.38The children of his servants will inherit it, *and those who love his Name will dwell therein. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. LessonsEzra 7:27-28English Standard Version27 Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, 28 and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.Ezra 8:21-36English Standard Version21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. 22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” 23 So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.24 Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests: Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their kinsmen with them. 25 And I weighed out to them the silver and the gold and the vessels, the offering for the house of our God that the king and his counselors and his lords and all Israel there present had offered. 26 I weighed out into their hand 650 talents of silver, and silver vessels worth 200 talents, and 100 talents of gold, 27 20 bowls of gold worth 1,000 darics, and two vessels of fine bright bronze as precious as gold. 28 And I said to them, “You are holy to the Lord, and the vessels are holy, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the Lord, the God of your fathers. 29 Guard them and keep them until you weigh them before the chief priests and the Levites and the heads of fathers' houses in Israel at Jerusalem, within the chambers of the house of the Lord.” 30 So the priests and the Levites took over the weight of the silver and the gold and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem, to the house of our God.31 Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes by the way. 32 We came to Jerusalem, and there we remained three days. 33 On the fourth day, within the house of our God, the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed into the hands of Meremoth the priest, son of Uriah, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and with them were the Levites, Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the son of Binnui. 34 The whole was counted and weighed, and the weight of everything was recorded.35 At that time those who had come from captivity, the returned exiles, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and as a sin offering twelve male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the Lord. 36 They also delivered the king's commissions to the king's satraps and to the governors of the province Beyond the River, and they aided the people and the house of God.Revelation 15English Standard Version15 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,“Great and amazing are your deeds,    O Lord God the Almighty!Just and true are your ways,    O King of the nations!4 Who will not fear, O Lord,    and glorify your name?For you alone are holy.    All nations will come    and worship you,for your righteous acts have been revealed.”5 After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, 6 and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. 7 And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, 8 and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished. The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah)Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersLord, have mercy.Christ, have mercyLord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousnessAnd let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. The CollectsProper 26Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Collect of Saint BasilO Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!Alleluia, Alleluia! BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

For royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations. (Psalm 22:28 NLT) Political commentators would have you believe that something significant happens in the power structure of a nation following an election. If an incumbent is reelected, it solidifies that party's hold on the reins of power. It's seen as an endorsement of current policies and leadership tactics. If a challenger is elected, it's seen as a mandate for sweeping change. Either way, a sizable portion of the voting population will be unhappy with the result. Some will be extremely unhappy. And they'll look for scapegoats. It's very easy in our polarized society today, especially in an election year, to view anyone who disagrees with us as our mortal enemy. We cringe at the idea of their having power or influence in the world. But as believers, we should never think of someone who holds a different view from ours or someone who doesn't have our faith as an enemy. Those aren't the battles we should be fighting. We don't take our marching orders from party leaders or media personalities. And the truth is that, after an election, nothing really changes in the power structure of the country. Psalm 22:28 says, “For royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations” (NLT). These words can't be amended. Power always belongs to the Lord. He rules the nations. He rules our nation. That's why we still have hope, no matter what the election results are. It's not unpatriotic to point out that every nation has a shelf life. The glory of Greece was eclipsed after 268 years. Rome lasted around nine centuries. The United States is 248 years old and counting. Only God knows how many more years this nation will exist. The days of every nation are numbered. Isaiah 40:15 says that “all the nations of the world are but a drop in the bucket. They are nothing more than dust on the scales” (NLT). Revelation 15:3 says, “Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God, the Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations” (NLT). God is the true King of every nation, and He reigns for eternity. Unlike human leaders, He is sovereign. He will do what He pleases with whomever He chooses, whenever He wishes. Regardless of who wins an election, our responsibility as believers is to do God's will and to trust Him. He doesn't want political retribution. (And even if He did, He's infinitely more capable of dishing it out than we are.) Our sovereign God wants us to reach out to our so-called enemies. He wants us to be lights in their lives. He wants them to see Christ in us. He wants us to share the truth of the gospel with them. He wants us to truly care about their well-being—to embrace an attitude of humility and concern. He wants us to be ambassadors of His love. He wants us to help them experience His forgiveness and grace. He wants us to fill His kingdom with as many people as possible. — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David's Final Prayer 1 Chronicles 29:10-20 Introduction Tonight, we delve into the book of 1 Chronicles and this great and perhaps last public prayer of the great King David! It is a fabulous piece of Scripture, I am sure you agree, that tells us a lot about God we as Christians claim to know and love, as well as how we are to respond to Him. Originally 1 & 2 Chronicles were one book. It was the final book of the Jewish Canon, probably written by Ezra and was also known as the "the events of the days", "the things omitted" which would suggest that Chronicles were to be regarded as additional to the books of Kings and Samuel. It's a book which was written for those from the nation of Israel who are now in exile, to remind them of their spiritual heritage - the journey & history of Israel as a nation. For us though, not least I, it issues certain challenges to us all. Here is the great king David! Now here to Chapter 29, we have King David in his final days before handing over the crown to his son, Solomon. David is no longer the shepherd-boy who slew Goliath. He is at the end of his life. He wanted to build the temple himself, but God told him in 1 Chronicles 28v3 "You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood." The building of the Temple was to be ultimately achieved by his great son Solomon to do! What has happened so far? So what has happened so far, according to the Chronicler? In the previous verses before our reading, we see how David has given publicly a great deal of wealth including gold, silver and other personal possessions for this building - the great Temple. This was to serve as an active encouragement for others to also give generously! Not only of their material possessions, but also as we read from 1 Chronicles 28v21, their talents and craftsmanship as well! This house of God would be a community effort - King & pauper alike, giving generously and honestly! So here is David, a man, who despite his many faults, is described as a man after God's own heart. Israel's greatest king, saying this prayer of intimate praise & adoration to his God in front of the assembled throngs. This prayer, like his gifts of gold etc., could be said, to be David's legacy to the nation of Israel, to Solomon and by extension also to us. 1. WOW factor of God! (v10-13) I get a wow factor of God reading this! Look how David talks of God! You can tell that David has had a vibrant and intimate relationship with this God - the God of his youth and his old age. He piles up the metaphors! He speaks of God personally: thou, thee, you, yours, our, I, my. David praises God for who God is! Verse 10 sets the scene "Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever." God is their father! He is everlasting! Before Israel was, He is and always will be! He was to be their God and they were to be His people. God takes care of them as a father does His children - giving generously, protecting them and always being available for guidance & wisdom. Verse 11 is perhaps the central verse of this prayer: "Thine, O LORD is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all." The whole emphasis is on the LORD God! Greatness, power, glory, victory and majesty - all are yours O God - throughout the earth and the heavens! Yours is the kingdom! Not ours, but yours, O King! For they are attributes of a king! God's greatness is vast, incomparable and unfathomable. God's power is that of a warrior: almighty, overwhelming yet alluring; and all power comes from Him to every dependent creature. God's glory is the exuberant and ecstatic magnificence of His very being! Victory shows God as an all-conquering hero: transcendent and supreme, to whom all creatures and creation are subject. His victories are irrefutable and undeniable. His uncompromising majesty symbolises a dignity, regency, splendour and awesome magnificence! These things: greatness, power, glory, victory and majesty are essential attributes of who God is: indelible, immutable, unchangeable and permanent. God is a King in greater splendour than any of the excesses of King Louis XVI. If you don't know about Louis, go look him up and the scale of extravagance! This God is a mighty King to be exalted above all things and He is to be held in His rightful place: high and lifted up! As for the kingdom, whose is it? Is it Israel's? No! Is it David's? No! It is God's and His alone! His Kingdom is of total magnificence and greater than the Roman Empire to come! Even greater than the British Empire, which was never to see the sun set on it. Jesus is probably quoting here, in what we call the Lord's Prayer. So David's words resonate down through history. In this context however, David uses kingdom to symbolise the fact that the building materials, the amassed wealth, did not belong to Israel, but rather they were God's alone! God's kingdom shows His universal influence, authority and universality. Everything is God's! Its all His! Nobody can say they own ultimate possession of anything! The only reason, to paraphrase David, "we have this amassed wealth to build the Temple is because we have the leasehold to it! God owns the freehold, its all His and because of His generosity we can build Him this house! And not only these material possessions, but also the imagination, ingenuity, craftsmanship, skills and talents - well they all came from God as well, so you craftsmen, bless God because God has blessed you with skilled hands to work on His house! Your strength is ultimately from His unlimited resources of strength!" This is no impersonal statue or idol like the surrounding nations. This is the living God, awesome in all things yet willing to be involved in a personal relationship. This is the God, who through the Levitical Law, wants to live with His people of joy, to be their Living God! This God is the light of all things good, bright and blessed. He is the greatest of the greatest, truly incomprehensible yet also knowable. David is in utter adoration of this great God! I wonder if David knew that this physical Temple itself was only ever going to be a temporary building until the coming of the Messiah - when God would no longer dwell in a house made of gold and stone but rather live in human hearts. It is out of His wonderfully glorious grace that the Lord God Almighty gave the gifts in the first place and the cheerful sacrificial response from His people in gratitude to Him was remarkable! All these things were given willingly - the possessions, the gold, the silver, the skills, the power and strength - all in service of the great God of Israel, the great Father of Abraham, Isaac, Moses and the other patriarchs. Surely, this is a God worthy of all praise, worship and life commitment! Each person praises differently and in different ways, so let's rejoice when we see other people praising God differently to our own style. 2. David - its all Him (v14-20) That's the wow factor of God: a God who is abundant in greatness, power, glory, victory and majesty. Now let's look together at David himself! All the attributes of praise, given here by David to God, could with a great deal of justification, be said about Israel, or even David himself. They were at the time a strong nation and David quite rightly still on the throne. Israel's greatest King - full of power, might and majesty. But no! What does David say in v14? "But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? For all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee." Its all about God for David! He would say that I am only here because of Him! David has been reflecting on his whole life - from the time he defeated the Philistine armed only with a sling and stone. He sees his past failures, the utter depravity of those but also his repentant heart before a holy God. The end of verse 14 again, "All things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee", and this resonates down through history, in churches worldwide as the offering prayer. David exhibits great humility before God, and sets an example for his son, Solomon and the other people of Israel, to follow. And then in v15 "For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding" David acknowledges that Israel were only tenants in the Promised Land - on a leasehold agreement. They were a nation of sojourners travelling a journey, from their foundation as a nation onwards. It is like David was saying to the Lord: "We are here temporarily but You, O God, are here permanently. What an amazingly generous God you are, giving with such exceeding grace to us." David confesses they are but transient and aliens in the land God had given them. It is an image tying them to their patriarchs as they wandered in the wilderness, living only on what their God provided them with, as they looked for the Promised Land. It is also an image of an acknowledgement that all life is supremely dependent upon God and God alone. God was to be their God and they were to be His people - to be shining as a light to all nations as God's representatives. Here is the mighty King David, bowing in humility before a great God whom he adores, serves and worships. He knew that his whole life had been one of dependence upon God for all things, and David was exhibiting this before his people. David's prayer was that the people of Israel would continue to depend on God but also exhibit that dependence and show how God supplied them graciously. Not only for David but also for the Chronicler too! He was recording this for the people of Israel when they were in exile. The Chronicler reminds the people in exile to be utterly dependent upon God for all and everything. For the Chronicler, the building of the Temple was more a matter of the heart, and built upon the faith of God to supply. This faith was expressed in the building made of gold, silver, wood and other metals. It was due to God's generosity alone the Temple would be built and nothing to do with David and his people. It would have been a tremendous temptation to be filled with boastful pride about it. It was a test of people's hearts to see if they really did love their God. Then in the final words of this prayer, we see David praying for unreserved and enthusiastic giving from the people. He changes from acknowledgment to petition. In verses 18-20, David exhorts an outpouring of generosity from his people, from a heart filled with thanks - a heart acknowledging total dependence on God for all things - a heart & life of loyal obedience to Almighty God. Solomon also was to be wholeheartedly obedient and devoted fully to God. A heart filled with peace with God, a life totally devoted to Him, exhibited with joyful giving. That's what David was praying for his people and for his son Solomon. Its also what the Chronicler was expecting from the people in exile as he recounts this to them. It was to be a community effort of devotion and obedience to an almighty God, on whom they were dependent for all facets of human life. Everybody giving what they could - out of riches or poverty. 3. So what? Firstly, we saw the wow factor of God: a God who exudes greatness, power, glory, victory and majesty. Then we saw David's utter adoration and dependence upon the God that he knows intimately. So, finally, what does all this have to do with us? How often do we receive from our God, but not thank Him for it? We are to be thankful for every good gift that is given to us. We offer praises and thanks to Him, for who He is and for His generosity and grace towards us. Tonight's bible passage was a superb piece of thanksgiving. When was the last time you thanked God for all the things He has given you? How can we put this thanks and praise into action? Lets see quickly! Firstly, I am convinced there are enough wealthy Christians sitting in churches in the West, who could make significant donations and virtually eradicate a lot of the poverty in the developing world and indeed their own countries. This would be active Christian giving on a radical scale. In biblical stories, such as this from 1 Chronicles 29, its always those who had the most, gave the most as an example to others of God's generosity. After all, God owns it all anyway and it's only given as a loan from God and not a transference of ownership. As Christians, we are to desire to mature spiritually - growing in adoration, obedience and commitment to God. Perhaps the greatest indicator of today, concerns our giving. Giving is to be done whole-heartedly and cheerfully. It is also not so much about how much is given, but how much is left after giving and the attitude behind it. God looks beyond that which is given to the motive and attitude behind it. All our money and possessions belong to Him anyway, as we have seen, so giving is to be in response to this. Our money and possessions are a leasehold agreement not a freehold one. Giving done willingly is also not done to boost our own egos or for the feel-good factor, but rather to bring glory and honour to God as a thankful response to His giving all things to us. Many prayers seemingly go unanswered because God is waiting on people to be obedient to Him, in order to answer the unanswered prayers of others. . We are to be generous with everything we have, not just in the area of money but with our very lives. We all have time, information, knowledge imagination, gifts and talents. All these too are to be given back to God . That may well take radical action to do, but radical giving is what we are called to do. God has given everything so that you and I may live and have life, so by caring and giving, we will reflect that. Let's be radical church together and encourage others to be likewise. But, as we have seen, it's not only about giving money and resources. Giving is also to include skills, information, imagination and knowledge. Remember, the priests and craftsmen were waiting to give in the building of and service within the Temple. Churches, particularly these days, need to capture the imagination of those looking for a church home, and get them involved. Involvement in such a way that it builds up commitment to God and a growing adoration of Him. If people are involved, they will stay. It means training them up, to be fit for service within the church. If training for service doesn't occur, then commitment and dedication to God is likely to be diminished. If the same people do the same thing year after year, that local church will eventually die out. Each local church is only one generation away from closing its doors permanently. Giving, as we saw in tonight's passage, is also a community affair. This Church is to be a community, both within the church and outside of it, where the strongest members support the weakest members. Our leaders here at PBC give demonstrably I think- including their time, possessions, money, knowledge and wisdom. But, as we also saw tonight, it is not just for leaders to give! Giving is to be for everyone! Every church has a fantastic array of knowledge, wisdom, possessions and imagination. Let us share that with people outside the church. Who knows what our caring and giving will do for them as it reflects the glory of God! Too often, we are found turning a blind eye to the suffering of others where the necessities of life are in sparse existence. Too often we neglect to give up our personal space, time, imagination, information and money generously to help the poor and needy in our local, national and global communities. By doing this giving collectively, we will show our faith to be real and practical. There are people out there in our local community just waiting for somebody to give generously to them. We need to be seen to be radically giving to all - of our money, our possessions, and also our time, imagination, knowledge, practical help, care and love. Let us show our relevance to our local community and not be seen as just a curious gathering of people meeting on a Sunday. If I could summarise all this up in one sentence, it would be something like this: "Ask not only what your God can give to you, but what great things you can do and give to your God." Right mouse click or tap here to download this sermon

Can you truly comprehend the weight of your actions if you lack awareness of a higher presence observing them? This episode challenges listeners to examine their spiritual consciousness through the lens of Avinu Malkenu, a vital prayer during the High Holy Days, instituted by Rabbi Akiva. We explore the deep meanings behind its verses, focusing on the plea "O Father, O King, we have sinned before You," and discuss how acknowledging the divine can bolster our defenses against transgressions. By embracing God-awareness, we can enhance our accountability and introspection during this sacred time.Join us on a journey through the rich history of this powerful prayer, as we uncover the profound significance it holds in our spiritual practices. We reflect on the themes of awareness and humility, urging us to keep Hashem's watchful gaze in our hearts and minds. This conversation is an invitation to sincerely seek forgiveness and strengthen our connection with the Almighty. Through this insightful exploration, we strive to enrich our understanding and experience of these sacred days, ensuring our spiritual journey is guided by sincerity and mindfulness.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---------------- SUBSCRIBE to The Weekly Parsha for an insightful weekly talk on the week's Parsha. Listen on Spotify or 24six! Access all Torah talks and listen to featured episodes on our website, themotivationcongregation.org ----------------Questions or Comments? Please email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

  ਧਨਾਸਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ॥ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹਾ ਮੈ ਹਰਿ ਦਰਸਨ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਹਮਰੀ ਬੇਦਨਿ ਤੂ ਜਾਨਤਾ ਸਾਹਾ ਅਵਰੁ ਕਿਆ ਜਾਨੈ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਸਾਚਾ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਸਚੁ ਤੂ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹਾ ਤੇਰਾ ਕੀਆ ਸਚੁ ਸਭੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਝੂਠਾ ਕਿਸ ਕਉ ਆਖੀਐ ਸਾਹਾ ਦੂਜਾ ਨਾਹੀ ਕੋਇ ॥੧॥ ਸਭਨਾ ਵਿਚਿ ਤੂ ਵਰਤਦਾ ਸਾਹਾ ਸਭਿ ਤੁਝਹਿ ਧਿਆਵਹਿ ਦਿਨੁ ਰਾਤਿ ॥ ਸਭਿ ਤੁਝ ਹੀ ਥਾਵਹੁ ਮੰਗਦੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹਾ ਤੂ ਸਭਨਾ ਕਰਹਿ ਇਕ ਦਾਤਿ ॥੨॥ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਤੁਝ ਹੀ ਵਿਚਿ ਹੈ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹਾ ਤੁਝ ਤੇ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਕੋਈ ਨਾਹਿ ॥ ਸਭਿ ਜੀਅ ਤੇਰੇ ਤੂ ਸਭਸ ਦਾ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹਾ ਸਭਿ ਤੁਝ ਹੀ ਮਾਹਿ ਸਮਾਹਿ ॥੩॥ ਸਭਨਾ ਕੀ ਤੂ ਆਸ ਹੈ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਸਭਿ ਤੁਝਹਿ ਧਿਆਵਹਿ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹ ॥ ਜਿਉ ਭਾਵੈ ਤਿਉ ਰਖੁ ਤੂ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਸਚੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੇ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹ ॥੪॥੭॥੧੩॥ ਅਰਥ: ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਮੇਹਰ ਕਰ) ਮੈਨੂੰ ਤੇਰੇ ਦਰਸਨ ਦਾ ਆਨੰਦ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਹੋ ਜਾਏ। ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਮੇਰੇ ਦਿਲ ਦੀ ਪੀੜ ਤੂੰ ਹੀ ਜਾਣਦਾ ਹੈਂ। ਕੋਈ ਹੋਰ ਕੀ ਜਾਣ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ?।ਰਹਾਉ। ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਤੂੰ ਸਦਾ ਕਾਇਮ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਮਾਲਕ ਹੈਂ, ਤੂੰ ਅਟੱਲ ਹੈਂ। ਜੋ ਕੁਝ ਤੂੰ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈਂ, ਉਹ ਭੀ ਉਕਾਈ-ਹੀਣ ਹੈ (ਉਸ ਵਿਚ ਭੀ ਕੋਈ ਊਣਤਾ ਨਹੀਂ) । ਹੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਸਾਰੇ ਸੰਸਾਰ ਵਿਚ ਤੈਥੋਂ ਬਿਨਾ) ਹੋਰ ਕੋਈ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ (ਇਸ ਵਾਸਤੇ) ਕਿਸੇ ਨੂੰ ਝੂਠਾ ਆਖਿਆ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ।੧। ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਤੂੰ ਸਭ ਜੀਵਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਮੌਜੂਦ ਹੈਂ, ਸਾਰੇ ਜੀਵ ਦਿਨ ਰਾਤ ਤੇਰਾ ਹੀ ਧਿਆਨ ਧਰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਸਾਰੇ ਜੀਵ ਤੇਰੇ ਪਾਸੋਂ ਹੀ (ਮੰਗਾਂ) ਮੰਗਦੇ ਹਨ। ਇਕ ਤੂੰ ਹੀ ਸਭ ਜੀਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਦਾਤਾਂ ਦੇ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈਂ।੨। ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਹਰੇਕ ਜੀਵ ਤੇਰੇ ਹੁਕਮ ਵਿਚ ਹੈ, ਤੈਥੋਂ ਆਕੀ ਕੋਈ ਜੀਵ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ। ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਸਾਰੇ ਜੀਵ ਤੇਰੇ ਪੈਦਾ ਕੀਤੇ ਹੋਏ ਹਨ, ਤੇ, ਇਹ ਸਾਰੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਵਿਚ ਹੀ ਲੀਨ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ।੩। ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਤੂੰ ਸਭ ਜੀਵਾਂ ਦੀ ਆਸਾਂ ਪੂਰੀਆਂ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈਂ ਸਾਰੇ ਜੀਵ ਤੇਰਾ ਹੀ ਧਿਆਨ ਧਰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਹੇ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੇ! ਜਿਵੇਂ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਚੰਗਾ ਲੱਗਦਾ ਹੈ, ਤਿਵੇਂ ਮੈਨੂੰ (ਆਪਣੇ ਚਰਨਾਂ ਵਿਚ) ਰੱਖ। ਤੂੰ ਹੀ ਸਦਾ ਕਾਇਮ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਹੈਂ।੪।੭।੧੩। DHANAASAREE, FOURTH MEHL: O my King, beholding the Blessed Vision of the Lord's Darshan, I am at peace. You alone know my inner pain, O King; what can anyone else know? || Pause || O True Lord and Master, You are truly my King; whatever You do, all that is True. Who should I call a liar? There is no other than You, O King. || 1 || You are pervading and permeating in all; O King, everyone meditates on You, day and night. Everyone begs of You, O my King; You alone give gifts to all. || 2 || All are under Your Power, O my King; none at all are beyond You. All beings are Yours—You belong to all, O my King. All shall merge and be absorbed in You. || 3 || You are the hope of all, O my Beloved; all meditate on You, O my King. As it pleases You, protect and preserve me, O my Beloved; You are the True King of Nanak. || 4 || 7 || 13 || --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gsjhampur/support

Show NotesReligion of the Masses* Kemp BJ. How Religious were the Ancient Egyptians? Cambridge Archaeological Journal. 1995;5(1):25-54. doi:10.1017/S0959774300001177* UEE Encyclopedia- Votive Practice/Personal Religion Continuity of Ancient Egyptian Religion * Abu el-Haggag Festival: The Modern-Day Opet* Moulid Festival of Abu'l HajjajEntertainment in the Egyptian Court * Autobiography of Harkhuf [the king saying] “Come north to the residence at once! Hurry and bring with you the pygmy (sic) whom you brought from the land of the horizon-dwellers life, hale, and healthy, for the dances of the gods, to gladden the heart, to delight the heart of King Neferkare who lives forever! When he goes down with you into the ship, get worthy men to be around him on deck, lest he fall into the water! When he lies down at night, et worthy men to lie around him in his tent. Inspect ten times at night! My majesty desires to see his pygmy (sic) more than the gift of the mine-lands of Punt” (Lichtheim 1973, 27).* Little People in ancient Egypt * Blind Harper motif * Westcar Papyrus and the Magician DjediHis majesty said: “Is it true , what they say, that you can join a severed head?” Said Djedi: “Yes, I can, O King, my lord.” Said his majesty: “Have brought me a prisoner from the prison, that be be executed.” Said Djedi: “But not to a human being, O king, my lord! Surely, it is not permitted to do such a thing to the noble cattle [i.e. the populace].” (Lichtheim 1973, 219)* Female Dancers* SenebKing's Ancestors* Royal titulary * Divine Birth * Oppenheimer, Adela. The Early Life of Pharaoh: Divine Birth and Adolescence Scenes in the Causeway of Senwosret III at Dahshur," in M. Bârta, F. Coppens, and J. Krejci, eds., Abusir and Saqqara in the Year 2010 (Prague, 2011), 171-88* Alexander Romance Get full access to Ancient/Now at ancientnow.substack.com/subscribe

Recorded live at our regular Sunday morning worship service in the Performing Arts Center of Edgewood High School, Madison, WI.

For Not with Swords Loud Clashing Lead on, O King eternal! The day of march has come; henceforth in fields of conquest your tents will be our home.  Through days of preparation your grace has made us strong; and now, O King eternal, we lift our battle song. Lead on, O King eternal, till sin's fierce war shall cease, and holiness shall whisper the sweet amen of peace for not with swords loud clashing, nor roll of stirring drums, but deeds of love and mercy, the heavenly kingdom comes. Lead on, O king eternal; we follow not with fears, for gladness breaks like morning wher-e'er your face appears.  Your cross is lifted o'er us; we journey in its light; the crown awaits the conquest; lead on, O God of might!                                                                 Evangelical Lutheran Worship            805 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power.  Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.                                      Ephesians 6:10-11   Whether you are a Republican, a Democrat, an Independent, or just befuddled by it all, you know there is great tension in our country right now.  Many are anxious and worried about the future.  On a much smaller scale, many of us at Faith may have at least moments of anxiety and worry about the future of our congregation.  It's easy to go dark, especially in times of transition in pastoral leadership. Rumors can flee and misunderstandings can abound. We may even wonder if we have a future together. I love the inspired and inspiring words in the readings of scripture for today, words in Psalm 34 like these: The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those whose spirits are crushed.  Many are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them from every one.   I think about what it means to be righteous:  through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we are made righteous.  Day after day we are forgiven.  Day after day we are set free from the bondage to sin, to self-centeredness.  We are set to do what is [righteous] right for our sisters and brothers.  It is pretty much guaranteed that all of us will have many troubles, many afflictions.  A near certainty that our hearts will be broken.  But the Lord of steadfast love will never abandon us, will always set us free for deeds of kindness and of love and mercy. Or I think of these words in Joshua: “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; for it is the Lord our God who brought us and ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went and among all the peoples through whom we passed.” And for me right now these words from the letter to the Christians in Ephesus: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power.  Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. It is so important to remember that our struggle is not against a particular political leader or party, or much closer to home, not against a member of our extended family with whom we may strongly disagree, or against our pastor or any member of the congregation about whom we are troubled.  It is not against our own flesh and blood, any members of the human family.  Again, I think this is so important.  We ought not demonize our sisters and brothers but rather recognize that we are struggling against the wiles of the devil. We are struggling against the “cosmic powers of this present darkness,” or as someone has translated, “the organized forces of malevolent spirit beings.” We are struggling against the deceitful schemes of the devil who is always looking for ways to lure us into believing in a false righteousness.  The devil, which scripture also calls “the father of lies”, is always seeking to worm his way into the ears and hearts and minds of every one of us…every one of us, from the lowliest to those with great power and influence.   Therefore, we read, take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness.  I would paraphrase those words like this:  Clothed in the powerful, protective presence of God the Father, listen carefully to your gut and to your heart.  Protected by your always honest brother, Jesus, listen to your gut feelings about what is true or false.  Listen to your heart, ever made new by the gentle Holy Spirit, to sense what is morally right or wrong, loving or hateful.  As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.  Be ready to go to be with someone who is lonely or afraid.  When I was serving as a bishop, I was blessed to know and deeply respect a retired, widowed, genuinely caring pastor living in South Haven who would frequently, I think weekly, bake a batch of pies and walk them, still warm, to his elderly neighbors.  Even without words he with his hands and his feet joyfully proclaimed the gospel of peace to his cherished peers living out the last chapters of their earthly lives.  With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  As I too age, I am more deeply aware of how necessary it is for me to pray every single day for the gift of faith.  It was always true that I needed to do that.  It's just that now I recognize more clearly how vulnerable I am to the flaming arrows of despondency, of fear and anxiety, of ill-considered words, and of too quick, dismissive judgments of others.  The shield of faith, this precious daily gift of faith, this trust in God's ever-present steadfast love for me and for my neighbors really does quench the evil one's arrows that would wound me, yes, wound all of us, with the bondage to despair, with an obsessive fear of others, with a chronic inability to accept and love and engage others as they are, as equally beloved children of God. And then these words:  Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  I think of a motorcycle accident just yards down the street from us just a few weeks ago.  Though the young man on the bike was seriously injured, most obviously with a broken leg and foot, he was still conscious.  We all thought that if he had not been wearing a helmet, he'd likely have died or at least his brain would be irreparably damaged.   With half-truths and outright lies, the wily one can cause us to think wrongly about our world, our country, our neighbors, our congregation, our very selves.  In our brains, perhaps especially in the frontal lobe, we may think, we may reason, we may conclude that the world is surely going to hell.  Or we may conclude that only some, some who have the correct beliefs, or some who are most cunning, or some who are the wealthiest, or some who have the most power will be spared, they will be saved.      But with the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit we think differently.  Jesus suffered and died and rose again for the whole world, to save all of creation.  In our minds, protected by the helmet of salvation, we know all is not lost.  With the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, we know, in the words of the psalmist, that “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.”  We know that “The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.” We know in the words of the Old Testament prophet Joel that “In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh…then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” We know in the words of St. Paul that “God is faithful, and will not let you be tested [tempted] beyond your strength, but with the testing he will provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.” So, let us put on the whole armor of God, so that together we may be able to stand firm against the wiles of the devil, not with swords loud clashing, nor roll of stirring drums but with Spirit-inspired, prayer-filled deeds of love and mercy! 

“O King, at that time Arjuna, the son of Pandu, who was seated in his chariot, his flag marked with Hanuman, took up his bow and prepared to shoot his arrows, looking at the sons of Dhritarashtra. O King, Arjuna then spoke to Hrishikesha [Krishna] these words:” (Bhagavad-gita, 1.20)

“O King, at that time Arjuna, the son of Pandu, who was seated in his chariot, his flag marked with Hanuman, took up his bow and prepared to shoot his arrows, looking at the sons of Dhritarashtra. O King, Arjuna then spoke to Hrishikesha [Krishna] these words:” (Bhagavad-gita, 1.20)

The daily Hukamnama Sahib from Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar including English and Punjabi translation audio   ਧਨਾਸਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ॥ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹਾ ਮੈ ਹਰਿ ਦਰਸਨ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਹਮਰੀ ਬੇਦਨਿ ਤੂ ਜਾਨਤਾ ਸਾਹਾ ਅਵਰੁ ਕਿਆ ਜਾਨੈ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਸਾਚਾ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਸਚੁ ਤੂ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹਾ ਤੇਰਾ ਕੀਆ ਸਚੁ ਸਭੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਝੂਠਾ ਕਿਸ ਕਉ ਆਖੀਐ ਸਾਹਾ ਦੂਜਾ ਨਾਹੀ ਕੋਇ ॥੧॥ ਸਭਨਾ ਵਿਚਿ ਤੂ ਵਰਤਦਾ ਸਾਹਾ ਸਭਿ ਤੁਝਹਿ ਧਿਆਵਹਿ ਦਿਨੁ ਰਾਤਿ ॥ ਸਭਿ ਤੁਝ ਹੀ ਥਾਵਹੁ ਮੰਗਦੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹਾ ਤੂ ਸਭਨਾ ਕਰਹਿ ਇਕ ਦਾਤਿ ॥੨॥ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਤੁਝ ਹੀ ਵਿਚਿ ਹੈ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹਾ ਤੁਝ ਤੇ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਕੋਈ ਨਾਹਿ ॥ ਸਭਿ ਜੀਅ ਤੇਰੇ ਤੂ ਸਭਸ ਦਾ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹਾ ਸਭਿ ਤੁਝ ਹੀ ਮਾਹਿ ਸਮਾਹਿ ॥੩॥ ਸਭਨਾ ਕੀ ਤੂ ਆਸ ਹੈ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਸਭਿ ਤੁਝਹਿ ਧਿਆਵਹਿ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹ ॥ ਜਿਉ ਭਾਵੈ ਤਿਉ ਰਖੁ ਤੂ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਸਚੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੇ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹ ॥੪॥੭॥੧੩॥ ਅਰਥ: ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਮੇਹਰ ਕਰ) ਮੈਨੂੰ ਤੇਰੇ ਦਰਸਨ ਦਾ ਆਨੰਦ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਹੋ ਜਾਏ। ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਮੇਰੇ ਦਿਲ ਦੀ ਪੀੜ ਤੂੰ ਹੀ ਜਾਣਦਾ ਹੈਂ। ਕੋਈ ਹੋਰ ਕੀ ਜਾਣ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ?।ਰਹਾਉ। ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਤੂੰ ਸਦਾ ਕਾਇਮ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਮਾਲਕ ਹੈਂ, ਤੂੰ ਅਟੱਲ ਹੈਂ। ਜੋ ਕੁਝ ਤੂੰ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈਂ, ਉਹ ਭੀ ਉਕਾਈ-ਹੀਣ ਹੈ (ਉਸ ਵਿਚ ਭੀ ਕੋਈ ਊਣਤਾ ਨਹੀਂ) । ਹੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਸਾਰੇ ਸੰਸਾਰ ਵਿਚ ਤੈਥੋਂ ਬਿਨਾ) ਹੋਰ ਕੋਈ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ (ਇਸ ਵਾਸਤੇ) ਕਿਸੇ ਨੂੰ ਝੂਠਾ ਆਖਿਆ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ।੧। ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਤੂੰ ਸਭ ਜੀਵਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਮੌਜੂਦ ਹੈਂ, ਸਾਰੇ ਜੀਵ ਦਿਨ ਰਾਤ ਤੇਰਾ ਹੀ ਧਿਆਨ ਧਰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਸਾਰੇ ਜੀਵ ਤੇਰੇ ਪਾਸੋਂ ਹੀ (ਮੰਗਾਂ) ਮੰਗਦੇ ਹਨ। ਇਕ ਤੂੰ ਹੀ ਸਭ ਜੀਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਦਾਤਾਂ ਦੇ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈਂ।੨। ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਹਰੇਕ ਜੀਵ ਤੇਰੇ ਹੁਕਮ ਵਿਚ ਹੈ, ਤੈਥੋਂ ਆਕੀ ਕੋਈ ਜੀਵ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ। ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਸਾਰੇ ਜੀਵ ਤੇਰੇ ਪੈਦਾ ਕੀਤੇ ਹੋਏ ਹਨ, ਤੇ, ਇਹ ਸਾਰੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਵਿਚ ਹੀ ਲੀਨ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ।੩। ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਤੂੰ ਸਭ ਜੀਵਾਂ ਦੀ ਆਸਾਂ ਪੂਰੀਆਂ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈਂ ਸਾਰੇ ਜੀਵ ਤੇਰਾ ਹੀ ਧਿਆਨ ਧਰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਹੇ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹ! ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੇ! ਜਿਵੇਂ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਚੰਗਾ ਲੱਗਦਾ ਹੈ, ਤਿਵੇਂ ਮੈਨੂੰ (ਆਪਣੇ ਚਰਨਾਂ ਵਿਚ) ਰੱਖ। ਤੂੰ ਹੀ ਸਦਾ ਕਾਇਮ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਹੈਂ।੪।੭।੧੩। DHANAASAREE, FOURTH MEHL: O my King, beholding the Blessed Vision of the Lord's Darshan, I am at peace. You alone know my inner pain, O King; what can anyone else know? || Pause || O True Lord and Master, You are truly my King; whatever You do, all that is True. Who should I call a liar? There is no other than You, O King. || 1 || You are pervading and permeating in all; O King, everyone meditates on You, day and night. Everyone begs of You, O my King; You alone give gifts to all. || 2 || All are under Your Power, O my King; none at all are beyond You. All beings are Yours—You belong to all, O my King. All shall merge and be absorbed in You. || 3 || You are the hope of all, O my Beloved; all meditate on You, O my King. As it pleases You, protect and preserve me, O my Beloved; You are the True King of Nanak. || 4 || 7 || 13 ll  Brought to you by @ Gs jhampur ---------------------------------------------------------------------. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Connect with GS Jhampur» Subscribe to Audio Gurbani: https://Anchor.fm/gsjhampur/ » Subscribe to our YouTube Channel:https://youtube.com/GurjitSinghJhampur» Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gsjhampur» Tweet us on Twitter:https://twitter.com/tazamudda?t=eAP0Aj6t2QfjJBXJN183wg&s=09 » Follow us on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/s/aGlnaGxpZ2h0OjE3ODU5NTA3NTQ1MTEwNDU1?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gsjhampur/support

Passage: 1 In the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his hordes, ‘Who are you like in your greatness? 3 Think of Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches and shady foliage and of lofty height. Its top was among the clouds. 4 The waters caused it to grow; the underground springs made it tall, directing their rivers all around the place where the tree was planted and sending their channels to all the trees of the field. 5 Therefore the cedar became greater in height than all the trees of the field. Its branches multiplied, and its boughs grew long as it spread them out because of the abundant water. 6 All the birds of the sky nested in its branches, and all the animals of the field gave birth beneath its boughs; all the great nations lived in its shade. 10 “ ‘Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: Since it towered high in stature and set its top among the clouds, and it grew proud on account of its height, 11 I determined to hand it over to a ruler of nations; he would surely deal with it. I banished it because of its wickedness. 12 Foreigners, ruthless men from the nations, cut it down and left it lying. Its limbs fell on the mountains and in every valley; its boughs lay broken in all the earth's ravines. All the peoples of the earth left its shade and abandoned it. 13 All the birds of the sky nested on its fallen trunk, and all the animals of the field were among its boughs. 14 This happened so that no trees planted beside water would become great in height and set their tops among the clouds, and so that no other well-watered trees would reach them in height. For they have all been consigned to death, to the underworld, among the people who descend to the Pit. -- Ezekiel 31:1-6, 10-14 (CSB) Song: Come Ye Sinners (https://open.spotify.com/track/5DpEqly6FLPPWnX3EeUJO4?si=8d014ca23a71466c) by Dan Hamilton, Joseph Hart, Robbie Seay, Ryan Owens, and Taylor Johnson Lyrics: Come ye sinners the poor and needy Weak and wounded sick and sore And Jesus ready stands to save you Full of pity love and power I will arise and go to Jesus He will embrace me in His arms And in the arms of my dear Savior Oh there are ten thousand charms (Ten thousand charms) Come ye weary heavy laden Lost and ruined by the fall And if you tarry until you're better You will never come at all Oh there are ten thousand charms Oh there are ten thousand charms Prayer: O Lord, come quickly and reign on your throne, for now often something rises up within me, and tries to take possession of your throne: pride, covetousness, uncleanness, and sloth want to be my kings, and then evil-speaking, anger, hatred, and the whole train of vices join with me in warring against myself, and try to reign over me. I resist them; I cry out against them, and say, “I have no other king than Christ.” O King of peace, come and reign in me, for I will have no king but you! Amen.  -Bernard of Clairvaux

O καθηγητής Διεθνούς Ασφάλειας στο King's College του Λονδίνου, και στο Πανεπιστήμιο Μακεδονίας, Μάνος Καραγιάννης, μίλησε στο Ελληνικό Πρόγραμμα της ραδιοφωνίας SBS.

This holy martyr was a married man, living in Cappadocia. During the reign of Julian the Apostate he, along with some other Christians, destroyed the pagan temple to the goddess Fortuna. (The Prologue says that it was his wedding day). For this he and his companions were cruelly tortured, then beheaded.   At that time St Basil the Great governed the Church in that part of Cappadocia. When the apostate Emperor, going to fight the Persians, came to the town in which Eupsychius was martyred, St Basil went to meet him, bringing three barley loaves as a sign of honor and welcome. The Emperor, ever hostile to Christians, ordered that the bishop be given a fistful of hay in return. Saint Basil said to the Emperor 'You ridicule us now, O King; we bring you bread, by which we are fed, and you give us miserable food that you, with all your power, are unable to turn into nourishment for men.' The Emperor perished in the Persian campaign.

This holy martyr was a married man, living in Cappadocia. During the reign of Julian the Apostate he, along with some other Christians, destroyed the pagan temple to the goddess Fortuna. (The Prologue says that it was his wedding day). For this he and his companions were cruelly tortured, then beheaded.   At that time St Basil the Great governed the Church in that part of Cappadocia. When the apostate Emperor, going to fight the Persians, came to the town in which Eupsychius was martyred, St Basil went to meet him, bringing three barley loaves as a sign of honor and welcome. The Emperor, ever hostile to Christians, ordered that the bishop be given a fistful of hay in return. Saint Basil said to the Emperor 'You ridicule us now, O King; we bring you bread, by which we are fed, and you give us miserable food that you, with all your power, are unable to turn into nourishment for men.' The Emperor perished in the Persian campaign.

April 7, 2024 Preparation for Worship Time for Gathering Opening Hymn “Lead on O King Eternal” Lead on O King Eternal the day of march has come Henceforth in fields of conquest Thy tents shall be our home Thro' days of preparation Thy grace has made us strong And now O King eternal we lift our battle song Lead on O King Eternal till sin's fierce war shall cease And holiness shall whisper the sweet Amen of peace For not with swords loud clashing nor roll of stirring drums With deeds of love and mercy the heav'nly kingdom comes Lead on O King Eternal we follow not with fears For gladness breaks like morning where'er Thy face appears Thy cross is lifted o'er us we journey in its light The crown awaits the conquest lead on O God of might Amen! Prayer of Praise Song of Worship Prayers of the Church Offering and Doxology Scripture Lesson Isaiah 6:1-5 & John 15:11-15 Sermon Why We Need a Superhero The Lords Supper (The bread is gluten-free and the cup is alcohol free) Prayers of Thanksgiving and the Lord's Prayer Closing Hymn “What a Friend We have in Jesus” What a friend we have in Jesus all our sins and griefs to bear What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer O what peace we often forfeit O what needless pain we bear All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer Have we trials and temptations is there trouble anywhere We should never be discouraged take it to the Lord in prayer Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share Jesus knows our every weakness take it to the Lord in prayer Are we weak and heavy laden cumbered with a load of care Precious Savior still our refuge take it to the Lord in prayer Do thy friends despise forsake thee take it to the Lord in prayer In His arms He'll take and shield thee Thou wilt find a solace there Amen! Benediction: BIRTHDAYS Fellowship • Sunday Morning Study – Is It the End? | 9 AM in the Sunshine Room • Sunday Prayer | 9:30 AM in the Sunshine Room • Monday Bible Study | 12 & 6 PM in the Sanctuary and via Zoom • Wednesday Fellowship Coffee Hour | 10:30 AM in the Sunshine Room, join us for coffee and snacks. • Wednesday Issues Hour | 11 AM in the Sunshine Room and via Zoom • Friday Men's Study – How to be a Kingdom Man | 8:30-9:30 AM in the Sunshine Room • F3 Ladies Luncheon: Friday, April 12th | 12 PM at Bistro La Baguette. Individual checks, please sign up. • F3 Book Group Meeting: Friday, April 26th | 10 AM 7515 Pelican Bay Blvd, we are reading Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress. • Men's Steak Cookout: Thursday, April 25th | 5 PM at Falconer Jones' home. Please sign up. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/naplescommunitychurch/message

A Psalm of Praise. Of David. 1 I will extol You, my God, O King; And I will bless Your name forever and ever. 2 Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever. 3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable. 4 One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. 5 I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works. 6 Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, And I will declare Your greatness. 7 They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, And shall sing of Your righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy. 9 The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works. 10 All Your works shall praise You, O LORD, And Your saints shall bless You. 11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, And talk of Your power, 12 To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, And the glorious majesty of His kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations. 14 The LORD upholds all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look expectantly to You, And You give them their food in due season. 16 You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing. 17 The LORD is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works. 18 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. 19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. 20 The LORD preserves all who love Him, But all the wicked He will destroy. 21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD, And all flesh shall bless His holy name Forever and ever. Psalm 145 is the last psalm in the book attributed to David. It is a psalm of pure worship, a fitting end to the Davidic psalms. It brings all of David's other hymns to a climax. It forms an end, too, to the main body of the book of Psalms itself. The remaining five psalms are an appropriate appendix of appreciation for God, a supplementary doxology. Psalm 145 is the only psalm that has this particular title, “A Psalm of Praise. Of David.” Some translations render it: “David's Psalm of Praise.” It is David's, David's very own, David's favorite. It is David's Praise just as Psalms 86:1-17 is “David's Prayer”. It is altogether praise, and praise pitched in a high key. David had blessed God many a time in other psalms, but this he regarded as his peculiar, his crown jewel of praise. Certainly, David's praise is the best of praise, for it is that of a man of experience, of sincerity, of calm deliberation, and of intense warmth of the heart. Psalm 145 is also the last of the acrostic psalms. All the letters of the Hebrew alphabet are present, with the exception of the letter nun, the fourteenth letter of the alphabet. (Some early versions of Psalms based on the Septuagint have a verse starting with nun.) The use of acrostics no doubt means that the Holy Spirit and David intended that this psalm be memorized and used often in praise and worship of our great Jehovah God. I also couldn't help but think it so awesome, that by God's divine providence, we begin looking at Psalm 145 on a Sunday, our day of the week that we have specifically set aside for praise and worship! Today, I thought it fitting to read Psalm 145 in its entirety and let it speak for itself. You will notice that David mentioned several attributes of God throughout the psalm, among them His greatness (v. 3), His grace, mercy, goodness and compassion (vv. 8-9), His glory and might (v. 11), His righteousness and kindness (v. 17), and His providential care (v. 20). Who could not praise a God with all these wonderful characteristics? As you read and meditate on this wonderful “Psalm of Praise”, I'm sure you will agree that indeed this is David's crown jewel of praise! God bless!

Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________LentLet my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.Psalm 141:2 ConfessionOfficiant: Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.People: Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws.We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and apart from your grace, there is no health in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare all those who confess their faults. Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.Officiant: Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen. The Lord's PrayerOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Invitatory & PsalmsOfficiant: O God, make speed to save us. People: O Lord, make haste to help us. Officiant & People: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. O Gracious Light Phos hilaronO gracious Light, pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven, O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!Now as we come to the setting of the sun, and our eyes behold the vesper light, we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices, O Son of God, O Giver of life,and to be glorified through all the worlds. Psalm 103Benedic, anima mea1Bless the Lord, O my soul, *and all that is within me, bless his holy Name.2Bless the Lord, O my soul, *and forget not all his benefits.3He forgives all your sins *and heals all your infirmities;4He redeems your life from the grave *and crowns you with mercy and loving-kindness;5He satisfies you with good things, *and your youth is renewed like an eagle's.6The Lord executes righteousness *and judgment for all who are oppressed.7He made his ways known to Moses *and his works to the children of Israel.8The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, *slow to anger and of great kindness.9He will not always accuse us, *nor will he keep his anger for ever.10He has not dealt with us according to our sins, *nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.11For as the heavens are high above the earth, *so is his mercy great upon those who fear him.12As far as the east is from the west, *so far has he removed our sins from us.13As a father cares for his children, *so does the Lord care for those who fear him.14For he himself knows whereof we are made; *he remembers that we are but dust.15Our days are like the grass; *we flourish like a flower of the field;16When the wind goes over it, it is gone, *and its place shall know it no more.17But the merciful goodness of the Lord endures for ever on those who fear him, *and his righteousness on children's children;18On those who keep his covenant *and remember his commandments and do them.19The Lord has set his throne in heaven, *and his kingship has dominion over all.20Bless the Lord, you angels of his,you mighty ones who do his bidding, *and hearken to the voice of his word.21Bless the Lord, all you his hosts, *you ministers of his who do his will.22Bless the Lord, all you works of his,in all places of his dominion; *bless the Lord, O my soul. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The LessonsJeremiah 10:1-13English Standard Version10 Hear the word that the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel. 2 Thus says the Lord:“Learn not the way of the nations,    nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens    because the nations are dismayed at them,3 for the customs of the peoples are vanity.A tree from the forest is cut down    and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman.4 They decorate it with silver and gold;    they fasten it with hammer and nails    so that it cannot move.5 Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field,    and they cannot speak;they have to be carried,    for they cannot walk.Do not be afraid of them,    for they cannot do evil,    neither is it in them to do good.”6 There is none like you, O Lord;    you are great, and your name is great in might.7 Who would not fear you, O King of the nations?    For this is your due;for among all the wise ones of the nations    and in all their kingdoms    there is none like you.8 They are both stupid and foolish;    the instruction of idols is but wood!9 Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish,    and gold from Uphaz.They are the work of the craftsman and of the hands of the goldsmith;    their clothing is violet and purple;    they are all the work of skilled men.10 But the Lord is the true God;    he is the living God and the everlasting King.At his wrath the earth quakes,    and the nations cannot endure his indignation.11 Thus shall you say to them: “The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens.”12 It is he who made the earth by his power,    who established the world by his wisdom,    and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.13 When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens,    and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth.He makes lightning for the rain,    and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses. Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. The Song of Mary - MagnificatMy soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; * for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant From this day all generations will call me blessed: * the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him * in every generation.He has shown the strength of his arm, * he has scattered the proud in their conceit.He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, * and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, * and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, * for he has remembered his promise of mercy, The promise he made to our fathers, * to Abraham and his children for ever.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as It was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Mark 12:13-17English Standard Version13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him. Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. The Song of Simeon - Nunc dimittisLord, you now have set your servant free * to go in peace as you have promised; For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, * whom you have prepared for all the world to see: A Light to enlighten the nations, * and the glory of your people Israel.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersOfficiant: The Lord be with you.People: And also with you.Officiant: Let us pray The SuffragesThat this evening may be holy, good, and peaceful, We entreat you, O Lord.That your holy angels may lead us in paths of peace and goodwill, We entreat you, O Lord.That we may be pardoned and forgiven for our sins and offenses, We entreat you, O Lord.That there may be peace to your Church and to the whole world, We entreat you, O Lord.That we may depart this life in your faith and fear, and not be condemned before the great judgment seat of Christ, We entreat you, O Lord.That we may be bound together by your Holy Spirit in the communion of all your saints, entrusting one another and all our life to Christ, We entreat you, O Lord.Take a moment at this time to reflect and pray for the needs of others. Third Sunday in Lent (Anglican Prayer Book)ALMIGHTY God, consider the sincere desires of your humble servants, we humbly pray, and stretch out the right hand of your power to defend us against our enemies; through Jesus Christ our LORD. Amen.A Collect for PeaceMost holy God, the source of all good desires, all right judgments, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be fixed on the doing of your will, and that we, being delivered from the fear of all enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through the mercies of Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen.A Collect for Aid against PerilsBe our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.For MissionKeep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen. ThanksgivingsThe General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.A Prayer of St. ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. ConclusionMay the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. - Romans 15:13

We often hear that we should not fear anything. I would clarify this to say that the Bible clearly and repeatedly and expressly commands us to fear the LORD. That God commands us is all the reason we need. But what's really cool is that God promises tons of blessings to those who fear the LORD. We need this message today and we need to teach it and model it to our kids! In this episode, Graham makes a biblical case for fearing the LORD. Let's model this and teach it to our kids! Scriptures Used: Psalm 36:1-4 – Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good. He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil. Deuteronomy 10:17 – For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.​ 1 Chronicles 29:11 – Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Isaiah 45:5a – I am the Lord, and there is no other;​ apart from me there is no God.​ Deuteronomy 4:24 – For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Psalm 33:8-9 – Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. Psalm 113:4 – The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! Philippians 2:9-11 – Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Psalm 76:11-12 – Make your vows to the Lord your God and perform them; let all around him bring gifts to him who is to be feared, who cuts off the spirit of princes, who is to be feared by the kings of the earth. Psalm 147:10‭-‬11 – His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. Psalm 89:6-9 – For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD, a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him? O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O LORD, with your faithfulness all around you? You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them. Jeremiah 10:6‭-‬7 – There is none like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is great in might. Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For this is your due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like you. ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭15:3‭-‬4‬ ‭– And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! [4]  Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”   Proverbs 15:33 – The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor. Proverbs 9:10 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Psalm 25:12-14 – Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land. The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. Psalm 111:10 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever! Proverbs 14:26 – In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. Proverbs 24:21‭-‬22 – My son, fear the Lord and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise, for disaster will arise suddenly from them, and who knows the ruin that will come from them both? Proverbs 14:27 – The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. Proverbs 19:23 – The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm. Proverbs 10:27 – The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short. Proverbs 22:4 – The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. Psalm 128:1‭-‬4 – Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord. Psalm 103:15‭-‬19 – As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. Psalm 31:19‭-‬20 – Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues. Deuteronomy 6:1‭-‬3 – “Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.” Proverbs 23:17‭-‬18 – Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off. Jeremiah 32:37‭-‬41 – Behold, I will gather them from all the countries to which I drove them in my anger and my wrath and in great indignation. I will bring them back to this place, and I will make them dwell in safety. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul. Proverbs 28:14 – Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity. Psalm 34:11‭-‬14 – Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. 1 Chronicles 16:23‭-‬27 – Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place. Psalm 112:1‭-‬3 – Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Psalm 33:18‭-‬22 – Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you. Psalm 85:9 – Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. Psalm 76:7‭-‬10 – But you, you are to be feared! Who can stand before you when once your anger is roused? From the heavens you uttered judgment; the earth feared and was still, when God arose to establish judgment, to save all the humble of the earth. Selah Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt. Psalm 34:7‭-‬9 – The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! Psalm 60:4 – You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah Proverbs 29:25 – The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. Psalm 145:17‭-‬20 – The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. Psalm 115:9‭-‬15 – O Israel, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield. You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield. The Lord has remembered us; he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron; he will bless those who fear the Lord, both the small and the great. May the Lord give you increase, you and your children! May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth!   Proverbs 8:13 – The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. Exodus 20:20-‬21 – Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was. Resources: When People are Big and God is Small, by Edward T. Welch Music: Intro: Life of a Traveler, by Black Rhomb (License #3565685) Outtro: Avocado Street, by Wes Hutchinson (Courtesy of YouTube Music) If this podcast been a blessing to you, please consider subscribing, leaving us a review and/or donating to our Patreon account. Thank you! Check us out on www.strategicfamilies.com.

Revelation 13–16 Revelation 13–16 (Listen) The First Beast 13 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. 4 And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” 5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling,1 that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7 Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them.2 And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, 8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear: 10   If anyone is to be taken captive,    to captivity he goes;  if anyone is to be slain with the sword,    with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. The Second Beast 11 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence,3 and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. 13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of4 the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. 16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave,5 to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18 This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.6 The Lamb and the 144,000 14 Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, 5 and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. The Messages of the Three Angels 6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7 And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” 8 Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion7 of her sexual immorality.” 9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” 12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.8 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” The Harvest of the Earth 14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” 16 So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped. 17 Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse's bridle, for 1,600 stadia.9 The Seven Angels with Seven Plagues 15 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished. 2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,   “Great and amazing are your deeds,    O Lord God the Almighty!  Just and true are your ways,    O King of the nations!104   Who will not fear, O Lord,    and glorify your name?  For you alone are holy.    All nations will come    and worship you,  for your righteous acts have been revealed.” 5 After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent11 of witness in heaven was opened, 6 and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. 7 And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, 8 and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished. The Seven Bowls of God's Wrath 16 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.” 2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. 3 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea. 4 The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel in charge of the waters12 say,   “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was,    for you brought these judgments.6   For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,    and you have given them blood to drink.  It is what they deserve!” 7 And I heard the altar saying,   “Yes, Lord God the Almighty,    true and just are your judgments!” 8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed13 the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory. 10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish 11 and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds. 12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. 13 And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. 14 For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. 15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) 16 And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. The Seventh Bowl 17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings,14 peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. 19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. 21 And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds15 each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe. Footnotes [1] 13:6 Or tabernacle [2] 13:7 Some manuscripts omit this sentence [3] 13:12 Or on its behalf [4] 13:14 Or on behalf of [5] 13:16 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface [6] 13:18 Some manuscripts 616 [7] 14:8 Or wrath [8] 14:12 Greek and the faith of Jesus [9] 14:20 About 184 miles; a stadion was about 607 feet or 185 meters [10] 15:3 Some manuscripts the ages [11] 15:5 Or tabernacle [12] 16:5 Greek angel of the waters [13] 16:9 Greek blasphemed; also verses 11, 21 [14] 16:18 Or voices, or sounds [15] 16:21 Greek a talent in weight (ESV)

Revelation 13–16 Revelation 13–16 (Listen) The First Beast 13 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. 4 And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” 5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling,1 that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7 Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them.2 And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, 8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear: 10   If anyone is to be taken captive,    to captivity he goes;  if anyone is to be slain with the sword,    with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. The Second Beast 11 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence,3 and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. 13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of4 the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. 16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave,5 to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18 This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.6 The Lamb and the 144,000 14 Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, 5 and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. The Messages of the Three Angels 6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7 And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” 8 Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion7 of her sexual immorality.” 9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” 12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.8 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” The Harvest of the Earth 14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” 16 So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped. 17 Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse's bridle, for 1,600 stadia.9 The Seven Angels with Seven Plagues 15 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished. 2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,   “Great and amazing are your deeds,    O Lord God the Almighty!  Just and true are your ways,    O King of the nations!104   Who will not fear, O Lord,    and glorify your name?  For you alone are holy.    All nations will come    and worship you,  for your righteous acts have been revealed.” 5 After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent11 of witness in heaven was opened, 6 and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. 7 And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, 8 and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished. The Seven Bowls of God's Wrath 16 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.” 2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. 3 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea. 4 The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel in charge of the waters12 say,   “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was,    for you brought these judgments.6   For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,    and you have given them blood to drink.  It is what they deserve!” 7 And I heard the altar saying,   “Yes, Lord God the Almighty,    true and just are your judgments!” 8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed13 the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory. 10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish 11 and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds. 12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. 13 And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. 14 For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. 15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) 16 And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. The Seventh Bowl 17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings,14 peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. 19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. 21 And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds15 each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe. Footnotes [1] 13:6 Or tabernacle [2] 13:7 Some manuscripts omit this sentence [3] 13:12 Or on its behalf [4] 13:14 Or on behalf of [5] 13:16 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface [6] 13:18 Some manuscripts 616 [7] 14:8 Or wrath [8] 14:12 Greek and the faith of Jesus [9] 14:20 About 184 miles; a stadion was about 607 feet or 185 meters [10] 15:3 Some manuscripts the ages [11] 15:5 Or tabernacle [12] 16:5 Greek angel of the waters [13] 16:9 Greek blasphemed; also verses 11, 21 [14] 16:18 Or voices, or sounds [15] 16:21 Greek a talent in weight (ESV)

Old Testament: Zephaniah 1—Haggai 2 Zephaniah 1–3 (Listen) 1 The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah. The Coming Judgment on Judah 2   “I will utterly sweep away everything    from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.3   “I will sweep away man and beast;    I will sweep away the birds of the heavens    and the fish of the sea,  and the rubble1 with the wicked.    I will cut off mankind    from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.4   “I will stretch out my hand against Judah    and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem;  and I will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal    and the name of the idolatrous priests along with the priests,5   those who bow down on the roofs    to the host of the heavens,  those who bow down and swear to the LORD    and yet swear by Milcom,26   those who have turned back from following the LORD,    who do not seek the LORD or inquire of him.” The Day of the Lord Is Near 7   Be silent before the Lord GOD!    For the day of the LORD is near;  the LORD has prepared a sacrifice    and consecrated his guests.8   And on the day of the LORD's sacrifice—  “I will punish the officials and the king's sons    and all who array themselves in foreign attire.9   On that day I will punish    everyone who leaps over the threshold,  and those who fill their master's3 house    with violence and fraud. 10   “On that day,” declares the LORD,    “a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate,  a wail from the Second Quarter,    a loud crash from the hills.11   Wail, O inhabitants of the Mortar!    For all the traders4 are no more;    all who weigh out silver are cut off.12   At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps,    and I will punish the men  who are complacent,5    those who say in their hearts,  ‘The LORD will not do good,    nor will he do ill.'13   Their goods shall be plundered,    and their houses laid waste.  Though they build houses,    they shall not inhabit them;  though they plant vineyards,    they shall not drink wine from them.” 14   The great day of the LORD is near,    near and hastening fast;  the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter;    the mighty man cries aloud there.15   A day of wrath is that day,    a day of distress and anguish,  a day of ruin and devastation,    a day of darkness and gloom,  a day of clouds and thick darkness,16     a day of trumpet blast and battle cry  against the fortified cities    and against the lofty battlements. 17   I will bring distress on mankind,    so that they shall walk like the blind,    because they have sinned against the LORD;  their blood shall be poured out like dust,    and their flesh like dung.18   Neither their silver nor their gold    shall be able to deliver them    on the day of the wrath of the LORD.  In the fire of his jealousy,    all the earth shall be consumed;  for a full and sudden end    he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth. Judgment on Judah's Enemies 2   Gather together, yes, gather,    O shameless nation,2   before the decree takes effect6    —before the day passes away like chaff—  before there comes upon you    the burning anger of the LORD,  before there comes upon you    the day of the anger of the LORD.3   Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land,    who do his just commands;7  seek righteousness; seek humility;    perhaps you may be hidden    on the day of the anger of the LORD.4   For Gaza shall be deserted,    and Ashkelon shall become a desolation;  Ashdod's people shall be driven out at noon,    and Ekron shall be uprooted. 5   Woe to you inhabitants of the seacoast,    you nation of the Cherethites!  The word of the LORD is against you,    O Canaan, land of the Philistines;    and I will destroy you until no inhabitant is left.6   And you, O seacoast, shall be pastures,    with meadows8 for shepherds    and folds for flocks.7   The seacoast shall become the possession    of the remnant of the house of Judah,    on which they shall graze,  and in the houses of Ashkelon    they shall lie down at evening.  For the LORD their God will be mindful of them    and restore their fortunes. 8   “I have heard the taunts of Moab    and the revilings of the Ammonites,  how they have taunted my people    and made boasts against their territory.9   Therefore, as I live,” declares the LORD of hosts,    the God of Israel,  “Moab shall become like Sodom,    and the Ammonites like Gomorrah,  a land possessed by nettles and salt pits,    and a waste forever.  The remnant of my people shall plunder them,    and the survivors of my nation shall possess them.”10   This shall be their lot in return for their pride,    because they taunted and boasted    against the people of the LORD of hosts.11   The LORD will be awesome against them;    for he will famish all the gods of the earth,  and to him shall bow down,    each in its place,    all the lands of the nations. 12   You also, O Cushites,    shall be slain by my sword. 13   And he will stretch out his hand against the north    and destroy Assyria,  and he will make Nineveh a desolation,    a dry waste like the desert.14   Herds shall lie down in her midst,    all kinds of beasts;9  even the owl and the hedgehog10    shall lodge in her capitals;  a voice shall hoot in the window;    devastation will be on the threshold;    for her cedar work will be laid bare.15   This is the exultant city    that lived securely,  that said in her heart,    “I am, and there is no one else.”  What a desolation she has become,    a lair for wild beasts!  Everyone who passes by her    hisses and shakes his fist. Judgment on Jerusalem and the Nations 3   Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled,    the oppressing city!2   She listens to no voice;    she accepts no correction.  She does not trust in the LORD;    she does not draw near to her God. 3   Her officials within her    are roaring lions;  her judges are evening wolves    that leave nothing till the morning.4   Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men;  her priests profane what is holy;    they do violence to the law.5   The LORD within her is righteous;    he does no injustice;  every morning he shows forth his justice;    each dawn he does not fail;    but the unjust knows no shame. 6   “I have cut off nations;    their battlements are in ruins;  I have laid waste their streets    so that no one walks in them;  their cities have been made desolate,    without a man, without an inhabitant.7   I said, ‘Surely you will fear me;    you will accept correction.  Then your11 dwelling would not be cut off    according to all that I have appointed against you.'12  But all the more they were eager    to make all their deeds corrupt. 8   “Therefore wait for me,” declares the LORD,    “for the day when I rise up to seize the prey.  For my decision is to gather nations,    to assemble kingdoms,  to pour out upon them my indignation,    all my burning anger;  for in the fire of my jealousy    all the earth shall be consumed. The Conversion of the Nations 9   “For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples    to a pure speech,  that all of them may call upon the name of the LORD    and serve him with one accord.10   From beyond the rivers of Cush    my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones,    shall bring my offering. 11   “On that day you shall not be put to shame    because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me;  for then I will remove from your midst    your proudly exultant ones,  and you shall no longer be haughty    in my holy mountain.12   But I will leave in your midst    a people humble and lowly.  They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD,13     those who are left in Israel;  they shall do no injustice    and speak no lies,  nor shall there be found in their mouth    a deceitful tongue.  For they shall graze and lie down,    and none shall make them afraid.” Israel's Joy and Restoration 14   Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;    shout, O Israel!  Rejoice and exult with all your heart,    O daughter of Jerusalem!15   The LORD has taken away the judgments against you;    he has cleared away your enemies.  The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;    you shall never again fear evil.16   On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:  “Fear not, O Zion;    let not your hands grow weak.17   The LORD your God is in your midst,    a mighty one who will save;  he will rejoice over you with gladness;    he will quiet you by his love;  he will exult over you with loud singing.18   I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,    so that you will no longer suffer reproach.1319   Behold, at that time I will deal    with all your oppressors.  And I will save the lame    and gather the outcast,  and I will change their shame into praise    and renown in all the earth.20   At that time I will bring you in,    at the time when I gather you together;  for I will make you renowned and praised    among all the peoples of the earth,  when I restore your fortunes    before your eyes,” says the LORD. The Command to Rebuild the Temple 1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest: 2 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.” 3 Then the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now, therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. 6 You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. 7 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD. 9 You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. 10 Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. 11 And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.” The People Obey the Lord 12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD. 13 Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, spoke to the people with the LORD's message, “I am with you, declares the LORD.” 14 And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, 15 on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king. The Coming Glory of the Temple 2 In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet: 2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people, and say, 3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? 4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work, for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts, 5 according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. 6 For thus says the LORD of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. 7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts.'” Blessings for a Defiled People 10&am

With family: 2 Chronicles 29; Revelation 15 2 Chronicles 29 (Listen) Hezekiah Reigns in Judah 29 Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abijah1 the daughter of Zechariah. 2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done. Hezekiah Cleanses the Temple 3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the LORD and repaired them. 4 He brought in the priests and the Levites and assembled them in the square on the east 5 and said to them, “Hear me, Levites! Now consecrate yourselves, and consecrate the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers, and carry out the filth2 from the Holy Place. 6 For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done what was evil in the sight of the LORD our God. They have forsaken him and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD and turned their backs. 7 They also shut the doors of the vestibule and put out the lamps and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the Holy Place to the God of Israel. 8 Therefore the wrath of the LORD came on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has made them an object of horror, of astonishment, and of hissing, as you see with your own eyes. 9 For behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. 10 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD, the God of Israel, in order that his fierce anger may turn away from us. 11 My sons, do not now be negligent, for the LORD has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him and to be his ministers and make offerings to him.” 12 Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah; 13 and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel; and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah; 14 and of the sons of Heman, Jehuel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel. 15 They gathered their brothers and consecrated themselves and went in as the king had commanded, by the words of the LORD, to cleanse the house of the LORD. 16 The priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD to cleanse it, and they brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took it and carried it out to the brook Kidron. 17 They began to consecrate on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the vestibule of the LORD. Then for eight days they consecrated the house of the LORD, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished. 18 Then they went in to Hezekiah the king and said, “We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the table for the showbread and all its utensils. 19 All the utensils that King Ahaz discarded in his reign when he was faithless, we have made ready and consecrated, and behold, they are before the altar of the LORD.” Hezekiah Restores Temple Worship 20 Then Hezekiah the king rose early and gathered the officials of the city and went up to the house of the LORD. 21 And they brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats for a sin offering for the kingdom and for the sanctuary and for Judah. And he commanded the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the LORD. 22 So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests received the blood and threw it against the altar. And they slaughtered the rams, and their blood was thrown against the altar. And they slaughtered the lambs, and their blood was thrown against the altar. 23 Then the goats for the sin offering were brought to the king and the assembly, and they laid their hands on them, 24 and the priests slaughtered them and made a sin offering with their blood on the altar, to make atonement for all Israel. For the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel. 25 And he stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres, according to the commandment of David and of Gad the king's seer and of Nathan the prophet, for the commandment was from the LORD through his prophets. 26 The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. 27 Then Hezekiah commanded that the burnt offering be offered on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song to the LORD began also, and the trumpets, accompanied by the instruments of David king of Israel. 28 The whole assembly worshiped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded. All this continued until the burnt offering was finished. 29 When the offering was finished, the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped. 30 And Hezekiah the king and the officials commanded the Levites to sing praises to the LORD with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed down and worshiped. 31 Then Hezekiah said, “You have now consecrated yourselves to3 the LORD. Come near; bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the LORD.” And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all who were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings. 32 The number of the burnt offerings that the assembly brought was 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to the LORD. 33 And the consecrated offerings were 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep. 34 But the priests were too few and could not flay all the burnt offerings, so until other priests had consecrated themselves, their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was finished—for the Levites were more upright in heart than the priests in consecrating themselves. 35 Besides the great number of burnt offerings, there was the fat of the peace offerings, and there were the drink offerings for the burnt offerings. Thus the service of the house of the LORD was restored. 36 And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because God had provided for the people, for the thing came about suddenly. Footnotes [1] 29:1 Spelled Abi in 2 Kings 18:2 [2] 29:5 Hebrew impurity [3] 29:31 Hebrew filled your hand for (ESV) Revelation 15 (Listen) The Seven Angels with Seven Plagues 15 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished. 2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,   “Great and amazing are your deeds,    O Lord God the Almighty!  Just and true are your ways,    O King of the nations!14   Who will not fear, O Lord,    and glorify your name?  For you alone are holy.    All nations will come    and worship you,  for your righteous acts have been revealed.” 5 After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent2 of witness in heaven was opened, 6 and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. 7 And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, 8 and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished. Footnotes [1] 15:3 Some manuscripts the ages [2] 15:5 Or tabernacle (ESV) In private: Zechariah 11; John 14 Zechariah 11 (Listen) The Flock Doomed to Slaughter 11   Open your doors, O Lebanon,    that the fire may devour your cedars!2   Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen,    for the glorious trees are ruined!  Wail, oaks of Bashan,    for the thick forest has been felled!3   The sound of the wail of the shepherds,    for their glory is ruined!  The sound of the roar of the lions,    for the thicket of the Jordan is ruined! 4 Thus said the LORD my God: “Become shepherd of the flock doomed to slaughter. 5 Those who buy them slaughter them and go unpunished, and those who sell them say, ‘Blessed be the LORD, I have become rich,' and their own shepherds have no pity on them. 6 For I will no longer have pity on the inhabitants of this land, declares the LORD. Behold, I will cause each of them to fall into the hand of his neighbor, and each into the hand of his king, and they shall crush the land, and I will deliver none from their hand.” 7 So I became the shepherd of the flock doomed to be slaughtered by the sheep traders. And I took two staffs, one I named Favor, the other I named Union. And I tended the sheep. 8 In one month I destroyed the three shepherds. But I became impatient with them, and they also detested me. 9 So I said, “I will not be your shepherd. What is to die, let it die. What is to be destroyed, let it be destroyed. And let those who are left devour the flesh of one another.” 10 And I took my staff Favor, and I broke it, annulling the covenant that I had made with all the peoples. 11 So it was annulled on that day, and the sheep traders, who were watching me, knew that it was the word of the LORD. 12 Then I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver. 13 Then the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the lordly price at which I was priced by them. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD, to the potter. 14 Then I broke my second staff Union, annulling the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. 15 Then the LORD said to me, “Take once more the equipment of a foolish shepherd. 16 For behold, I am raising up in the land a shepherd who does not care for those being destroyed, or seek the young or heal the maimed or nourish the healthy, but devours the flesh of the fat ones, tearing off even their hoofs. 17   “Woe to my worthless shepherd,    who deserts the flock!  May the sword strike his arm    and his right eye!  Let his arm be wholly withered,    his right eye utterly blinded!” (ESV) John 14 (Listen) I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life 14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;1 believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?2 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”3 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.4 From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. 12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me5 anything in my name, I will do it. Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper,6 to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be7 in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. 25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here. Footnotes [1] 14:1 Or You believe in God [2] 14:2 Or In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you [3] 14:4 Some manuscripts Where I am going you know, and the way you know [4] 14:7 Or If you know me, you will know my Father also, or If you have known me, you will know my Father also [5] 14:14 Some manuscripts omit me [6] 14:16 Or Advocate, or Counselor; also 14:26; 15:26; 16:7 [7] 14:17 Some manuscripts and is (ESV)

Morning: Zephaniah 1–3 Zephaniah 1–3 (Listen) 1 The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah. The Coming Judgment on Judah 2   “I will utterly sweep away everything    from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.3   “I will sweep away man and beast;    I will sweep away the birds of the heavens    and the fish of the sea,  and the rubble1 with the wicked.    I will cut off mankind    from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.4   “I will stretch out my hand against Judah    and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem;  and I will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal    and the name of the idolatrous priests along with the priests,5   those who bow down on the roofs    to the host of the heavens,  those who bow down and swear to the LORD    and yet swear by Milcom,26   those who have turned back from following the LORD,    who do not seek the LORD or inquire of him.” The Day of the Lord Is Near 7   Be silent before the Lord GOD!    For the day of the LORD is near;  the LORD has prepared a sacrifice    and consecrated his guests.8   And on the day of the LORD's sacrifice—  “I will punish the officials and the king's sons    and all who array themselves in foreign attire.9   On that day I will punish    everyone who leaps over the threshold,  and those who fill their master's3 house    with violence and fraud. 10   “On that day,” declares the LORD,    “a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate,  a wail from the Second Quarter,    a loud crash from the hills.11   Wail, O inhabitants of the Mortar!    For all the traders4 are no more;    all who weigh out silver are cut off.12   At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps,    and I will punish the men  who are complacent,5    those who say in their hearts,  ‘The LORD will not do good,    nor will he do ill.'13   Their goods shall be plundered,    and their houses laid waste.  Though they build houses,    they shall not inhabit them;  though they plant vineyards,    they shall not drink wine from them.” 14   The great day of the LORD is near,    near and hastening fast;  the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter;    the mighty man cries aloud there.15   A day of wrath is that day,    a day of distress and anguish,  a day of ruin and devastation,    a day of darkness and gloom,  a day of clouds and thick darkness,16     a day of trumpet blast and battle cry  against the fortified cities    and against the lofty battlements. 17   I will bring distress on mankind,    so that they shall walk like the blind,    because they have sinned against the LORD;  their blood shall be poured out like dust,    and their flesh like dung.18   Neither their silver nor their gold    shall be able to deliver them    on the day of the wrath of the LORD.  In the fire of his jealousy,    all the earth shall be consumed;  for a full and sudden end    he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth. Judgment on Judah's Enemies 2   Gather together, yes, gather,    O shameless nation,2   before the decree takes effect6    —before the day passes away like chaff—  before there comes upon you    the burning anger of the LORD,  before there comes upon you    the day of the anger of the LORD.3   Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land,    who do his just commands;7  seek righteousness; seek humility;    perhaps you may be hidden    on the day of the anger of the LORD.4   For Gaza shall be deserted,    and Ashkelon shall become a desolation;  Ashdod's people shall be driven out at noon,    and Ekron shall be uprooted. 5   Woe to you inhabitants of the seacoast,    you nation of the Cherethites!  The word of the LORD is against you,    O Canaan, land of the Philistines;    and I will destroy you until no inhabitant is left.6   And you, O seacoast, shall be pastures,    with meadows8 for shepherds    and folds for flocks.7   The seacoast shall become the possession    of the remnant of the house of Judah,    on which they shall graze,  and in the houses of Ashkelon    they shall lie down at evening.  For the LORD their God will be mindful of them    and restore their fortunes. 8   “I have heard the taunts of Moab    and the revilings of the Ammonites,  how they have taunted my people    and made boasts against their territory.9   Therefore, as I live,” declares the LORD of hosts,    the God of Israel,  “Moab shall become like Sodom,    and the Ammonites like Gomorrah,  a land possessed by nettles and salt pits,    and a waste forever.  The remnant of my people shall plunder them,    and the survivors of my nation shall possess them.”10   This shall be their lot in return for their pride,    because they taunted and boasted    against the people of the LORD of hosts.11   The LORD will be awesome against them;    for he will famish all the gods of the earth,  and to him shall bow down,    each in its place,    all the lands of the nations. 12   You also, O Cushites,    shall be slain by my sword. 13   And he will stretch out his hand against the north    and destroy Assyria,  and he will make Nineveh a desolation,    a dry waste like the desert.14   Herds shall lie down in her midst,    all kinds of beasts;9  even the owl and the hedgehog10    shall lodge in her capitals;  a voice shall hoot in the window;    devastation will be on the threshold;    for her cedar work will be laid bare.15   This is the exultant city    that lived securely,  that said in her heart,    “I am, and there is no one else.”  What a desolation she has become,    a lair for wild beasts!  Everyone who passes by her    hisses and shakes his fist. Judgment on Jerusalem and the Nations 3   Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled,    the oppressing city!2   She listens to no voice;    she accepts no correction.  She does not trust in the LORD;    she does not draw near to her God. 3   Her officials within her    are roaring lions;  her judges are evening wolves    that leave nothing till the morning.4   Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men;  her priests profane what is holy;    they do violence to the law.5   The LORD within her is righteous;    he does no injustice;  every morning he shows forth his justice;    each dawn he does not fail;    but the unjust knows no shame. 6   “I have cut off nations;    their battlements are in ruins;  I have laid waste their streets    so that no one walks in them;  their cities have been made desolate,    without a man, without an inhabitant.7   I said, ‘Surely you will fear me;    you will accept correction.  Then your11 dwelling would not be cut off    according to all that I have appointed against you.'12  But all the more they were eager    to make all their deeds corrupt. 8   “Therefore wait for me,” declares the LORD,    “for the day when I rise up to seize the prey.  For my decision is to gather nations,    to assemble kingdoms,  to pour out upon them my indignation,    all my burning anger;  for in the fire of my jealousy    all the earth shall be consumed. The Conversion of the Nations 9   “For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples    to a pure speech,  that all of them may call upon the name of the LORD    and serve him with one accord.10   From beyond the rivers of Cush    my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones,    shall bring my offering. 11   “On that day you shall not be put to shame    because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me;  for then I will remove from your midst    your proudly exultant ones,  and you shall no longer be haughty    in my holy mountain.12   But I will leave in your midst    a people humble and lowly.  They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD,13     those who are left in Israel;  they shall do no injustice    and speak no lies,  nor shall there be found in their mouth    a deceitful tongue.  For they shall graze and lie down,    and none shall make them afraid.” Israel's Joy and Restoration 14   Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;    shout, O Israel!  Rejoice and exult with all your heart,    O daughter of Jerusalem!15   The LORD has taken away the judgments against you;    he has cleared away your enemies.  The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;    you shall never again fear evil.16   On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:  “Fear not, O Zion;    let not your hands grow weak.17   The LORD your God is in your midst,    a mighty one who will save;  he will rejoice over you with gladness;    he will quiet you by his love;  he will exult over you with loud singing.18   I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,    so that you will no longer suffer reproach.1319   Behold, at that time I will deal    with all your oppressors.  And I will save the lame    and gather the outcast,  and I will change their shame into praise    and renown in all the earth.20   At that time I will bring you in,    at the time when I gather you together;  for I will make you renowned and praised    among all the peoples of the earth,  when I restore your fortunes    before your eyes,” says the LORD. Footnotes [1] 1:3 Or stumbling blocks (that is, idols) [2] 1:5 Or their king [3] 1:9 Or their Lord's [4] 1:11 Or all the people of Canaan [5] 1:12 Hebrew are thickening on the dregs [of their wine] [6] 2:2 Hebrew gives birth [7] 2:3 Or who carry out his judgment [8] 2:6 Or caves [9] 2:14 Hebrew beasts of every nation [10] 2:14 The identity of the animals rendered owl and hedgehog is uncertain [11] 3:7 Hebrew her [12] 3:7 Hebrew her [13] 3:18 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain (ESV) Evening: Revelation 15 Revelation 15 (Listen) The Seven Angels with Seven Plagues 15 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished. 2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,   “Great and amazing are your deeds,    O Lord God the Almighty!  Just and true are your ways,    O King of the nations!14   Who will not fear, O Lord,    and glorify your name?  For you alone are holy.    All nations will come    and worship you,

Psalms and Wisdom: Psalm 144 Psalm 144 (Listen) My Rock and My Fortress Of David. 144   Blessed be the LORD, my rock,    who trains my hands for war,    and my fingers for battle;2   he is my steadfast love and my fortress,    my stronghold and my deliverer,  my shield and he in whom I take refuge,    who subdues peoples1 under me. 3   O LORD, what is man that you regard him,    or the son of man that you think of him?4   Man is like a breath;    his days are like a passing shadow. 5   Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down!    Touch the mountains so that they smoke!6   Flash forth the lightning and scatter them;    send out your arrows and rout them!7   Stretch out your hand from on high;    rescue me and deliver me from the many waters,    from the hand of foreigners,8   whose mouths speak lies    and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. 9   I will sing a new song to you, O God;    upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you,10   who gives victory to kings,    who rescues David his servant from the cruel sword.11   Rescue me and deliver me    from the hand of foreigners,  whose mouths speak lies    and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. 12   May our sons in their youth    be like plants full grown,  our daughters like corner pillars    cut for the structure of a palace;13   may our granaries be full,    providing all kinds of produce;  may our sheep bring forth thousands    and ten thousands in our fields;14   may our cattle be heavy with young,    suffering no mishap or failure in bearing;2  may there be no cry of distress in our streets!15   Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall!    Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD! Footnotes [1] 144:2 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Dead Sea Scroll, Jerome, Syriac, Aquila; most Hebrew manuscripts subdues my people [2] 144:14 Hebrew with no breaking in or going out (ESV) Pentateuch and History: Job 33 Job 33 (Listen) Elihu Rebukes Job 33   “But now, hear my speech, O Job,    and listen to all my words.2   Behold, I open my mouth;    the tongue in my mouth speaks.3   My words declare the uprightness of my heart,    and what my lips know they speak sincerely.4   The Spirit of God has made me,    and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.5   Answer me, if you can;    set your words in order before me; take your stand.6   Behold, I am toward God as you are;    I too was pinched off from a piece of clay.7   Behold, no fear of me need terrify you;    my pressure will not be heavy upon you. 8   “Surely you have spoken in my ears,    and I have heard the sound of your words.9   You say, ‘I am pure, without transgression;    I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.10   Behold, he finds occasions against me,    he counts me as his enemy,11   he puts my feet in the stocks    and watches all my paths.' 12   “Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you,    for God is greater than man.13   Why do you contend against him,    saying, ‘He will answer none of man's1 words'?214   For God speaks in one way,    and in two, though man does not perceive it.15   In a dream, in a vision of the night,    when deep sleep falls on men,    while they slumber on their beds,16   then he opens the ears of men    and terrifies3 them with warnings,17   that he may turn man aside from his deed    and conceal pride from a man;18   he keeps back his soul from the pit,    his life from perishing by the sword. 19   “Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed    and with continual strife in his bones,20   so that his life loathes bread,    and his appetite the choicest food.21   His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen,    and his bones that were not seen stick out.22   His soul draws near the pit,    and his life to those who bring death.23   If there be for him an angel,    a mediator, one of the thousand,    to declare to man what is right for him,24   and he is merciful to him, and says,    ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit;    I have found a ransom;25   let his flesh become fresh with youth;    let him return to the days of his youthful vigor';26   then man4 prays to God, and he accepts him;    he sees his face with a shout of joy,  and he restores to man his righteousness.27     He sings before men and says:  ‘I sinned and perverted what was right,    and it was not repaid to me.28   He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit,    and my life shall look upon the light.' 29   “Behold, God does all these things,    twice, three times, with a man,30   to bring back his soul from the pit,    that he may be lighted with the light of life.31   Pay attention, O Job, listen to me;    be silent, and I will speak.32   If you have any words, answer me;    speak, for I desire to justify you.33   If not, listen to me;    be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.” Footnotes [1] 33:13 Hebrew his [2] 33:13 Or He will not answer for any of his own words [3] 33:16 Or seals [4] 33:26 Hebrew he (ESV) Chronicles and Prophets: Isaiah 56–57 Isaiah 56–57 (Listen) Salvation for Foreigners 56   Thus says the LORD:  “Keep justice, and do righteousness,  for soon my salvation will come,    and my righteousness be revealed.2   Blessed is the man who does this,    and the son of man who holds it fast,  who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it,    and keeps his hand from doing any evil.” 3   Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say,    “The LORD will surely separate me from his people”;  and let not the eunuch say,    “Behold, I am a dry tree.”4   For thus says the LORD:  “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,    who choose the things that please me    and hold fast my covenant,5   I will give in my house and within my walls    a monument and a name    better than sons and daughters;  I will give them an everlasting name    that shall not be cut off. 6   “And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,    to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD,    and to be his servants,  everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it,    and holds fast my covenant—7   these I will bring to my holy mountain,    and make them joyful in my house of prayer;  their burnt offerings and their sacrifices    will be accepted on my altar;  for my house shall be called a house of prayer    for all peoples.”8   The Lord GOD,    who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares,  “I will gather yet others to him    besides those already gathered.” Israel's Irresponsible Leaders 9   All you beasts of the field, come to devour—    all you beasts in the forest.10   His watchmen are blind;    they are all without knowledge;  they are all silent dogs;    they cannot bark,  dreaming, lying down,    loving to slumber.11   The dogs have a mighty appetite;    they never have enough.  But they are shepherds who have no understanding;    they have all turned to their own way,    each to his own gain, one and all.12   “Come,” they say, “let me get wine;    let us fill ourselves with strong drink;  and tomorrow will be like this day,    great beyond measure.” Israel's Futile Idolatry 57   The righteous man perishes,    and no one lays it to heart;  devout men are taken away,    while no one understands.  For the righteous man is taken away from calamity;2     he enters into peace;  they rest in their beds    who walk in their uprightness.3   But you, draw near,    sons of the sorceress,    offspring of the adulterer and the loose woman.4   Whom are you mocking?    Against whom do you open your mouth wide    and stick out your tongue?  Are you not children of transgression,    the offspring of deceit,5   you who burn with lust among the oaks,1    under every green tree,  who slaughter your children in the valleys,    under the clefts of the rocks?6   Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion;    they, they, are your lot;  to them you have poured out a drink offering,    you have brought a grain offering.    Shall I relent for these things?7   On a high and lofty mountain    you have set your bed,    and there you went up to offer sacrifice.8   Behind the door and the doorpost    you have set up your memorial;  for, deserting me, you have uncovered your bed,    you have gone up to it,    you have made it wide;  and you have made a covenant for yourself with them,    you have loved their bed,    you have looked on nakedness.29   You journeyed to the king with oil    and multiplied your perfumes;  you sent your envoys far off,    and sent down even to Sheol.10   You were wearied with the length of your way,    but you did not say, “It is hopeless”;  you found new life for your strength,    and so you were not faint.3 11   Whom did you dread and fear,    so that you lied,  and did not remember me,    did not lay it to heart?  Have I not held my peace, even for a long time,    and you do not fear me?12   I will declare your righteousness and your deeds,    but they will not profit you.13   When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you!    The wind will carry them all off,    a breath will take them away.  But he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land    and shall inherit my holy mountain. Comfort for the Contrite 14   And it shall be said,  “Build up, build up, prepare the way,    remove every obstruction from my people's way.”15   For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,    who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:  “I dwell in the high and holy place,    and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,  to revive the spirit of the lowly,    and to revive the heart of the contrite.16   For I will not contend forever,    nor will I always be angry;  for the spirit would grow faint before me,    and the breath of life that I made.17   Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry,    I struck him; I hid my face and was angry,    but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart.18   I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;    I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,19     creating the fruit of the lips.  Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the LORD,    “and I will heal him.20   But the wicked are like the tossing sea;    for it cannot be quiet,    and its waters toss up mire and dirt.21   There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” Footnotes [1] 57:5 Or among the terebinths [2] 57:8 Or on a monument (see 56:5); Hebrew on a hand [3] 57:10 Hebrew and so you were not sick (ESV) Gospels and Epistles: Revelation 15 Revelation 15 (<

Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________The Second Week of AdventThe glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.Isaiah 40:5 ConfessionOfficiant: Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.People: Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws.We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and apart from your grace, there is no health in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare all those who confess their faults. Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.Officiant: Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen. The Lord's PrayerOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Invitatory & PsalmsOfficiant: O God, make speed to save us. People: O Lord, make haste to help us. Officiant & People: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. O Gracious Light Phos hilaronO gracious Light, pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven, O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!Now as we come to the setting of the sun, and our eyes behold the vesper light, we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices, O Son of God, O Giver of life,and to be glorified through all the worlds. Psalm 77 Voce mea ad Dominum1I will cry aloud to God; *I will cry aloud, and he will hear me.2In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; *my hands were stretched out by night and did not tire;I refused to be comforted.3I think of God, I am restless, *I ponder, and my spirit faints.4You will not let my eyelids close; *I am troubled and I cannot speak.5I consider the days of old; *I remember the years long past;6I commune with my heart in the night; *I ponder and search my mind.7Will the Lord cast me off for ever? *will he no more show his favor?8Has his loving-kindness come to an end for ever? *has his promise failed for evermore?9Has God forgotten to be gracious? *has he, in his anger, withheld his compassion?10And I said, “My grief is this: *the right hand of the Most High has lost its power.”11I will remember the works of the Lord, *and call to mind your wonders of old time.12I will meditate on all your acts *and ponder your mighty deeds.13Your way, O God, is holy; *who is so great a god as our God?14You are the God who works wonders *and have declared your power among the peoples.15By your strength you have redeemed your people, *the children of Jacob and Joseph.16The waters saw you, O God;the waters saw you and trembled; *the very depths were shaken.17The clouds poured out water;the skies thundered; *your arrows flashed to and fro;18The sound of your thunder was in the whirlwind;your lightnings lit up the world; *the earth trembled and shook.19Your way was in the sea,and your paths in the great waters, *yet your footsteps were not seen.20You led your people like a flock *by the hand of Moses and Aaron. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The LessonsIsaiah 26:11-19 English Standard VersionO Lord, your hand is lifted up,    but they do not see it.Let them see your zeal for your people, and be ashamed.    Let the fire for your adversaries consume them.O Lord, you will ordain peace for us,    for you have indeed done for us all our works.O Lord our God,    other lords besides you have ruled over us,    but your name alone we bring to remembrance.They are dead, they will not live;    they are shades, they will not arise;to that end you have visited them with destruction    and wiped out all remembrance of them.But you have increased the nation, O Lord,    you have increased the nation; you are glorified;    you have enlarged all the borders of the land.O Lord, in distress they sought you;    they poured out a whispered prayer    when your discipline was upon them.Like a pregnant woman    who writhes and cries out in her pangs    when she is near to giving birth,so were we because of you, O Lord;    we were pregnant, we writhed,    but we have given birth to wind.We have accomplished no deliverance in the earth,    and the inhabitants of the world have not fallen.Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise.    You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy!For your dew is a dew of light,    and the earth will give birth to the dead.Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. The Song of Mary - MagnificatMy soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; * for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant From this day all generations will call me blessed: * the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him * in every generation.He has shown the strength of his arm, * he has scattered the proud in their conceit.He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, * and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, * and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, * for he has remembered his promise of mercy, The promise he made to our fathers, * to Abraham and his children for ever.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as It was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Revelation 15 English Standard VersionThen I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,“Great and amazing are your deeds,    O Lord God the Almighty!Just and true are your ways,    O King of the nations!Who will not fear, O Lord,    and glorify your name?For you alone are holy.    All nations will come    and worship you,for your righteous acts have been revealed.”After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. The Song of Simeon - Nunc dimittisLord, you now have set your servant free * to go in peace as you have promised; For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, * whom you have prepared for all the world to see: A Light to enlighten the nations, * and the glory of your people Israel.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersOfficiant: The Lord be with you.People: And also with you.Officiant: Let us pray The SuffragesThat this evening may be holy, good, and peaceful, We entreat you, O Lord.That your holy angels may lead us in paths of peace and goodwill, We entreat you, O Lord.That we may be pardoned and forgiven for our sins and offenses, We entreat you, O Lord.That there may be peace to your Church and to the whole world, We entreat you, O Lord.That we may depart this life in your faith and fear, and not be condemned before the great judgment seat of Christ, We entreat you, O Lord.That we may be bound together by your Holy Spirit in the communion of all your saints, entrusting one another and all our life to Christ, We entreat you, O Lord.Take a moment at this time to reflect and pray for the needs of others. The Second Week of AdventBlessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.A Collect for PeaceMost holy God, the source of all good desires, all right judgments, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be fixed on the doing of your will, and that we, being delivered from the fear of all enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through the mercies of Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen.A Collect for Aid against PerilsBe our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.For MissionKeep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen. ThanksgivingsThe General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.A Prayer of St. ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. ConclusionMay the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. - Romans 15:13

Old Testament: Jeremiah 10–12 Jeremiah 10–12 (Listen) Idols and the Living God 10 Hear the word that the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. 2 Thus says the LORD:   “Learn not the way of the nations,    nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens    because the nations are dismayed at them,3   for the customs of the peoples are vanity.1  A tree from the forest is cut down    and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman.4   They decorate it with silver and gold;    they fasten it with hammer and nails    so that it cannot move.5   Their idols2 are like scarecrows in a cucumber field,    and they cannot speak;  they have to be carried,    for they cannot walk.  Do not be afraid of them,    for they cannot do evil,    neither is it in them to do good.” 6   There is none like you, O LORD;    you are great, and your name is great in might.7   Who would not fear you, O King of the nations?    For this is your due;  for among all the wise ones of the nations    and in all their kingdoms    there is none like you.8   They are both stupid and foolish;    the instruction of idols is but wood!9   Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish,    and gold from Uphaz.  They are the work of the craftsman and of the hands of the goldsmith;    their clothing is violet and purple;    they are all the work of skilled men.10   But the LORD is the true God;    he is the living God and the everlasting King.  At his wrath the earth quakes,    and the nations cannot endure his indignation. 11 Thus shall you say to them: “The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens.”3 12   It is he who made the earth by his power,    who established the world by his wisdom,    and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.13   When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens,    and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth.  He makes lightning for the rain,    and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.14   Every man is stupid and without knowledge;    every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols,  for his images are false,    and there is no breath in them.15   They are worthless, a work of delusion;    at the time of their punishment they shall perish.16   Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob,    for he is the one who formed all things,  and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance;    the LORD of hosts is his name. 17   Gather up your bundle from the ground,    O you who dwell under siege!18   For thus says the LORD:  “Behold, I am slinging out the inhabitants of the land    at this time,  and I will bring distress on them,    that they may feel it.” 19   Woe is me because of my hurt!    My wound is grievous.  But I said, “Truly this is an affliction,    and I must bear it.”20   My tent is destroyed,    and all my cords are broken;  my children have gone from me,    and they are not;  there is no one to spread my tent again    and to set up my curtains.21   For the shepherds are stupid    and do not inquire of the LORD;  therefore they have not prospered,    and all their flock is scattered. 22   A voice, a rumor! Behold, it comes!—    a great commotion out of the north country  to make the cities of Judah a desolation,    a lair of jackals. 23   I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself,    that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.24   Correct me, O LORD, but in justice;    not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing. 25   Pour out your wrath on the nations that know you not,    and on the peoples that call not on your name,  for they have devoured Jacob;    they have devoured him and consumed him,    and have laid waste his habitation. The Broken Covenant 11 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2 “Hear the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 3 You shall say to them, Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Cursed be the man who does not hear the words of this covenant 4 that I commanded your fathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Listen to my voice, and do all that I command you. So shall you be my people, and I will be your God, 5 that I may confirm the oath that I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as at this day.” Then I answered, “So be it, LORD.” 6 And the LORD said to me, “Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: Hear the words of this covenant and do them. 7 For I solemnly warned your fathers when I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, warning them persistently, even to this day, saying, Obey my voice. 8 Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but everyone walked in the stubbornness of his evil heart. Therefore I brought upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did not.” 9 Again the LORD said to me, “A conspiracy exists among the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words. They have gone after other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant that I made with their fathers. 11 Therefore, thus says the LORD, Behold, I am bringing disaster upon them that they cannot escape. Though they cry to me, I will not listen to them. 12 Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry to the gods to whom they make offerings, but they cannot save them in the time of their trouble. 13 For your gods have become as many as your cities, O Judah, and as many as the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to shame, altars to make offerings to Baal. 14 “Therefore do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer on their behalf, for I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their trouble. 15 What right has my beloved in my house, when she has done many vile deeds? Can even sacrificial flesh avert your doom? Can you then exult? 16 The LORD once called you ‘a green olive tree, beautiful with good fruit.' But with the roar of a great tempest he will set fire to it, and its branches will be consumed. 17 The LORD of hosts, who planted you, has decreed disaster against you, because of the evil that the house of Israel and the house of Judah have done, provoking me to anger by making offerings to Baal.” 18   The LORD made it known to me and I knew;    then you showed me their deeds.19   But I was like a gentle lamb    led to the slaughter.  I did not know it was against me    they devised schemes, saying,  “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit,    let us cut him off from the land of the living,    that his name be remembered no more.”20   But, O LORD of hosts, who judges righteously,    who tests the heart and the mind,  let me see your vengeance upon them,    for to you have I committed my cause. 21 Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, and say, “Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD, or you will die by our hand”—22 therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: “Behold, I will punish them. The young men shall die by the sword, their sons and their daughters shall die by famine, 23 and none of them shall be left. For I will bring disaster upon the men of Anathoth, the year of their punishment.” Jeremiah's Complaint 12   Righteous are you, O LORD,    when I complain to you;    yet I would plead my case before you.  Why does the way of the wicked prosper?    Why do all who are treacherous thrive?2   You plant them, and they take root;    they grow and produce fruit;  you are near in their mouth    and far from their heart.3   But you, O LORD, know me;    you see me, and test my heart toward you.  Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter,    and set them apart for the day of slaughter.4   How long will the land mourn    and the grass of every field wither?  For the evil of those who dwell in it    the beasts and the birds are swept away,    because they said, “He will not see our latter end.” The Lord Answers Jeremiah 5   “If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you,    how will you compete with horses?  And if in a safe land you are so trusting,    what will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?6   For even your brothers and the house of your father,    even they have dealt treacherously with you;    they are in full cry after you;  do not believe them,    though they speak friendly words to you.” 7   “I have forsaken my house;    I have abandoned my heritage;  I have given the beloved of my soul    into the hands of her enemies.8   My heritage has become to me    like a lion in the forest;  she has lifted up her voice against me;    therefore I hate her.9   Is my heritage to me like a hyena's lair?    Are the birds of prey against her all around?  Go, assemble all the wild beasts;    bring them to devour.10   Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard;    they have trampled down my portion;  they have made my pleasant portion    a desolate wilderness.11   They have made it a desolation;    desolate, it mourns to me.  The whole land is made desolate,    but no man lays it to heart.12   Upon all the bare heights in the desert    destroyers have come,  for the sword of the LORD devours    from one end of the land to the other;    no flesh has peace.13   They have sown wheat and have reaped thorns;    they have tired themselves out but profit nothing.  They shall be ashamed of their4 harvests    because of the fierce anger of the LORD.” 14 Thus says the LORD concerning all my evil neighbors who touch the heritage that I have given my people Israel to inherit: “Behold, I will pluck them up from their land, and I will pluck up the house of Judah from among them. 15 And after I have plucked them up, I will again have compassion on them, and I will bring them again each to his heritage and each to his land. 16 And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, ‘As the LORD lives,' even as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they shall be built up in the midst of my people. 17 But if any nation will not listen, then I will utterly pluck it up and destroy it, declares the LORD.” Footnotes [1] 10:3 Or vapor, or mist [2] 10:5 Hebrew They [3] 10:11 This verse is in Aramaic [4] 12:13 Hebrew your (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 106:24–48 Psalm 106:24–48 (Listen) 24   Then they despised the pleasant land,    having no faith in his promise.25   They murmured in their tents,    and did not obey the voice of the LORD.26   Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them    that he would make them fall in the wilderness,27   and would make their offspring fall among the nations,    scattering them among the lands. 28   Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor,    and ate sacrifices offered to the dead;29   they provoked the LORD to anger with their deeds,    and a plague broke out among them.30   Then Phinehas stood up and intervened,    and the plague was stayed.31   And that was counted to him as righteousness    from generation to generation forever. 32   They angered him at the waters of Meribah,    and it went ill with Moses on their account,33   for they made his spirit bitter,1    and he spoke rashly with his lips. 34   They did not destroy the peoples,    as the LORD commanded them,35   but they mixed with the nations    and learned to do as they did.36   They served their idols,    which became a snare to them.37   They sacrificed their sons    and their daughters to the demons;38   they poured out innocent blood,    the blood of their sons and daughters,  whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,    and the land was polluted with blood.39   Thus they became unclean by their acts,    and played the whore in their deeds. 40   Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people,    and he abhorred his heritage;41   he gave them into the hand of the nations,    so that those who hated them ruled over them.42   Their enemies oppressed them,    and they were brought into subjection under their power.43   Many times he delivered them,    but they were rebellious in their purposes    and were brought low through their iniquity. 44   Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress,    when he heard their cry.45   For their sake he remembered his covenant,    and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love.46   He caused them to be pitied    by all those who held them captive. 47   Save us, O LORD our God,    and gather us from among the nations,  that we may give thanks to your holy name    and glory in your praise. 48   Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,    from everlasting to everlasting!  And let all the people say, “Amen!”    Praise the LORD! Footnotes [1] 106:33 Or they rebelled against God's Spirit (ESV) New Testament: Romans 7 Romans 7 (Listen) Released from the Law 7 Or do you not know, brothers1—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? 2 For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.2 3 Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress. 4 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.<